Congratulations to Frank Rodriguez '26 on being accepted to the English Literature PhD program at Penn State University! Read a statement from Frank below:

My name is Frank Rodriguez, and I am a senior at UMBC majoring in English and Education. It's my honor to announce that after graduating next month, I plan on continuing my academic journey at The Pennsylvania State University, as a member of their English literature PhD program. Along with other benefits, I have been offered a six-year contract, with an option for a seventh, of consistent funding and support. 

Regarding my field of research and interests for my graduate school studies and research, my work will be conducted primarily through a postcolonial lens, while also completed by ecocriticism, as well as labor, diaspora, and empire studies. My aspiration is to study Latin America, the Caribbean, and West Africa; specifically, the diasporic communities that originate in those spaces, as well as the groups that have coalesced in these geographical regions. I would pay particular attention to the roles of food, space, and labor play in the lives of these groups as they work to adapt to and assimilate into their new environments while retaining their cultural heritage. Along with a variety of other factors, I attribute my upbringing in immigrant communities to significantly influencing the fields of research I most gravitate towards. 

Growing up in these communities, the word "college" wasn't thrown around a lot. I'm the first in my family to graduate high school, so all of this is foreign territory. As such, I'm a bit terrified at the prospect of starting all over again in an area where no one knows who I am, as well as the weight of making people proud and providing an admirable representation of myself, my family, and my heritage. However, the prospect of continuing my education and edging closer each moment toward fulfilling my childhood dream of being a professor excites me immensely.

Additionally, I enthusiastically anticipate the opportunity to demonstrate to those around me that my place in academia is merited, and that I am in whichever space I am legitimately. 
I want to conclude by extending my gratitude to all of my past and current classmates, my professors, and the English department more broadly. I was so profoundly anxious when first beginning college, being the first in my family to attend, and from the beginning, everyone around me was so gracious and kind to me. I felt acknowledged and cherished, allowing me to flourish. It aches me to leave such a caring community, but I wish everyone the best in their endeavors, and humbly ask you to do the same for me. 

One photon, a trillion electrons. A Q&A with our Faculty, Daniel Suárez-Forero, is now live in UMBC News. They discuss Daniel's research interests and goals for his experimental group at UMBC. We thank Sarah Hansen for this fun read.

Photo by Brad Ziegler/UMBC.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

By Jacqueline E. Lawton
Directed by Joseph W. Ritsch

Produced by special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials supplied by WILLIAM MORRIS ENDEAVOR ENTERTAINMENT, LLC.

Production Team

• Sound Designer: Madeline "Mo" Oslejsek
• Multimedia Designer: Adam Mendelson
• Costume Designer: Becca Janney 
• Co-Lighting Designers: Juan Juarez and Adam Mendelson
• Scenic Designer: Nate Sinnott
• Assistant Scenic Designer: Kayla Laucks
• Assistant Costume Designers: Ann Davies and Timothy Clark
• Assistant Lighting Designer: Malaak McDonald
• Assistant Sound Designer: Gale Daniel
• Fight Choreographer: Gerrad Alex Taylor
• Intimacy Choreographer: Grace Shepperd
• Puppet Engineer: Daniel Ettineger
• Stage Manager: Morgan Decker
• Assistant Stage Managers: Jada Abbott, Jadyn Fleming

Cast

• Dorothy: Divine Iweha
• Wicked Witch of the West; Glinda, Good Witch of the South; Fight Captain: Grace Marsh
• Aunt Em; Locasta, Good Witch of the North; Guardian of the Gates: Tatiyana J. Terrelonge
• Undle Henry; Wizard of Oz; Hungry Wildcat: Anthony Negron
• Scarecrow: Michael Duffy
• Tin Woodsman; Townsfolk: Christian Price-Burnett
• Cowardly Lion; Townsfolk: Dario Prioleau
• King of the Winged Monkeys; Townsfolk; Toto Puppeteer; Male Swing: Alden Lester
• Female Swing: Megan Chouinard

Full show program and show poster are attached.

Show poster designed by Eric Abele.

Production Photos

All production photos by Kiirstn Pagan '11.

Hi,

The interest form for the e-board next year is out! Please fill out by Friday, May 8.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScuWcaR3_fz-NRtkQxBqsIcVHOo8kmAjr6AztzQr52xmJp8-A/viewform?usp=publish-editor

Thank you!

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.