iHARP is honored to have participated as both a sponsor and presenter at the FAIR in ML, AI Readiness & Reproducibility (FARR) Workshop, held in Washington, D.C., on April 8–9. We want to thank the leadership behind FARR for organizing an amazing and impactful workshop: Christine Kirkpatrick, Julie Christopher, Kevin Coakley, Daniel S. Katz, Douglas Rao, Lynne Schreiber, and Karen Stocks. The workshop was a resounding success, highlighting the critical importance of implementing and promoting data practices that ensure reproducible research across the AI, Data, and ML domains.

Key Highlights from the Workshop:

• Poster Flash Talks: Mostafa Cham, Achala Denagamage, Emam Hossain, Ellie Davidson, Rhoda Nankabirwa Dr. Chhaya Kulkani presented flash talks on a diverse range of topics, including implementing Open Science workflows, AI-ready and reproducible data, and evaluating the reproducibility of benchmark algorithms.

• The 2nd FAIR HDR ML Challenge: This session, co-led by three HDR centers—iHARP, A3D3, and Imageomics—offered attendees a deep dive into the complexities of managing a multi-faceted ML competition guided by FAIR principles. This year’s theme, Scientific Modeling out of Distribution (Scientific-Mood), featured distinct datasets curated by each institution to reflect their specific research areas.During the session, awards were presented to the winners of each individual sub-challenge as well as the overall grand prize winner.  

Winner: iHARP would like to extend a huge congratulations to Dony Darmawan Putra for taking first place sub-challenge on its challenge: Predicting Coastal Flooding Events. 

We would like to acknowledge and thank the leadership team who designed and ran iHARP’s challenge: Dr. Josephine Namayanja, Dr. Ratnaksha Lele, Dr. Aneesh Subramanian, Dr. Bayu Adhi Tama, and Dr. Vandana Janeja. 

Our gratitude also goes to our dedicated support team who worked tirelessly behind the scenes: Sai Vikas Amaraneni, Emam Hossain, Dr. Maloy Kumar Devnath, and Subhankar Ghosh.

Being part of a mission focused on Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) practices is vital to our work. These standards ensure that iHARP’s research breakthroughs remain accessible and maintain a lasting impact on the scientific community.

Meet the Elements - Poster Show!

Meet the Elements is a collaboration between Design students from the Department of Visual Arts and the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences. This series of posters explores the periodic table of elements through creative and surprising visual connections of life, history and culture at the atomic level.

Gallery Opening Reception 
Date: Tuesday, April 21st, 12 - 1pm
Outside of Room 006 in the Meyerhoff Chemistry Building
Light refreshments provided, all are welcome. 

More info at: https://cnms.umbc.edu/gallery/

To all CNMS majors considering a career in the healthcare industry -- this event is for you! CNMS will be delaying the opening of Study Hall (and therefore practice exam/study guide pickups) on Monday, April 20th in order to promote this important event. Study Hall will resume from 2-4PM. Read below for more information!

You can view the original post and RSVP here. 

"The Office for Academic & Pre-Professional Advising welcomes all students interested in exploring allied health professions to attend our 6th Annual Allied Health Symposium!
In this hybrid event, students will hear from representatives from a variety of professional allied health programs about their respective health fields as well as the varied admissions processes. This event is for students who are exploring a variety of allied health professions, as well as those who have already committed to a pathway.
The first hour will be a panel presentation, followed by time for students to meet with the panelists from each Allied Health program of interest. 
Representatives will join us from the following schools:

• UMBC Diagnostic Medical Sonography
• University of Maryland School of Nursing (BSN and MSN-E) 
• University of Maryland School of Pharmacy (PharmD and Pharmaceutical Sciences) 
• Towson University (Occupational Therapy - OTD) 
• University of Maryland Baltimore Physician Assistant Master's Degree Program
• University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine (Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science)
• Case Western Reserve University (Anesthesiologist Assistant Program)
• University of Maryland Baltimore Dental Hygiene Programs (Bachelor completion program and Master's Degree program) 

We hope you will join us in-person in the University Center 115 or virtually via webex!
Light refreshments will be provided for those that can join us on campus! 
Questions? Email Ericka Thompson at ethompson@umbc.edu"

From Becky Bosstick, Director of Special Events, Office of Institutional Advancement

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, 2025-2029 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.

• 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

Please RSVP with the green button on this posting.

UMBC's Student Events Board (seb) invites students to participate in an upcoming art show on May 9th, from 6-8pm at The Commons: Skylight.

Student's whose works are selected will have the option to sell their artwork. Attandance is mandatory for those who wish to sell their artwork.

Fill out this form to be considered. Deadline to submit the form is April 27th.

If you have any questions about acceptable mediums and installation of your work, please contact Jessica Baek through email: jbaek3@umbc.edu.

ATTENTION ALL RETRIEVERS!! 

Fall 2026 Advanced Registration is in full swing and ALL returning UMBC students are now eligible to register!!!

As a reminder, however, advising clearance is mandatory every semester before you can register so if you haven't reached out to your advisor yet – what are you waiting for?!? Keep in mind that advising is by appointment only and availability can be limited during this time of the semester. Check your myUMBC email (sent on or around March 3rd) for your advisor assignment and further instructions. Advisor assignments can also be found via the CNMS Advising website here (by major) and via your myUMBC Profile. Newly or recently declared life science majors who do not have a listed advisor assignment should contact CNMSAdvising@umbc.edu for support. 

** PLEASE NOTE: You always want to seek advising clearance as soon as possible and regardless of any other holds you may have on your account (financial, housing, ECR Training, health, etc.). Delaying your advising appointment may mean that your assigned advisor no longer has as much availability for clearance/support once the dedicated advising season has come to an end. **

When it comes to Advanced Registration for next semester -- always make sure that you are READY to register by gaining advising clearance, SET your alarm for your earliest registration date/time, and REGISTER ASAP!

UMBC students- 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.

If you can't stop by, please check out our survey between now and April 24 to provide your thoughts. We want to understand how you define student success, your experience as a student, how our division can do better, and to see if our anticipated strategic plan priority areas meet your needs.

Attached is a document with more info about the departments that make up our division, our draft strategic priority areas, and the questions we want to know more about. We look forward to your insights!

The application is now LIVE for the 2026-2027 Exempt Staff Mentoring Program with a deadline of Friday, May 8th. The new cohort of the program will kick off in July 2026 and run through June 2027. New exempt staff members (typically at UMBC less than 3 years) are encouraged to apply to be mentees and all exempt staff members (typically at UMBC for 3 years or longer) are encouraged to apply to be mentors! Contact Jess Wyatt (jwy@umbc.edu) or Steve Harris (stevenh1@umbc.edu) directly with questions.

Apply here! - ESS Mentoring Program Application

Art Rysing 2026: Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation is a citywide celebration of art, equity, and community healing through creative expression.

Date: Saturday, 4/18

Time: 1 PM-5 PM

Locaton: Rita Rossi Colwell Center [IMET] Building on Baltimore’s Inner Harbor

FREE!

• Building on the legacy of previous Art Rysing gatherings as a creative response to the murder of Freddie Gray in 2015, this year’s 11th convening expands its reach and impact, bringing together youth arts organizations, cultural leaders, educators, and community visionaries who use art as a catalyst for justice, belonging, and renewal. 
• Hosted at the Rita Rossi Colwell Center [IMET] Building on Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, Art Rysing 2026 will showcase the transformative power of the arts to bridge divides, amplify silenced voices, and foster truth-telling in pursuit of racial equity and collective healing.
• Interactive stations take place 1-3pm. Performances happen 3-5pm. 
• The event is all ages with the caveat that some of the subject matter in the performance is of a serious nature in that gun violence, community violence, juvenile justice, addiction, incarceration, and other social justice issues are put on stage. 
• Register either through the QR code in the attached flyer or go to the WEBSITE.  

By: Bruna de Padua
Photo Credit: Zach Seidel

Zach Seidel is the Director of Digital Media for UMBC Athletics, and he also teaches in the Media and Communication Studies department. He has been part of the UMBC community for so long that the campus almost feels like a second home to him. His parents both graduated from UMBC, so he grew up hearing about the school and going to different events. His personal connection to the university grew even stronger when he started interning in the Athletics Department during his senior year of high school in 2007. What started as a simple internship eventually turned into a huge part of his life and career, and he still enjoys being surrounded by the energy and excitement of college athletics.

Zach completed his B.A. in Media and Communication Studies, added a minor in American Studies, and was part of the Honors College and the Humanities Scholars program. He has always been the kind of person who pays attention to how stories are told and how people interact with media. That curiosity naturally led him into studying media at a deeper level. Later on, he chose to pursue an M.S. in Human-Centered Computing because he became fascinated with the way technology and design can shape people’s experiences. It was the perfect blend of creativity, communication, and innovation, and it helped him develop a broader perspective on digital media and the ways people use it.

At UMBC, Zach teaches MCS 316, which is the sports broadcasting course. A lot of students come into the class thinking broadcasting is mainly about pointing a camera at the action and letting things run, but he loves showing them how much more goes on behind the scenes. Broadcasting a game means planning every detail, organizing people and equipment, communicating constantly, troubleshooting problems, and working under pressure. Even though it can be intense at times, he enjoys watching students build confidence and learn what it takes to create something that looks smooth and effortless to the audience. He hopes his students leave the class with a real appreciation for the effort and teamwork that go into producing live sports.

In his professional role with Athletics, Zach works in a field that never stops changing. Digital media grows so fast that there is always a new tool, trend, or idea popping up. That is one of the things he enjoys most because there is always something exciting to learn. Whether it is new camera technology, new ways to reach fans online, or creative approaches to storytelling, he makes an effort to stay ahead of the curve. One of the moments he is most proud of is seeing one of his former students win an Emmy. For him, it is a reminder that teaching goes far beyond the classroom. When his students go on to do amazing things, it feels like he gets to share a part of that accomplishment too.

Looking towards the future, Zach is happy to keep teaching and continuing the work he loves. He is always open to exploring new ideas, especially when it comes to innovations in digital media and sports production. He believes the field will keep evolving in ways that surprise everyone, and he enjoys being part of that change rather than just watching it happen from the outside.

Above everything else, the best part of working at UMBC for Zach is the students. He enjoys their creativity, their willingness to try new things, and their genuine excitement about learning. Being able to guide students, support their goals, and watch them grow is what makes his work meaningful. For him, UMBC is not just a workplace. It is a community he cares about and a place where he gets to make an impact every day.