This fall, the Center for Social Justice Dialogue is hosting Interact, a series designed to help participants hone the skills to successfully engage in dialogue across difference. If you are a first year undergraduate student interested in upscaling your dialogue, register now!

WHAT IS INTERACT?

Interact is a four-week program for undergraduate students focused on creating an introduction to the dialogue skills required to engage in difficult conversations, dialogue across difference, and intercultural dialogue.

The goal of Interact at UMBC is to develop foundational skills connected to competencies for dialogic community building including critical self-reflection, generous listening, cultural storytelling, and loving accountability. As a result of participation in Interact, participants will have the skills to engage in dialogue within any type of situation and any topic of conversation.

Participants meet weekly in small groups for 90-minute sessions that are co-facilitated by 2-3 facilitators. Each small group consists of 10-15 participants. During these sessions, participants learn and practice the necessary skills to become inclusive leaders and engaged community members.

Participants who attend at least three of the four sessions will be entered into a raffle to win prizes. 

To register, click this link!

Dear Students,

As we prepare for the Fall semester, the Office of Disability Access and Resources is pleased to announce that we are transitioning to a new notetaking platform, Jamworks.

Transition from Otter.ai to Jamworks

Beginning this Fall, our office will transition from Otter.ai to Jamworks for students who have an approved accommodation for the use of a notetaking tool.

As of this week, students will no longer have access to the premium features of Otter.ai provided through our office’s license. You may continue to use the free version of Otter.ai; however, the premium features provided through our license will no longer be available. As the start of the semester approaches, we will gradually begin adding students with approved notetaking accommodations to the Jamworks platform.

What Is Jamworks?

Jamworks is an AI-powered note-taking and study platform built for students and universities. Jamworks provides several features designed to support students with recording, reviewing, and studying lecture content. With access to the premium version, students can use features such as:

• Extended lecture recording
• JamAI, an AI-powered tool for interacting with and reviewing lecture content
• AI-generated lecture summaries
• Key points and important information from recorded lectures
• AI-generated quizzes to support studying and review
• Transcription and live captions to convert lecture content into text
• Support for generating learning materials in more than 40 languages
• Accessibility features and customizable learning options
• Mobile app access for reviewing your lecture materials on the go
• ...and many more features to support your learning and studying!

Getting Started with Jamworks

Students who are approved for a notetaking accommodation will receive an activation email at their UMBC email address when their Jamworks account is ready to be set up.

Please check both your inbox and your spam or junk folder in case the activation email is filtered. Below are resources to help you get started with Jamworks, including onboarding information and instructions for using the platform:

Jamworks Onboarding Resources:
https://www.jamworks.com/student-onboarding

How to Use Jamworks:
https://help.jamworks.com/en/collections/3717674-getting-started-guide

Exporting Your Otter Conversations(Transcript and Audio):
https://help.otter.ai/hc/en-us/articles/360047733634-Export-conversations

Need Additional Assistance?

If you need additional assistance learning how to use Jamworks, you can schedule an appointment with Tori Jakpa, Assistive Technology & Accessibility Specialist, through Accommodate.

When scheduling your appointment, select either “Notetaking Support” or “Assistive Technology.” During the appointment, you will receive a guided demonstration of Jamworks and have an opportunity to ask questions about using the platform.

We are excited to introduce Jamworks as our new notetaking platform and hope it will provide you with additional tools to support your academic success this Fall. We wish you a successful start to the semester!

We hope everyone is enjoying their summer. With the Fall semester quickly approaching, we're looking forward to kicking things off with our scholars, affiliates, and fellow COEIT faculty/staff at CWIT's Welcome Back Social! Join us to reconnect with colleagues, friends, meet new faces, and enjoy games, music, and some delicious pizza and ice cream!

...and we're almost back! Yikes! The WFN is excited about another year--we've got books for our reading group, plans to socialize and welcome new members, and more.

But first! Are you finishing up your materials for promotion and/or tenure? Would you like some eyes from outside your discipline to read it over and give some layperson feedback? If so, please email Kate at drabinsk@umbc.edu!

And if you would like to read for a colleague, let Kate know that as well.

Dear all,

Somto Ilomuanya will be presenting his ECON 699 Capstone this Wednesday, August 19, at 1:00 pm. The title of his presentation is "Dynamic Interactions between Exchange Rate Volatility and Inflation Volatility in Nigeria: A VARX Analysis." The paper is attached.

His main adviser is Chunming Yuan.

The presentation will be via Webex:
https://umbc.webex.com/umbc/j.php?MTID=m0411824eb005d7e2f175752153df1e0c

Meeting number: 2630 637 1177

Thank you, and I hope to see you.
Salem

Name: Adam Baji

Pronouns: he/him 

Semester of Internship: Summer 2026

Major: Cybersecurity M.S

Current Class Level: Master's Student

This semester I completed a(n)...: Internship

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): Northrop Grumman

Location of the Organization (City, State): Baltimore, MD

Title of position: College Technical Intern

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities:

During my Summer 2026 internship at Northrop Grumman, I worked as a College Technical Intern supporting the Business Recovery and Resumption team. My day-to-day responsibilities involved developing software and data-driven solutions to help the team better understand and evaluate supplier-related risks. I created a React-based dashboard that organized complex risk information into a more accessible format and helped develop a weighted Supplier Risk Index for comparing suppliers across several factors. I also worked with team members from different technical and business backgrounds to understand their needs, improve the solution, and contribute to the development of a scalable supplier risk analytics process.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

I learned about the Northrop Grumman internship through a professional connection who encouraged me to explore opportunities with the company. After learning more about the position, I submitted my application and completed the company’s interview and selection process. Throughout the process, I relied on the experiences I had developed through my UMBC coursework, previous internships, research, scholar programs, and professional development opportunities. These experiences helped me clearly communicate how my background in computer science, data analysis, and cybersecurity could contribute to the organization.

What resources did you use to find your current experience?

UMBC Career Center, Career Fairs, Student Organizations/Scholar Groups, LinkedIn or other social media

What have you enjoyed the most about your position and organization?

What I enjoyed most was having the opportunity to work on a real problem that combined software development, data analysis, cybersecurity, and business risk. I was able to see how technical solutions can support important decisions within a large organization. I also appreciated working with professionals who were willing to share their knowledge, provide feedback, and help me understand the broader purpose behind my work. The experience allowed me to strengthen my technical abilities while learning how to communicate and collaborate effectively within a professional environment.

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

I believe I made an impact by developing a technical solution that made supplier risk information easier to understand and evaluate. The dashboard I created helped transform complex data into clear visual insights, while the Supplier Risk Index provided a more structured way to compare potential risks. My work contributed to a larger effort to build a scalable analytics process that could support future decision-making. I also brought a student perspective and was able to apply concepts from my cybersecurity and software development background to a real organizational challenge.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

My advice is to begin building experiences before you feel completely qualified. Coursework is important, but research, student organizations, personal projects, competitions, and scholar programs can also help you develop valuable skills and connections. Students should attend networking events, speak with professors and professionals, and remain connected with people they meet because one conversation can lead to an unexpected opportunity. When applying, focus on showing your willingness to learn and explaining how your previous experiences can help you contribute. Rejections are part of the process, so remain consistent and continue improving your résumé, interviewing skills, and professional network.

We have 2 rooms available in a shared house near UMBC in the Catonsville area and are looking for respectful, clean, and responsible female roommates.

If you are interested, please get in touch with me on WhatsApp at +14122900211 for pictures or additional details, and include a brief introduction about yourself, including your student or employment status and your desired move-in date. The available rooms are:

• Room 1 for $675/month each (utilities included, basement)
• Room  2 for $800/month (utilities included, main floor)

Move-in requires the first month's rent plus a security deposit (equal to one month's rent). Ready to move in:

• Room 1: $675; room: $1,350 due at move-in (Basement)
• Room 2: $800; room: $1,600 due at move-in (Main floor)

This includes:

• A spacious shared bathroom in the basement and a half bathroom! (Room 2, on the main floor)
• Common storage
• Shared kitchen includes a dishwasher (on the main floor).
• Extra fridge and microwave! (Basement)
• Shared laundry facilities (big washer and dryer)!
• All utilities included, free parking! Notes: Personal storage will not be provided by the owner.

The home is conveniently located approximately 7/8 minutes from UMBC by car and about a 9/10-minute walk to the UMBC Transit Route 40 shuttle stop, with easy access to campus, shopping centers, and nearby businesses.

A family (a couple with a child) lives upstairs, so we are looking for tenants who appreciate a quiet and family-friendly environment. Also, other female students will already be occupying 2 rooms in the basement.

We welcome any female students and working professionals who are respectful, responsible, and considerate of shared spaces. Preference will be given to individuals with halal-friendly/Muslim or vegetarian/vegan habits (pork not allowed in the house).

House rules include:

• Female tenants only
• No smoking, alcohol, or any substance use
• No pets
• No parties and loud music
• No pork or any pork-based diet
• Maintaining cleanliness in shared areas

Additional Information

• A 1-year lease or at least a 6-month lease is required. The security deposit must be paid during the lease signing, and tenants must provide at least 30 days' notice before moving out.
• Since this is a female shared living environment, overnight guests and visits from male guests are not allowed. Details can be discussed before moving in to ensure everyone is comfortable with the house rules.
• To help maintain a safe living environment for all tenants, applicants may be asked to provide references, ID, proof of employment, student status, and consent to a background check.

Thank you.

Are you interested in leveraging Artificial Intelligence to elevate your research, writing, and literature reviews without losing valuable time or sacrificing academic rigor?

Join us for the AI for Academics Play Space Series, hosted by Dr. Robin Cresiski, Associate Vice Provost for Graduate Student Development and Postdoctoral Affairs.

This hands-on series is designed to move beyond the hype and give UMBC academics actionable, purposeful strategies for integrating cutting-edge AI tools into everyday scholarly work. Learn how to streamline document analysis, automate tedious tasks, and map literature efficiently, ensuring AI serves as a powerful multiplier for your productivity.

Session Schedule (Wednesdays Online):

Click on each session below to sign-up!

• Play Space 1: NotebookLM

  • September 9, 2026 | 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

• Play Space 2: Gemini & GEMS

  • October 14, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

• Play Space 3: Consensus

  • November 11, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

• Play Space 4: Elicit

  • December 9, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

 Open to all UMBC Graduate Students across all disciplines.

 Online (Virtual link provided on each myUMBC post)

Why attend? Stop wasting time experimenting with unproductive prompts. Gain practical tools to work smarter, accelerate your research, and elevate your academic output.

Meet ASM Mobarak Hossain (Sajib). He recently graduated from UMBC with an M.S. in information systems and joined IBM as a Senior Developer and AI Specialist. Sajib has spent more than a decade working in technology. What excites him most is using what he knows to build solutions that make a difference in people’s lives. At UMBC, he put that passion to work helping to develop MyPath, a Google Maps–style app that uses AI, remote sensing measurements, and crowd-sourced data to guide wheelchair users to accessible routes.

This May, the work was recognized when Sajib 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. Sajib was selected for his project “A Multi-Modal Agentic Framework for Auditing Wheelchair Accessibility.” Take it away, Sajib!

Q: What brought you to UMBC?

A: After spending many years working in software engineering and technology leadership, I wanted to keep growing and challenge myself in a new way. I came to UMBC to deepen my knowledge, explore AI and research, and connect my industry experience with problems that could have a meaningful impact on people’s lives.

Q: What did you enjoy most about UMBC?

A: What I enjoyed most about UMBC was being able to connect what I learned in class with real problems. My research gave me the chance to use AI and software engineering to work on wheelchair accessibility, which made the experience much more meaningful to me than simply learning technology.

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

A: I found support at UMBC through the people who were willing to listen to my ideas and help me develop them. My advisor, Md Osman Gani, has been one of the most supportive people during my time at UMBC. He encouraged me to think beyond the technical side of a problem and focus on how our research could actually help people. That support helped turn my interest in accessibility into research that became a very meaningful part of my UMBC experience.

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: I would tell them that at UMBC you don’t have to figure everything out by yourself. I found professors and researchers who were willing to listen to my ideas, guide me, and give me room to explore. That support helped me turn an idea into research with a real purpose.

Q: Can you tell us about your current job and how UMBC helped prepare you for your career?

A: I’m currently working at IBM as a Senior Developer and AI Specialist. What I enjoy most is the opportunity to work on challenging technology problems and continue learning. I especially enjoy using my software engineering background together with AI to build solutions that can solve real-world problems.

UMBC helped me look at technology from a different perspective. I already had many years of industry experience, but my time at UMBC gave me the opportunity to become more involved in research, explore AI more deeply, and think about how technology can be used to address real human needs. That experience has been valuable as I move into the next stage of my career.

Q: How does the COEIT Computing for Social Good Award make an impact on your education?

A: Receiving the COEIT Computing for Social Good Award directly bridges the gap between academic theory and real-world impact. It provides vital encouragement and support to continue leveraging computer science for positive social change, specifically through the MyPath project. Beyond the immediate recognition, it inspires me to stay focused on human-centered software design, seek out complex social challenges in my future coursework, and pursue career opportunities centered on technology for good.

Q: How did it feel to win the award?

A: Winning the COEIT Computing for Social Good Award was an immense honor and deeply validating. Developing MyPath required countless hours of hard work, continuous refinement, and a deep commitment to addressing a meaningful community need. Seeing that work recognized by COEIT was incredibly exciting and humbling—it gave me a strong sense of pride in what we’ve built and renewed enthusiasm for creating tools that deliver genuine social value.

* * * * *

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.

All,

I have several work orders in which have been taking weeks longer than usual without feedback. I had hoped to have drywall repair and paint completed for both room 111 and 324-1, the addition of some outlets in the building and the pricing, if any,  for upgrading the lighting in the vivarium. 

I've also been billed for some items whih have always been taken care of by facilities like ice machine repair. It appears the group is re-organizing under the new VP of Finance, but that is a guess on my part.  I'm staying on top of all the projects, but please stay patient while I get these resolved.

Thank you!