Join Sydney Kumordzie as he shares his heartwarming experience working in AV Services, forming friendships, and gaining valuable skills that shaped his future. Discover the importance of mentorship and building connections in the workplace.

Image: Sydney working on a laptop in an office workspace. 

Discovering the Hidden Gems of an IT Student's Journey

Building a career in the realm of IT is often seen as a journey filled with late-night code marathons, unnerving debug sessions, and an overall competitive atmosphere. But what if we turned this perspective around and looked at it through the lens of a fulfilling, community-driven adventure? Sydney Kumordzie's narrative provides a refreshing take on what it feels like to grow and thrive in the IT industry, especially through the supportive environment in the Division of Information Technology (DoIT) and his invaluable experiences at AV Services.

A Family-like Work Environment

One of the foremost aspects Sydney highlights about his journey is the family-like atmosphere he encountered. Working in AV Services made him feel like part of a big family—co-workers felt more like friends, and every day brought opportunities to collaborate and create memories together. This relational warmth isn't something one typically expects from a career in IT, which is often thought to be a solitary and intensely focused field. However, Sydney’s experience shatters that stereotype.

The Importance of Mentorship

Mentorship played a pivotal role in Sydney’s developmental journey. He emphasizes how his mentors provided invaluable guidance, which helped him navigate the often-complex landscape of computer science and IT services. This guidance wasn't merely about technical skills but also about fostering the right mindset and setting career goals.

Gaining Diverse Experiences

Sydney didn’t confine himself to a single niche within the IT domain. His time working in different roles within AV Services was crucial for gaining a broad understanding of the field. He worked in PowerShell scripting and student administration in addition to AV Services, allowing him to develop a well-rounded skill set.

Versatility in Roles

Starting in student administration and managing accounts provided Sydney with essential back-end skills. This experience taught him the importance of proper data management and security, as he had to handle sensitive information and ensure its security.

Switching to AV Services introduced Sydney to the "person-to-person" aspect of IT. Here, the focus was not just on the technicality but also on user interaction and troubleshooting in real-time scenarios. It helped him develop strong communication skills and the ability to work efficiently under pressure.

Building Personal Connections

According to Sydney, making friends and building connections are crucial elements often overlooked in a professional setting. He advises his peers to go beyond merely fulfilling job responsibilities.

Breaking the Routine

Sydney shares a cherished memory that epitomizes the joy of breaking routine to build camaraderie. After finishing work early in Lecture Hall 1, he and his colleagues decided to put on some music and have an impromptu rap session. This moment wasn’t just about taking a break; it was about enjoying shared experiences and building a supportive environment where everyone felt comfortable and valued.

Tips for Future IT Professionals

Sydney’s story isn’t just a walk down memory lane; it’s a treasure trove of insights for future IT professionals. he offers practical advice for anyone looking to follow a similar path:

Issue:Users reported on 4/1/25 that all Webex meetings abruptly ended at 40 minutes. 

Resolution:Full Webex capabilities have been restored to the campus, and no further disruptions are expected. 

Details: Today’s 40-minute Webex meeting limitation was not DoIT’s idea of an April fools' joke, although we hope the community appreciated an extra 20 minutes between meetings. 

Over the last few months, DoIT has been negotiating a contract renewal for our Webex agreement. Although the negotiations have concluded, today’s disruption was the result of an unsuccessfully executed service extension, which should have maintained service until execution of the new contract completed. 

Shortly after hearing that UMBC was experiencing a service disruption to the Webex environment, DoIT quickly engaged the vendor. Members of the community may have received messages indicating that their meeting had only 5 minutes remaining, and upon reaching the 40-minute mark, the meeting abruptly ended. Webex was able to address the issue, completing the service extension at approximately 3 p.m. Meetings started after 3 p.m. should have complete functionality and not experience the 40-minute limit. 

Ongoing concerns: Anyone who is continuing to experience degraded Webex service is encouraged to let us know by contacting us at DoIT Technology Support Center. 

Ray Soellner

Director of Telecommunications / DoIT

rays1@umbc.edu

The Division of Information Technology (DoIT) at UMBC is committed to providing access to cutting-edge technologies that enhance productivity, teaching, learning, research, and work. We are excited to announce the expanded availability of powerful Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for the UMBC community.

AI Tools Now Available

• Google Gemini: All UMBC accounts now have access to the free version of Google Gemini. Gemini offers a wide range of AI-powered features that can assist with writing, brainstorming, and information-gathering tasks. There are paid licenses for Gemini Advanced that grant further integration within the Google Workspace suite (Gmail, Docs, Slides, etc); please send us a ticket if you’d like to inquire further about Gemini Advanced. Additionally, Google has made three new AI services free for ALL licensed users.

• NotebookLM - notebooklm.google.com. This tool is great for building simple AI RAG documents and answering questions. 

• Deep Research - a tool for doing a deep dive on a topic and generating a customized research plan very quickly. 

• Google Gems are now available for all accounts.

• Microsoft Copilot: Similarly, all UMBC accounts now have default access to the free version of Microsoft Copilot. Copilot provides a model for brainstorming, email generation, and more. There are paid licenses for Copilot Pro that grant integration with the Microsoft 365 suite (Word, Excel, Teams, etc); please send us a ticket if you’d like to inquire further about Copilot Pro.

• UMBC's Instance of Amplify: In addition to these widely used platforms, UMBC provides access to Amplify, an innovative AI tool developed by Vanderbilt University. Amplify provides access to commercial AI models hosted within UMBC's secure cloud environment, including from OpenAI, such as GPT-4o or o1 series, Meta Llama, or Anthropic Claude models. Access to UMBC's instance of Amplify is available to employees (faculty and staff) upon submission of an access request.

Keeping Information Safe

UMBC has access to several GenAI tools that have been verified as safe to use on UMBC Level 1 and FERPA data, which is intended to keep the information internal to UMBC. Details about what information can be shared on AI tools can be found at GenAI Tools at UMBC. We recommend using the UMBC-approved services first. Services that have not been verified should only be used with public information. Public material is something you would publish on a website for the Internet to see.

Support and Resources

DoIT is committed to supporting the UMBC community in effectively using these AI tools. We encourage you to explore the resources available on the DoIT AI website.

• Guides and tutorials on how to use Gemini, Copilot, and Amplify

• Information on best practices for using AI ethically and responsibly

• FAQs and troubleshooting tips

• Contact information for support assistance

Looking Ahead

DoIT will continue to evaluate and expand our AI tools offerings to meet the evolving needs of the UMBC community. We are excited about the potential of AI to transform our campus and look forward to seeing how you utilize these powerful resources.

Contact Information

If you have any questions or support inquiries about AI tools at UMBC, please visit the DoIT AI support page or contact the Technology Support Center (TSC).

The first draft of the above announcement was generated using AI and edited by the Division of Information Technology Communications and IT teams.

Good afternoon,

The Division of Information Technology is updating the DoIT Security department name! We officially changed the department name to Cybersecurity Assurance and Digital Trust. This change highlights the important shift in the team’s scope moving forward.

Why change the name?

The new name change emphasizes the differences between cybersecurity and other security areas, such as personnel and physical security (check out the UMBC Police Department for assistance here). It also emphasizes the team's expanding role in establishing cybersecurity best practices and the university fulfilling its cybersecurity obligations. Furthermore, the "Digital Trust"component includes privacy principles, cybersecurity awareness and training in the department's responsibilities. This focus on trust acknowledges its critical role in the digital world and the importance of establishing and preserving it through responsible data management and user education.

Learn more about Cybersecurity Assurance and Digital Trust here!

We are proud to announce that Josh Abrams has been awarded the DoIT Gritty Award for his critical support of instructors and colleagues in the Instructional Technology team.  The Gritty Award is in recognition of outstanding work within the Division. Full-time DoIT employees and teams are eligible to be nominated for going above and beyond! Anyone in DoIT can nominate someone for the Gritty by completing this short Gritty Nomination Form. 

For his exceptional efforts and commitment to excellence, we are proud to present Josh with the DoIT Gritty Award. Congratulations!

Josh Abrams has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication and adaptability in his role as an instructional design specialist at UMBC. His unwavering commitment to providing seamless support for users and team members has been particularly evident during challenging moments, such as complex Blackboard support requests or vendor downtime. Through thick and thin, Josh has remained responsive and proactive, swiftly identifying issues, communicating effectively with all stakeholders, and providing practical remedy options to minimize disruptions.

One user recently expressed deep appreciation for Josh's guidance, highlighting how his expertise has been invaluable in helping them become comfortable with Blackboard Ultra. Thanks to Josh's patience and clear explanations, they can confidently navigate a new platform to prepare their course and better support students. His recent assistance in copying a course and setting up a gradebook showcased his meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that each gradable item had the correct point values while decluttering unnecessary items.

Beyond his professional knowledge, Josh's warmth and kindness create a supportive environment that puts people at ease. Users feel comfortable asking questions because he approaches every interaction with encouragement and patience. This supportive attitude has made a significant difference in the personal growth and confidence of those he assists.

Josh Abrams is truly an inspirational contributor to faculty and student learning at UMBC. His contributions are deeply appreciated, and it is clear that he has a profound impact on the individuals he helps. 

Thank you, Josh, for your time, expertise, and kindness—your efforts do not go unnoticed.

The DoIT Community & The DoIT Gritty Committee

Erica D’Eramo

Ally Hepp

Carlos McKinney

David Toothe

Dondre Hatef

Kashka Donaldson

Mariann Hawken

Nick Beech

Tony Finneran

Roy Prouty

Debbie Michaels - tiebreaker

Ray Soellner  - tiebreaker 

Latest Project Report:We are excited to share our latest project report, which covers key projects completed from September 2024 to January 2025. This bi-annual report provides an overview of the progress made across multiple projects and the contributions of DoIT teams and campus partners. This report includes more information about myUMBC Answers, the new AI-powered search bar in myUMBC, New High Performance Computing Capabilities, and more! 

Click here to view the full Project Report.

About the DoIT Project Management Office:DoIT established a Project Management Office (PMO) in the fall of 2023 to ensure consistent project management processes, align project objectives with divisional and university strategic goals, and improve stakeholder communication. The PMO has made significant strides in building a project management framework in DoIT to better support our campus partners in critical IT projects. 

Initial activities to establish the office included defining and streamlining project management processes for consistency and efficiency, introducing portfolio reporting for real-time project progress tracking for stakeholders and IT committees, and launching a new project management tool, Smartsheet, to improve team collaboration and tracking. In the coming year, the PMO team plans to increase its capacity to support projects across campus, continue developing reporting and project management capabilities, and expand project management practices throughout campus. Read more about the PMO in the annual report, and if you have feedback or thoughts, please contact Ally Hepp at ahepp@umbc.edu.

Do you have an idea or an upcoming initiative involving IT? Let us know by submitting an Idea Form so we can assist. Click here to submit the Idea Form and read more about the project process.

Thank you for your continued support and collaboration with DoIT! 

If you have questions about the DoIT Project Management Office or the projects listed above, please contact Ally Hepp, IT Project Manager, at ahepp@umbc.edu.