Thank you to everyone who has decided to run for one of our officer positions! Voting is open today until Tuesday, May 6th and the ballot is a google form accessed at the bottom of this post. Here are the candidates and their speeches for the upcoming year:

Neha Matthew - President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary
Hello! My name is Neha Mathew, and I am a freshman majoring in Ancient Studies, Anthropology, and Biochemistry. My interest in the ancient world started when I first learned about the Indus Valley Civilization, and since then I knew that I would like to pursue a career that involves studying ancient civilizations. One step to finding more peers with similar interests would be to be more involved with Ancient Studies Council. At UMBC, I have been involved in multiple projects. I am the events coordinator and social media manager of Anthropology Club, where I have organized biweekly meeting, including the viewing of ethnographic films and workshops about material anthropology. I am also part of the university's Model United Nations team, where, as a delegate, I have excelled in problem solving and collaboration. More recently, I had the opportunity to be a contributor to UMBC's first Book Fest. More specifically, I worked with different department at the university to host this year's One Maryland One Book author, Lawrence Burney. As a member of the Ancient Studies Council E-board, my expertise in strategic planning and emphasis on partnership can prove useful in facilitating engaging and education meetings in the upcoming semesters.

Rebecca Lee - Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary
I'm Rebecca Lee and I'm an Ancient Studies and Philosophy double major and Political Science minor. I am the current vice president and former treasurer of Ancient Studies Council. I am also the current vice president and former secretary of Philosophers Anonymous. During my time as part of the E-board, I’ve become very close with the ANCS department’s wonderful faculty and students, as well as the intricacies of running a student organization—from financial transactions, to advertising and hosting events, to communicating with other student organizations and resource centers at UMBC. I have loved my time with ANCS council, even at its most difficult moments, because being able to connect with others over shared passion for the ancient world—and to learn about it from our superb faculty—makes it all worthwhile to me. I hope our members will allow me the chance at another year to help make learning about antiquity fun and accessible for the UMBC student body.

Nicholas Mocko - Treasurer and Secretary
Salvete Omnes (Hello everyone). I am Nicholas Mocko, a current freshman Ancient Studies major, and I am running for Treasurer/Secretary. I have been a huge fan of the ancient world since a young kid, and that inspired me to take Latin in high school. This further cemented my love for the classics, and also introduced me to a club called the Junior Classical League. Long story short, I eventually became the head of the JCL, and went on numerous trips across Maryland and 3 week long conventions across America. While the JCL is for middle and high school, there is a college version called the Senior Classical League, which I am currently apart of. However, the Maryland SCL (MDSCL) is trying to reestablish itself as a unifying force of classics throughout colleges in Maryland. I plan to connect our club with the other clubs across Maryland colleges and to the nationwide NSCL. Not only will this allow opportunities for events/competitions with other colleges, but it will link us with the wider classics network that can provide us with connections and scholarships for Ancient Studies. Thank you all, and vote Nicholas for Treasurer/Secretary!  

Madeline Ivester - Treasurer and Secretary
I really enjoy going to ancient studies council meetings, and I want to make sure all the positions get filled. I am willing to put in the work to help the club run smoothly.

Here is the link to the voting ballot: https://forms.gle/XHXSLZvD1x3VSYkKA

Thank you again to all that applied to this year's election! If you have any questions regarding voting, the election in general, or anything club related, reach out to sbraun1@umbc.edu. 

Stop by Coffee Mondays to grab a free cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate and take a breather between classes.

Whether you're coming to study, chat, or just refuel, this is your weekly reminder to slow down and connect with fellow grad students.

Where? Office of Graduate Student Life (Commons 308)
When? Every Monday | 10am - 2pm

Come as you are — pajamas, laptops, and coffee orders welcome.

Monday, April 27th, 11 AM - 1 PM, Student Mental Health Conversations, The Gathering Space

OHP and RIH are hosting student-led mental health conversations. UMBC students will facilitate these conversations. Join for storytelling, crafting, and snacks! 

Wednesday, April 29th, 12-1 PM Wellness Wednesday, Commons Mainstreet

Join the Mental Health Peer Educators at the Consent Cafe on Mainstreet. Stop by to make your own consent-centered cup. What are your ingredients for consent?

*All events are open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.

Dear UMBC Community,

Last week’s Administrative Professionals Day breakfast was a beautiful occasion to honor the integral contributions of UMBC’s administrative support staff. Across campus, their work brings order to complexity and clarity to what needs to happen next. They notice what others might miss, step in where needed, and ensure that the work of the university moves forward with intention and care.

It was a privilege to celebrate our administrative support staff with an inspiring keynote from UMBC’s own Alicia Wilson ’04, vice president for civic engagement and opportunity at Johns Hopkins University. Alicia spoke powerfully to the value of work that gets done, perhaps without ever being noticed—work that supports others, sustains our community, and makes progress possible. She also gave us even more reason to feel proud of UMBC, as she credited this institution and community for so much of her own success.

To our administrative support staff: I hope you felt truly celebrated at the wonderful breakfast co-sponsored by Human Resources and Strategic Talent Management and the Office of Institutional Advancement. I hope you know—every day—that we value you.

Sincerely,

President Valerie Sheares Ashby

Hello all,

Tonight is a very special night as it’s the club’s first ever election. We will decide who will be leading the club in the next school year, and luckily most of the positions are competitive.

Votes will be cast in-person (in a secret ballot), so show up to ILSB 302 at 7:00pm if you want to decide who gets to deal with SGA next year. If you have yet to put your name in and want to run, the cut off for sign-ups is 5:00pm TODAY. 

To be able to vote in our election, you must have attended at least 2 club meetings this year. It's only fair that those who have actually made time for the club get a say. 

Are you a UMBC graduate student looking for a paid campus opportunity that  … 

• supports you as a graduate-level writer?
• provides space and time for you to write and learn with other graduate students?
• prepares you for jobs in research, teaching, and beyond?

Apply now to become a UMB Writing Center Fellow and … 

• develop strategic research and writing practices for graduate and professional work, including thesis and dissertation writing
• join a vibrant network of mentors and student writers from Baltimore-area academic and professional programs
• learn research-based and equitable approaches to mentoring other graduate writers.

Fellows tutor graduate writers, including those writers enrolled in programs designated as undergraduate, online and on-site at University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Writing Center in downtown Baltimore.

The Fellowship begins in early September 2026.

The award amount ranges between $1500-$3000 per semester, depending on your weekly commitment. 

The application will be open from March-August 2026.

Learn more and apply today at the UMB Writing Center Fellowship webpage linked  here. (Complete the UMBC-specific application) 

Reach out to James Wright, Associate Director of the UMB Writing Center, with questions: james.wright@umaryland.edu.

*registration link corrected*

What do we need in these times of unwellness? What kinds of care can we imagine and build for ourselves if we engage our unwellness in new ways? Facilitated by Dr. Mimi Khúc, this interactive tarot-making workshop will use the Asian American Tarot to explore mental health and the current social, cultural, and structural forces that shape it, engaging critical arts approaches that provide new vocabularies for both what hurts and how we might care for what hurts, together.

April 27, 2026 4:30-5:30 PM (virutal workshop)

Register for the meeting

Mimi Khúc, PhD, is a writer, scholar, and teacher of things unwell. She is the Co-Editor of The Asian American Literary Review and an adjunct professor in Asian American studies and disability studies.

Organized by the Minor in Critical Disability Studies. Co-sponsored by the Dresher Center for the Humanities, the Department of American Studies and the Department of Media and Communication Studies.

B.A.: Psychological and Cultural Foundations of Healthcare (Arab world focus)

Degree Mentors:

• Samir El Omari| Coordinator for Internships & Career Placement, Coordinator of Arabic, and Teaching Professor| UMBC Department of Modern Languages, Linguistics & Intercultural Communication 
• Dr. Rachel Amey| Research Psychologist| U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences
• Dr. Jose Arenas Gomez, Individualized Study

Major/ Minors: 

• Biological Sciences Major
• Arabic Minor
• Psychology Minor

Why did you choose to major in INDS?

I chose to major in INDS because it allowed me to combine my interests in psychology, cultural elements, and healthcare all in one degree. I wanted something that was not limited to just one field so I could better understand patients from different cultural backgrounds. I believe that there is more to healthcare than science (it is not the full story). This major helped me focus on how culture and psychology affect healthcare, especially for Arab communities, which is important to me and focuses on healing beyond science. It also gave me the flexibility to design a path that matches my goal of becoming a doctor who can build strong and trusting relationships with patients for the best possible medical care.

What are your plans for after graduation, and how do you see using your INDS degree?

After graduation, I plan to go to medical school and become a surgeon. My areas of interest are cardiology and neurology, as well as stroke research that combines both of my interest fields. I see my INDS degree helping me communicate better with patients and understand their cultural and psychological needs. As a prospective physician, I want to use what I learned to reduce misunderstandings in healthcare and improve how providers treat patients from different backgrounds, especially Arab patients. My goal is to not only treat patients medically but also make them feel understood, respected, and comfortable so they feel heard and supported.

Were you involved in any clubs or organizations? Did you hold any leadership positions? URCAD? URA? Off-campus internships? On-campus research experiences?

• Leadership Position and Experience:
  • SARE Alumni at the School of Medicine| Johns Hopkins (Summer 2023) 
    • First-Year Ambassador (1 year)
    • Director of Student Advocacy (1 year)
  • Tutor| Biological Science
  • Tutor| Organic Chemistry
  • URCAD (Spring 2026)

• Clubs and Organizations:
  • Muslim Student Association
  • Egyptian Student Association
  • Arab Student Association 
  • Blossom Together
  • ICNA relief

Awards, Certifications, Scholarships, etc. that you have received in your time at UMBC: 

• Merit Scholarship
• President's List (1 year)
• Dean's List
• Member| Phi Beta Kappa (PBK) Academic Honor Society

Any thing you would like to share about your time at UMBC or in the INDS program:

Having focus in both Biological Sciences and INDS degrees has been an amazing opportunity. Although it came with many challenges and hard work, it feels very special for all the support that I received from all my mentors, INDS faculty, and staff. I also appreciated the chance to work on my capstone project, where I focused on Arab communities and cultural competence in healthcare. This experience helped me think more deeply about real problems and how to create something that is not always an undergrad level, such as developing a training outline that can improve how providers interact with patients.

Being involved on campus as a part of the Student Government Association (SGA) has been a unique time where I get to advocate for the student body for their voices to be heard. Being a part of INDS, SGA, and currently being a tutor helped me grow both academically and personally and made me more confident in the path I want to take.

For More information on Aya's INDS journey please click here!

Visit Website

The Polar Ice Museum :: From Greenland to South Baltimore

• Opening Reception Thursday, April 30, 4:00 - 6:00 pm
• Imaging Research Center, ITE 108 (first floor) UMBC
• Additional hours: Friday, May 1, 10–4pm, and Saturday, May 2, 11 to 4pm

An Imaging Research Center (IRC) collaboration with iHARP presents an arc of monitors displaying an ice cave within a game-like environment. As the viewer's own CO2 (breath) enters the space, a series of events animates the monitors. These global events, including the emergence of lakes in Greenland, temperature rising, and global CO2 levels emitting particles, lakes, and letters, include maps containing windheads, icebergs, ice skaters, and more. The unfolding glacial movements turn the earth’s data into something visceral and immediate.   

A sculpture shows the impact of a South Baltimore shop whose flooding is twice that of the rest of the Chesapeake Bay due to events in the polar regions.

Viewers will also see the IMDA MFA Graduate student collaboration “Climate Matters”, and a VR game to test your commitment to change things!

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A preview of the project, please visit the Polar Ice Museum Site.

We hope you’ll take a moment to see how research can be made accessible and engaging for everyone, not just experts.

If you are interested in running for a position in the Entrepreneurship Club, please complete the form by Tuesday at 11:59 PM!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSctAyiLw8cdHGmTGR_LM6ZLD4QrID8_PiwYazYlJMufvgOfRg/viewform?usp=publish-editor