Happy Friday and welcome to the fifth installment of the provost newsletter and the first edition under its new banner: Provost's Perspective. 

The question now is how do we count our editions. There is a minor debate on whether this is Vol. 1, No. 1 or Vol. 1, No. 5. The ink-stained wretch that was pulled into the haven at 1000 Hilltop from the abyss that is American journalism has been vociferously protesting that the number does not reset with a change of title, while a slightly more civilized member of the provost A-team continues to make the logical point that the Provost's Perspective is a new entity and therefore begins anew at No. 1. I'm not sold on the validity of either argument so, for now, we'll call it Vol. 1, No. 1 / 5. 

So this is what we voted for?

Your feedback matters.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to lend your opinion as to the name of this publication. In a sweeping victory with more than half of the votes cast, I give you the winner: Provost's Perspective. In second place was UMBC Pulse, which now that I think about it may make for an interesting tagline. 

The goal each week of this message is to deepen our connection to UMBC, whether that is learning about an upcoming event, a divisional accomplishment, an innovative program, or an update from the Office of the Provost. If you know of a program or event that should be highlighted, please share it here.

Self care is a critical aspect of successfully navigating life. Last week, I encouraged you to take a pause before the push to the second half of the semester. The small steps taken today can have a large impact on tomorrow and the journey for the remainder of the semester.  

Many of you shared your favorite park or trail. Following your recommendations, I'm excited to explore Benjamin Banneker Historical Park, the Sawmill Branch Trail, and Patapsco Valley State Park, as well as countless other areas around the region. I look forward to seeing you out there. 

Call for Faculty Proposals: IDEA Initiative & CAP Fellowship

I am so excited to announce the IDEA Initiative & CAP Fellowship. These efforts are part of my goal to further foster innovative and interdisciplinary curricular efforts and make sure faculty have the resources to create and innovate. 

Ideate, Design, Execute & Assess (IDEA) Initiative

Submit proposals for new, credit-bearing interdisciplinary academic programs that address the evolving needs of students and the state of Maryland. Proposals from faculty teams should go beyond current offerings at UMBC or within USM. Awardees will receive course release or a summer stipend, along with university support for program design and proposal development.

Curriculum and Pedagogy (CAP) Fellowship

Propose the development or redesign of courses focused on emerging or in-demand workforce needs in Maryland. Faculty awardees will receive a stipend, optional funding for professional development related to course design or content, and access to course design support.

Help shape UMBC's future curriculum and impact Maryland's workforce readiness. The application period closes on November 20.

Learn more and apply today!

Inaugural Research Admin Shadow Day a Success

The Research Administrators Central and Departmental Collaboration Group partnered to create UMBC's inaugural Research Admin Shadowing Day on Wednesday. Shadowing Day was designed for networking, sharing ideas, and having in-person connections to help UMBC research administrators strengthen teams and collaboration. More than 30 research administrators participated across 10 sessions in three time-slots.

"It really was a great experience. I appreciated having the opportunity to sit and speak – really connect on a personal level – with some of the people I work with on a weekly, if not daily, basis," said Alisha Scrivens from the Office of Contract and Grant Accounting. 

Hosts across campus held sessions in the Office of Contract and Grant Accounting (OCGA), Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), Office of the Provost Shared Services Center (OPSSC), College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences (CNMS), College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Research Admin Team (CAHSS-CARAT), and the Office of Earth and Space Research Administration (ESRA).

Director Gerrad Alex Taylor works with the cast of "Shakespeare in Harlem."

Don't Miss Shakespeare in Harlem 

UMBC Theatre presents Shakespeare in Harlem by Langston Hughes, adapted and directed by Gerrad Alex Taylor, a university-professional collaboration between UMBC Theatre and the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company.

A rare gem from Hughes, this collection of monologue poems revives the rhythms of jazz, the blues, and the pulse of the Harlem Renaissance — its love, struggles, and street-corner spirit. In Taylor's adaptation, Hughes' words come alive in a dynamic full-length play, blending poetry, music, and dance for an immersive journey into the world he so vividly celebrated.

Performances at UMBC's Proscenium Theatre

Thursday, October 30, 7:30 p.m. — Opening Night Reception

Friday, October 31, 7:30 p.m. — Free Performance for UMBC students

Saturday, November 1, 7:30 p.m. — Alumni Night

Friday, November 7, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, November 8, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, November 9, 2 p.m. — Free Performance for UMBC Students; Prospective Student Day; Actor Talk-Back

Mark Your Calendar: Research in Germany Information Event

Wednesday, Oct. 29, noon to 1 p.m.

Fine Arts Building, Room 459 

Mark your calendar and learn about research and funding opportunities through the German Academic Exchange Program (DAAD), the Humboldt Foundation, and the German Research Institute (DFG). Officers from these organizations will present programs and will be available for questions and follow-up conversations, along with some past fellows from within the UMBC faculty. This event is particularly relevant for faculty interested in research funding and those mentoring junior faculty and graduate students. 

Click here to learn more.

New Travel Solution On Tap

UMBC is about to roll out a new travel solution, SAP Concur, replacing the current Travel System. SAP Concur should provide easier travel booking and expense reporting. The program has broad applicability to all faculty and staff, as well as exciting new features for the campus. Learn about training sessions here.  

Give it a Listen

As we trudge ever closer to Halloween, I encourage you to take a minute (more precisely 3:19) and give this a listen. The AOK Library and Gallery special collection got a shout-out from WYPR. 

"The University of Maryland Baltimore County has a big secret.

Many already know that deep in the Albin Kuhn Library there are spooky artifacts. But there's more than just the haunted mongoose named Gef and the collection of objects supposedly bent by someone's mind.

The parapsychology collection at the school also holds audio of certain spooky instances like seances from beyond the grave and interviews with people who have experienced supernatural occurrences.

UMBC holds some seriously spooky tapes of these occurrences."

Listen to the audio and learn more here.

New Faculty Spotlights

Each week we feature the newest members of our community.

Gregory Winger, Associate Professor, Political Science, affiliated with the UMBC Cybersecurity Institute 

Areas of Research/Interest: International Security, Cybersecurity, Emerging Technology, and Alliances

Fun Fact About Gregory: I went undergraduate at UMBC.

Anderson Frailey, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, affiliated with the UMBC Cybersecurity Institute

Areas of Research/Interest: Economics of privacy, cybercrime, applied microeconomics

Fun Fact About Anderson: I've run a couple of marathons and was the DJ for the University of Texas ice hockey team in college.

Are you a new faculty member? Please take two minutes to fill out the form and submit your bio if you have not already done so.

Help Make this Newsletter Better

Do you have a great idea? Are you organizing an event everyone should know about? Let us know here. 

If you have read this far, well done and congratulations. 

Until next week, 

Manfred van Dulmen

The Graduate School is searching for a tenured faculty member to fill the open Associate Dean for Graduate Education position, ideally to begin in January 2026. This is a 12-month appointment with the possibility of renewal on an annual basis. Nominations and self-nominations are welcomed. 

Potential candidates must possess:

• at least five years of experience as a graduate faculty member to include some leadership experience at the department and/or institutional level (e.g., as a graduate program director, department chair, etc.) 

• a significant record of scholarship, teaching, and supervision of masters and/or doctoral students

• a demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and student success

• level of service experience appropriate for a tenured associate or full professor 

Please submit nominations and self-nominations to Lauren Cummings (laurenc6@umbc.edu), no later than Friday, November 14 by 5 p.m. Nominations and self-nominations should include a 1-2-page statement and the prospective candidate's current C.V. Finalists will be interviewed immediately, with the goal of announcing an appointment by the end of the semester. 

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Reporting to the Vice Provost and Dean for Graduate Education and a member of the Dean's Leadership Team, the Associate Dean will have a recognized record of excellence and experience that will result in strong leadership. The Associate Dean is responsible for providing high quality, intentional support services to graduate students. The Associate Dean coordinates the team's efforts to provide support related to planning, resource coordination, and advocacy of graduate student issues and the assessment and reporting thereof, in partnership with other Graduate School staff, Divisions, and in alignment with UMBC's institutional priorities.

Duties and essential functions may include, but not be limited to the following:  

• Lead efforts to develop new and enhance current policies and procedures consistent with the University's mission and values. 

• Communicate with graduate faculty and administrators regarding issues of graduate program management, administrative processes, and federal and state/USM compliance and regulations. 

• Serve as the primary point of contact for graduate student concerns and facilitate appropriate support including referrals, reporting, and triaging.  

• Serve as deputy dean to represent The Graduate School in absence of the Dean. 

• Provide support for the day-to-day operations of The Graduate School. 

• Serve on University committees; lead/represent The Graduate School and Dean on appropriate University bodies, councils, etc.  

Gooooooood morning everyone! Happy Friday!

Like I mentioned last week, today SGA has an invasive species cleanup from 12-2pm, so if you've got the time and would like to join in, it'll be by the UMBC police station!

We'll also still be having our regular cleanup, hitting the Walker Apartments area. Meet us at Commons by the Dunkin at 2:45, and at 3 we'll walk over together! If you can't meet us there, the map of where we'll be will be posted in our GroupMe.

Just as a reminder, cleanups do end at 4, so remember to set an alarm so you're back by then and we can weigh everything!

That's all for now, folks! Hope to see you soon!

- The Eboard 

We're thrilled to share that Adriana Maria DiSilvestro, PhD Candidate and NSF Graduate Research Fellow in the Department of Geography and Environmental Systems, has published a new article in Antipode, a leading journal of radical geography.

Article Title:
Before the Conservation Fix: Ecological Displacement and the Making of Nature as Regulatory Subject

Read the full article: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/anti.70082

In this paper, Adriana draws from her master's research on wolf culling as a state response to caribou declines to explore how tensions between resource extraction and ecological protection shape environmental solutions. She writes:

"In this paper, I draw from my master's research on wolf culling as a state response to caribou declines to explore how tensions between resource extraction and ecological protection shape environmental solutions. Insights from this work continue to inspire my doctoral project on the regulatory politics of endangered species governance in the United States."

Please join us in congratulating Adriana on this outstanding accomplishment!

In the crisp autumn air, Jackie King laces up her running shoes, her white cane—affectionately named Amigo—tucked nearby. The UMBC alumna is training for the New York City Marathon. The effort underscores a life shaped by triumphs and relationships, rather than her gradual loss of sight.

After years of misdiagnosis, in 2017, King finally learned she had retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic condition causing progressive vision loss. Today, King is legally blind—and yet she radiates resilience and positivity. “I have chosen this,” she says firmly. “I could choose to be like, ‘Oh man, this sucks,’ every day, all day. But I’ve chosen not to.”

In her early 20s, King built a graphic design business in Baltimore, mixing paints and hand-lettering signs when she could still see clearly. But by age 30, dark flecks were regularly drifting across her field of vision, making night driving and dim spaces like movie theaters challenging. 

As her vision faltered, a recurring dream of a college campus spurred her to enroll at Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) as an art history major, but she shifted to psychology after a professor’s nudge. “I fell in love,” she recalls. “Studying behaviors and people—it seemed so natural.” King arrived at UMBC in 2002 as a Ph.D. student in human services psychology.

The vision to see others’ potential

King’s dissertation evaluated Baltimore’s Sisters Circle mentoring program for middle and high school girls, revealing that unstructured, long-term relationships boosted self-esteem and academic drive—and the benefits often extended to mentees’ families. Earning her Ph.D. in 2009, King joined UMBC as assistant director of the Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) program, and today she is the associate director of the Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (U-RISE), which replaced MARC. In that role, she applies her research, guiding hundreds of students through graduate school applications and academic and personal challenges.

“I often see so much more in them than they see in themselves,” King says. “Seeing their potential is my gift—and then I get to let them in on the secret.” Sharing her own struggles with students builds trust, modeling that seeking help is a strength. 

Phyllis Robinson, U-RISE director and a professor of biological sciences, praises King as “the linchpin that makes the program run smoothly.” Robinson supports King’s pursuits on and off the road, admiring her “compassionate and caring approach” amid her vision challenges.

Adapting hasn’t been easy for King, though. She hasn’t driven in a decade, and reading text on paper is now impossible. Adopting the cane 18 months ago, she admits, was “the hardest hurdle.” Yet she reframes her loss: “I would not be as compassionate or empathetic without this journey. It could have been otherwise—but the fact that it isn’t? I’m making the best of it.”

A healthy mix of challenge and community

Running anchored King. At age 45, she trained on UMBC’s 1.8-mile loop for her first marathon. She ran the Baltimore race with Team in Training, fundraising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. As running alone grew riskier, she was thrilled when Achilles International, a nonprofit that supports athletes with disabilities, launched a Baltimore chapter in April 2024. Now, 15 to 30 athletes—visually impaired, neurodivergent, amputees, stroke survivors, and more—and their volunteer guides gather each Saturday in Patterson Park to train. 

“I came for the challenge; I’ve stayed for the community,” King says. “No one’s judging your pace—6 minutes or 17. There’s a place for you with Achilles.”

After seeing how much the organization has meant to her mom, King’s daughter, Demerise King, is fundraising for Achilles International as she also trains for NYC this fall. “I’ve watched my mom navigate her vision loss for as long as I can remember,” she shares. “She’s given me a gift by illustrating what it looks like to push past obstacles. Knowing that she is safe while running with the Achilles community gives me a sense of peace.”

King’s forthcoming memoir reflects her reluctant embrace of her condition. “I did not want to be here, but I am,” she says. As King tapers for NYC, she takes a spiritual approach to her situation, affirming that “I’m  preparing for what’s been prepared for me.” As her vision dims, she runs with an illuminated heart, lighting the path for hundreds of UMBC students and others along the way.

Learn more about UMBC’s Ph.D. program in human services psychology.

三校联谊烧烤活动回顾