Our 2025/2026 Accessibility Trailblazers are here!

We invited the UMBC community to nominate a faculty member and/or an academic department for the annual UMBC Accessibility Trailblazer Awards. Our goal is to recognize and celebrate the individuals and departments who are true allies in advancing accessibility and inclusion across campus.

Trailblazers are pioneers in ensuring that course materials and content are accessible to all students. They embody inclusive teaching practices and demonstrate a strong commitment to Universal Design for Learning (UDL), creating learning environments where every student feels welcomed and supported.

As nominations officially closed this week, the Department of Accessibility & Disability Services (ADS), home to the Office of Student Disability Services (SDS), carefully reviewed submissions and selected this year’s awardees. We are proud to announce our 2025/2026 Accessibility Trailblazer Award recipients:

Award Recipients:

• Dr. Tiffany Banks, School of Social Work
• Paul Coakley (adjunct), Sociology, Anthropology, and Public Health Department 
• Kristen Anchor, Department of Media & Communication Studies
• Interlibrary Loan (ILL) & Course Reserves Department at Albin O. Kuhn Library

Honorable Mentions:

• Dr. Kate Drabinski, Department of Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies
• Dr. Lara Martin, Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
• Dr. Tania Lizarazo, Department of Modern Languages, Linguistics & Intercultural Communication

ADS and the entire UMBC community are incredibly proud of your dedication to making accessibility a priority in all that you do. Your efforts continue to create a more inclusive and equitable learning environment for all students.

Award recipients will be formally recognized with certificates, shared with their Deans and senior leadership, and featured in our office bulletin boards, and quarterly newsletter.

Nominations will reopen in January 2027, so be sure to keep an eye out and take the opportunity to recognize others who are making a difference in accessibility and inclusion. Please join us in celebrating these outstanding individuals and departments!

UMBC's Center for Social Science Scholarship will hold its last seminar in its series on generative AI, LLMs, and computational social science methods from 12-1:30 pm ET, on Wednesday, May 5, 2026, in person in room 438 of the Public Policy building.

The session will cover machine learning models for causal inference and the use of UMBC's high-performance computing systems to run these and similar models.

Dr. Eric Stokan, CS3 Director and Associate Professor of Political Science; Roy Prouty, DoIT Assistant Director for Research Computing, and Sai Vikas Amaraneni, Information Systems PhD student, will present material and give demonstrations.

Register here

More than 1000 guests visited campus on Saturday, April 25th, for Just for Juniors (and Sophomores, Too!)—a day designed to help them explore possibilities and begin envisioning their futures at UMBC. While the program is geared toward juniors, it also welcomed younger students, with 91 high school sophomores and even 17 high school freshmen in attendance—an early sign of growing interest from students eager to start their college search sooner. 

From the start, the focus was clear: this wasn’t just about choosing a major, but about exploring interests and understanding how those interests can evolve into meaningful academic and career paths. Through student panels, information sessions, and campus tours, attendees connected with current students, faculty, and staff who emphasized curiosity, flexibility, and the value of interdisciplinary learning.

 
That sense of connection stood out immediately. As one attendee shared, “The student tour guides were amazing and my student connected with them.” Another noted, “The diversity of student panelists… their candor and the supporting adults” made the experience especially impactful. Across the board, visitors highlighted the welcoming atmosphere, with one remarking on “the friendliness and availability of the students and staff,” and another simply pointing to “the diversity and kindness of everyone I encountered.”

 
A standout addition this year was the expanded Academic Majors and Opportunities Fair, held in the Retriever Activities Center (RAC). With a thoughtfully designed fair map guiding students through a wide range of programs and resources, the space became a hub of exploration. Departments showcased not only traditional majors but also the many ways students can combine disciplines—bringing UMBC’s interdisciplinary approach to life.

 
For many, the fair was the highlight of the day. “The Academic Majors and Opportunities Fair was excellent and gave us an overview of the strengths of each major,” one attendee shared, while another noted, “I was able to explore majors that I have not considered previously.” Direct conversations helped students see new possibilities and better understand how their strengths could translate into academic pathways.

 
Beyond academics, the event offered access to a broader sense of campus life. The timing alongside Quadmania gave students a chance to experience UMBC’s vibrant community firsthand. As one guest put it, “Having the event during Quadmania allowed my student to get an inside glimpse of campus life at UMBC.”

 
The impact of the day was clear. More than 80% of attendees reported that they were more likely to apply to UMBC after participating—reflecting not just a successful event, but a meaningful shift in how students see themselves and their futures.

 
Perhaps most importantly, students and families left feeling both informed and empowered. “There was no pressure… it was inviting without being overbearing,” one attendee shared, while another described the experience as “very comprehensive—perfect to give my son a true glimpse of what is to come.”

 
Overall, the day captured what makes UMBC distinctive: a place where students are encouraged not just to choose a path, but to explore, connect, and ultimately shape one of their own.

 
Just for Juniors (And Sophomores, Too!) is an event planned by the Campus Visits and Events Team in Undergraduate Admissions and Orientation: Jennifer Riehl, Gina Ralston, and Kim Meyers.

President Valerie Sheares Ashby Invites You to Join Us for the

Presidential Faculty and Staff Awards Ceremony

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

University Center Ballroom

3-5 p.m. Awards Ceremony and Reception

Please join me in sharing gratitude for the UMBC community, and celebrating this year’s Presidential Faculty and Staff awardees, University System of Maryland awardees, and additional distinguished university honorees:

• Lindsay DiCuirci, 2026-2029 Presidential Teaching Professor

• Weidong Zhu, 2026-2029 Presidential Research Professor

• Joby Taylor, Ph.D. ’05, 2026 Presidential Distinguished Exempt Staff

• Michele Kimery, 2026 Presidential Distinguished Non-Exempt Staff

• Tara Carpenter, 2026 University System of Maryland Board of Regents Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching

• Michael Summers, 2026 University System of Maryland Board of Regents Faculty Award for Excellence in Mentoring

• Curtis Menyuk, 2026 University System of Maryland Board of Regents Faculty Award for Faculty Award for Excellence in Scholarship or Research.

• Laura Schraven, 2025 University System of Maryland Board of Regents Staff Award for Outstanding Service for Students

• Brian Kaufman, 2026 University System of Maryland Board of Regents Award of Excellence in Creative Activity

• David Clurman, 2026 Diane M. Lee Teaching Award

• Michael Canale, 2026 Diane M. Lee Teaching Award

• Keith Harmon, 2026 Jakubik Family Endowment Staff Award

• Maisha Cron, 2026 Karen L. Wensch Endowment Award for Outstanding Non-Exempt Staff

• Ramana Vinjamuri, 2026 Marilyn E. Demorest Award for Faculty Advancement

• David Hoffman, Ph.D. '13, 2026 Teresa Lupinek Endowment Award

• Mehdi Benna, 2026 UMBC Research Faculty Excellence Award

Learn More

Kindly RSVP below to confirm your attendance.

The UMBC Institute of Politics invites you to the event honoring Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This event is part of their Politics Everywhere series.

Politics Everywhere: Understanding the AAPI Vote examines the growing influence of Asian American voters and what drives their political engagement.

Location: Skylight Room, The Commons
Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Time: 6:45 pm to 8:30 pm

The event features a reception with (free!) food and drinks from different Asian cultures.

Lt. Governor Aruna Miller, the first Asian American to serve in statewide office in Maryland, will deliver a keynote address. The event also includes a moderated panel discussion with Asian American leaders in Maryland.

The event is free, but space is limited, and an RSVP is required.  

Click here for more details about the event and to RSVP. 

The UMBC Institute of Politics invites you to the event honoring Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This event is part of their Politics Everywhere series.

Politics Everywhere: Understanding the AAPI Vote examines the growing influence of Asian American voters and what drives their political engagement.

Location: Skylight Room, The Commons
Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Time: 6:45 pm to 8:30 pm

The event features a reception with (free!) food and drinks from different Asian cultures.

Lt. Governor Aruna Miller, the first Asian American to serve in statewide office in Maryland, will deliver a keynote address. The event also includes a moderated panel discussion with Asian American leaders in Maryland.

The event is free, but space is limited, and an RSVP is required.  

Click here for more details about the event and to RSVP. 

Join the Global Asias Initiative on Monday, May 4 for a celebration of the many accomplishments of the Global Asias Initiative here at UMBC! The Global Asias Initiative, a three-year initiative funded by the Mellon Foundation, has created a forum for engaging in conversations in the fields of Asian American Studies, Asian diaspora studies, and Asian Studies and has strengthened support for Asian and Asian American students on campus. The Initiative has has created connections across disciplines, institutions, organizations, and communities here on campus and beyond. 

Full information is available on the event website and through the myUMBC event posts linked below. 

*Please RSVP for each event using the myUMBC links below*

******

Schedule of Events

11:00am-12:30pm
Welcome & Belonging and Community Luncheon: Conversations on Asian experiences at UMBC
Fine Arts 011

Lunch Provided!

*

1:00pm-2:15pm
Stories of Displacement: Unearthing Submerged Histories and Engaging Multiple Publics Keynote Address with Dr. Anna Guevarra
Fine Arts Recital Hall (Room 118)

Samosas & chai after the talk!

*

3:00-4:30pm
Global Asias in Dialogue Roundtable
Performing Arts & Humanities Building (PAHB) Room 216

Refreshments Provided!

*

5:00-6:30pm
Global Asias Student Showcase & Reception
Location: AOK Library Gallery

With food from Ekiben!

*

Thank you to our partners the Asian Studies Program, Mosaic: The Center for Cultural Diversity, Residential Life, McNair Scholars Program, and the Baltimore chapter of National Association of Asian American Professionals for support organizing this celebration.

Please contact Global Asias Project Manager, Priya Bhayana at priyab@umbc.edu for more information or for a parking pass if you are a community member.

Poster Design by Tyra Bounxouaysana ’26, commonvision UMBC Student Design and Print Center

*

These 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.

Join the Global Asias Initiative on Monday, May 4 for a celebration of the many accomplishments of the Global Asias Initiative here at UMBC! The Global Asias Initiative, a three-year initiative funded by the Mellon Foundation, has created a forum for engaging in conversations in the fields of Asian American Studies, Asian diaspora studies, and Asian Studies and has strengthened support for Asian and Asian American students on campus. The Initiative has has created connections across disciplines, institutions, organizations, and communities here on campus and beyond. 

Full information is available on the event website and through the myUMBC event posts linked below. 

*Please RSVP for each event using the myUMBC links below*

******

Schedule of Events

11:00am-12:30pm
Welcome & Belonging and Community Luncheon: Conversations on Asian experiences at UMBC
Fine Arts 011

Lunch Provided!

*

1:00pm-2:15pm
Stories of Displacement: Unearthing Submerged Histories and Engaging Multiple Publics Keynote Address with Dr. Anna Guevarra
Fine Arts Recital Hall (Room 118)

Samosas & chai after the talk!

*

3:00-4:30pm
Global Asias in Dialogue Roundtable
Performing Arts & Humanities Building (PAHB) Room 216

Refreshments Provided!

*

5:00-6:30pm
Global Asias Student Showcase & Reception
Location: AOK Library Gallery

With food from Ekiben!

*

Thank you to our partners the Asian Studies Program, Mosaic: The Center for Cultural Diversity, Residential Life, McNair Scholars Program, and the Baltimore chapter of National Association of Asian American Professionals for support organizing this celebration.

Please contact Global Asias Project Manager, Priya Bhayana at priyab@umbc.edu for more information or for a parking pass if you are a community member.

Poster Design by Tyra Bounxouaysana ’26, commonvision UMBC Student Design and Print Center

*

These 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.

Join us for a special Pride Week Edition of Ally Hangout! We will do trivia for cool prizes, enjoy snacks, and be in community with other allies!  Also, receive an EXCLUSIVE Ally pin for today that increases your chances at winning a BIG prize at our ending raffle. 

In celebration of the upcoming Student Recognition Week, the Student Honors and Awards Booklet for 2026 is now online. 

The book includes:

• Student award winners from each academic department and program

• Undergraduate Research Award Scholars

• National and international award winners

• New members and invitees of each honor society

Celebrate the awards and honors your fellow Retrievers have earned for their hard work and dedication! Congratulate these students on social media with #UMBCproud!

Student Honors and Awards 2026