I'm looking forward to an exciting year learning more about your work and helping you reach your goals. My role is to serve as an advisor, point person, advocate, mediator, recruiter, and overall problem solver during your time in the program. I plan to share opportunities with you--for further schooling, for employment, for research support--as they come across my desk. I also want to help foster an inclusive, vibrant, and mutually supportive cohort. Below are a few announcements and reminders to start the school year. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me with questions you have along the way. 

Grad Lounge: Our grad lounge is located in PAHB 401 and is typically open during business hours. You're welcome to use that space any time! We will plan to use that space for informal lunches, too (stay tuned for more information). 

Welcome Lunch: Please reserve Wednesday, October 1 during free hour (12:00) for an informal brown bag (pack-your-own) lunch in the graduate lounge. I'll reach out again with more details!

Join our myUMBC Page: I often use our myUMBC group: Texts, Technologies, and Literature to make announcements, share resources, and present opportunities. Please be sure to follow our program! 

Declaration of Advisor Form. If you are already working with a specific faculty advisor but haven't yet filled out your advisor form, please fill it out and send it to me (dicuirci@umbc.edu) and Selina (scchang@umbc.edu) ASAP. 

Grad School Deadlines. Please be sure to check the UMBC Graduate School's page to ensure that you're hitting the necessary deadlines for graduation. You can see Fall 2025 deadlines HERE. Those applying to graduate in December will need to submit the application by September 15 and schedule their defense for late November at the very latest. Thesis/portfolio submission is due to the graduate school by December 1 which means you must defend before that date and prepare your manuscript for submission. 

Course Registration: If you are having any difficulty registering for courses this semester, please reach out to me ASAP. Please remember that 798 (portfolio) and 799 (thesis) need to be taken as 3 credit courses and should be taken with your advisor. Those that need 7700 for continued study can register for that course with me. If you still need permission for that course, send me an email off list. 

Proposal Information Session: If you are just beginning your thesis proposal this semester, please be sure that you are registered for 799 with your advisor. If you are working on a portfolio, please register for 798 with your advisor. I will be holding a Proposal Writing Information Session for thesis writers on Monday, September 15 on Webex from 12:00-12:50 p.m. I'll plan to record the session if you can't be in attendance. At this session, we'll discuss proposal requirements for thesis writers, tips, and samples. 

All my best wishes for the start of the year!

Prof. DiCuirci