CSEE Assistant Professor Clement Fung is teaching a new special topics class (CMSC 491/691) this fall on  Applied AI for Cybersecurity. It will cover the intersection of AI with a broad selection of cybersecurity topics, such as network security, systems security, usable security, and more. The class is open to both undergraduate and graduate students and will meet on Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30-10:45 in Engineering 231.

• Position Title: Assistant Office Administrator (Part-Time – 2 Openings)
  
  Location: In-Person | bwtech@UMBC North Campus (Catonsville, MD)
  
  Hours: Part-Time, approximately 12–18 hours per week

• Role Overview: 
  
  Our Residential Service Agency is hiring two part-time Assistant Office Administrators to work in-person at our bwtech North office in Catonsville. In this role, you will serve as a primary contact for our clients, families, and caregiving staff. You will handle daily front-office administrative tasks, coordinate caregiver schedules, and help roll out digital tools that support our care aides in the field.
  
  Key Responsibilities:
  
  Serve as the primary in-person contact at our bwtech North office for phone calls, client inquiries, and staff needs.
  
  Manage daily scheduling and dispatch operations to ensure reliable care coverage across all clients.
  
  Help introduce, troubleshoot, and support mobile apps and software used by field care aides.
  
  Maintain accurate, confidential client files and staff documentation.
  
  Work with agency leadership to improve office workflows and daily administrative procedures.
  
  Qualifications:
  
  Caregiving Experience (Preferred): Background as a CNA, GNA, CMT, or Home Health Aide is highly valued.
  
  Availability: Able to work in-person at our bwtech North office for 12–18 hours per week.
  
  Communication: Strong customer service, phone etiquette, and problem-solving skills.
  
  Tech Comfort: Comfortable using computers, scheduling software, and mobile applications, with the ability to guide caregivers through basic tech tools.

• How to Apply: Email your resume and cover letter to office@comforthomecarellc.com with the subject line RSA Applicant.

This is the fifth post in our series on the new LER briefs. Catch the intro post here if you missed it.

Every resume you read makes claims: "data analysis," "project management," "cross-cultural communication." But a bullet point doesn't tell you what someone actually did, how it was assessed, or why you should trust the claim in the first place.

Research on hiring practices has found that employers consistently ask four questions about any candidate:

• What skill is being claimed?

• What did the individual actually do?

• How was that skill assessed?

• Why should I trust this claim?

A resume rarely answers any of these well. And the problem is getting worse: as AI-generated applications become the norm, hiring teams are facing hundreds of polished, plausible submissions that are nearly indistinguishable from one another. The result is longer interview cycles, more reference checks, and more cost, just to get basic confidence in a candidate.

What a UMBC-verified microcredential actually answers

Since 2015, UMBC has issued verified digital credentials across research, internships, leadership, and service-learning — now more than 200 active credentials. Each one is built to directly answer the four questions above:

• The skill maps to specific competencies informed by labor market data, aligned with the terminology your recruiting team already uses.

• The evidence shows what the student actually did: the project, the task, the deliverable, not just a course title.

• The assessment is published and consistent: criteria are set in advance, applied the same way to every student, with no ambiguity or grade inflation.

• The issuer is UMBC. The credential is digitally verifiable and can't be self-reported or fabricated.

In practice, that means when a candidate shares a badge, it links to a record showing the specific competency, what they did to earn it, how it was evaluated, and who's standing behind it. That's a meaningfully different signal than three resume bullet points. For example, a hiring manager evaluating two candidates with similar resumes may gain additional confidence from a credential that shows exactly what work was completed and how it was assessed. 

Why this is picking up speed

Skills-based hiring is now standard practice for the vast majority of employers worldwide, and the infrastructure to support it at scale is still being built. Congress held a bipartisan hearing this past December specifically on Learning and Employment Records, and legislation introduced this spring aims to build state-level talent marketplaces around verified credentials. UMBC was selected as one of 25 institutions nationwide for the inaugural LER Accelerator cohort, and Maryland had more institutions represented than any other state.

Where employers fit into building this

Credentials designed with employer input are more trusted and more useful in practice. When employers help define what skills matter and how they should be demonstrated, the credential becomes something your team can actually act on. A few ways to get involved, with minimal time investment:

• Join a focus group on skills-based hiring to help shape which competencies UMBC credentials measure.

• Review a draft credential aligned to roles you hire for and give feedback.

• Co-design a credential pathway tied to an internship or other work-integrated learning experience.

• Join an advisory conversation on how verified skills data could change your hiring process.

You already know UMBC students. This is a chance to help shape what they can show you before they ever walk through the door.

Want the full brief? Read it here.

Questions? Submit a support ticket or reach out to the DCI team directly.

Join us for the annual UMBC staff cookout next week, August 12th from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. The event is free, and we'll have plenty of food (including vegan/vegetarian options).
A few notes:

• We'll be inside the Commons on Main Street 
• Please bring your campus ID
• If you haven't yet, please RSVP in the myUMBC event post

We look forward to seeing everyone!

Anantaa Kotal, Ph.D. ’24, computer science and current assistant professor of computer science at the University of Texas at El Paso, has been selected as a Computing Research Association (CRA) Trustworthy AI Research Fellow. The fellowship, funded by Microsoft, supports early-career computing researchers who advance trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) through interdisciplinary collaboration with humanistic social sciences.

“Being named a CRA Trustworthy AI Research Fellow affirms that the questions we've been asking—what does trust mean, and how do you build it into a model—matter to the broader research community,” says Kotal, who works to make AI systems more transparent, fair, and secure. “I'm grateful for the foundation UMBC gave me as I built toward this recognition.”

Over the next year, fellows participate in intensive interdisciplinary training and sustained peer collaboration. The fellowship includes a four-day, in-person AI Field School in which they engage in Trustworthy AI initiatives with CRA partner institutions and receive mentorship from established scholars. Selected fellows receive a $17,000 stipend, along with support for travel, lodging, and meals associated with in-person fellowship activities. Through the fellowship, participants advance their own research at the intersection of computing and the social sciences, while helping shape scalable models for interdisciplinary training in responsible computing.

This is the second year in a row that a UMBC-affiliated researcher has been selected for the fellowship. In 2025, the CRA selected Yasmine Kotturi, assistant professor of information systems, for its inaugural cohort of Trustworthy AI Research Fellows.

Meet Rishav Gupta. After spending five years as a mobile engineer, he decided to pursue his Ph.D. in computer science at UMBC to deepen his expertise and choose projects with the clear objective of improving people’s lives. Rishav is working in the Future Sensing and Interaction Lab of professor Dong Li on a project to use everyday smartphones as affordable and accessible blood pressure monitors.

This May, the work was recognized when Rishav was selected as one of two recipients for the inaugural COEIT Computing for Social Good Award, made possible by a generous donation from alumnus Akshay Java, M.S. ’03, computer science, Ph.D. ’08, computer science. Awardees were selected in a competitive review process by COEIT faculty reviewers and departmental leadership. Rishav was choosen for his project “Enabling Affordable and Accessible Blood Pressure Monitoring Using Only a Commodity Smartphone.” Take it away, Rishav!

Q: What brought you to UMBC?

A: As an international student from India, I left a comfortable career to come here. After five years as a mobile engineer in industry, I was a generalist who could build things, but I wanted to understand them, to master a domain and create research that genuinely gives back to the community and helps people. UMBC’s work in health sensing was exactly that chance.

UMBC’s welcoming and inclusive environment made the transition less daunting. From peers who’d walked the same path to a community that genuinely wants your feedback to others considering it: you won’t be figuring things out alone here.

Q: What do you love about UMBC?

A: Beyond my research, I serve on the Graduate Assistant Advisory Committee, helping improve the experience for graduate assistants across campus. From clarifying appointment expectations to shaping GA orientation, it’s shown me a side of UMBC that genuinely listens to students and works to actually affect people’s day-to-day lives. What I enjoy most is being a bridge: carrying real student concerns to people who can actually act on them.

Q: Who in the community inspired you or supported you?

A: My advisor, Dong Li, pushes me to aim high and take ownership of my research, trusting me to drive my own ideas. That independence has stretched me. I’ve also leaned on senior students in the department, whose willingness to share what they’ve learned has made navigating the early Ph.D. years far less daunting. 

Q: What’s the one thing you’d want someone who hasn’t joined the UMBC community to know about the support you find here?

A: What surprised me most is how many people quietly have your back. A student who walked me through a rough patch, a staff member who actually wanted my feedback and acted on it, and peers who share hard lessons so I don’t struggle alone are just a few examples. The support is every day and practical.

On left, Gupta receives an award for best poster from computer science and electrical engineering assistant professor Roberto Yus on CSEE Research Day in April 2026. On right, Gupta and his team receive a first place award from The Maryland NEW VENTURE program in May 2026. (Photos courtesy of Gupta)

Q: What are your goals after graduation and how is UMBC helping you?

A: My goal is a research career with significant meaningful work, ideally a faculty position at a strong university, where I can keep pushing on affordable health-sensing technology and train the next generation of researchers. I’m early in the journey, but that’s the direction I’m building toward.

UMBC has pushed me toward independence by owning my research direction, presenting my work at top venues, and building the depth I came here for. Serving on a graduate committee has also grown skills I didn’t expect to develop: representing others, navigating institutions, and turning feedback into real change.

Q: How has the Computing for Social Good Award impacted your education?

A: The COEIT Computing for Social Good Award directly supports my research to make blood pressure monitoring affordable and accessible using only a commodity smartphone, with no specialized hardware and no clinic visit required. Beyond the tangible support, being recognized specifically for the social good of the work, rather than only its technical side, has shaped how I choose research problems: it pushes me to keep asking who my work actually helps, and to keep people who can’t easily access conventional care at the center of what I build.

Q: How did it feel to win this award?

A: Receiving the COEIT Computing for Social Good Award felt meaningful in a way I didn’t expect. I came to UMBC from a career in industry because I wanted my work to matter beyond a product. Being recognized for the research’s social impact felt like confirmation that I’d chosen the right path. It was also humbling as a reminder that affordable health technology isn’t an abstract goal but something real people are rooting for, and it left me more motivated to deliver on the promise the award recognizes.

* * * * *

UMBC’s greatest strength is its people. When people meet Retrievers and hear about the passion they bring, the relationships they create, the ways they support each other, and the commitment they have to inclusive excellence, they truly get a sense of our community. That’s what “Meet a Retriever” is all about.

Learn more about how UMBC can help you achieve your goals.

Meet Rishav Gupta. After spending five years as a mobile engineer, he decided to pursue his Ph.D. in computer science at UMBC to deepen his expertise and choose projects with the clear objective of improving people’s lives. Rishav is working in the Future Sensing and Interaction Lab of professor Dong Li on a project to use everyday smartphones as affordable and accessible blood pressure monitors.

This May, the work was recognized when Rishav was selected as one of two recipients for the inaugural COEIT Computing for Social Good Award, made possible by a generous donation from alumnus Akshay Java, M.S. ’03, Ph.D. ’08, computer science. Awardees were selected in a competitive review process by COEIT faculty reviewers and departmental leadership. Rishav was choosen for his project “Enabling Affordable and Accessible Blood Pressure Monitoring Using Only a Commodity Smartphone.” Take it away, Rishav!

Q: What brought you to UMBC?

A: As an international student from India, I left a comfortable career to come here. After five years as a mobile engineer in industry, I was a generalist who could build things, but I wanted to understand them, to master a domain and create research that genuinely gives back to the community and helps people. UMBC’s work in health sensing was exactly that chance.

UMBC’s welcoming and inclusive environment made the transition less daunting. From peers who’d walked the same path to a community that genuinely wants your feedback to others considering it: you won’t be figuring things out alone here.

Q: What do you love about UMBC?

A: Beyond my research, I serve on the Graduate Assistant Advisory Committee, helping improve the experience for graduate assistants across campus. From clarifying appointment expectations to shaping GA orientation, it’s shown me a side of UMBC that genuinely listens to students and works to actually affect people’s day-to-day lives. What I enjoy most is being a bridge: carrying real student concerns to people who can actually act on them.

Q: Who in the community inspired you or supported you?

A: My advisor, Dong Li, pushes me to aim high and take ownership of my research, trusting me to drive my own ideas. That independence has stretched me. I’ve also leaned on senior students in the department, whose willingness to share what they’ve learned has made navigating the early Ph.D. years far less daunting. 

Q: What’s the one thing you’d want someone who hasn’t joined the UMBC community to know about the support you find here?

A: What surprised me most is how many people quietly have your back. A student who walked me through a rough patch, a staff member who actually wanted my feedback and acted on it, and peers who share hard lessons so I don’t struggle alone are just a few examples. The support is every day and practical.

On left, Gupta receives an award for best poster from computer science and electrical engineering assistant professor Roberto Yus on CSEE Research Day in April 2026. On right, Gupta and his team receive a first place award from The Maryland NEW VENTURE program in May 2026. (Photos courtesy of Gupta)

Q: What are your goals after graduation and how is UMBC helping you?

A: My goal is a research career with significant meaningful work, ideally a faculty position at a strong university, where I can keep pushing on affordable health-sensing technology and train the next generation of researchers. I’m early in the journey, but that’s the direction I’m building toward.

UMBC has pushed me toward independence by owning my research direction, presenting my work at top venues, and building the depth I came here for. Serving on a graduate committee has also grown skills I didn’t expect to develop: representing others, navigating institutions, and turning feedback into real change.

Q: How has the Computing for Social Good Award impacted your education?

A: The COEIT Computing for Social Good Award directly supports my research to make blood pressure monitoring affordable and accessible using only a commodity smartphone, with no specialized hardware and no clinic visit required. Beyond the tangible support, being recognized specifically for the social good of the work, rather than only its technical side, has shaped how I choose research problems: it pushes me to keep asking who my work actually helps, and to keep people who can’t easily access conventional care at the center of what I build.

Q: How did it feel to win this award?

A: Receiving the COEIT Computing for Social Good Award felt meaningful in a way I didn’t expect. I came to UMBC from a career in industry because I wanted my work to matter beyond a product. Being recognized for the research’s social impact felt like confirmation that I’d chosen the right path. It was also humbling as a reminder that affordable health technology isn’t an abstract goal but something real people are rooting for, and it left me more motivated to deliver on the promise the award recognizes.

* * * * *

UMBC’s greatest strength is its people. When people meet Retrievers and hear about the passion they bring, the relationships they create, the ways they support each other, and the commitment they have to inclusive excellence, they truly get a sense of our community. That’s what “Meet a Retriever” is all about.

Learn more about how UMBC can help you achieve your goals.

Picture a student pulling up your syllabus before the first day of class. If they're using a screen reader and your document contains unstructured text, complex tables, and images without adequate descriptions, they may not be able to find your office hours, your late work policy, or even what textbook to buy. An accessible syllabus makes sure that each student gets the same information, at the same time, as everyone else in the room.

The good news: none of these fixes require rebuilding your syllabus from scratch. Here are five quick wins, whether you're working in Blackboard, Word, or Google Docs.

1. Use Real Headings, Not Just Bold Text

A heading that's just bold, larger text tells a sighted reader "this is a section title," but it tells a screen reader nothing. Screen reader users often navigate by jumping from heading to heading, and that navigation breaks entirely if headings aren't marked as actual headings.

Try this:

• Apply your platform's built-in heading styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, etc.) instead of manually resizing or bolding text.
• Keep headings in logical, nested order — don't skip from a Heading 2 straight to a Heading 4.

2. Add Alt Text to Every Image

A photo, logo, or chart without alt text is invisible to a screen reader user, even though it may carry information every other student can see at a glance.

Try this:

• Describe what the image is and why it's there, not just what it looks like.
• If an image is purely decorative, mark it as decorative rather than skipping it — leaving it unmarked forces screen readers to read a meaningless filename aloud.

3. Link to the Current Official Syllabus Statements

Retyping or paraphrasing UMBC's standard syllabus language from memory risks distributing outdated wording. Linking directly means students always see the accurate, current version.

Try this:

• Replace any pasted-in or remembered policy text with a link to UMBC Syllabus Language.
• Check this each semester — the source updates, so your link should point there rather than to a saved copy.

4. State Your Schedule and Late Work Policy Plainly

A vague policy or a schedule listed only by week number forces students to guess or infer — especially hard for students cross-referencing accommodation plans or juggling outside responsibilities.

Try this:

• List specific dates, not just "Week 3," so students can check deadlines against their own calendars.
• Spell out your late work and extension policy directly, rather than leaving it to be asked about.

5. Write Descriptive Link Text

"Click here" tells a screen reader nothing about where a link goes. Screen readers frequently pull up a list of all links on a page, out of context, so the link text itself has to describe the destination.

Try this:

• Replace bare URLs and generic phrases with a descriptive label, like "Course Withdrawal Policy" instead of "click here."
• Do this pass right before you post the syllabus — it's easy to forget once pasted links pile up.

Want the full picture? For platform-specific instructions, including tables, contrast, and exporting accessible PDFs, visit Accessible Syllabi on the Digital Accessibility website.

AOK Library has a trial subscription to Schlager Digital Library through September 21, 2026. 

Schlager Digital Library is a curated and annotated primary source collection that provides opportunity for curriculum integration and study across the following areas:

• American Studies
• Business and Economics
• Gender, Women's, & Sexuality Studies
• History & Historical Studies
• Philosophy
• Political Science & International Relations
• Religious Studies

Schlager Digital Library is included on our Database List and can be accessed using this direct link to the collection. If you use it, please provide feedback on your experience with our E-Resources Trial Feedback Survey. 

Jamie Gurganus,’04, M.S. ’11, Ph.D. ’20, mechanical engineering, assistant teaching professor in UMBC's Engineering and Computing Education Program and director of the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning, has received the Michael P. Malone International Leadership Award from the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU). The award, established in 2000, recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to advancing international education at public higher education institutions.Photo: Jamie Gurganus, left, accepts 2026 Michael P. Malone International Leadership Award at APLU Commission on International Initiatives Summer Meeting (Photo courtesy of Gurganus)

“Congratulations to Dr. Jamie Gurganus on winning the 2026 Malone Award,” APLU President Waded Cruzado said in a press release. “Her efforts to advance international education have increased global learning opportunities for students, advanced international skills among faculty, and bolstered global research partnerships.” 

Gurganus has expanded global engineering education at UMBC by developing a multidisciplinary, international learning model, based on an approach called Collaborative Online International Learning, that connects students across multiple countries. It broadens the international experience available to students from isolated study abroad opportunities to accessible, curriculum-integrated international collaborations. Students are prepared to collaborate across cultures and address complex global challenges. Gurganus also played a significant role in advancing faculty development through UMBC’s Global Learning Lab, which provides a collaborative framework for instructors to exchange best practices, develop innovative approaches, and expand access to global learning across the curriculum. Gurganus was recognized Aug. 3 at the APLU Commission on International Initiatives Summer Meeting. 

“Throughout my career, I've believed that engineering and computing education should extend beyond classrooms and borders,” Gurganus says. “What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that it celebrates something I care deeply about: when we intentionally bring together students, faculty, and institutions across borders to solve meaningful challenges, we don't simply broaden perspectives; we generate better ideas, stronger collaborations, and more thoughtful engineers, innovators, and leaders. Some of the most impactful innovation happens when people with different experiences challenge one another's assumptions, learn from one another, and work toward a shared purpose.”