This Week in EA:

• Hot Topic Session: First Time Abroad | Wednesday, May 6th | 12-12:45pm | Virtual
  Excited for your first trip abroad but unsure how to prepare so your journey is smooth and stress-free? Feeling nervous about your very first flight? Wondering what to pack, how to navigate the airport, or what to expect once you're in the air? Come join us for an overview of tips for being prepared and advice for first-time travelers!

• Hot Topic Session: Being Black Abroad | Friday, May 8th | 12-12:45pm | Virtual
  What does it truly mean to navigate the world as a Black traveler, and how can understanding your racial identity abroad shape your experiences? How can you connect with others, build community, and find support while embracing your Black identity in a new cultural setting? Come join us for an overview of what it means to be black abroad, tips, sharing experiences and building community!

Upcoming Events and Deadlines

• Advising for Spring 2027 and Winter 2027 study abroad programs is now available! After you have attended a Study Abroad 101 session, email educationabroad@umbc.edu to schedule your meeting!

• Study Abroad 101 Sessions
  Monday | 2pm-3pm | Virtual
  Tuesday | 1pm-2pm | Virtual
  Friday | 11am-12pm | Virtual

Senior Spotlight: Kayla Nemirovsky

Read this article to learn about our Peer Advisor Kayla’s story: Kayla Nemirovsky ’26—Math plus financial economics major with equal passion for numbers and travel. 

Kayla has visited over 30 countries and participated in 3 study abroad programs: UMBC Faculty-Led: Global Community Engagement and Social Change in South Africa (Summer 2023), ISEP Exchange: International Student Exchange Program in Finland (Spring 2024), and UMBC Faculty-Led: Global Experiential Learning in MENA: Exploring Morocco (Spring Break 2026). Kayla is graduating this spring with a dual degree in Math and Financial Economics and will be staying at UMBC to pursue a Masters in Teaching. Congratulations Kayla! 

Getting ready to move out for summer break? Consider donating your gently used items to the Retriever Re-Store, UMBC’s move out donation collection program that aims to redistribute the items to other students who can give them a new life!

Donate items such as:

Kitchen appliances 

School supplies

Small furniture 

Desk organizers

Decorative items

Arts + Crafts 

Pots/pans and dishes

Mirrors

Non perishable food items

and more! 

At this time, we will NOT accept clothing, bedding, or items that should be trashed.

You can find donation collection bins near your RA desk in each residence hall, the ACC lobby, and Walker clubhouse starting May 6th through the close of the semester! Shop for free from collected donations at the Retriever Re-Store pop up shop in Upper Flat Tuesdays.

Want to drop off donations directly to the store? Schedule a drop off appointment with us via email at sustainability@umbc.edu

Help us divert waste from the landfill and redistribute pre-loved goods for free among our campus community! Sign up for a collection volunteeer shift to get first dibs on incoming donations. Email the Office of Sustainability at sustainability@umbc.edu with any concerns or questions.

UMBC’s strength in environmental research spans all three colleges, along with its NASA-partnered centers, making Earth Day an especially meaningful time on campus. This year, on April 24th 2026, the Atmospheric Physics (ATPH) Department hosted its 10th Annual Earth Day Symposium (EDS), themed “Extreme Events in a Changing World.”

Organized by a committee led by Joshua Richards, a PhD candidate in ATPH, the all-day event highlighted Earth science research conducted at UMBC and by collaborators from neighboring institutions, including NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Morgan State University, Maryland Department of the Environment, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, and NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction.

The symposium featured a dynamic series of oral presentations from researchers across these organizations, covering extreme events related to climate, wildfires, air quality, and more.

EDS also included an outdoor exhibit hall that engaged students through live demonstrations, including real-time data collection from a wind lidar system. Exhibitors highlighted local initiatives such as Power Up Maryland, showcased ATPH research labs, and shared fellowship opportunities like NOAA NCAS-M II.

In celebration of Earth Day, participants partnered with Paul Monteiro, Vice President for Government Relations and Community Affairs, and the UMBC Office of Sustainability to plant a tree between the Physics and Public Policy buildings, an effort symbolizing the university’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship.

Students also took part in a poster competition, presenting their research to attendees and passersby. Second place was awarded to Nicolas Oliveira, a first-year Ph.D. student, for his research titled "Invisible Particles, Visible Loss: Aerosol Impacts on Photovoltaic Generation", while first place went to Eniola Oyedeji, a second-year Ph.D. student in ATPH, for his research titled "Deepening our understanding of cloud microphysics based on PACE satellite retrievals: A special focus on cloud effective variance (CEV)".

The day concluded with a panel discussion exploring how scientific research evolves into policy and ultimately impacts communities, with particular attention to challenges and opportunities in today’s political climate.

The steering committee (Joshua Richards, Parker Coye, Eniola Oyedeji, Tashin Ahammad, Connor Thompson, and Idris Ali) extends sincere thanks to the UMBC Department of Physics and Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research II for their support, as well as to all panelists, presenters, exhibitors, and visiting students who made the symposium a success.

Hi everyone!
IS is excited to announce that Dr. Leah Buechley will be visiting UMBC next week to give a talk.

When: Thursday, May 7th, 12:00 – 1:00 pm

Where: ITE 459 (and virtually at Webex)

Title: Material Matters

Abstract: In the past 20 years, 3D printing has evolved into an essential creative tool, employed in schools, maker spaces, and homes. However, most printing has been done in plastic, which profoundly limits the kinds of artifacts that people can design and build. This talk will present technologies developed at the Hand and Machine lab that enable low-cost desktop 3D printing in a range of beautiful and durable materials, including ceramics, metal, and glass. I will discuss new technical, artistic, and social possibilities that are supported by this expansive material palette, and I will argue for the importance of materials to creativity, learning, and cultural expression.

Bio: Leah Buechley is an associate professor in the computer science department at the University of New Mexico, where she directs the Hand and Machine research group. Her work explores integrations of electronics, computing, art, craft, and design. She is a pioneer in paper and fabric-based electronics, and her inventions include the LilyPad Arduino, a construction kit for sewable electronics. Previously, she was a professor at the MIT Media Lab, where she founded and directed the High-Low Tech group. Her awards include an NSF CAREER Award, the Edith Ackerman Award for Interaction Design and Children, and the Mike Eisenberg Award for Beautiful Learning Technologies. Leah received a PhD in computer science from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a BA in physics from Skidmore College. At both institutions, she also studied dance, theater, fine art, and design.

If you are interested in meeting with Leah during her visit (there are open slots before/after her talk), let me know! 

Please pass along to other colleagues and/or students who might be interested!
Thanks,Fiona
--
Fiona Bell, PhDEntangled Ecologies Lab
Assistant Professor of Human-Centered Computing
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
fionaabell.com | entangledecologieslab.org

Shout out to the Class of 2026!

You made it, and we are so proud!

To all undergraduate and graduate students, Division of Student Affairs invites you to join us for a fun afternoon.

Thursday, May 7 | 4 – 6 p.m. The Commons, Terrace

Featuring:

• Food and drink
• Photos with Chip and the UMBC letters
• Free alum t-shirt
• Graduation cap decorating

Free legal support can make a real difference.

Retriever Support Services is sharing a pro bono initiative offering free legal advice for tenants. This opportunity is open to everyone, with 30-minute in-person or virtual appointments available.

Appointments are available on May 13 and May 15 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

To book a slot, email OCSS@umbc.edu. For questions, contact Dr. Flores at GFLORES2@umbc.edu.

Please share this resource with anyone who may benefit from it.

User Agreement

By Ben Holbrook
Directed by Sean DiGiorgio ('26)

Production Team

• Sound Designer & Directing Mentor: Nigel Semaj
• Costume Designers: Becca Janney & Eric Abele
• Scenic & Projection Designer: Tyler Brust
• Lighting Designer: Niya John
• Technologist: Adam Mendelson
• Ollie Animator: Grace Horne
• Intimacy Choreographer: Katie Hileman
• Props Coordinator: Ann Davies
• Dramaturg: Joseph Hoffman
• Stage Manager: Kayla Laucks
• Production Assistants: Sumedha Bhat, Ash Morris, Jada Abbott

Cast

• Sy: Jamia Tutt
• Theo: Amani Abdullah
• Leif: Gabriel Zuniga
• Nimbus: Lily Arbaugh
• Ollie: Emma Parsons
• Sy/Theo Swing: Camila Hidalgo
• Leif Understudy: Lilith Hohlbein

Full show program and show poster are attached.

Show poster designed by Eric Abele.

Production Photos

All production photos by Kiirstn Pagan '11.

Temporary Private room available in a 2BHK townhouse for a male at Westland Gardens for a 3-month move-in.

Perfect for interns, students living on campus whose apartments will be closed, or anyone looking for temporary housing.

Fully furnished 2BHK townhouse: 

What you get:

• Spacious living room with sofa + TV.
• Fully equipped kitchen (Oven, Microwave, Fridge, Dishwasher).
• In-unit Washer & Dryer.
• Central heating & cooling.
• Just a 1-minute walk to the UMBC bus stop.
• Only 10 minutes walk to campus. 
• Availability: May 25th - Aug 15th.
• Rent is just 600$ only.

DM for more information: +1-202-937-5716 or email me at IO95979@umbc.edu

The UMBC Cyber Defense Lab presents

Securing the Vote: A Longitudinal Assessment of U.S. Election Cybersecurity, 2012–2024

Prof. Chul Hyun Park, UMBC School of Public Policy

Coauthors and collaborators: Jeongmin Oh, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor, U. of Cincinnati), Matthew Reeds, (UMBC)

12:00–1 pm ET, Friday, May 8, 2026 via WebEx

Securing election integrity is fundamental to democratic governance and a core responsibility of election administration. Public policy establishes the institutional environment in which electoral systems operate and shapes public trust in electoral outcomes. As digital technologies have become increasingly embedded in voter registration, ballot transmission, vote tabulation, and post-election verification, cybersecurity has emerged as a critical dimension of election governance. Yet systematic knowledge remains limited on how U.S. state and local policies, practices, and technologies have adapted to evolving cybersecurity challenges. This study addresses that gap by analyzing the adoption and evolution of cybersecurity-related election policies, practices, and technologies across state and local jurisdictions from 2012 to 2024. The findings show how governments have responded to emerging digital threats, highlight patterns and divergences in policy adoption, and identify persistent governance gaps. The study offers practical insights for strengthening electoral governance and demonstrates how cybersecurity policy can enhance election integrity and safeguard democratic institutions.

Chul Hyun Park is an associate professor in the School of Public Policy at UMBC, where he also serves as Director of the InnoTech Policy Lab. He is a faculty affiliate of the UMBC Cybersecurity Institute. His research focuses on the policy dimensions of digital governance, with particular emphasis on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence governance, and post- quantum cryptography.

Host: Dr. Alan T. Sherman. Support for this event was provided in part by NSF under SFS grants DGE-1753681 and 2438185. The UMBC Cyber Defense Lab meets biweekly Fridays 12-1pm. All meetings are open to the public.

Start your morning the UMBC commuter way.

Join us for breakfast with fellow commuters and connect with helpful on-campus resources. There's no better way to kick off your day!

Good Morning Commuters (GMC) takes place every Tuesday from 8:30–11:00 AM *except once a month when Good afternoon Commuters (GAC) is held* and is complimentary with your Commuter Gold Card.

Gold Cards are a one-time purchase per academic year and can be bought at any GMC event (cash only):

• $5 for Commuter Students

• $10 for Residential & Graduate Students

We can't wait to see you there!