The Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation is now accepting applications for the fall Idea and Innovation Challenge!

Enter your idea in the Idea and Innovation Challenge and win up to $800!

Open to both Undergrad and Graduate students!

Tracks:

• Technology & Innovation: Tech-driven solutions and novel product ideas.
• Social Impact: Concepts focused on societal and environmental good.
• Spark Track: No idea of your own? Solve this year's Spark Challenge: How to inspire high school students in Baltimore to stay engaged and graduate high school

Visit the website for details and submit your entry today!

Submission Deadline: Friday, October 9th at 1 pm

Idea and Innovation Challenge Application Link

Please join RGPN McNair at our Saturday Academy grad skills workshops, focusing on evaluating peer-reviewed sources and datasets!

October 3, 2026 

1-2:30pm 
Evaluating Peer-Reviewed Sources 
Session Leader: Erika Bucciantini, PhD Student, Public Policy, UMBC 

Erika Bucciantini 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.  

IN-PERSON REGISTRATION: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/public-mcnair/events/154470  
ZOOM REGISTRATION: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/9qHY2HdyQ3uYB7qnjYH_Sg 
 
2:30-4pm 
Evaluating Datasets for Academic Research 
Session Leader: Dr. Michael Rosenblum, Professor of Biostatistics,  Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University 

Dr. Michael Rosenblum is a Professor of Biostatistics at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and is interested in developing innovative clinical trial designs and open-source software to efficiently learn which treatments work best for which populations. He also works in causal inference applications and model robustness misspecification (i.e. quantitative methodology), and applies his work in the forensics area outside of that. 

IN-PERSON REGISTRATION: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/public-mcnair/events/154471  
ZOOM REGISTRATION: 
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/LrdDuthSRGmseZ1SbdxCFw 

Dear Graduate Students,

The cooler temperatures mean the changing of seasons is officially here–along with a well-deserved Fall Recess right around the corner. I hope you are finding a moment to pause and recharge after a first busy month of the semester.

As the leaves change colors and a new autumn begins, GSA is also transitioning leadership. My name is Kennedy, and I have the pleasure of serving as your GSA President this year. The GSA is here to serve you and your needs. We are your voice and your biggest advocate. This year, our guiding mission is leading with purpose and building with community, ensuring you have the necessary support, connections, and resources to be successful.

I know firsthand how isolating grad school can be when you’re swamped with coursework, research, and TA duties. I’ve experienced how the GSA can transform that isolation into genuine belonging. Whether you need someone to listen, answer a tough question, or point you toward the right campus resource, we have your back.

I encourage you to step outside your department and take advantage of the events and opportunities we have to offer this year. You might be surprised by the friendships and connections you make.

If you have any questions, concerns, or want to schedule a meeting, please feel free to email me at gsapresident@umbc.edu.

I look forward to meeting you–see you around campus!

Warmly,

Kennedy Davis

Closing off soon.

Looking to strengthen your networking skills in a supportive, low-pressure environment? Join the UMBC Career Center and the Division of Professional Studies for The Dos and Don’ts of Networking, a fun and informative workshop designed specifically for graduate students who want to make better connections and feel more confident in professional settings.

The event will kick-off with a welcome and icebreaker to help you warm up and meet fellow grad students. Then, we’ll dive into a practical presentation covering what to do (and what not to do) when building professional relationships, whether at conferences, career events, or casual mixers.

You’ll leave with:

✅ A clearer understanding of effective networking techniques

✅ Tips for avoiding common mistakes

✅ Practice connecting with others in a relaxed, peer-to-peer setting

We’ll end the evening with guided networking practice, giving you a chance to apply what you’ve learned in real time — and yes, there will be food and drinks to keep the conversation flowing!

To guarantee your seat, you must RSVP in Handshake.

Who Should Attend: Graduate students from any discipline who want to improve their networking skills and feel more at ease in professional conversations.

Come for the insights, stay for the snacks, and walk away with stronger networking skills and new connections.

This educational, networking-focused event is proudly funded by the Janet C. Rutledge Graduate Student Well-Being Award, which focuses on the critical link between social connection, professional confidence, and graduate student well-being.

Please note: UMBC is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive environment for all faculty, staff, students, and visitors. If you would like to request accommodations for this event due to a disability, please notify us at least two weeks prior to the event. Requests received after that time cannot be guaranteed, but we will do our best to make arrangements for program access. Please contact the event host (careers@umbc.edu) with your specific request and be sure to include the event title, date, and time.

You are invited to celebrate ten years of groundbreaking innovation, creative achievement, and community impact at GRIT-X. This landmark 10th-anniversary milestone brings together visionary alumni and faculty to showcase how their transformative research and scholarship continue to shape our world.

Join us on October 17, 2026, from 4 to 6 pm in the Linehan Concert Hall.

To learn more about the event and to RSVP, click here:

https://research.umbc.edu/grit-x/

Date: October 2, 2026
Time: 4-6 PM

Venue: University Center Room 310

Whether you love games or simply want to unwind, this is the perfect chance to connect, laugh, and have fun. Bring your friends and join us!

1st Prize - $100 
2nd Prize - $75 
3rd Prize - $50

Register at  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfK8UrfhVXrrN_8fxnvFql9y3nTIaaeigLz7QsKwW74vY95oA/viewform?usp=dialog

Has your schedule settled for this fall?  The Shriver Center's Community Engaged Learning Team is seeking a few more students - open to undergraduate AND graduate students - for these partners:  

• Best Buddies, Thursdays 5:30-7:30 pm

• Arbutus Achievers at Arbutus Middle School, Tutoring Tuesday and Thursday 2:40-4:30 pm either day (both is fine, too!) 

• Creative Coders at Arbutus Middle School, 2:40-4:30 pm Thursdays 

• Retriever Essentials at UMBC: Meal Recovery, 2:15- 4 pm, Mon-Fri (pick one day, more if you’re free)

For more information on each of these sites, visit our website.  

Please complete the survey ASAP to be considered!

In the middle of a busy semester, take a break, grab some coffee and a snack, and come chat and hang out with fellow IS graduate students.

📅 When: Monday, October 5
🕤 Time: 9:30 A.M – 11:00 A.M
📍 Where: ITE (4th Floor) 459  

Enjoy coffee, donuts, and Munchkins while meeting and chatting with fellow students!

We look forward to seeing you there! 

Welcome to the Fall 2026 Dissertation House and Graduate Student Writing Retreat Application Announcement!

 All Graduate Students and Postdocs across all disciplines are encouraged to attend. 

Application due date: Monday, October 12 by 12:00 PM.

The Dissertation House is a multi-day intensive writing experience with built-in support and encouragement through workshops, one-on-one coaching, and seminars. A 20+ year old workshop led by expert professional development staff in the Graduate School, this opportunity allows graduate students to make significant progress on writing their proposal or dissertation, preparing for their defense, and communicating effectively with faculty.

The upcoming autumn session is scheduled for Wednesday, October 21 through Friday, October 23, running daily from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on campus. Complete event details will be provided upon approval of your application.  Breakfast, coffee, and lunch will be provided!

Participants get direct assistance in a co-working environment during the multi-day program, and also have the opportunity to receive continued one-on-one coaching with Dr. Robin Cresiski and Dr. Sunji Jangha during Dissertation House and the semesters following participation. It is also a chance to network and build a cohort with like-minded peers. Alumni of this top-rated program say many positive things about the difference this made in their confidence and the completion of their graduate work.

One-on-One Resource Consultations: We are planning to offer 30-minute one-on-one sessions with representatives from various campus departments. While we cannot guarantee participation from every department, we will do our best to match you based on your interests. Bookings are also done in the application.

The application is simple- it only requires some information from you and where you are with your writing. Spots are limited and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

We look forward to seeing you there!

APPLY HERE!

This 3-day workshop is brought to you by UMBC's Graduate School, the PROMISE program. Send any questions to promise@umbc.edu.