Congratulations to Erika Bucciantini, the 2026 recipient of the Bernard L. Berkowitz Memorial award.  Erika is a doctoral student in The School of Public Policy at UMBC with a specialization in Urban Policy. She holds a Bachelors in Humanities & Social Sciences from Western Washington University and a Masters in Classical Studies from the University of Kentucky with additional certification from the Institute for Latin Studies. Her research interests include the impact of neoclassical monuments and architecture in the American landscape, land use, and displacement. As a Graduate Assistant, she is proudly supporting Dr. Loren Henderson in her research on the plight of Black farmers in America. Erika’s other pursuits have included teaching and presenting in the areas of Ancient Studies, World Languages, English, and Humanities, serving on the citizen input board for the Dickerson Area facilities in Montgomery County, and keeping a large garden and a small flock of chickens.

Erika will be recognized in a brief ceremony on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 4pm in the AOK Library Gallery.  

Following the precentation, Dr. Eric Stokan's Urban Problems and Policy Analysis students will present their "neighborhood development plans" as part of a collaboration with the Urban Land Institute of Baltimore.  More information about the simulations can be found in this May 2024 article.