As fall 2026’s first full week of classes wrap up, Retrievers across campus—newly minted and returning—are finding their place. In addition to learning to navigate to the right classroom, they are bringing their unique strengths and voices to this ever evolving community. 

This year’s incoming class of over 2,000 Retrievers boasts a median GPA of 4.0. Among them is Rodney Oglesby, an aspiring musician and a Gates Scholar. Oglesby was one of 750 students awarded this high honor among a pool of over 61,000 applicants nationwide. 

“We are thrilled to welcome another impressive entering undergraduate class, with a 15 percent increase in enrollment from Baltimore City, and, overall, students representing 42 countries,” says Dale Bittinger, M.P.P. ’16, assistant vice provost for strategic undergraduate engagement, partnerships, and pathways. “They are academically talented and engaged and we look forward to all they have to offer to our campus community.” 

Joining Oglesby is Saad Bin Waqas, a new student who traveled nearly 7,000 miles from his home in Pakistan to address the UMBC community at this year’s Fall Opening Meeting. At just 16, this Sondheim Scholar and geography and environmental studies major is looking forward to planting some roots after growing up in a military family. 

“After moving from place to place for much of my life, I am really excited to have a new place I can call home,” shared Waqas. 

A place to flourish

Junior Sabirah Burt is joining UMBC as a transfer student from Howard Community College. Her aspirations to ultimately become a physician’s assistant are shaped by her own experience grappling with a medical condition. If you had asked Burt a few months ago to describe herself, she’d say “ticking time bomb.” In June 2025, she was rushed to the hospital for an agonizing headache. Medical professionals eventually discovered she had an active brain bleed and underwent emergency surgery. 

“I believe graduating with a public health degree from here will allow me to flourish when continuing my education and applying to graduate school in the future,” she said. “After going through my tough experiences last year, it’s made me even more passionate to pursue medicine, now more than ever before, and help those lying in hospitals wondering if it will be their last day.” 

Strengthening connections—early

Some new Retrievers got a jump start to the year and arrived on campus over the summer to dive into work-integrated learning (WIL)—an educational approach that prepares students for a rewarding career after college by pairing what they are learning in the classroom with hands-on, authentic work experiences. In July, more than 100 incoming first-year and transfer students spent a night on campus, connected with an instructor and teaching assistant, and spent a day participating in service on site at five different community partner locations. 

WIL students will participate in service with the same sites throughout their full first year at UMBC, deepening engagement and strengthening connection to their peers and faculty as well as to the campus and community.

“I believe a program like this is an excellent cohort building model. I was able to have individual conversations with all of them, learning what they cared about going into their unique UMBC journeys,” says Emily Passera, the senior program coordinator for community-engaged learning through The Shriver Center at UMBC, who led a group of students to Patterson Park in east Baltimore and will teach the same students in a first-year experience course called UNIV 101. 

A community for all 

With a full lineup of events, this year’s Welcome, Retrievers efforts ensured that students started to find their place from the minute they stepped onto campus. Student volunteers (“Haul Stars”) were on hand to keep things moving as they helped new students with their belongings and offered directions. 

Students weren’t the only ones getting in on the fun. Retriever Fest gave families the opportunity to meet with campus partners and learn more about everything UMBC has to offer—while enjoying refreshments and picking up some swag. Jake Diaz, inaugural assistant vice president and dean of students in the Division of Student Affairs, had a ball welcoming new students. 

Throughout the weekend, students continued to enjoy Retriever 101 events, like First Night, an Student Events-Board-sponsored takeover of The Commons with inflatables, prizes, games, and plenty of other activities that cemented the first night as one students will remember for years to come. 

Events like the Taste of UMBC, Your Story Belongs Here, and the annual New Retriever Photo bonded students and filled their camera rolls. The first weekend concluded with Convocation, the official opening of the fall semester. President Valerie Sheares Ashby addressed the new students, reassuring them that UMBC is where they’re meant to be. 

“…I want to make sure you hear this from me: You belong here. You have come to an institution that wants you here and believes that you can be successful here, even if you are not yet completely sure of that yourself.” 

This summer, six rising juniors from UMBC are among the 176 undergraduates nationwide selected for the inaugural cohort of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s (HHMI) Cech Fellows program. Named for Nobel laureate Thomas R. Cech, the nine-week research experience pairs promising students with HHMI scientists at top institutions across the country. For these Retrievers, the fellowship is more than a prestigious opportunity: It’s a culmination of support, community, and hands-on experiences at UMBC that have opened doors.

Amir Walton-Irvin, a computer engineering major and an Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (U-RISE), HHMI, Meyerhoff, and Goldwater Scholar, is spending his summer at MIT as a Cech Fellow and an MIT Summer Research Program in Biology intern. As a member of Steven Flavell’s research group, he’s developing deep learning methods to analyze brain imaging data from C. elegans—a microscopic roundworm with just 302 neurons used as a model organism in research. The work builds directly on Walton-Irvin’s research at UMBC with Tulay Adali, professor of computer science and electrical engineering, where he uses fMRI to investigate how environmental factors affect the brains of neurologically healthy adults. “This jump allows me to explore how contextual and physiological factors reshape the functional organization of the nervous system,” he explains.

Walton-Irvin’s path to Flavell’s lab started with the Quantitative Methods Workshop (QMW) at MIT, a seven-day professional development program that the Meyerhoff Scholars Program nominated him for. There, group lunches with faculty and sessions on machine learning in neuroscience, protein folding, and genomic sequencing sparked lasting connections. In particular, a lunch with Flavell led to ongoing conversations that aligned with the Cech opportunity, which is now creating fresh networking opportunities. Walton-Irvin’s leadership roles in the National Society of Black Engineers and UMBC’s chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers have created further opportunities for networking with peers and mentors.

Shared ambition supports success

Aryan Srivastava, a dual degree student in biochemistry and molecular biology and bioinformatics and computational biology, is diving into structural virology in Stephen C. Harrison’s lab at Harvard. As president of both the Honors College Council and the Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Association, and a Meyerhoff, HHMI, and U-RISE scholar, Srivastava has built a strong scientific identity at UMBC: In his first year, he began conducting research with Michael Summers, HHMI Investigator and professor of chemistry and biochemistry.

A talk Harrison gave at an HHMI Science Meeting inspired Srivastava; financial support from his scholars programs had made his attendance possible. That encounter combined with his ongoing structural HIV research in the Summers Lab positioned him to pursue the Cech Fellowship. With Harrison, he will further explore the complex ways viruses enter cells that Harrison discussed at the meeting. 

“Meeting peers who share your ambitions is one of the most important things an undergraduate can do,” Srivastava says. He also participated in the QMW at MIT, and roles in student organizations have connected him with program directors at federal grantmaking agencies, graduate students, and even Nobel laureates. Those relationships continue to pay dividends in Boston, where he’s reconnected with UMBC alumni like Arjun Kanjarpane ’24, biochemistry and molecular biology, a Ph.D. student at Harvard.

From participation to leadership

Silvi Shah, a Meyerhoff Scholar studying biochemistry and molecular biology, is in Elizabeth Engle’s lab at Boston Children’s Hospital, affiliated with Harvard Medical School and the Broad Institute. Shah’s neuroscience research with Weihong Lin at UMBC, where she is examining the effects of e-cigarette vapor on the olfactory system and behavior in mice, sparked her interest in deepening her mechanistic understanding of the brain by focusing on biomarkers for neurodevelopmental disorders.

Being a member of the Meyerhoff, HHMI, and U-RISE scholars programs, and taking on leadership roles in Meyerhoff and the Phi Delta Epsilon Medical Fraternity, built Shah’s confidence and supplied community and mentorship. She connected with Harvard neuroscientist Beth Stevens at an HHMI Science Meeting, who introduced her to the Engle Lab. Award-winning presentations at the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Students (ABRCMS) and interactions with Nobel laureates, renowned faculty, graduate program directors, and alumni have broadened her perspective, she says. 

In Boston, she’s reconnecting with scientists from the HHMI meeting and tapping into the Meyerhoff alumni network. “I am developing advanced research techniques and approaches that I would not have otherwise had the opportunity to learn at this stage of my education. These experiences have strengthened my commitment to an M.D./Ph.D. and a career in pediatric neuroscience research,” she shares.

Meanwhile, Nina-Simone Hunter, a biological sciences major, Meyerhoff, HHMI, and U-RISE Scholar, is at Cornell University in Liz Johnson’s lab. The group’s integration of microbiology, biochemistry, genomics, and molecular biology perfectly matches her interests and future Ph.D. plans, she says.

Preparation for the national stage

Nahom Getachew, a biochemistry and molecular biology major, Meyerhoff and HHMI Scholar, and Ethiopian immigrant, initially doubted research was for him, but opportunities at UMBC changed that, he says. Getachew attended an HHMI Science Meeting and ABRCMS with support from the Meyerhoff program. Squire Booker, a University of Pennsylvania biochemist and HHMI Investigator, spoke at both events, and Getachew asked follow-up questions about his work and the opportunity to contribute—which is now being realized through the Cech Fellows program.

“Networking is one of the most important skills for finding summer research opportunities,” Getachew notes. In addition to Booker, he connected with a Cech program coordinator at ABRCMS. Getachew prepared for national conferences by practicing communicating his work under Marcin Ptsazek, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, at UMBC’s Summer Undergraduate Research Fest and Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day. 

Now in the Booker Lab, he’s mastering new techniques in a drug discovery project, presenting results at the Cech Fellows Research Symposium at HHMI’s Janelia Research Campus, and connecting with peers who share similar goals, including fellow UMBC Cech Fellow Djina Awungnjia, a biological sciences major and McNair Scholar. All six UMBC fellows will present at the culminating symposium at HHMI Janelia, further expanding their national network.

As these Cech Fellows advance ambitious projects—from neural imaging analysis and virus structures to drug discovery and neurodevelopment—they carry forward skills, relationships, and confidence cultivated at UMBC through scholars programs, faculty mentorship, student organizations, and more.

Getachew says that the experience has reinforced his pursuit of an M.D./Ph.D. in translational clinical research: “This program has shown me what I am capable of.”

Learn more about UMBC’s premier scholars programs.

If you surveyed UMBC’s Class of 2026 and generated a word cloud, the word “community” would instantly dominate the screen. You might be tempted to dismiss it as a buzzword until you see how many graduating students highlight the communities they found and the communities they made as their defining experience of being a student at UMBC. “I can be myself here and I’m not going to be judged. Community is truly the word to describe UMBC,” says Shawn Bearam, Jr., computer science.

Who are the graduates of the Class of 2026?

It’s safe to say they contain multitudes: There’s an engineering management graduate student from India who devoted time to helping Marylanders complete their taxes; an English and political science student who volunteered as an educational and workforce advocate for Baltimore City youth; a mathematician—and Survivor hopeful—teaching game theory and disease modeling to students in Rwanda while also helping them understand the U.S. college admissions process.

What do they have in common? If you meet a Retriever from the Class of 2026, you will walk away from the encounter feeling hopeful for the future. These leaders and educators and entertainers and researchers are making room in the world for each person’s voice to be heard and heeded. We can’t wait to see where they take it from here!

“It’s the people”

If community is the key takeaway from the Class of 2026, where are students finding their niche groups? Vunnathi Ankem, psychology, saw a way to bridge multiple areas together. As a resident assistant, a researcher, and a multifaceted student leader, she has spent her four years both building community and studying its impact on the human experience. From hosting public-service retreats in Baltimore to interviewing members of the South Asian diaspora for her thesis, Ankem’s work bridges the gap between community- centered research and heartfelt advocacy. 

As a newly awarded Fulbright Scholar to India, Ankem leaves behind a campus made stronger by her leadership and a personal roadmap focused on healing, mentorship, and global research. “When I think about what I’m proud of, it’s not the awards, it’s the people,” says Ankem. “I remember all the people who were there when I needed support—those people meant more to me than any accomplishment. My advice would be to think about what you’ll look back on. It will most likely be community—the people who were there when you weren’t at your best.”

Bearam in computer science was not content to confine himself to one campus community. He puts it plainly: “I found communities where it seemed that everyone was having fun together, and I wanted to be a part of that,” he says. He had roles with the events staff in Athletics, at UMBC’s research and technology park, bwtech@UMBC, and working as a lead

office assistant for the vice president of student affairs. If that wasn’t enough, he also served as a lead resident assistant and a first-year ambassador for the Student Government Association.

“I started to see that I was able to learn so much here,” says Bearam. “I saw people who looked like me in different spaces, and I knew they would be able to understand me, so I wanted to get involved.”

Rileigh Mansfield, mathematics, also made it her goal to build connections across a variety of UMBC communities. As a Meyerhoff Scholar, she served as a peer advisor and conducted research with multiple math professors, “but honestly,” she shares, “some of my most meaningful involvement has been more informal. Last spring, I was having a tough semester when I got invited to join a group from the math lounge to play the board game Catan on Tuesdays. It became a little community and something to look forward to every week—a much-needed step back from school and work. I actually play in competitive Catan tournaments now, and I’m even hosting an official tournament this spring through the math honors society.”

“Just see it through”

Often, the defining moment in a student’s successful academic trajectory is a challenge that they can point back to. When Chinonso Ezeobi decided to pack up his life in Nigeria and come to the United States to pursue his Ph.D. in electrical engineering at UMBC, he was thrilled at the prospect of finding a program that would bring him fulfillment. However, financial struggles and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic quickly threatened Ezeobi’s plans for the future.

“Once I navigated through one challenge, another one came in,” he says. “But at the end of the day, it was worth it. I was able to pull through all of those challenges. I was also able to transition from being an international student to having a green card through self-petition and self-advocacy, so I’m able to graduate without the additional pressure of thinking about my visa status while looking for jobs. My faith and the community at UMBC were essential in navigating through all challenges. The motivation was that I had a community of people who wanted my success, people who I felt would advocate for me even when I’m not in the room.” 

Never one to be derailed, Ezeobi found mentors across campus who made it their mission to keep him on the path to his Ph.D. Ezeobi recognized how invaluable their support was and found his own ways to give back to the place and people who gave him so much, including keeping his door open to any students who may need an advocate on their side. 

At one point, Maia Turman Cooke, English and political science, was thinking about backing out of her scholar’s program opportunity. In the end, though, she was surprised by how the McNair Scholars Program changed her life. “At the beginning of the application process, it seemed like a lot, and I wanted to quit—I didn’t want to join. The director of the McNair Scholars Program, Dr. Michael Hunt [’06, Ph.D. ’25], called me and said, ‘Just see it through, see it out. If you don’t like it when you get more involved, then you can leave.’”

Turman Cooke processed the expectations of the programs—like pursuing graduate school—while recognizing she had so much to learn about how research worked. “I was so overwhelmed because I thought I had to solve every world problem. But my peers convinced me to stay. Soon, that work became a normal part of my schedule. I had no idea what research was, and now it’s something I’m super passionate about,” says Turman Cooke, who starts her Ph.D. in English at the University of Maryland, College Park this fall.

“A person who needs a path”

Sometimes the way forward is clearly marked, and other times Retrievers forge their own way. Kayla Nemirovsky, mathematics and financial economics, had a love for international travel and a scholarship with the Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program but wasn’t sure how those interests combined with her majors.

Nemirovsky, who is staying at UMBC to pursue her master’s degree in teaching, charted her own route at UMBC as an Education Abroad ambassador, sharing widely with her peers the importance (and accessibility) of studying abroad for any major. Her Sondheim mentors connected her with an internship at the Maryland State Department of Education, and this experience helped her solidify her interest in math education curriculum and policy.

“I’m a person who needs a path,” says Nemirovsky, who has traveled to more than 30 countries and counting. “I realized once I got to college that there’s kind of no more path—I have to make my own. At was really scary to me, so having mentors who can help me make this path…give

me advice and offer suggestions, that was extremely helpful. I really believe you have to choose the people you look up to and kind of aspire to be them.”

Over his two years of graduate study at UMBC, Yash Bhatt, M.S., engineering management, saw his time at UMBC as much bigger than “just earning a degree.” He charted a path to contribute meaningfully to both the university and the greater Baltimore community. As a graduate student, Bhatt arrived at UMBC with an undergraduate degree and professional experience, but he says he was not yet the confident leader he is today.

Outside of the classroom, Bhatt dedicated himself to enhancing student life for his classmates. As a member of the Indian Graduate Student Association and the Black and Gold Student Advisory Board, he advocated for international students and contributed to university decision-making. Bhatt also joined two Alternative Spring Break experiences. Starting as a participant and returning as a program leader, Bhatt immersed himself in what he considers a genuine “American student experience,” building local friendships and making connections within local government and community organizations, in addition to the service the participants provided to the community.

“The best part of my UMBC experience has been the people and the sense of community,” says Bhatt. “UMBC has this unique balance—it’s diverse and full of opportunity like a larger university yet still close-knit enough that you truly feel seen and supported.”

Read about more members of the Class of 2026.

At UMBC, entrepreneurship transcends a traditional business education: It empowers scientists, artists, and technologists to transform their expertise into real-world impact. Through business accelerators, ambassador programs, interdisciplinary courses, and other innovation pathways, the university offers many avenues for ideas to flourish.

Kushani Mendis and her labmates have developed novel nanomaterials that could transform biomedical technology. She wants to translate their discoveries into a business opportunity, but initially, wasn’t sure what steps to take. So, early in her chemistry Ph.D. with Zeev Rosenzweig, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, Mendis told him that she wanted to become an entrepreneur—and he jumped at the chance to creatively support her with internal and external resources.

UMBC has no formal business school. Yet it may be one of the best places in the country to learn entrepreneurial thinking—precisely because the best ideas so often come from those with technical expertise rather than MBAs. Also, many UMBC entrepreneurs are motivated by a desire to drive positive social change rather than profit, which is supported by courses on “socialpreneurship.” Overall, the university’s model rests on a simple but powerful dual thesis: 1) Disciplinary excellence paired with an entrepreneurial mindset produces graduates who create real-world impact, and 2) entrepreneurship is for everyone. 

Employers repeatedly say they need graduates who excel in communication, creative problem-solving, collaboration, and constructive conflict navigation. Traits like resilience and empathy are in high demand—after all, finding effective solutions often requires understanding problems from another’s perspective. UMBC’s courses and programs deliberately train these skills, which can enhance the success of entrepreneurs—and every UMBC graduate.

The results speak for themselves. Students are winning state and national funding, launching ventures, gaining versatile life skills, and contributing to Maryland’s innovation economy. This spring, two UMBC student teams—iBraid and StrikeSense—each received $50,000 Pava LePere Innovation Awards. Others have advanced through the university’s Summer Launchpad accelerator and secured funding totaling more than $300,000 in the past three years.

An entrepreneurial environment

The roots of UMBC’s entrepreneurship emphasis trace back to 2000, with the founding of the Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Initially led by Vivian Armour and supported by Constellation Energy Group and the Bearman Foundation, the center took off in 2006 the Kauffman Foundation awarded funds to a small cohort of universities including UMBC, as well as Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Arizona State, and Purdue, to further their entrepreneurship efforts. Armour invited Gib Mason ’95, economics, a serial entrepreneur who had been guest lecturing at UMBC, to help steward UMBC’s $2 million Kauffman award.

“Kauffman’s research had shown that it wasn’t the business school students bringing entrepreneurial ideas to the marketplace,” Mason recalls. “It was the engineers and the tech guys and gals.” The foundation’s premise was that exposing disciplinary experts to entrepreneurial environments could help them develop and commercialize new ideas, he explains.

That initiative led to the creation of UMBC’s minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The 18-credit program combines two core entrepreneurship courses with 12 credits from designated courses across UMBC’s three colleges, where faculty have infused entrepreneurial principles into existing major curricula. Today, more than 70 courses in biology, public health, information systems, art, and engineering count toward the minor, making it broadly accessible. 

The center turned 25 this academic year. Kevin Fulmer, its first full-time director and a lifelong entrepreneur, has spent the past five years expanding its reach and visibility. “Before there were any full-time staff, awareness of the center was fairly minimal,” he says. Under his leadership, Introduction to Entrepreneurship—which fills up quickly every semester—was approved as a General Education Program course. The center also launched a student ambassador program, and now six students promote events, support programming, and serve as peer mentors. Faculty can apply for funding to embed entrepreneurial thinking in their courses, and designated faculty fellows from each college are designing discipline-specific tracks within the minor. “We’re trying to make it as accessible for as many students as possible,” Fulmer explains.

A separate master’s in Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Leadership—developed by Mason and offered through UMBC’s Division of Professional Studies—has served working professionals since 2019 and draws on the same philosophy of practical application. Meanwhile, the center’s summer Launchpad accelerator has supported more than 20 student ventures since 2022; participants receive an $8,000 stipend to dedicate 10-weeks to full-time customer discovery and problem validation. iBraid and StrikeSense, the Maryland award winners, emerged from the accelerator’s pipeline. Additional opportunities include the fall Idea and Innovation Challenge (with a popular social-impact category) and the spring Cangialosi Business Innovation Competition for more developed concepts. 

All of this exists without a traditional business school. Instead, UMBC has built an ecosystem that meets students where they are—inside their technical and creative majors—and provides the tools to translate discovery into impact. “Entrepreneurship is for everyone,” the Alex. Brown Center’s website proclaims, regardless of major or career aspirations.

Not-so-risky business

Entrepreneurship at UMBC emphasizes mindset over venture creation alone. “It’s really just about solving problems and using an entrepreneurial mindset to do that,” Fulmer stresses.

Studies suggest that only 30 to 50 percent of graduates nationally are employed in roles directly related to their specific field of study, Fulmer notes. “You may have all the technical skills in the world, but not get these life skills from your major,” he adds. UMBC’s approach prepares students for diverse careers—launching startups, innovating inside a corporation, teaching, or pursuing research—by developing empathy and resilience and building creative problem-solving and communication skills.

Mason challenges the stereotype that entrepreneurs are reckless risk takers. “Most entrepreneurs are constantly making informed decisions to mitigate risks,” he says. He draws from childhood summers working on his grandfather’s Kansas farm, where he earned money from “his” acres of wheat—until one year a tornado destroyed the crop. The experience taught him that “there’s a lot that you can control and a lot that you can’t.” True entrepreneurs, he says, take calculated risks and then work diligently to reduce them.

Many UMBC students are drawn to “socialpreneurship”—ventures that solve societal problems rather than chase profit. “Students today seem especially geared toward trying to do things for social impact,” Mason says. The center’s social-impact track in competitions reflects this, and courses like Creative Problem Solving and The Socialpreneur have led to tangible outcomes, such as OCA Mocha, a coffee shop connecting UMBC with the Baltimore community.

Braiding the future 

Velma Funebe, a public health major, embodies this orientation. Her venture, iBraid, uses augmented reality to help users part and braid their own hair—transforming protective styling that can become a multi-day ordeal into a more manageable process. Inspired by braiding her own hair since age 11 and running a professional braiding business since ninth grade, Funebe validated demand via TikTok and conversations. “I realized it was a major problem because so many people struggled with it,” she says. “I couldn’t find any solutions out there.”

As an Entrepreneurship Ambassador, she now supports programming and events like 1 Million Cups, another Kauffman Foundation initiative where entrepreneurs pitch ideas and get feedback. The Baltimore edition meets at OCA Mocha twice monthly. “The scariest part is when the idea is not just in your brain, but other people hear it,” Funebe says. “But I think it’s a great space to get feedback and say, ‘Okay, I can live through an application rejection.’” 

Funebe’s faith helps anchor her while she balances classes, leadership in the Public Health Council of Majors, weekend braiding appointments, and venture development. iBraid has gained strong traction: a second-place finish in UMBC’s Idea and Innovation Challenge, the Pava LaPere Innovation Award, a waitlist approaching 4,000, and more than 10,000 TikTok followers. Beta testing is underway, supported in part by two UMBC data science graduate fellows through the Maryland New Venture program at bwtech@UMBC, a business incubator adjacent to campus. iBraid’s momentum continued to build at Maryland New Venture Pitch Night ’26, where Funebe took third place and received the Audience Choice Visionary Award. 

“The Alex. Brown Center has played an essential role in helping me to grow my confidence,” she says. To others considering giving entrepreneurship a try, she says, “Don’t be afraid to fail—at least you get a result out of failing, and can learn a lot from it.”

Striking while it’s hot

Abhinav Patel, Charles Nerad, and Aidan Fleischer, co-founders of StrikeSense, channeled frustration with their Taekwondo training into innovation. In competition, expensive electronic wearables detect hits and record scores, but most athletes lack access to that equipment in practice. “I had the idea for a sparring vest with a health bar like something from a video game,” Nerad says. 

The team developed an affordable sensor attachment that turns any existing sparring vest into a smart vest capable of detecting and scoring hits, with a gamified “health bar” interface. After placing second in the 2025 Cangialosi Business Innovation Competition, they joined the summer Launchpad program. 

“All of the support we have gotten from UMBC has been instrumental, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without it.” Patel notes. Mentors like Donald Miner ’06, Ph.D. 2010, computer science; and Chris Ewing, an “entrepreneur in residence” at bwtech@UMBC, and especially Fulmer provided guidance: “Without him, we would not have had the encouragement to continue, the accountability to work hard, and the guidance to grow,” Nerad adds. 

They are now refining software and preparing a pilot program with local dojos. “There is no better time to take a chance on an idea than right now,” Nerad advises. “You are surrounded by thousands of brilliant minds at UMBC, and have access to dedicated mentors who genuinely want you to succeed.”

And Kushani Mendis is now thriving at the intersection of research and entrepreneurship. She’s participated in the Center for Sustainable Nanotechnology, represented UMBC in the regional 3-Minute Thesis competition, and completed training at Brookhaven National Lab through UMBC’s Chemistry and Biology Interface program. To younger scientists, she says: “Being a scientist does not have to mean being confined in a lab. You are a human who has a lot of potential that you can give out to the community.”

As Fulmer puts it, “We’ve always been really great at UMBC at training students’ analytical, left-brain development—but our entrepreneurship programs are promoting right-brain skills as well, which are just as important.”

Extending the ecosystem

Faculty, alumni, and the broader community benefit, too. bwtech@UMBC offers state-of-the-art labs and work spaces, educational programming, mentorship, and industry connections. Many alumni and community members have built businesses there that contribute jobs and innovative products and services to the regional economy.

In addition, the Entrepreneurial Skills Training program for faculty in the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences helps principal investigators apply strategic, startup-style thinking to manage their multi-million-dollar research labs. “They’re running a business, whether they like it or not,” says Mason, who originally designed the program that’s now run by Fulmer. “They’re hiring people, buying resources, creating stuff.” 

Finally, the new Entrepreneurial Learning Lab (ELL) pairs faculty with trained students to evaluate research for commercialization potential—without requiring faculty to become full-time CEOs. The inaugural cohort drew strong interest: 23 faculty applied for 10 spots alongside 54 student applications. “We’re not trying to change what faculty do in terms of research and teaching,” Fulmer explains, “but while they’re doing that, think about potential impact.”

This diverse array of entry points—from minors and master’s programs to accelerators, competitions, and faculty-student collaborations—deliberately creates an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem. Ideas from any discipline or career stage have room to grow.

The bigger picture

UMBC’s entrepreneurial ecosystem does more than launch student ventures; it strengthens Maryland’s innovation economy, particularly in biotech, health tech, and advanced materials. The university’s strengths in these areas—coupled with proximity to federal labs and funding—creates what Fulmer calls a “target-rich environment.” Many Launchpad teams naturally transition into bwtech@UMBC’s incubation programs, forming a clear pathway from classroom concept to scalable company.

Today, Mendis’s schedule is packed with interviews of biomedical technology researchers in government, academia, and industry. Her probing questions are helping determine whether her lab’s novel nanomaterials have commercial potential. Rosenzweig’s encouragement and programs like the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (I-Corps), which trains scientists to translate research into societal impact, have been key. She is thriving, balancing independent laboratory research, teaching and mentoring undergraduates, and her entrepreneurial work; she even occasionally finds time to engage her artistic side.

Whether or not students like Mendis ultimately launch businesses, at UMBC, they gain versatile skills—problem-solving, communication, empathy, and resilience—that will serve them across diverse careers. Here, entrepreneurial thinking is not an elective add-on but foundational preparation for an unpredictable world. 

“UMBC’s model—technical excellence plus mindset training—prepares graduates to innovate anywhere,” Fulmer says, “making the university a powerful driver of Maryland’s future.”

With full hearts and eyes fixed on the future, the UMBC Class of 2026 stepped across the stage last week, crossing the threshold into life’s next chapter. Surrounded by family, friends, and mentors, UMBC’s newest alumni embody the university’s spirit of curiosity, resilience, and community.

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Music Director Jonathon Heyward, who addressed graduates from the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, captured the moment: “You are standing in a very unusual place today,” he told the graduates. “You are simultaneously at the end of one journey, and at the very beginning of another.”

Heyward shared his own winding path—from a disastrous childhood solo performance to his unexpected choice of the cello—and encouraged graduates to embrace life’s detours. “Opportunity rarely arrives when you feel fully prepared for it. It arrives unexpectedly,” he said. “Sometimes disguised as inconvenience. Sometimes disguised as failure. … But perspective and resilience allow you to recognize opportunity when it finally appears.”

Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief of the Science family of academic journals, brought candor and optimism to graduates in the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences and the College of Engineering and Information Technology. Celebrating the Retrievers’ perseverance through the pandemic, divisive politics, and more, Thorp reminded graduates that “nobody’s normal,” openly sharing his own autism diagnosis and affirming that mental health challenges do not limit potential. His core messages—“Do the work” and “You’re right on schedule”—resonated with graduates from UMBC, which he described as “the original place where grit translates to achievement.”

A strong and supportive community

The personal stories of the Class of 2026 reflect these same themes of resilience, community, and bold possibility.

Graduates like Katie King’26, a biology and dance double major, Linehan Artist Scholar, and Dance Team co-captain, discovered at UMBC that they needn’t choose between seemingly disparate passions. “When looking at colleges, a lot of them told me I had to choose, but UMBC allowed me to do both,” King says. She leaves prepared to become a physician assistant while continuing to integrate science and the arts.

Others found a supportive community that helped them see new possibilities. Maia Turman Cooke ’26, an English and political science double major and McNair Scholar, reflected, “I never knew what a strong and supportive academic community could look like”—until she arrived at UMBC. That environment propelled her forward, and she will begin a Ph.D. in English while continuing her advocacy work.

Still other graduates overcame self-doubt in demanding technical fields. Carter Gerhardt ’26 switched into computer engineering mid-journey and gained confidence through faculty and peer support. “I’m getting a degree that I originally thought that I couldn’t do,” he said, as he graduates ready for a career in cybersecurity.

Equipped to lead and serve

UMBC awarded nearly 500 master’s and Ph.D. degrees this spring, along with nearly 1,400 bachelor’s degrees across its three colleges, the School of Social Work, and the Erickson School of Aging Studies. Across disciplines—from the humanities and social sciences to natural sciences, engineering, and the arts—UMBC graduates are positioned “to lead and to serve—to strengthen workforces and economies, families and communities, and ultimately, to bring a brighter future for our state, our nation, and our world,” as Maryland Governor Wes Moore said in a Commencement video message.

Zareen Taj, Ph.D. ’26, who earned her doctorate in language, literacy, and culture after fleeing oppression in Afghanistan and Pakistan, described how UMBC empowered her voice and work, epitomizing the university’s commitment to inclusive excellence. “I learned from this journey that I am different. I look different. I work differently. I see things differently, but my difference is not a problem,” she said. “My experience is an asset. It’s my wealth. The UMBC community…supported me at each stage of my life.”

As Heyward told the Class of 2026—just as Taj and so many others have realized through their experiences at UMBC—“The world does not need you to be flawless. It needs you to be bold enough to contribute your voice.”

Any graduates who plan to continue their academic journey at UMBC should take advantage of Free Graduate Application Week May 27 – June 3.

Read more about this year’s inspiring Class of 2026. 

Cinderella better find her slippers because UMBC is going dancing again! With a 74-59 win over no. 2 University of Vermont on Saturday, UMBC men’s basketball will return to NCAA Tournament play for the first time since 2018. They also clinched another America East title before a packed home court at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena. Selection Sunday results are in and our Retrievers will be taking on Howard University for a play-in game on Tuesday in Dayton. This will be the third NCAA tournament appearance for UMBC. 

Cheer on the team at a watch party

A showdown between the Retrievers and the Catamounts is one supporters have come to eagerly anticipate each season. Vermont won nine of the last 12 overall matchups prior to Saturday’s win and this was the teams’ fifth battle for the America East Championship. And despite Vermont’s no. 1 ranking and UMBC’s no. 7 in the America East preseason poll, the Retrievers proved once again never to count out an underdog. 

Even before Saturday’s victory, UMBC already inked its place in athletics history by producing  the men’s basketball’s best conference regular season in program history. The win against UVM marks the 12th straight win for the Retrievers and sets a new all-time program record. 

“This achievement is a credit to these guys, who are a selfless group who just really cares about playing basketball,” said head men’s basketball coach Jim Ferry. “To be rewarded with that and leave a mark at UMBC is special, and I think they are all very proud of that.” 

Shooting their shot

Fans (and strangers) may recall UMBC’s historic upset in 2018 when they became the first men’s no. 16 seed to overthrow a no. 1 seed in NCAA history. Besting UVM in the America East final this year was especially reminiscent of that legendary season when UMBC also prevailed against Vermont. Since getting their first taste of March Madness success, the Retrievers have been fighting doggedly to return to the national stage. This season, the hard work paid off. 

Three Retrievers made the America East All-Conference Team. Junior guard Jah’Likai King was named First Team, while graduate student guard DJ Armstrong Jr., and junior guard Ace Valentine earned Second Team honors. This marks the first time since 2021 – 22 that the Retrievers have had three players recognized on one of the three All-Conference teams.

Leading his players by example, Ferry was also named America East’s Coach of the Year. He racked up his 400th career win at Maine earlier in the season and is the first coach in UMBC’s program history to do so. 

In good company

Far from the only team to impress the crowds, women’s basketball stunned with buzzer beaters and dramatic come-from-behind victories this season. Setting the stage in the quarterfinals against NJIT, junior Jade Tillman dropped a bucket with one second left on the clock to advance the Retrievers to the semifinals with a score of 66-65. The Retrievers have been selected to play in the 2026 Women’s National Invitational Tournament.

In the America East Semifinals, UMBC women’s basketball took on top-seeded Vermont on the road on Monday, March 9. Despite an exhausting double overtime thriller, UMBC ultimately conceded to the Catamounts with a score of 68-65 to close out the season. 

In February, the Retrievers cracked open the record books to add two more milestones to the history of UMBC Athletics. For the first time, the women’s track and field team captured the America East Indoor Championship title. In addition, the men’s swimming and diving team reclaimed their America East title for the first time since 2023. This marks their 15th win in 20 seasons. Junior Ashley Gutshall, history, competed in the NCAA swimming and diving championships, the first Retriever to qualify for NCAA’s since 2017.

Check umbcretrievers.com for all updates and be ready to cheer on #RetrieverNation! 

This past weekend, the Retrievers cracked open the record books to ink two more milestones in the history of UMBC Athletics. For the first time in university history, the women’s track and field team captured the America East Indoor Championship title. In addition, the men’s swimming and diving team reclaimed their America East title for the first time since 2023. This marks their 15th win in 20 seasons. 

First of many

Despite the looming chilly weather, the women’s track and field team proved to be on a heater at Boston University on Saturday, February 21. With 163 total points, the Retrievers overtook defending champion UAlbany (143 points) and Bryant (116.83 points). 

There was no shortage of team and individual honors for the newly-crowned champs. UMBC was named America East Coaching Staff of the Year, led by David Bobb. 

With a time of 3:44.12, a 4×400 relay team of current student-athletes Lily Bandy, Dalyce Schmidt, political science; Leanne McDonald, psychology; and Anna Creel, computer science, nabbed not only a gold medal, but also set a new meet record time, beating their own record set in 2022. 

Sophomore Katie Schwaner, history, earned both Outstanding Track Performer of the Meet and the America East Coaches Award. First-year student Enazajah Young, political science, continued to add to her remarkable first season, receiving Most Outstanding Rookie and setting a new school record in the 60-meter hurdles to bring home a gold. 

Return to glory

Despite a remarkable legacy of excellence, the America East title has eluded UMBC men’s swimming and diving for the past two years, the longest break in their winning streak since joining the America East Conference in 2004. This year, the Retrievers broke the spell and came out on top to defeat two-time defending champion Binghamton. 

With a final total of 805.5 points, the Retrievers finished 50+ points ahead of Binghamton in second (748 points) and Bryant in third with 572.5 points. Despite the two-year hiatus, the Retrievers proved to still be a force to be reckoned with, racking up individual and team accolades. 

Led by Matt Donovan, UMBC again received Most Outstanding Coaching Staff honors. 

“This was an entire team win in every aspect for our third men’s team championship in five years,” said Donovan. “From the athletes in the water, to all of our supporters back at UMBC, and of course to our women’s team and what they bring to our program every day.” 

Senior Sean Neils, financial economics, earned athletic and academic honors, collecting individual medals and earning the America East Elite 18 Award for being the student-athlete with the highest GPA—a 4.0 in his case. 

First-year student Braden Weise set a meet record time of 43.58 in the 100 free, earning a gold, and was named Most Outstanding Rookie. The rest of his teammates followed suit with Neils grabbing silver, junior Matthew So, computer science, taking home bronze, and sophomore Axel Mori, economics, finishing in fourth, sweeping the 100 free and solidifying the title win for the Retrievers. 

Although women’s swimming and diving fell short of team title, junior Ashley Gutshall, history, set a record across UMBC and the America East with a time of 22.25 in the 50 meter. Gutshall took home a gold and qualified in the event for the NCAA Championship on March 20 in Atlanta. 

“Shortly after the meet was completed, I was asked on deck what my thoughts were and what I said then still rings true now—UMBC is a very special place and we are so proud to represent Retriever Nation,” said Donovan.

Courting a win

While the Retrievers secured their spots in the pool and on the track, UMBC men’s basketball is still in the throes of chasing another America East title. After a hard-fought win against UAlbany (66-62) this past Saturday, the Retrievers clinched a top four seed in America East Conference Tournament play. This was the sixth straight win for UMBC and it cemented hosting rights for a quarterfinal game on March 7. 

The Retrievers are 11-2 in conference play this season and 18-8 overall. They currently sit in first place in the conference. The last game of the regular season is this Thursday, February 26, at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena at 6 p.m. against Bryant. All faculty, staff, and their families are eligible for free tickets to cheer on UMBC. 

UMBC researchers are discovering building blocks of hand motions, aiming to improve physical therapy for humans and find better ways to program robots. They’re turning to a novel source material for these gestures: classical Indian dance. 

Fossil records suggest that between four and six million years ago, the hominin ancestors of modern humans first stood up and walked on two legs—thus freeing their hands. Those hands went on to craft humanity’s story arc: cradling babies, carrying food, fashioning and wielding weapons, carving the woodblocks used to print the first paper books, running over the keys of a piano in a Rachmaninoff concerto, and even planting a flag on the surface of the moon. 

“Hands are incredibly important to humans,” says Ramana Vinjamuri, an associate professor of computer science and electrical engineering whose work has focused on understanding how the brain controls complex hand movements. 

Vinjamuri personally witnessed the debilitating impact of loss of hand movement when his mother suffered a stroke in 2014. “The very hand that taught me how to draw, how to write—I saw that hand irrevocably paralyzed. It was really hard for the family.”

The experience motivated Vinjamuri to work on technologies that could help people regain lost motor functions or serve as robotic replacements for injured body parts. As part of the research, the team began searching for and cataloging the building blocks of hand motions.  Further inspiration struck when Vinjamuri attended a scientific conference on the brain, hosted by the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi in the serene foothills of the Himalayas. While brainstorming ideas for a session of the conference focused on ways that ancient Indian traditions might be applied to modern problems, Vinjamuri conceived a novel approach to deriving these building blocks—from the structured hand gestures of Indian classical dance.

Ramana Vinjamuri in the Vinjamuri lab, stands with a Unitree bipedal robot.

A Complex and Versatile Instrument

Mitra, a humanoid robot produced by Invento Robotics, a company founded by UMBC alumnus Balaji Viswanathan, M.S ’06, Ph.D. ’23, computer science. The researchers programmed Mitra to make letters of the American Sign Language alphabet by combining the mudras-derived alphabets of movement, in this case making the letter E.

Take a moment to consider your hands. Including the wrist, each hand has 27 joints. Some of those joints, such as the carpometacarpal joint at the base of the thumb, can move in multiple ways, such as rotating, bending, and moving toward or away from the center of the palm. The full hand encompasses billions of possible unique combinations of movements. 

“To study something as complex as the hand is fascinating,” says Parthan Olikkal, a longtime member of Vinjamuri’s lab who is currently working toward his Ph.D in computer science and is deeply involved in recent research efforts.

To get a grip on the complexities, the team has turned to a concept called kinematic synergies. First extensively explored in the mid-20th century by Russian physiologist Nikolai Bernstein, synergies are essentially building blocks of movement in which the brain simultaneously coordinates multiple joint movements to simplify complex motions.

The concept can be used to deconstruct a dazzling diversity of movements into a limited number of fundamental units, similar to how the hundreds of thousands of different words in the English language can be broken down into only 26 letters.  

Vinjamuri and his students have been on a quest to discover the “alphabets” of human hand movements we’ve collectively learned through hundreds of dropped sippy cups, hours of handwriting practice, and the like. The hope is that the knowledge could then be used as a “hack”—to more effectively train ourselves and our robotic assistants in the future. 

“The way we interact with our surroundings—the way we grasp objects or move through space—feels so natural and effortless. We often forget we stumbled and fell as children while our brains and bodies were learning to coordinate.”

— Ramana Vinjamuri, associate professor of computer science and electrical engineering

Natural Versus Structured Movements

Ashwathi Menon, co-caption of the Adaa Indian fusion dance team, stopped by the lab for a photo shoot in October. Here she appears on the computer screen as the team demonstrates how to use a simple camera and software system to recognize hand movements.

A small statue representing the Hindu god Shiva in the form of Nataraja, the cosmic dancer. Ramana Vinjamuri keeps the statue in his office. (Photo courtesy of Vinjamuri)

As part of their latest research on alphabets of hand movements, Vinjamuri and his students analyzed a dataset of 30 natural hand grasps. The movements are used for picking up objects ranging in size from large water bottles to tiny beads. The researchers found six synergies, akin to an alphabet of six letters, that when combined could account for nearly 99 percent of the variations in movements represented in the full dataset. 

The first two synergies alone—specifically a movement in which all five fingers wrap around an object and a movement in which the index finger and thumb pinch together—could account for more than 90 percent of the variations. Learning (or relearning) those two movements would be essential to training a hand to pick up objects, the researchers say.

However, the team also says that studying natural grasps has limitations.

“Natural grasp is unique to the motor learning history of an individual,” says Olikkal. “So the way I do something might be completely different from another person.” The grasps also represented limited functionality, containing only a small subset of ways that a person might use their hands. 

“Bharatanatyam is an intricate, linear, and structured dance form with a lot of precision,” says Ashwathi Menon, a UMBC junior majoring in bioinformatics and computational biology who is co-captain of the university’s Adaa Indian fusion dance team and who has been performing classical Indian dances since she was four years old. “Hand gestures are part of the storytelling. They are very precise. They can be used to point, to represent an animal, to represent praying—those are just some examples.”

“We noticed dancers tend to age super gracefully: They remain flexible and agile because they have been training,” says Vinjamuri. “That was a huge inspiration for us when we started looking for richer alphabets of movement. With dance, we are looking not just at healthy movement but super healthy. And so the question became, could we find a ‘superhuman’ alphabet from the dance gestures?” 

Mitra’s hands use three types of motors for movement. The strongest motor, located at the shoulder, handles shoulder flexion and extension, while a medium-torque motor at the elbow controls elbow movements, and five servo motors, one for each digit, are used to control the fingers.

Chris Dollo (left), a senior computer science major and undergraduate researcher in the Vinjamuri lab, and Parthan Olikkal (right) work at the computer. Olikkal brought the concept of capturing hand movements using simple camera set-ups into the lab, a key step toward making cost-effective technologies.

Dance-Derived Alphabets of Movement

Ashwathi Menon demonstrates mudras, which are copied by an Inspire robotic hand. From top to bottom the mudras are: Ardhachandra, meaning “half moon;” Chandrakala, meaning “crescent moon;” and Tripataka, meaning “three parts of the flag.” The mudras can demonstrate various elements of a story, including weapons, trees, flowers, or concepts such as balance, unity, and beauty.

Using the same techniques they had deployed to deconstruct the 30 natural hand grasps, the research team also analyzed 30 single-hand mudras. They found six synergies that could account for around 94 percent of the mudras’ variations.

Crucially, the team then tested how well the six natural grasp-derived synergies could combine to construct unrelated hand motions—in this case 15 letters of the American Sign Language alphabet—compared to the mudras-derived synergies. The mudras synergies significantly outperformed the natural hand grasp synergies on that task. 

“When we started this type of research more than 15 years ago, we wondered: Can we find a golden alphabet that can be used to reconstruct anything?” says Vinjamuri. “Now I highly doubt that there is such a thing. But the mudras-derived alphabet is definitely better than the natural grasp alphabet because there is more dexterity and more flexibility.”

Ultimately, Vinjamuri envisions coming up with libraries of task-specific alphabets that can be deployed depending on the needs, be it completing everyday household chores such as cooking or folding laundry, or something more complicated and precise, such as playing an instrument. 

Robotic Helping Hands

Apart from advancing understanding of the fundamental roots of movement, the team has made great strides developing cost-effective and pragmatic methods of testing and implementing their ideas. When Vinjamuri first started the work, his team relied on motion-capture systems that required specialized gloves and other equipment. Now, the team uses a simple camera and software system to recognize, record, and analyze movements.

“Parthan brought the concept of capturing hand movements using cameras into the lab and really developed it,” Vinjamuri said. It’s an important contribution to ultimately making cost-effective technologies that people could use in their homes, he says, such as a virtual system to coach people through physical therapy sessions. 

The team is also successfully developing techniques to “teach” robotic hands the alphabets of movements and how to combine them to make new hand gestures. The approach marks a departure from standard techniques of teaching robots to mimic hand gestures, and toward a method rooted in our understanding of how the human body and brain work.

Ashwathi Menon, left, demonstrates the Katakamukha mudra while a robotic hand mimics her gesture. The mudra is often used to represent actions like plucking flowers, holding a necklace, and pulling a bowstring.

“It’s called biomimetic learning,” says Vinjamuri. “We want to watch how a human body moves, how a hand moves and works, and we want to derive those principles and apply them to machines.”

The researchers are testing the techniques on a stand-alone robotic hand and a humanoid robot, each of which operates in a different way and requires a unique approach to translating the mathematical representations of synergies into physical movements.

“Once I learned about synergies, I became so curious to see if we could use them to make a robotic hand respond and perform the same way as a human hand,” says Olikkal. “Adding my own work to the research efforts and seeing the results has been gratifying.”

These moments of satisfaction in finding solutions to knotty problems will continue to propel the team’s voyage of discovery. They may even take a moment to celebrate their successes—perhaps with a fitting high-five. 

Could A Dancing Robot Improve Humans’ Mental Health?

By Catherine Meyers  •  Photography by Kiirstn Pagan ’11

Searching for an alphabet of hand movements from the gestures in classical Indian dance is not the only way that art is inspiring and guiding new research in Ramana Vinjamuri’s lab. In a related project, Vinjamuri has teamed up with Andrea Kleinsmith, an associate professor in information systems who specializes in ways that computers can assess humans’ emotions, and Ann Sofie Clemmensen, an associate professor of dance, to explore whether and how dancing robots might offer humans new tools to improve their mental health. The research piggybacks off established practices of human-to-human dance/movement therapy, which can be used to treat some mental health challenges, such as schizophrenia, anxiety, and depression.

Dancers Sarah McHale ’24 and Juju Ayoub ’25 perform during the AccelNet meeting. The dance was a demonstration of a collaborative research project by UMBC faculty Ramana Vinjamuri, Andrea Kleinsmith, and Ann Sofie Clemmensen exploring stress reducing technology.

The spark for the interdisciplinary venture was struck when the College of Engineering and Information Technology launched a program to encourage faculty to explore collaborations across disciplines to tackle big challenges. 

Together, Vinjamuri, Kleinsmith and Clemmensen developed a proposal to investigate questions such as whether the coordination in a person’s arms and legs could be a proxy measure of mental well-being, how existing dance therapy movements affect brain activity, and how a humanoid robot dance partner compares in effectiveness to a flesh-and-blood one.

“As a healthcare opportunity, dancing with a robot may sound weird at first,” notes Clemmensen. But, she says, people who are socially isolated or struggle with the stressors of human interactions might benefit from robot partners. “As humans, we project emotions on objects, but the objects do not judge back.”

In June, the team creatively demonstrated their progress to brain researchers and artists from around the world when they choreographed a technology-infused dance performance for the Movement, Music, and Brain Health National Science Foundation AccelNet meeting on the UMBC campus. 

Two dancers—one representing a robot and the other a human—took turns moving around each other. Sensors monitored physiological signs of stress on the human dancer. As the dance progressed, the human was at first fearful, then curious, and finally happy—an ending the researchers hope their own project might one day also accomplish.

UMBC students and professors who worked on the project gather on the stage after the dance performance. From left to right are Viraj Janeja, Oritsejolomisan Mebaghanje, Golnaz Moharrer, Sruthi Sundharram, Parthan Olikkal, Ramana Vinjamuri, Juju Ayoub, Andrea Kleinsmith, Sarah McHale, and Ann Sofie Clemmensen.

Photo Credit: Niloufar Sarmast

Moments after the final notes of a Mozart flute concerto resounded from the walls of UMBC’s Linehan Concert Hall, the sold-out audience rose to their feet to applaud Martha Long, principal flutist of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Beside her, conductor Jonathon Heyward beamed in admiration, letting the applause linger before signaling the start of the next piece. 

The BSO’s concert on September 17 served as a fitting kick off for Arts+ at UMBC, a new initiative created to uplift the visual and performing arts at UMBC and to bring the surrounding community to campus to enjoy a vibrant celebration of creativity. 

“As the inaugural performing arts event of our 2025 – 26 season, the BSO’s performance perfectly exemplified the power of the arts to bring together a diverse community—students, alumni, faculty, staff, donors, and the general public—for a marvelous shared experience,” says Tom Moore, co-chair of the Arts+ initiative and director of arts and culture. “As we build on the momentum of the BSO, it’s our intention that Arts+ events across the disciplines create similar opportunities to build a more vibrant campus community, to raise awareness of the excellence in our arts programs, and to establish UMBC as a renowned destination point for exhibitions, performances, lectures, and more.”

Impact of the arts

Throughout the year, Arts+ will explore a number of thematic areas, including Trailblazers; The Harlem Renaissance; Space, Place, and Justice; Connecting the Arts; and Artful Stories. Programming will celebrate not only work produced by faculty, departments, and centers, but also highlight student-produced pieces. Through a partnership with the Division of Student Affairs, more than 40 student events ranging from film festivals to exhibitions to music theater will celebrate the impact of the arts on the lives of our students, regardless of major.

With the support of the Arts+ initiative, alumni and student organizations are adding their artistic endeavors and passion for creativity to the campus landscape. For Jayden Rhodes ’25, design leader of the Cheeky Magpie Collective, that means helping transform the Fine Arts Building with window art on all five levels with playful shapes and colors. “We wanted to create a vibrant and energetic composition that called attention to the creativity contained within the university’s walls while also encouraging the emerging artists at UMBC,” says Rhodes, a Linehan Artist Scholar. The Cheeky Magpie Collective is made up of fellow class of 2025 design majors Gwen Knott, Jalen Boyd, Thomas Hammond, and Ni Truong.

On December 5, there will be a campus celebration of the Arts+ programming, says Linda Dusman, co-chair of the Arts+. “This is our pilot year—we’ve never done anything this big,” says Dusman, music professor, who looks forward to seeing the interdisciplinary success of the initiative, threading all of UMBC’s arts programming together more seamlessly. The end-of-fall celebration will feature collaborative performances and exhibits from each art department and center on campus. In one night, the festival atmosphere will highlight all the possibilities the arts possess. “Especially in dark times, art can bring things into focus that allow for reflecting, enjoyment, and processing,” says Dusman. She adds: “Everyone is going to be shining that night.”  

Find other Arts+ events and keep up with UMBC’s arts and culture on campus. 

Kayla Logue ’27 is a 2025 UCM intern and Linehan Scholar who is majoring in dance.

As the fall 2025 semester takes off at UMBC, the campus hums with the energy of our largest-ever incoming class, reflecting a Retriever spirit that draws talent from near and far. With total undergraduate enrollment rising 2.6 percent, this fall UMBC welcomed 2,280 first-time, first-year students and over 870 new transfer students. In addition, an increased first-year retention rate shows UMBC’s supportive environment helps students thrive and stay the course toward their goals.

“We are thrilled to welcome another record-breaking first-year class,” shares Yvette Mozie-Ross ’88, vice provost for enrollment management and planning. “What excites us most is this year’s geographically diverse student body, with more international, out-of-state, and Baltimore City undergraduates, fostering a vibrant campus community.”

Diving into community

Welcome, Retrievers kicked off on August 23 with the excitement of move-in day, where family, friends, faculty, and staff helped Retrievers settle into their home away from home. As new arrivals hauled storage bins, they bonded with roommates and volunteers through laughter and shared anticipation. Commuting students connected with each other at Commuter Welcome Day. 

Among the many activities that set the stage for the year ahead, Involvement Fest drew hundreds of students. Filling the Retriever Activities Center, more than 200 student organizations invited students to join academic clubs, sports, Greek life, service groups, and more. These activities give all students the chance to explore their interests and find new ones while developing lasting friendships. 

“I’m looking forward to meeting new people and also spending time with my friends,” shared Annamarie Walther, a senior financial economics major, at Involvement Fest. As the communications lead for the Catholic Retrievers, “I’m excited to serve,” she added. 

An institution where you belong

A few days earlier at UMBC’s Fall Opening Meeting, first-year student Andrew Whipple shared that attending college was never a given for him. “Being here at UMBC is about more than just academics,” Whipple, a visual arts major and a Linehan Artist Scholar, shared. “It’s about breaking barriers and creating a future for myself that I can be proud of.”

Archana Thakkar, an incoming transfer student pursuing a degree in business technology administration, also shared hopes held by many students. “I am excited to join UMBC and become part of a community that thrives on collaboration and innovation. I look forward to building connections with professors and classmates, engaging in student organizations, and taking part in opportunities that encourage both personal and academic growth,” Thakkar says. “More than anything, I am eager to contribute to the vibrant spirit of UMBC while learning from the diverse perspectives that make this university so special.” 

At Convocation, UMBC President Valerie Sheares Ashby officially ushered in the start of a new school year. She shared an uplifting message with students, faculty, and staff, promising all would be supported as they pursued their potential. “I want you to know that you have come to an institution that wants you here and that is sure that you belong and that you can be successful,” she said, “even if you are not so sure yourself yet.” 

After Convocation, attendees spilled out of the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena and toward a lively cookout on the Quad. As conversation and lemonade flowed, strangers began to turn into friends, setting the tone for a year of achievement among community.