On June 4, Dr. James DeVita, assistant vice president for academic partnerships and high-impact experiences, and Christine Routzahn, director of the Career Center, were featured in the Chronicle of Higher Education’s “The Edge” newsletter, which included an article on the impact of federal cuts on the job market in Maryland:
“Christine Routzahn, director of the Career Center at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, noted that destinations for UMBC students have long included the alphabet soup of federal agencies. ‘We have astounding relationships with NSA, FDA, CIA, you name it," she said. Even though the university’s spring career fair, in early February, had 13 cancellations within two days, she expects the federal sector to continue to be an important destination for graduates.
The university’s status as a magnet for international students, particularly at the master’s-degree level, is cause for concern, said James DeVita, UMBC’s assistant vice president for academic partnerships and high-impact experiences. ‘Our international students are maybe one of the groups that are kind of taking it the hardest, probably because it’s not just one factor but the confluence of factors.’ One such factor is the general scrutiny on international students, but a bigger part of the stress may come from students’ need to find optional practical training as part of their F-1 visa, a program that one of President Trump’s nominees has said he wants to end.
UMBC is trying to emphasize its strengths to help students generate workplace opportunities. The university’s data shows that work experience before graduation has been key to success. ‘Roughly 50 percent have accepted opportunities where they interned or worked while there were students, and that has been consistent year after year,” said Routzahn. The university plans to increase the work-based learning opportunities students have as undergraduates and graduates.’”
UMBC offers services and opportunities that displaced federal workers can access for support. In addition, the UMBC Alumni Engagement and Career Center offices offer several resources specifically for alumni and the UMBC community. More information is available for displaced federal workers and beyond on UMBC’s Information and Resources Related to 2025 Federal Orders and Actions website.
Career Center Director Christine Routzahn was interviewed for the article, “So much for saving the planet. Climate careers, and many others, evaporate for class of 2025” in the Hechinger Report. The article, which was also published in The Nation, examines how recent federal policy changes are disrupting career paths for new graduates hoping to work in climate and sustainability, international aid, public service, and the sciences.
Routzahn shared that “surveys over the last few years consistently show that six months after graduation, half of employed students landed jobs at the organizations where they had interned.” Writer Lawrence Lanahan attended the spring 2025 Career Center Industry Fair and noted that the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission was scheduled to attend but didn’t make it.
UMBC offers services and opportunities that displaced federal workers can access for support. In addition, the UMBC Alumni Engagement and Career Center offices offer several resources specifically for alumni and the UMBC community. More information is available for displaced federal workers and beyond on UMBC’s Information and Resources Related to 2025 Federal Orders and Actions website.
Planning to travel this summer? Measles cases are rising in some areas. If you haven’t been vaccinated, you’re at risk.
Measles outbreaks are on the rise globally, especially in:
Texas, USA (particularly Gaines County)
Vietnam, Pakistan, and India
South Korea and Southeast Asia
European Region (notably Eastern Europe)
If you're traveling to these areas, ensure you're protected:
✅ Verify you've received 2 doses of the MMR vaccine
✅ Consult your healthcare provider
Measles is highly contagious but preventable. Protect yourself and our community.
]]>Name: Kristin Fidanza
Pronouns: She/her
Title: Event Scheduler, Event and Conference Services
Years in Student Affairs/UMBC: 7 months
What is something you do as part of your position that people may not be aware of?
I personally go through each event request made in 25Live and assign the rooms myself. Some days we can get over a hundred requests. It’s like a big puzzle putting everything together and I really like puzzles!
What is one of the most important things you’ve learned during your time here?
UMBC is truly a wonderful and diverse place. I’ve learned about so many different cultures and celebrations from all around the world just by helping plan events! I absolutely love UMBC’s dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
What do you like to do for fun and/or is something you are passionate about outside of work?
I’ve always loved creative writing. I’m a big reader (last year I read over 500 books!) and I hope one day to be able to write my own story! I don’t know what it’ll be about yet but I like the process of trying to figure it out.
Fritzie Charné-Merriwether became Associate Vice President for Administration and Chief of Staff in July 2024. She provides leadership for administration, facilities, and auxiliary services across the division, including Student Affairs Business Services; Residential Life, The Commons, and Center for Well-Being facilities; Event and Conference Services; Student Affairs Communications and Marketing; planning and assessment; and technology. Read on to find out why she is your go-to for home and seasonal decorating tips!
What spaces/places on campus or in Baltimore are your favorite?
Honestly, I can’t think of a specific place — for me, it’s more about who I’m with. Anywhere my family is feels like the right space for me. After losing my mom a few years ago, spending time with my loved ones has become one of my top priorities. I’m happiest when I’m surrounded by my kids, husband, and extended family.
What are some of your hobbies/activities outside of work?
I really enjoy all things related to home and seasonal decorating. I have a wreath for just about every month and holiday, and I keep a crafting closet stocked with all my supplies. I love the process of creating something from scratch that's uniquely my own. Having little touches of each holiday or season throughout my home brings me so much joy — it just makes everything feel a little more special.
Share a fun fact about yourself.
I love lifting weights. I used to be really into CrossFit, but I had to step away from it as it was taking a toll on my body. Even after moving on from CrossFit, I’ve kept up with lifting — the heavier, the better! I really enjoy the process because it allows me to clear my mind and focus completely. I also love setting goals for myself and seeing steady progress over time. It's such a great release and a powerful way to recharge both physically and mentally.
Anything else you would like to share?
I have a bit of an obsession with crime shows — it’s definitely my guilty pleasure! I love binge-watching everything from body cam footage and serial killer profiles to shows like “Snapped.” There's just something about the storytelling and unraveling of details that completely draws me in.
"Get to Know ELT" is a feature in DoSA Matters, the Division of Student Affairs' monthly newsletter.
Katie Brungard ‘24, a former evaluation interim with the Center for Democracy and Civic Life and Dr. Ricky Blissett ‘11, associate director for the Center presented at the American Educational Research Association's annual conference (AERA) in April.
AERA is the largest educational research association in the United States, and Brungard and Dr. Blissett presented work that Brungard began with the Center while she was an evaluation intern in the 2024-25 academic year. The project, titled "Can You Change the World? Development of a Civic Agency Measure for Democratic Education," was also presented by Brungard at Student Affairs’ 2024 Assessment 360. The research brings together perspectives from civic engagement literature, political science, and psychology to develop psychometric methods for assessing civic agency.
Beyond introducing to the educational research field the concept of civic agency (which has been developed over time by scholars, including Harry Boyte, Peter Dahlgren, and Dr. David Hoffman, Ph.D. ’13, director of the Center) the work seeks to develop practical tools for being able to observe if students have developed said agency. The reception to this work was uniformly positive, with participants expressing excitement about alternative ideas for understanding the impacts of civic education that inspired them to think about the hopeful future of democratic society.