Dear UMBC Faculty, Staff, and Graduate Students,

I am excited to announce two members of our UMBC community who will join The Graduate School's leadership team on January 26, 2026.

Dr. Ravi Kuber (he/him) will serve as the Associate Dean for Graduate Education. Dr. Kuber started at UMBC in 2008 and is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Information Systems. His research examines the ways in which the sense of touch can be leveraged to support access to interfaces when the user's visual channel is blocked, restricted or overloaded. Examples of activities include designing solutions to better match the needs and abilities of individuals who are blind, older adults, and individuals with situational impairments. Dr. Kuber has served in various leadership positions including Graduate Program Director for Human Centered Computing and most recently, Undergraduate Program Director for Business Technology Administration. As a leader and scholar, he focuses on access and student success and will bring a depth of experience to this crucial position within The Graduate School. Dr. Kuber received his Ph.D. from Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, and M.Sc. and B.Sc. degrees from University College London, UK.

Dr. Sundiata "Sunji" Jangha (he/him) will serve as the Senior Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs and Special Initiatives. Dr. Jangha started at UMBC in 2008 and currently serves as the Director of Pipeline Programs within the Office of Academic Opportunity Programs and The Graduate School. He oversees the Upward Bound Math and Science Center and actively recruits and supports undergraduate students in STEM fields and graduate students across all disciplines. In this newly repurposed position, Dr. Jangha brings extensive experience necessary to bridge the critical gap between graduate student admission and degree completion by establishing and sustaining initiatives that support academic excellence, broaden participation, and accelerate progress through key milestones. He earned his B.S. degree with high honors from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and an M.S. degree from Georgia Institute of Technology, both in mechanical engineering. He also earned his M.P.P. and Ph.D. in Public Policy from UMBC, specializing in quantitative evaluation and analytical methods. His Ph.D. work focused on STEM college student success through developmental math pathways. Dr. Jangha has been nationally recognized for his ongoing commitment to empowering students to succeed.

I want to formally thank Dr. Robin Cresiski and Shirl Curtis for their service in leading these searches, as well as their effort and commitment to The Graduate School and to graduate students during this time of transition. Thank you also, to all The Graduate School staff members and graduate students who participated and shared their feedback for these two important roles.  

Please join me in welcoming Drs. Kuber and Jangha!

Thank you,

Dr. Christa Porter

Vice Provost & Dean

This event will feature a keynote presentation from Jessica Gulick, CEO and Founder of Katzcy and Commissioner of the U.S. Cyber Team. Jessica will discuss how the U.S. Cyber Games is advancing cybersecurity awareness, skills development, and cyber career preparation on a global scale. The keynote will also spotlight opportunities for Maryland-based individuals and organizations to engage with and support the initiatives of the U.S. Cyber Team.

In addition, our expert panel on building a robust cybersecurity workforce will discuss topics such as the critical skills and competencies needed to succeed in today's cybersecurity landscape, the accessibility of cybersecurity education, and what workforce challenges critical infrastructure owners and operators may face in the future. This panel will be followed by a networking lunch, generously provided by the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation on behalf of Montgomery County.

View the agenda.

Registration closes tomorrow, January 7.  

Register Now!