Our LAST GBM of the semester is coming up. Join us this Thursday from 3-4:30 in Commons 329. We will be having our elections for the officer board so make sure to be there. Other than that, it will be a normal GBM, so come and destress before the end of the semester with some crafts and company.

We do still need someone to run for treasurer, so if you are thinking of running but are unsure, maybe this message from our current treasurer will encourage you: "Being treasurer is not hard or as scary as it seems, and I will still be a club officer so I will be here to answer questions and help you whenever you would need it."

Anyone can also run for the Social Media or Meetings and Events officer roles up until our election on Thursday, so be an even more active part in keeping this club alive and seize the power for yourself: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfWi0Y5CJJCNzt53T03k9rzU0Je0PKggKyLHTZxYxMs-u8XYQ/viewform?usp=dialog

Can't wait to see you tomorrow!

The State Wellness Program aims to motivate, inspire, and educate employees through monthly wellness webinars (live and on-demand), healthy challenges, guided meditations, wellness coaching, and much more. 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to pause, reflect, and prioritize what helps you feel balanced and supported. This month’s curated selections invite you to clear the mental clutter and make space for yourself.

All three Medical Plan Providers offer Mental Health Apps at no cost!

• Explore CareFirst Unwinding HERE
• Explore United Healthcare Calm HERE
• Explore Kaiser Permanente's Calm and Headspace HERE

Get Ready to Travel Coast to Coast!

Hit the road on a virtual U.S. adventure to explore iconic destinations, earn points, collect road signs, and log physical activity and vacation-worthy wellness wins. Along the way, discover why each stop belongs on your must-see list while you build well-being habits that last long after your epic shore-to-shore adventure is over! Watch the Coast to Coast Challenge Welcome Video

Register for the Coast to Coast Challenge 

Mindful Mondays: The Forgiveness Series

Monday, May 11, 11:00 am - 11:30 am: Forgiveness of Others

Forgiving others is choosing to free yourself from emotional strain rather than remaining in a constant "fight-or-flight" state. Forgiving others is a secret to happiness and contentment.
Register for 5/11 Forgiveness of Others 

Monday, May 18, 11:00 am - 11:30 am: Forgiveness of Self

Forgiving yourself releases you from the heavy burden of guilt, shame, and self-blame, resulting in improved mental health and lowered anxiety. By turning mistakes into lessons, you'll foster resilience and self-trust.
Register for 5/18 Forgiveness of Self 

Tasty Tuesdays with Chef Sandra

Tuesday, May 12, 11:00 am - 11:45 am: Gazpacho

Cool, vibrant, and bursting with flavor, gazpacho is the ultimate warm-weather soup. Ripe tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, peppers, garlic, and olive oil combine into a silky Spanish dish that proves making soup doesn't always need a stove!

Register for 5/12 Gazpacho

Tuesday, May 19, 11:00 am - 11:45 am: Chocolate Truffles and Black Garlic

Decadent chocolate truffles get a bold twist with black garlic, an ingredient known for its molasses-like sweetness and umami depth. These contrasting flavors create a dessert that's sophisticated, surprising, and just a little daring. This is chocolate with a conversation starter baked right in!

Register for 5/19 Chocolate Truffles and Black Garlic

Healthy U Wednesdays 

Wednesday, May 13, 11:00 am - 11:30 am: Natural Ways to Reduce Anxiety

Anxiety is part of the stress response, which makes you aware of danger. But when stress is persistent, so is the anxiety you may experience. Learn more about how natural remedies like aromatherapy, meditation, being in nature, and other practices can reduce anxiety.

Register for 5/13 Natural Ways to Reduce Anxiety 

Wednesday, May 20, 11:00 am - 11:45 am: Stronger Minds, Healthier Lives

This uplifting mental health presentation explores what it means to care for your mental well‑being, how to reduce stigma, and everyday habits that support balance, resilience, and overall health.

Register for 5/20 Stronger Minds, Healthier Lives 

Wednesday, May 27, 11:00 am - 11:30 am: The Power of Resilience

Resilience is the capacity to bounce back from challenges and view them as opportunities for growth. It's a skill built through daily habits of gratitude, avoiding negative self-talk, and other practices. Learn how to develop and strengthen your power of resilience.

Register for 5/27 The Power of Resilience

Thrive Thursdays

Thursday, May 7, 11:00 am - 11:30 am: Chair Pilates

Experience the Power of Pilates! Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, this class welcomes all fitness levels. It is like a core workout meets a mini retreat just for you!Register for 5/7 Chair Pilates  

Thursday, May 14, 11:00 am - 11:30 am: Finding More Margin in Your Day

Learn tips to lessen time stress, create healthier boundaries, and build more self-care and downtime into your day.

Register for 5/14 Finding More Margin in Your Day 

Thursday, May 21, 11:00 am - 11:30 am: Chair Yoga

Experience restorative chair yoga right at your workspace as you stretch and lengthen your spine, increase blood flow, and release muscle tension.

Register for 5/21 Chair Yoga 

Thursday, May 28, 11:00 am - 11:30 am: Better Sleep for Better Health

Quality sleep connects to brain health, heart health and longevity, and yet nearly half of adults say they don't get enough. Learn how to get your best sleep in this important session.

Register for 5/28 Better Sleep for Better Health

Friday Guided Meditations

Friday, May 8, 11:00 am - 11:15 am: Letting Go of Obsessive Thoughts About the Past

Obsessive thoughts about the past can be distressing. This guided meditation will provide relief and release.

Register for 5/8 Letting Go of Obsessive Thoughts About the Past

Friday, May 15, 11:00 am - 11:15 am: Letting Go of Resentment

Letting go of resentments that you have been holding onto will free up emotional space and allow more room for love. It is a gift that you give to yourself.

Register for 5/15 Letting Go of Resentment

Friday, May 22, 11:00 am - 11:15 am: Bring in the Positive

Positive thinking reduces stress, anxiety, and depression by shifting focus away from negative thoughts.

Access this pre-recorded guided meditation anytime, as many times, as you like! 

Friday, May 29, 11:00 am - 11:15 am: Letting Go and Moving Forward

Letting go isn't about forgetting; it’s about making space to move forward. In this calming guided meditation, you’ll gently release what no longer serves you and reconnect with a sense of clarity, ease, and possibility.

Register for 5/29 Letting Go and Moving Forward

Tips for a Healthier You

Friday, May 8, 11:30 am - 11:45 am: Breathing for Better Health

Practice simple breathing techniques like wave-breathing and diaphragmatic-breathing to help calm your mind and reduce stress. 

Register for 5/8 Breathing for Better Health

Friday, May 15, 11:30 am - 11:45 am: Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing

Mental health and emotional wellbeing are essential to overall health. Learn common mental health myths, signs that someone may need support, and where to find help. 

Register for 4/10 Stretch for Health

Friday, May 22, 11:30 am - 11:45 am: Coping with Grief and Loss

Grief and loss can deeply impact mental health. Explore the stages of the grief cycle and discover ways to support yourself and loved ones during loss.

Register for 5/22 Coping with Grief and Loss

Friday, May 29, 11:30 am - 11:45 am: Understanding Social Isolation and Mental Health

Social connection plays a vital role in your physical and mental wellbeing. Explore how social isolation affects mental health, review the signs and symptoms of loneliness, and learn practical ways to build connections to reduce social isolation.

Register for 5/29 Understanding Social Isolation and Mental Health

From Monday, 5/4 through Thursday, 5/14 the Employee Benefits Division (EBD) of the MD Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will be hosting a Wellness Fair where each of the State benefit plan vendors will share carrier specific information about their $0-cost wellness resources. Most vendors will offer 2 sessions each day, giving employees the flexibility to join as many sessions as they want. 

And, that’s not all - for every session employees attend, they will be entered into a raffle to win prizes. The more sessions you join, the greater your chances of winning! 

So don't miss this fantastic opportunity to learn about valuable wellness resources, win prizes, and have fun at the same time - view the 2026 Virtual Spring Wellness Fair Schedule and click on the meeting of your choice at the listed date / time!

Cap & Gown bundles are NOW available for rent or purchase at the bookstore! IN-STORE ONLY. While supplies last. 

Thank you SO MUCH for attending our Camp Pride events! It was such a fun time and we enjoyed being in community with you. Now, it's time to reward some of our lovely campers. We have some cool prizes that you will be eligible to win. If you have buttons from Pride Week, you are eligible to enter the raffle! 

Please bring your buttons to The Pride Center front desk between now and Friday at 5:00pm to fill out your raffle ticket(s). We will contact the winners by Wednesday to retrieve their prizes. 

Hillel Global Giving Week has officially begun! 🎉 

Today through Friday, we’re joining over 180 Hillels worldwide in raising critical funds for Jewish college students. Our community is coming together to strengthen Jewish life on campus, and thanks to a special match, your impact can go twice as far right now.

Please note: we will be sending a higher concentration of emails than usual this week for Hillel Global Giving Week. We will go back to our regular email schedule beginning net week. Thank you for understanding!

Every dollar you give will be matched up to $5,000, helping empower Jewish students at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County to build meaningful connections, grow as leaders, and celebrate their Jewish identities with pride.

Double My Impact

At UMBC Hillel, students find a place to friends as well as a home to support them through both joyful and challenging moments. Hillel is where they find belonging and explore who they are and who they want to become. Your support makes all of that possible.

Here’s what that looks like in real life: 

This is possible because of supporters like you.

Make My Matched Gift

This is your moment to help shape the future of Jewish life at UMBC. With your matched gift today, you’re investing in students, in community, and in a strong Jewish future.

Thank you for being part of this incredible week of impact!

With gratitude,
Aliza Silverman
Executive Director, UMBC Hillel

Sign up to fundraise!

GSA has a new LinkedIn page now to reflect our and your academic work better, enable you all to showcase your GSA contributions, and highlight the research successes of our community.

Make sure to follow and update your profiles!

This week one of our alumni: Devon S will be presenting on MeshPages: A Web Server Framework for Meshtastic
You can check out the project repo here: https://github.com/MushroomGecko/MeshPages
As always we will be meeting tonight in Sherman 103 at 7:15 PM

Dear UMBC Faculty and Staff,

Across UMBC, there is a great deal of meaningful work happening every day, from supporting our students to advancing research and building community. At the same time, it can be difficult to keep up with everything happening beyond your immediate area or to see the full breadth of work taking place across the institution.

The UMBC Connection is a new e-newsletter from University Communications and Marketing (UCM), designed to help bring more visibility to that work through a thoughtful selection of updates, opportunities, achievements, and milestones from across the university. The newsletter is developed in partnership with a network of contributors representing colleges, divisions, and administrative units across UMBC, helping ensure a broader view of what is happening throughout our community.

A new edition will be published on the first and third Wednesday of each month. This is an evolving effort, and it will continue to take shape through your feedback, including input from the internal communications survey shared earlier this week. We hope it becomes a useful and consistent way to stay informed, connected, and engaged with the people and work shaping UMBC.

Coming Up

Events and opportunities for the weeks ahead.

• Celebrate the Class of 2026 at Senior Sendoff (May 7)
  Faculty and staff are invited to stop by and celebrate our graduating students as they prepare to become UMBC alumni.
• America East Outdoor Track & Field Championships (May 9–10)
  UMBC Athletics will compete in the America East Outdoor Track & Field Championships this weekend in Lowell, Massachusetts.
• Presidential Faculty and Staff Awards (May 13)
  Faculty and staff are invited to join President Valerie Sheares Ashby in recognizing this year’s awardees and University System of Maryland honorees.
• UMBC Talks: Inclusive Excellence (May 13)
  Faculty and staff are invited to participate in a facilitated dialogue to help shape UMBC’s shared definition of inclusive excellence and inform future institutional priorities.

Key Updates

Important updates and moments across the university that may affect your work and the broader UMBC community.

• Share your feedback on campus communications (closes May 15)
  UCM, in partnership with Hanover Research, is inviting faculty and staff to complete a brief, anonymous, survey about internal communications. Your input will help improve how updates, resources, and communications reach the campus community.
• Commencement 2026: Faculty and staff participation (May 20 - 21)
  Faculty and staff are invited to take part in UMBC’s Spring 2026 Commencement ceremonies and celebrate the Class of 2026. Faculty and staff may march in the procession, volunteer, or reserve seating for graduating family members.

University Milestones

Major achievements and recognitions across UMBC.

• Meyerhoff Scholars Program celebrates 500th Ph.D.
  UMBC marks a major milestone as 500 Meyerhoff Scholars alumni have earned Ph.D.s, highlighting the program’s national leadership in diversifying STEM fields.
• Accessibility Trailblazers
  This event recognizes faculty and departments advancing inclusive teaching and accessible learning environments across UMBC through a strong commitment to universal design for learning.
• Four UMBC students named Goldwater Scholars
  UMBC is celebrating four students named Barry Goldwater Scholars, one of the nation’s most prestigious undergraduate awards in science, engineering, and mathematics.

More from across UMBC

Additional updates and opportunities from across the university.

• Celebrating Humanities Books (May 6) — campus celebration of faculty publications across disciplines
• Politics Everywhere: Understanding the AAPI Vote (May 6) — discussion on AAPI political engagement and voting behavior featuring Maryland leaders and policymakers
• SistaCare (May 7) — community care and dialogue space centered on the experiences of Black and Africana women and femmes
• Maryland New Venture Pitch Night (May 11) — Shark Tank-style competition showcasing student ventures focused on innovation and real-world impact
• Stories We Carry: AAPI Storytelling Circle (May 11) — guided conversation and community reflection
• UMBC Night at Oriole Park (June 27) — Orioles game and community gathering for faculty, staff, and alumni
• Retrievers Read 2026— summer reading challenge for faculty, staff, students, and alumni

Help Shape The UMBC Connection

As this effort continues to take shape, your feedback will help guide how we strengthen internal communications across the university. We welcome your input and invite you to share your feedback on The UMBC Connection.

If you would prefer, you are also welcome to reach out directly to Jessica McGroarty, Director of Internal Communications, at jmcgro@umbc.edu. 

University Communications and Marketing

Are you a freshman who is curious about the final senior project for the Anthropology major? What about a junior or senior on their final steps to completing their Anthropology major? 

Join Anthropology Club this Thursday, May 7th, at 5:00-6:00 in PAHB 123 for its last meeting of the semester where we will be learning about the Anthropology major’s senior capstone project course—ANTH 480: Anthropological Research Capstone!

We will go over the basic elements of the capstone course and have Anthropology students who are currently taking the capstone course talk about their projects and experiences. We will also have Anthropology teachers at the meeting to give insight into the capstone and the major as well. Any questions you may have about the course or the Anthropology major can be answered!

This meeting is open to all Anthropology majors and minors of any year. There will be free food and drinks.

Please follow our MyUMBC Groups page and Instagram for any updates about the meeting. You can stay informed about the club after this meeting too!