Pam Offutt ’82, computer science, and Jay Offutt ’82, computer science, recently established the Pam and Jay Offutt Graduate Student Endowment with a transformational $1,040,000 gift to expand the Center for Women in Technology model at the graduate level. 

The program-changing gift was developed through a close, year-long collaboration with Jeanne van Briesen, dean of the College of Engineering and Information Technology; Carolyn Seaman, director of CWIT, and Kim Robinson director of major gifts in the Office of Institutional Advancement. 

“We are tremendously grateful for Pam and Jay’s vision, which supports our commitment to inclusive excellence,” says van Briesen. “The endowment will help strengthen the pipeline of talent prepared for leadership in computing and technology careers.” 

Beyond providing Offutt Scholars with crucial financial aid, this investment funds the dedicated staffing, leadership programming, and mentorship needed to build a vibrant, connected community spanning undergraduates, graduate students, and professional mentors. 

Click here to read more about Pam and Jay and their motivations for establishing this endowment.

Making an Immediate Impact

With an endowment gift of $1,000,000, and a bridge gift of $40,000, the Pam and Jay Offutt Graduate Student Endowment is positioned to make an immediate impact with the first group of Offutt Scholars in the fall 2026 semester.

“We are excited that we were able to structure the gift this way,” said Robinson. “The $40,000 bridge gift allows us to start right away, while the $1,000,000 endowment ensures support for the program in perpetuity. Hopefully, this becomes a model for future philanthropic giving.”

Looking Ahead

True to UMBC’s mission, this endowment reminds us that access is only the first step. Real success requires dedicated community support, personal connections, and a culture where our graduates look back and lift up others.

Please join us in extending our deepest gratitude to Pam and Jay Offutt for their visionary generosity and unwavering dedication to the next generation of tech leaders.

The P.A.W. Circle is an on-campus community of faculty and staff that give back to the university with their philanthropic giving. Faculty and staff can support any area of campus that is most meaningful, scholarships, academic programs, athletics programs, emergency funds, and more. If you are not already a donor, we invite you to join us by making a gift through payroll deduction or on our online giving form!

Save the Dates for our Mug events during the 2026-27 academic year. These events are open to faculty and staff that donated during fiscal year 2026 and/or 2027. If you have not received your mug and believe you should be a member, please send a quick note to Tessa at TessaNewton@umbc.edu or on WebEx.

Wednesday, October 7 from 11am to 1pm in the Fireside Lounge

Tuesday, November 10 from 3pm to 5pm in the Fireside Lounge

Tuesday, February 2 from 11am to 1pm in the Fireside Lounge

Thursday, April 15 from 3pm to 5pm in the Fireside Lounge 

*Use your mug at campus food vendors for your coffee, tea or soup. It’s a great way to support campus sustainability!

**please note that February 9 date was moved to February 2

Retrievers Read is a summer reading challenge designed to help you explore new genres, engage with our UMBC community, and make reading fun! It's free to participate, and we email you everything you need to get started, including a welcome letter with further instructions, a bingo card, and a handy-dandy reading log to help you keep track of your progress.

Sign up: alumni.umbc.edu/retrieversread26

Questions? Email retrievernet@umbc.edu.

Whether you’re spending the summer at home, on campus, traveling, interning, or simply catching up with friends, Retrievers Read brings back a familiar summer tradition, with a grown-up twist. Think back to those grade school summer reading lists: books chosen to spark curiosity, stretch your thinking, and mark the season’s passing. Now, as part of the UMBC community, this is your version of that same tradition: an easy, nostalgic way to stay connected to campus life and the Retriever community between semesters, wherever summer takes you.

It's time for our next Mug of the Month event to show our gratitude to the dedicated faculty and staff that support UMBC with philanthropic giving.

~ TOMORROW, Wednesday, April 15 from 11am to 1pm in Lower Flat Tuesdays ~

This month, we will have Mashed Potato Bar to fill your mug! If you have attended a Mug of the Month previously, please bring your P.A.W. Circle mug. If you haven't attended, yet, we will give you your mug upon your arrival!

This event is for faculty and staff that made a financial donation to any area of UMBC in Fiscal Year 2025 or 2026. 

*If you have colleagues that believes they should have received an invite, please ask them to reach out to Tessa Newton at TessaNewton@umbc.edu. 

*Please note - this event was originally scheduled to be in the PAHB. It has been moved to Lower Flat Tuesdays. 

Help celebrate our soon-to-be alumni by volunteering to support winter commencement! There will be three ceremonies: Wednesday, May 20 at 10 a.m. and Thursday, May 21, at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the CEI Arena.

Take a look at the event staff registration form, which includes preferred assignments and estimated time commitments. Breakfast and event staff polos will be provided. If you would prefer to participate in the faculty/staff procession in regalia instead, complete the procession registration form.

Reach out to Becky Bosstick with questions: bbosstic@umbc.edu

Happy Snowy Spring Semester P.A.W. Circle members! 

We are so grateful to have each and every one of you supporting UMBC through your generosity and dedication to our students and campus community. 

We are so happy to announce the Spring semester Mug of the Month events in addition to a few other fun things on the horizon:

~ Mug of the Month ~ 

Wednesday, February 18, 11am-1pm in the Ballroom Lounge - Mac & Cheese Bar! 

Wednesday, April 15, 11am-1pm in the PAHB Terrace Lobby - Mashed Potato Bar!

Beyond P.A.W. Circle, check out this upcoming event: 

Pack the 'Peake: Women's Basketball Game & Alumni Reception - Saturday, January 31, 1-5pm

This alumni event is open to P.A.W. Circle members! 

** Black & Gold Rush is around the corner ** 

Black & Gold Rush is UMBC's annual 36 hours of giving on March 4 and 5! We have campus activities planned at Flat Tuesday to build excitement with faculty, staff, and students. At each event, you can sign thank you cards for donors, participate in thank you videos, play Black & Gold Rush bingo, and get a yummy treat! 

Wednesday, February 11, 11:30am to 1pm

Wednesday, February 18*, 11:30am to 1pm

Wednesday, February 25, 11:30am to 1pm 

*Following the February 18 Mug of the Month please swing by Flat Tuesdays for cupcakes! 

We look forward to seeing you soon! 

At UMBC, every undergraduate is part of the Giving Pack because every student benefits from philanthropy in some way, whether they realize it or not. From scholarships and emergency support to academic programs, research opportunities, student organizations, campus spaces, and experiences like Black & Gold Rush, philanthropic support helps make the UMBC experience possible. All students are encouraged to participate in stewardship and engagement opportunities that help say thank you, build community, and sustain the resources that support today's students and future Retrievers.

UMBC's Giving Pack, formed in August 2025, brings together UMBC students from all four class years, each strengthened in their own identity and impact, who support the Office of Institutional Advancement, represent the University, and unite to create something greater than any one class alone: an extraordinary, scalable culture of philanthropy grounded in education, connected to the Hilltop Society, and built to grow with students beyond graduation, connecting today's Retrievers to tomorrow's alumni.

The members of the Giving Pack are philanthropic-minded student leaders with a proven track record for serving their local and University communities, and who have a passion for advancing their alma mater.

Student philanthropists become alumni philanthropists, that is a widely held belief at colleges and universities across America. The work of the Giving Pack is vital, and we believe deeply in involving students in the philanthropic process as the University strives to produce service-oriented leaders who will give their time, talent and treasure to causes they are passionate about long after graduating from UMBC.

In addition to regular meetings, the Giving Pack assists planning and executing UMBC's celebration around Black & Gold Rush (March 3rd-4th), takes an active role in stewarding donors through written messages, phone calls, and emails, and they serve as a welcoming face and helping hand at various Office of Institutional Advancement events throughout the academic year.

For students who are eager to take their involvement a step further, the Giving Pack Leadership Team offers the opportunity to lead initiatives, shape strategy, mentor peers, and play a deeper role in advancing UMBC's culture of student philanthropy. Apply to serve here!

Philanthropy is often associated with major donations and high-profile donors, but at its core, it is about people coming together to support causes that matter to them. At UMBC, fostering a culture of giving isn't just about financial contributions, it is about enabling student success and allowing them to engage with their community, support one another, and shape the future of our university. 

Through working in UMBC's Office of Institutional Advancement and overseeing the Giving Pack, I've seen firsthand how small actions all have lasting impacts. Whether through volunteering, engaging in philanthropic initiatives, or simply being a UMBC Advocate, every student has the ability to contribute to a culture of giving.

Why Campus Philanthropy Matters

How Students Can Make a Difference

In addition to making financial gifts to UMBC-related funds, here are some ways college students can make a tangible impact on the university:

Volunteer on Campus

Time is one of the most valuable gifts a student can give. Volunteering at university events like Homecoming and Black & Gold Rush (to name a few) showcases a commitment to UMBC's success and helps strengthen campus culture.

Share Your Story and Be a UMBC Advocate

Personal experiences can be powerful motivators. If a student has benefitted from a scholarship, academic program, or other donor-funded initiative, sharing their story will inspire others to get involved and do the same. Social media platforms, word-of-mouth, and student group meetings are all great ways to amplify impact.

Participate in Cultivation and Stewardship

Events like Hilltop Pop-Up tabling in the Commons and Black and Gold Rush (happening on March 4th-5th, 2026) provide students with opportunities to engage in the processes of building relationships with UMBC alumni and friends as well as nurturing/maintaining these relationships. Actions as simple as writing thank-you notes to donors, volunteering to assist the Institutional Advancement team at event stations or simply showing up in support of philanthropic efforts all have lasting impacts and help strengthen a culture of gratitude and generosity.

Mentorship and Networking Opportunities

Giving back doesn't always require grand gestures, sometimes, it's as simple as supporting a classmate, offering help, or being open to receiving it from a peer or alumni. By engaging in mentorship and networking, you can strengthen your own growth while making a positive impact on others. Here are a couple of valuable opportunities for you to get involved:

• Retrievers Connect: A virtual network that connects students with UMBC alumni for career advice and professional development opportunities.

For more information on mentorship and networking opportunities, connect with the Career Center.

The Long-Term Impact of Student Philanthropy

Building a philanthropic culture at UMBC starts with our students and is about instilling lifelong habits of giving that resonate through our alumni's personal and professional lives. Many of our alumni began their own philanthropic journeys as students, a tradition that continues to evolve our university.

UMBC's alumni network, including over 100,000 graduates, exemplifies the lasting impact of student philanthropy. During Black & Gold Rush 2025 (UMBC's Day of Giving), the UMBC community shattered records—1,564 donors raised over $329,555 to support student success! This year, we aim to surpass that milestone, proving once again that the UMBC community is always ready to rally and uplift students.

At the heart of campus philanthropy is the Giving Pack, a group of student leaders dedicated to educating their peers on the importance of giving. Through methods of fostering connections with alumni, stewarding donors, organizing campus initiatives, and demonstrating the impact of philanthropy on campus, Giving Pack members are ambassadors of the university who support UMBC's continued development. Partnering with them is the Office of Institutional Advancement, which helps bridge the student-alumni connection through events, strategic outreach, and fundraising efforts. 

If you are a current UMBC student and interested in becoming a Giving Pack member, please email nstachur@umbc.edu with any questions you may have!

Leaving a Legacy: The Power of Giving Back

Philanthropy at UMBC is about something larger than just making a gift; it's about creating and constantly nurturing a community where every individual feels empowered to make a difference. The acts of kindness, support, and shared responsibility we engage in today shape not only our campus but also the world beyond. As students, alumni, faculty, and staff, we have the unique opportunity to be the architects of a legacy built on generosity and service, a legacy that will inspire future generations to continue this tradition. UMBC's culture of giving is not just something we uphold; it's something we actively build together, one meaningful contribution at a time.

Nicholas Stachurski is the Assistant Director of Annual Giving at UMBC. He strengthens relationships between UMBC's 100,000+ alumni and the next generation of Retrievers by supporting programs that foster engagement, philanthropy, and meaningful student–alumni connections. His work helps build a strong, enduring culture of giving and support at UMBC.

P.A.W. Circle Members,

Thank you for attending our P.A.W. Circle inaugural Mug of the Month event yesterday! We appreciate those of you who took time out of your day to join us! The candied apple bar was a big hit, and we hope everyone is enjoying their brand new mugs! 

Beyond our appreciation for you joining us yesterday, thank you again for supporting UMBC students and our campus with your generosity. You have gone above and beyond for the UMBC community, and your donations make a tremendous difference for our students, faculty, and staff. We appreciate your decision to give so generously! 

We look forward to seeing more of you at our next Mug of the Month on Wednesday, November 19, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Commons 331. Bring your mug with you and fill it with some delicious chili! If you haven't received your mug yet, you can pick one up when you arrive at the event. 

We'd also like to share two additional events:

1. Wills (and more!) Week, hosted by the University System of Maryland Foundation. They are offering a convenient, informative, and FREE path forward for all members of our UMBC community. This year's program features a series of five free webinars, each led by an expert in the field. CLICK HERE to see the full schedule and register.
2. We'd also like to invite each of you to attend the 2025 UMBC Alumni Awards on Wednesday, October 29, in the CEIA! This event is a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow donors and university community members who share your belief in UMBC's future as we recognize and celebrate this year's award recipients, individuals who perfectly embody the inclusive excellence that makes this university so special. CLICK HERE to register and join in the celebration! There is no cost to attend, and the ceremony will be livestreamed and recorded for those unable to make it in person. 

Again, we thank you for your support and commitment to UMBC and our students. We look forward to seeing you all next month, and please continue to spread the word about P.A.W. Circle with your colleagues! 

Sincerely,

Tessa

P.S. If a colleague believes they should already be included, please have them contact me at TNewton@umbc.edu.