Happy Friday and welcome to the Provost's Perspective.
With cold temperatures hitting Baltimore in recent days I was interested in an article this week in the Baltimore Banner that featured insights from Dr. Jeff Halverson (Department of Geography and Environmental Systems) about the impending winter season in Maryland. Mention of a La Nina weather pattern and an ongoing "snow drought" brought to mind the poem, "Dust of Snow," by Robert Frost. I find this short verse (a mere 34 words) about a bird, a tree, and a change of heart to be a wonderful reminder to find joy in the simple 'dust of snow' that may come upon you in unexpected ways.
I encourage you to find your own dust of snow this week that changes your outlook for the better or brings a smile to your face. It is sometimes the small things in life that make a big difference.
Without further ado …
Apply by November 17
Become a Faculty Affiliate of the Public Health Research Center UMBC/CAHSS
The new Public Health Research Center (PHRC) of CAHSS invites UMBC faculty from ALL UMBC departments to apply for Faculty Affiliate status – a three-year renewable term for scholars whose research aligns with the PHRC's interdisciplinary mission advancing public health through collaboration. PHRC Faculty Affiliates gain:
Involvement in a vibrant community of health scholars
Recognition on PHRC's website, annual report, and communications
Priority access to PHRC grant services (grant reviews, Gen AI assistance, etc.)
Curated, timely funding updates & research networking opportunities
See the website for full information. Apply by Nov. 17, 2025.
Questions: John G. Schumacher, Ph.D., PHRC Director-email: PHRC@umbc.edu
Last Call for Faculty Proposals: IDEA Initiative & CAP Fellowship
I recently announced the IDEA Initiative & CAP Fellowship as part of my goal to foster innovative and interdisciplinary curricular efforts and provide faculty with the resources to create and innovate. Applications for the programs close November 20.
CGE International Education Week
Join the Center for Global Engagement as it celebrates International Education Week, November 17-21. This internationally recognized celebration is led by the U.S. Department of State. Highlights include:
IEW EXPO – Connecting students to all things global at UMBC.
"Brief Tender Light" Film Screening and International Student Panel – Film highlighting the international student experience. We are also organizing for a current UMBC international student to present her short film on the same topic.
Global Engagement Brown Bag Series – Knowledge sharing and training series, particularly for faculty and staff).
Additional events such as panels, info sessions, and cultural celebrations are also hosted by other departments.
These events can all be found on cge.umbc.edu/iew and the CGE myUMBC group page.
New Faculty Spotlights
Each week we feature the newest faculty members of our community.
Mark Hopwood, Assistant Professor, Philosophy
Areas of Research/Interest: Ethics
Fun Fact About Mark: I love to play soccer, chess, and drums, but I'm not as good at any of them as I wish I was.
Daniel Reynolds, Professor, Mathematics and Statistics
Areas of Research/Interest: Computational mathematics
Fun Fact About Daniel: I love traveling and the great outdoors.
Are you a new faculty member? Please take two minutes to fill out the form and submit your bio if you have not already done so.
New Staff Spotlights (Coming Soon)
Are you a staff member who joined UMBC in the last year? Email Aaron Burnett, director of provost communications, to be featured in an upcoming edition of the Provost's Perspective.
Help Make this Newsletter Better
The goal each week of this message is to deepen our connection to UMBC, whether that is learning about an upcoming event, a divisional accomplishment, an innovative program, or an update from the Office of the Provost. If you know of a program or event that should be highlighted, please share it here.
Until next week,
Manfred van Dulmen