Come out to learn about life as a student, doctor, resident doctor, guidance, etc. Come prepared with lots of questions. 

Where: Math and Psych 103 

When: Thursday, April 16, 2026 4-5 pm 

Register here (by Friday, April 24): https://forms.gle/7WH2WxCZjPAiH9yV8

CAHSS faculty are invited to the first workshop in a new CARAT learning series, CARAT Gems (Grant Education Modules). The goal of the series is to increase faculty's understanding and comfort level with the grants process at UMBC. 

The inaugural workshop, Getting Started, takes place on Wednesday, April 29, from 12:00-1:00PM (hybrid in PUP-451 or Webex). You can choose to attend the entire workshop, or one half.

The first half -- Pre-award -- will focus on what's involved in becoming a PI (Principal Investigator) and the first steps in starting an external funding proposal at UMBC.

The second half -- Post-award -- will discuss, from a practical standpoint, how to plan and begin spending on an award. 

Time will be given for questions. You may also include a question on your registration form.

Questions: Sara Quershi (saraq1@umbc.edu), CARAT Senior Specialist for Grants and Research Development 

Campers! We are so excited to welcome you all to Camp Pride, from April 27th to May 1st!

Join Jess this Friday at 12 p.m. for a strength-focused yoga class. GetActive

We’re gathering student input to help shape future improvements to the AOK Library. This survey takes just a few minutes, and your voice directly informs upcoming planning decisions. Thank you for sharing your perspective! 

Applications for our Spring 2027 Residential Faculty Fellowships are now available on our website.

PLEASE NOTE THE REVISED DEADLINE: May 1, 2026

The Dresher Center for the Humanities, in conjunction with the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS), and the Vice President for Research, invites applications for two Residential Faculty Research Fellowships for the Spring 2027 semester. Dresher Center fellowships offer the gift of time, space, and collegial conversation within a robust humanities center environment which will, in turn, enhance the UMBC conversation surrounding inclusive excellence.

Funding is intended to support and promote significant humanities research at UMBC. Dresher Center Residential Research Fellows will reside at least two days day a week in the Dresher Center and receive a release from teaching (up to two course releases) to work on a significant humanities research project or the training necessary to embark on such a project. Faculty wishing to develop expertise in a new field or discipline towards a future project are also encouraged to apply. Each Fellow will have the use of an office in the Dresher Center and will be awarded $750 to hire an undergraduate research assistant (junior or senior) for the semester. Faculty fellows will be encouraged to connect to and share their work with each other and with the graduate student fellows connected to the Center.

Any questions can be directed to dreshercenter@umbc.edu.

The Division of Student Affairs (DoSA) is developing its strategic plan for the next three years and we need your input! Monday, April 20 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. stop by Lower Flat Tuesdays in The Commons for free breakfast snacks and to offer your feedback about the student experience and how DoSA can better support you.

Alternatively, you can visit the QR code in this post or studentaffairs.umbc.edu/survey to provide your thoughts.

Like many other departments on campus, the Division of Information Technology relies on the support and talent of student employees in its work initiatives. These opportunities allow aspiring professionals to gain valuable work experience and connections while also making an immediate difference on campus. As a core pillar of DoIT, Cybersecurity Assurance and Digital Trust employs multiple Student Security Technicians, who play a critical role in ensuring that UMBC’s digital environment remains safe and uncompromised. 

Today, we would like to highlight two of these technicians who will be graduating this May. Grace Robinson and Ouwen Dai have served in their roles for the majority of their academic careers and are now taking the next step into the professional world. 

Along with their fellow members of the student team, Grace and Ouwen work on the frontlines in phishing response and outreach, monitoring threats, and investigating reports. They have also partaken in additional subprojects and development work. While a large portion of their efforts are based in dividing and individually conquering their ticket pools, they enjoy collaborating with their fellow technicians when a problem needs solving, and do their part to foster camaraderie. In a dynamic field where the workflow can go from quiet to packed in an instant, their tasks are always engaging. 

Ultimately, this work is the type you often don’t hear much about, but it has been crucial in keeping UMBC safe and operational. As Grace and Ouwen now look ahead to their futures, their experiences have similarly left them with much to reflect on. 

—

Grace Robinson

Major: Computer Science - Cybersecurity Track 

Grace got her start at DoIT after hearing from other student employees and sending out an inquiry email. With her track in cybersecurity, she knew exactly what was the best fit for her skillset and interests. She will be continuing her cybersecurity work after graduation, having secured a full-time role with a government contractor. 

Cybersecurity is a hectic and broad field where everyone still has things to learn. Grace advises focusing on what you do know in order to be successful, instead of worrying about the unknown. Hoping to have a long career in a field dominated by men, she wants to see more women and girls in cybersecurity in the future and hopes to be part of that change.

Ouwen Dai

Major: Computer Science - Cybersecurity Track 

As a sophomore, Ouwen leveraged his connections in the Information Systems Security Association to connect with DoIT leadership, eventually interviewing for a Student Security Technician position. Grateful for the experience offered by his projects, he enjoys being able to make a real difference and have a positive impact on the campus. One of the projects he is proudest of involved working with the UMBC fire panels in a joint effort with Environmental Health and Safety. This project resulted in fire personnel being able to receive panel data outputs directly to their phones, a massive upgrade in convenience, and improvements in alarm response. 

After graduation, Ouwen has a full-time role lined up with a federal nonprofit organization, where he will work as a cybersecurity engineer. In the future, he sees himself potentially working in a managerial or adjacent role. He stresses the importance of actually enjoying the work that you’re doing and always being willing to learn. True passion helps you learn outside the classroom and can take you places. 

—

Please join us in congratulating Grace and Ouwen on their work at UMBC, as well as everything they have coming up! Best of luck in your future endeavors!

Hello everyone,

Here's a reminder that the Chat with French Food event is today from 12-1 PM in FA303!

The Indigenous Peoples' Union is hosting a potluck-styled event in celebration of the spring season, the semester reaching its end and of the deep heritages of cuisines familiar to Indigenous communities - appropriately titled "Food Heritages Day."

Thursday, April 30th | 5-7 PM | Center for Well-Being 118

We will be enjoying a variety of dishes and drinks while having enriching discussions about the histories and pathways of different ingredients (wheat, maize, eggs, etc.) in relation to Indigenous peoples globally. For instance, frybread is a staple amongst Northern American Indigenous communities, in spite that wheat is not a native species to the Americas and is intertwined with colonialism, cultural adaptations, and food sovereignty.

Please RSVP by April 28th if you'd like to attend and let us know if you will bring a contribution. The contribution does NOT have to be food/considered Indigenous (we will have some 'Non-Native' dishes as well (ex. Flan)) as we'll be talking about foods and ingredients of all backgrounds and histories. Event is not limited to students. Come with an appetite, a contribution (encouraged), an interest to learn, and a tupperware!

The RSVP form is set to allow edits after you've responded in order to prevent duplicate responses. If you have any questions or inquiries, you can email one of the leads, send a message to one of our socials or email c280@umbc.edu.

• RSVP Here: https://forms.gle/AxKj4Lt45FfCZntv7
• Take a peek at what others are bringing here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/

"He is right; banana trees are not native to our El Salvador. Banana trees were introduced during colonialism between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries in Latin America through the development of plantations. Banana trees are indeed native to the South Pacific and Southeast Asian regions, Yes, under the lens of Western environmentalism, banana trees are an invasive species to my ancestral native lands. However, to us, bananas are not invasive; they are displaced relatives that have adapted well to our climates and are now incorporated into our traditional diets. Ultimately, the kinships and relationships we have developed with them have made them our relatives as well. All I can think of is that, like me and many Indigenous peoples in the diaspora, banana trees have also been displaced. We have been displaced from our native and ancestral lands and forced to adapt to our new environments and form new kinships with our new land." Jessica Hernandez (Maya Ch’orti and Binnizá-Zapotec) in Fresh Banana Leaves.

To see the original post, click here.