Join us on Monday, April 20, at the Fine Arts Recital Hall to kick off HRSTM Week 2026! Our keynote speaker, Marci Walton (MA, MS) from ComPsych, will lead an insightful session on fostering a growth mindset.

You can register for the kick-off and check out the other events by visiting the HRSTM Week 2026 website. We look forward to seeing you! 

Museo Garifuna Sawaina in Context: Honduran Neoliberalism, Anti-Colonial Ethnographies & Garifuna Celebrations of Life

Presenter: Bryan Castro-Velez, Bernardo Guerrero, Museo Garifuna Sawaina

Mentor: Sarah Fouts, American Studies

RAC 230 | 2:55 – 3:10 p.m.

A modest community museum on the northeastern coast of Honduras works beyond preservation and instead actively nurtures Afro-Indigenous cultures, realities, and celebrations of life. Contrasting western institutions, Museo Garifuna Sawaina exhibits transformational conceptions of cultural institutions and ethnographic practices led by Afro-Indigenous people in rejection of appropriation, extraction, and taxidermy. My research ultimately reflects upon mestizaje concealing neocolonial developments through the privatization and censorship of public institutions and education. This is a collaborative project that centers and contextualizes Museo Garifuna Sawaina’s community-centric model within its sociopolitical and economic environment, exploring Museo Sawaina as a transformative Honduran institution, with Director Bernardo Guerrero as a co-facilitator. Critical participatory action research, accompaniment and formation analysis will be the primary methodologies to prioritize intellectual ownership to the Garifuna pueblo of Limon, Honduras. I will directly assist in a community-developed project in this contextualization, including subsets, and co-produce a storytelling deliverable (ie. Story/Map, Storytelling Circle). This public-facing component ultimately connects Museo Garifuna Sawaina with the growing international presence of community museums and their efforts to ensure Afro-Indigenous communities remain the rightful stewards of their (hi)stories, traditions, and land.

This work was funded through the Orser Center for Public Humanities.

URCAD is Wednesday, April 22 in the RAC:

URCAD.umbc.edu

Here is the link to run for E-board. https://forms.gle/Wq8G3mFmo64DCgut9

Reminder the form will close on April 22nd, 11:59 pm. 

Good luck! Email us with any questions @ eshah1@umbc.edu or maisak1@umbc.edu 

Searching for a private bedroom for a female grad student. Budget including utilities is around $600. Common living area should be available for use. Preference for a house in or around Circle Drive, with lease. If you have any leads, please contact BM32973@umbc.edu.

Stop by next Thursday, April 23 from 12–2 PM in Commons 329 for some coffee! Meet members of Econ Council, connect with fellow students, and enjoy free coffee, donuts, and a relaxed, welcoming environment. Whether you're an econ major or just curious, come hang out and brew up some connections!

James Hyatt, a UMBC senior studying Media and Communications, has been an important member of the Division of Information Technology’s (DoIT) Communications team. His journey working for DoIT began with a UMBC partnership with the Southwest Visions Foundation and soon expanded into the world of internal communications, storytelling, and sports broadcasting. 

James’s Digital Story

As James Hyatt prepares to graduate this May, he shares a personal reflection in DoIT’s Student Digital Stories series about his DoIT experience. In this video, he reveals a journey of transformation shaped by hands‑on learning, campus engagement, and the steady development of professional identity. The video offers a brief but meaningful window into how James has grown as both a student and an emerging professional.

Work Highlights

Check out some of the great work James has completed in the past year and a half: 

History of Arbutus Highlight Video (30 seconds)

Hollywood Cinema in Arbutus Video (30 seconds)

Launching DoIT's Cybersecurity Newsletter (4-minute read)

Launching UMBC’s Sonography Program Application (3-minute read)

Congratulations, James, on your soon-to-be graduation! We appreciate all of your hard work, organization skills, and creativity!

ICYMI, there is a silent gatekeeper standing between you and an interview: the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). Most companies are now using this software to scan, rank, and filter resumes before a person gets a thorough look at them. If your resume isn't formatted to be "readable" by these systems, it might be passed over — regardless of your qualifications. 

The goal isn't just to have a great-looking resume; it’s to have a resume with specific content sought out by the software. By making a few strategic updates, you can ensure your hard work gets the visibility it deserves. Here’s how.

Prioritize Simple Formatting
While it’s tempting to use programs like Canva to develop creative layouts, columns, or complex graphics for your resume, these elements often confuse an ATS. Adding fancy sidebars or tables can cause your text to get scrambled or ignored entirely by the software. Stick to a clean, single-column layout with plenty of white space. In the world of the ATS, simplicity equals momentum forward in your job search. 

Strategic Keyword Alignment
The ATS can also be seen as a search engine for recruiters. To rank highly, your resume needs to closely mirror the language of the job description. If the posting asks for “Project Management” and “Data Analysis,” make sure those phrases appear in your skills section or experience descriptions. Industry jargon is best, and variations or synonyms of keywords also count, so don't feel like you need to change wording every single time. 

Choose the Right File Type
There is a long-standing debate between uploading a .docx vs. .pdf with an ATS. While most modern ATS platforms can read both, a good rule of thumb is to use whatever file types are listed in the application instructions. If you do use a PDF, ensure it is searchable (i.e., you can highlight and copy the text) rather than a flat image file. If the system can’t read the text, it won’t be able to rank your information. 

Focus on Standard Section Headers
The ATS looks for specific markers to categorize your information. Using “clever” titles like “Where I’ve Been” instead of “Work Experience” or “My Toolkit” instead of “Skills” can prevent the software from correctly identifying your background. Consolidating two sections into one with headers like "Research Experience & Extracurricular Activities" also won't work. Stick to the traditional headers that the software is programmed to recognize. This ensures your data is parsed correctly into the recruiter’s database. 

Put This Into Action
Want to know more about how to optimize your resume for the ATS, especially when it comes to AI? Join the UMBC Career Center virtually on Monday, April 20th, at 12 PM for a Keys to Success workshop where we break down exactly how to format your documents for modern hiring technology. Hope to see you there!

Looking for a summer course?

Consider SOCY 370: Sociology of Law!

This course investigates the role of law in society. Students will review key sociological theories and concepts about the origins, purpose, organization, and consequences of law. Students will also will review social scientific research on the law and legal system.

Offered fully online and asynchronous with Dr. Aubrey Jackson Soller.

Learn more and see if it’s a good fit for you:
View full course details for SOCY 370: Sociology of Law (Summer 2026)

Money $mart Week 2026 is underway and concludes tomorrow, Friday, April 17th!

This week has been packed with valuable opportunities to strengthen your financial wellness, with sessions covering topics such as saving, investing, budgeting, credit building, and more. There is still time to participate in the remaining events and take advantage of the resources available to help you build a stronger financial future.

In addition to attending informative sessions, you still have the chance to apply for scholarship opportunities available through Money $mart Week 2026. Scholarship details are available on Scholarship Retriever, including:

MSW 2026 Scholarship Opportunities:

MSW Bingo Card: $1,000 (1 winner)

MSW Attendance: $1,000 (4 winners)

MSW Post-Survey: $500 (2 winners)

MSW Reflection Essay: $2,000 (2 winners)

If you have questions, please reach out, and be sure to stop by one of this week’s remaining events. To view the full Money $mart Week 2026 schedule and register for sessions, visit the FinancialSmarts myUMBC group page.

Five-Year Commemoration of the Walter Lomax Act

Honoring Mr. Lomax: Champion for restorative justice

Date: Thursday, April 16, 2026

Time: 7:30 - 9 PM

Location: Performing Arts & Humanities Building (PAHB): 132

This event will feature Mr. Lomax, elected officials, members of the Maryland state government, and others integral in the passing of the Act, which compensates wrongly convicted and incarcerated individuals. 

All are welcome!

Presented by the Department of English, The School of Public Policy at UMBC, The Dresher Center for the Humanities, The Shriver Center, the Department of American Studies, and the Department of Political Science.