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Donna Ruginski and bwtech@UMBC finalists for CAMI’s Maryland Cybersecurity Awards

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Congratulations to UMBC’s Donna Ruginski and bwtech@UMBC Research and Technology Park for their selection as finalists in the Cybersecurity Association of Maryland’s Fifth Annual Maryland Cybersecurity Awards.

Donna Ruginski is a finalist for the Cyber Warrior Woman Award, which honors a woman doing extraordinary or exemplary work in Maryland’s cybersecurity industry. She is UMBC’s Executive Director for Cybersecurity Initiatives in the Office of the Vice President for Research. She is responsible for the strategic positioning and growth of UMBC’s cybersecurity partnerships, research, and programs.

The bwtech@UMBC Research and Technology Park is a finalist for the Cybersecurity Industry Resource Award, which celebrates a non-cybersecurity business, organization, academic institution, or government agency that has significantly contributed to Maryland’s cybersecurity industry through its products, services, or mission.

Finalists were selected by an independent panel of judges represented by leaders in a variety of fields. One winner from each category will be announced at the Maryland Cybersecurity Awards Celebration on September 22, 2021, 5 PM – 8 PM at Maryland Live! Casino.

All finalists are automatically entered into the People’s Choice Award category. The public is invited to vote online to determine who will receive the coveted Cybersecurity People’s Choice Award. The winner will be announced during the virtual Awards Celebration on September 22, 2021. Vote for your choice here.

The Cybersecurity Association of Maryland, Inc. (CAMI) is a statewide nonprofit organization established in 2015. It is Maryland’s only organization dedicated 100% to the growth of Maryland’s cybersecurity industry. 

The post UMBC’s Donna Ruginski and bwtech@UMBC finalists for CAMI’s Maryland Cybersecurity Awards appeared first on Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering.

Are you a first year or transfer student? Are you a sophomore joining us on campus for the first time? Are you looking for opportunities to get connected, develop lasting relationships, and kick off the year strong? If you answered YES to any of these questions, i3b has you covered! Join us over the next several weeks for multiple chances to get connected! You can even grab an “i3b Punch Card” and be entered to win any number of prizes after you visit all three of our spaces.

Where, When, and How You Can Find Us:

Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Diversity programming and lounge space

The Mosaic: Center for Cultural Diversity is located in TheCommons Building, room 2B23. You can connect with Carlos Turcios, i3b Coordinator, in The Mosaic, Tuesday – Thursday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. or virtually during his virtual Office Hours Mondays and on Fridays from 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. EST at https://umbc.webex.com/meet/carlos6 

LGBTQ+ Diversity programming and lounge space

Join us in the Pride Center which is located in the University Center, room 201D. You can connect with Lucy Delgado, i3b Coordinator, in the Pride Center Tuesday – Thursday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. or virtually during her virtual Office Hours on Mondays & Fridays from 10:00-11:30 a.m. EST at https://umbc.webex.com/meet/ldelgado 

Religious, Spiritual, Faith Oriented Diversity programming and gathering space

The Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being is located in room 103 of the Center for Well-Being building, and prioritizes use for religious student organizations and students who need space for foot washing, prayer, and other related gatherings. The Gathering Space is open from Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Please contact Lisa Gray and Dr. Jasmine Lee with any questions or needs at i3b@umbc.edu. 

What’s going on and how you can get connected:

Interact Dialogues – September 5 – October 18, 2021

TheInteract Dialogues Program, is an experience designed for first year and transfer students to learn and practice skills to become inclusive leaders and engaged community members. Each dialogue group is facilitated by Resident Assistants and past Interact participants. You will meet in-person small groups for a short, weekly session to learn foundational dialogues skills, and to practice empathetic and generous listening, cross-cultural storytelling, and critical self-reflection. Participating in Interact also makes you eligible to apply for our IDEAL internship peer facilitators program! For more information or to sign up, email us atinteract@umbc.edu.

Calling from the Couch Virtual Open House – September 2, 2021 12:30 – 2:00p.m.

Join i3b's Carlos & Lucy as your hosts for our Instagram Live to give you a tour, as they call from the couches of the Mosaic, Pride, and Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being! You will have the opportunity to see our community spaces, learn about Fall programs, and also get to know more about Carlos and Lucy. We might run into some special guests along the way, so don't miss out! Tune in on Instagram- @umbc_i3b and you can also catch it afterwards on our page.Find out more information HERE!

Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being Open House – September 3, 2021 12:00-1:00p.m.

Join us for a peek into our BRAND NEW building and BRAND NEW space! The Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being engages diversity at the intersection of religion, faith, spirituality, and holistic well-being. From 12:00-1:00pm you can tour our space, connect with i3b staff, religious organization members, student leaders, and religious/spiritual advisors. RSVP HERE!

i3b Welcome Home Reception – September 9, 2021 6:00-9:00 p.m.

Join us as we celebrate the racial and cultural, spiritual, and LGBTQ+ diversity of UMBC! This reception is for all students, staff, and faculty to come together, connect and build community. During the reception you will, have an opportunity to

·  meet our Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion & Belonging (i3b) staff

·  meet students leading diversity, inclusion and social justice efforts across campus

·  learn about cultural, spiritual/religious, and social action-oriented student organizations

·  learn about social justice and inclusion-based resources, including our three on campus spaces: The Mosaic and Pride Centers, and our Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being

·  connect with faculty and staff who are excited to meet YOU!

·  learn about our fall semester events and opportunities designed just for YOU!

RSVP HERE! Have any questions? Please contact Lisa Gray, Associate Director at i3b@umbc.edu.

Pizza @ Pride - September 17, 2021 12:00-2:00 p.m.

Join us in the Pride Center for our monthly event-Pizza at Pride! This will be an informal time to connect in the Pride Center, enjoy FREE pizza, and play games in the lounge. Our first theme is First Year! We want to especially welcome our first year students and those who will be on-campus for the first time to the Pride Center lounge space. Upper class and graduate students are welcome to share stories of their first year as we dive into #i3bfirstyear programming, and of course eat pizza too! All are welcome to attend. RSVP HERE!If there are specific dietary needs for this event, please don't hesitate to reach out to i3b@umbc.edu 

Bagels & Banter: What’s Up in 2021 Part II - September 24, 2021 1:00-2:15 p.m. @ The Mosaic

Bagels & Banter is Mosaic’s pop-up series where we discuss trending global, national, or population based topics in an informal casual atmosphere. A new academic year should mean new beginnings, right? Is it really a new beginning or has it become a 2020 "2.0?" Pop in to chat about what you're looking forward to in Fall 2021 or if you think it's time to return to your trial of 2021. This is a time to talk about anything that comes to mind from anything ranging from the most recent TikToks to recent topics in pop-culture. 

All are welcome to attend. RSVP HERE!If there are specific dietary needs for this event, please don't hesitate to reach out to i3b@umbc.edu 

Pangea Cultural Showcase – October 1, 2021 6:00-9:00 p.m.

UMBC is bursting with cultural diversity! We are so excited to partner with cultural and ethnic student organizations at UMBC to showcase everything from organization information to cultural traditions to meaningful dances and performances. Join us on October 1, 2021 from 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. for student organizations, performances, & free snacks on The Quad.RSVP HERE!

“How to College” sessions w/ i3b & the Academic Success Center 

Transitioning into college is not always easy… especially if you are first in your family to attend, if you are a part of a marginalized community, or if you regularly find yourself with more questions than answers. Don’t worry, we are here to help! Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion & Belonging (i3b) has partnered with the Academic Success Center to bring you three sessions that focus on helping you develop the skills and tools you need to experience first year success! Sessions will take place virtually on October 19 and 26 and November 2 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. Not only will we explore academic success skills and principles, we will also explore tools for navigating issues of discrimination, bias and microaggressions within academic spaces, and focus on the many ways our identities are assets within the college environment. Join us by RSVPing below for any or all three of the following sessions:

How to College: Exploring Successful Skills and Tools for First Year Students

How to College: Knowing What to Expect and How to Navigate Identity-Based Challenges

How to College: Bringing YOU into the Classroom

by Asmaa Hasan, chemical engineering '22  

Last week, I completed my second summer internship as a STEM Student Employment Program (SSEP) intern at Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). Over the past 13 weeks, I had the opportunity to be involved with various unique experiences in the Chemical, Biological, and Radiological (CBR) Defense Division.
 
I helped plan and execute a week-long test event that analyzed new chemical and radiological detection equipment. The event tested the new equipment capabilities against current equipment. Marines were outfitted with the developmental equipment provided by various government agencies to perform test scenarios. I co-lead the training of the marines on the new gear. I also wrote a safety brief for the event that was presented to over 75+ military and civilian personnel on a daily basis for the duration of the event. I was the Data Collection Lead during the test event and managed a small team of 4. I worked directly alongside the Test Director and marine officers to coordinate and run the trials of the test scenarios.
 
Additionally, I worked on a project in relation to CBR defense efforts at the Pentagon for a couple days. I obtained my 1st challenge coin from this project!
 
Opportunities like this are few and far between. I am grateful I was able to have this experience where I grew both personally and professionally. Not only was this a great learning experience, but also a fun one! I was able to ride and drive around on a Polaris vehicle with some marines (we got it to its top speed!) and had a tour of the Pentagon.
 
I may have had the job title of an intern, but I was treated as a fellow engineer. Towards the end of the summer, I was pleasantly surprised to find out I was promoted within the year since I started in this role in 2020. Now, I am looking forward to starting my senior year at UMBC this week and hope to apply the new skills and knowledge I learned to my coursework and future opportunities!

[Originally posted on LinkedIn, reposted with permission]

Women's Center Fall 2021 Hours of Operation: