When Demetrie Garner moved from Maryland’s Eastern Shore to Baltimore, he found a wealth of opportunities in Baltimore, a strong spiritual practice, and a supportive network of friends and family. They became necessary anchors for recovering from opioid dependency and managing the workload of a full-time job while earning a bachelor’s, a master’s, and now a doctorate in public health from UMBC. 

“My story has a lot of twists and turns. I came to Baltimore in 2018 for treatment for opioid use disorder after experiencing homelessness, incarceration, hospitalizations, and treatment programs. Recovery was a process of 26 years,” says Garner, who now works in the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Overdose Response. “When I came to Baltimore, I had a clean slate. I was able to go through an expungement process of criminal records, which was a list of misdemeanors that happened during my drug and alcohol addiction. My journey to UMBC began as an adult learner, at 40 years old, after a year in recovery.”

Understanding the bigger picture

The inspiration to pursue a bachelor’s degree came from working as a recovery specialist at Franklin Square Hospital in Baltimore County, where he supported patients who had overdosed or were experiencing substance use disorders, many of whom faced significant social and economic conditions that negatively affected their health. Although he connected patients to treatment and recovery resources, he questioned why so many returned to the emergency department with the same challenges. That curiosity sparked a desire to better understand the systems, policies, and social factors driving addiction and recovery. 

“I wanted to understand how healthcare is failing people in recovery,” says Garner. “I decided to go back to school. The logical step was to study public health.” Making the leap from working full-time and being a full-time student without a driver’s license posed many challenges. Thankfully, in addition to his faith, friends, and family, Garner also had a team of mentors at UMBC’s School of Public Policy that continue to support him to make his vision possible.

Garner immersed himself in public health research and learned about comorbidities, where patients are managing multiple health needs like substance dependency and mental health. He found that having multiple health needs with little to no healthcare is also exacerbated by homelessness, lack of transportation, inconsistent healthcare, or an environment not conducive to recovery. The emergency room could treat the symptoms but not the root causes. 

“My undergrad journey into public health was transformative because the curriculum I was learning for the core courses in public health also exposed me to psychology and epidemiology,” says Garner. “UMBC helped me understand what was needed for me to actually serve. If I wanted to be of service, then I needed to understand not just what leads people into substance use disorder but also what drives the research.”

No limits in sight

Each learning moment inspired great curiosity. Garner sought faculty for advice and opportunities. A game-changing moment came in a research methods course with Pamela R. Bennett, professor of public policy. Bennett encouraged Garner to think beyond what was stated in the research and analyze what was in between the lines.  

“I got a D in one discussion post, so I went to Dr. Bennett’s office hours. She told me to stop synthesizing information and to start thinking critically,” says Garner. “That was a game changer because I translated what she said to me into my work.”

Another game-changing moment came in Lauren Hamilton Edwards‘ class. Hamilton Edwards, associate professor of public policy, told the class at the beginning of the semester that everyone had an A until they didn’t. Garner interpreted that as an incentive to do his best every day. “From the beginning, she gave me the kind of nurturing I needed,” says Garner. “Now, when I have an intern, I make sure that I’m the “Dr. Lauren Hamilton Edwards” to that intern, as she was with me.”

Additional supports like the McNair Scholars Program gave him the foundation and confidence to pursue graduate school, and his first experience presenting his research at UMBC’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day was a humbling experience, he says. 

Garner is thriving thanks to the support of the faculty and staff in the public policy and sociology, anthropology, and public health departments, who recognized his potential.

“Associate Professor Andrea Kalfoglou called me Dr. Garner long before I believed it myself. My faculty advisor, Katie Birger, associate teaching professor, recognized my potential early on and encouraged me to pursue the B.A./M.A. pathway,” says Garner. “Now, with Professor Nancy Miller‘s mentorship, I am on track to finish my coursework by the end of the fall semester and begin my dissertation proposal in the spring of 2027.”

“Don’t be afraid”

As Garner’s expertise in public health and policy grew, so did his career opportunities. Today, he serves as the quality assurance manager for Baltimore City’s Behavioral Health Consent Decree. His work focuses on improving outcomes for people experiencing homelessness, substance use disorders, and behavioral health crises, giving him a unique perspective on how public safety and public health intersect to advance overdose prevention and crisis response.

“I no longer see those 26 years to recovery as a period of failure. They gave me lived experience that I now use to help others entering recovery,” says Garner, who, throughout that time, drew strength from the unwavering faith of his grandmother, Hazel Parker; his sister, Shontell Cooper, and his mother, Clara Turner, who never stopped believing change was possible. He hopes his story inspires others to begin their own path to healing. 

“UMBC offered me, someone with a lived experience of homelessness and substance use disorder, a door that I would normally not have access to,” says Garner. “College is an opportunity to discover who you are and what matters to you. Don’t be afraid to engage with professors, challenge ideas, and use your voice.”

Learn more about UMBC’s public health programs.

Friendly Reminder OSP's next In Person Training Series continues July 7th with How to Read a Funding Announcement! NEW: This training will be HYBRID to accomidate the summer weather! Sign up can be found HERE. 

Thank you!

OSP Training Team

Hi everyone! I’m a UMBC PhD student (28 y/o male) looking for a clean and relatively quiet permanent roommate to share a 2-bedroom townhouse. All genders are warmly welcome! 

📍 Location: Belwood Green

• Peaceful neighborhood with a bunch of other UMBC students!

• 🚌 3-min walk to the UMBC shuttle stop

• 🚗 5-min drive to campus

• 🛒 Walking distance to Weis & Giant

🏠 House Perks:

• Fully furnished with all necessary appliances

• 🧺 In-unit washer and dryer

• 🌡️ Central HVAC system

• 📦 Plenty of storage space in the basement

• 🌳 Personal backyard

• 🚗 Dedicated parking lot

💰 Financials & Lease:

• Rent: $572/month

• Utilities: ~$125/month (WiFi & BGE)

• Move-in Cost: First month's rent + $572 (refundable security deposit)

• Move-in Date: Mid August 

• Note: The new tenant will need to sign a lease.

If you’re looking for a great spot close to campus and want to team up, reach out!

📞 Contact me:

• WhatsApp: +91 8210060409

• Email: rajatj1@umbc.edu

Call for UMBC SCIPE (UM-CIP Fellows) Graduate Fellows - Fall 2026
Submission Deadline: July 10, 2026

Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) SCIPE program (Enhancing the Transdisciplinary Research Ecosystem for Earth and Environmental Science with Dedicated Cyber Infrastructure Professionals), CGC-SCIPE is a collaborative effort between the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) - iHARP and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences (UMCES). The project aims to strengthen the research capacity in Earth and Environmental Sciences by leveraging High Performance Computing (HPC), Artificial Intelligence, and data-driven modeling, while developing the next generation of Cyber Infrastructure Professionals (CIPs). This project, as part of the iHARP center and Mdata lab, invites applications for UMBC CIP Graduate Fellows (UM-CIP Fellows).

About the Fellowship
The UM-CIP Graduate Fellowship supports a senior PhD student whose dissertation research aligns with Earth or Environmental Science and who seeks to incorporate HPC or advanced AI into their work. The Fellows will receive guidance from an HPC mentor to expand their technical and computational expertise.

Fellowship Details
* Duration: One Year (Starting Fall 2026)
* Funding: Support for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027, including tuition, health insurance, and stipend. Note that summer will be supported at 20 hours per week.
* Focus Areas: Earth and Environmental Science (Students may come from any department but must have these focus areas for their research). 

Fellowship Eligibility
* Must be a PhD candidate at UMBC who has completed their dissertation proposal defense by the time of the appointment.
* Must have a research focus in Earth or Environmental Science.
* Must demonstrate interest in using advanced computing High Performance Computing (HPC) in the research. They should describe how they plan to incorporate HPC into their research.
* Students who are already using advanced computing will not be considered for this call. Fellowship Expectations
* A fellow is expected to continue with their research topics identified in their dissertation proposal defense and continue to be mainly advised by their PhD advisor(s)
* A fellow is expected to engage with the SCIPE team and Cyber Infrastructure Professionals (CIPs)
* A fellow will be expected to present the progress of their work during the fellowship year.
* A fellow's work will have the UMBC SCIPE grant in acknowledgment of all work developed through the fellowship. A final publication is an expected outcome of this fellowship.
* A fellow is expected to participate in CGC-SCIPE related events, such as workshops and seminars.
* Fellowship stipend will be based upon the current Information Systems Department stipend rate.
* Previously awarded fellows are not eligible.
* As this is a full time fellowship, fellows may not be supported by another grant funding source or full time support.

Applicants should submit a one-page research statement outlining the research question and approach, the type of data used or planned, and how HPC will be incorporated or enhanced through the fellowship. Please attach a copy of your CV or Resume and provide at least one Letter of Recommendation (preferably from your PhD advisor).

Please submit via this Google Submission Form by July 10, 2026.
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Vandana Janeja (vjaneja@umbc.edu).

Dear New Retriever,

Congratulations on your admission to the UMBC Department of Information Systems! We are excited to invite you to a special virtual Information Session designed exclusively for admitted first-year students.

This session is a great opportunity to learn more about what it's like to be part of our Information Systems community.

During the session, you'll have the chance to:

●     Meet the Chair of the Department of Information Systems, program directors, and faculty.

●     Learn about the exciting opportunities available to Information Systems students, including undergraduate research, internships, student organizations, study abroad, and career preparation.

●     Explore the wide range of topics you can study, from artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to data analytics, user experience design, business technology, and more.

●     Hear how the Information Systems curriculum prepares students for rewarding careers in today's technology-driven world.

●     Ask questions and connect with the faculty who will help guide your academic journey.

Before the event, we encourage you to complete our RSVP form. In addition to reserving your spot, the form asks about your interests, career goals, and the topics you'd most like to discuss. Your responses will help us tailor the session to the interests of our incoming class and ensure we cover the questions that matter most to you.

Event Details
Date: July 22, 2026
Time: 7-8pm eastern
Location: Virtual (link will be shared with registered attendees closer to the event date)

Please RSVP here: RSVP Form Link

We hope you'll join us for this opportunity to meet the people, discover the opportunities, and begin building connections that will shape your experience as an Information Systems student at UMBC.

If you have any questions before the event, please don't hesitate to reach out.

We look forward to meeting you soon and welcoming you to the Retriever community!

Best regards,

Zhiyuan Chen, Chair
Department of Information Systems
University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Hello everyone!

Due to the heat advisory tomorrow, we will be cancelling our Free Farmers Market tomorrow (7/2/2026). Instead, our pantry will be opening at 11:00am - 1:00pm tomorrow

Please plan your trip accordingly, and we apologize for any inconveinces. 

Dr. Karen Chen, Associate Professor in UMBC’s Department of Information Systems, was appointed as a Senior Fellow for Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) by the University System of Maryland Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation for the 2026-2027 academic year. The fellowship bridges the gap between classroom practice and systematic inquiry.

Dr. Chen will lead the 2026-2027 SoTL Fellows cohort in providing expert guidance on refining research questions, selecting methodologies, and navigating the Institutional Review Board process. She will mentor USM faculty through the lifecycle of their research, from initial data collection to preparing manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication, helping them contribute significantly to the global conversation on evidence-based teaching.

Read more here

Thank you to everyone who was able to join us for our first Summer Connection! It was truly wonderful seeing so many of you. The energy in the room was incredible, and it was a great reminder of the power of coming together in community.

We're already looking forward to our next gathering! As we continue planning future events and opportunities, we'd love to hear from you. Please take a few minutes to complete our survey to let us know how we can best engage and support you and to indicate any interest you have in becoming more involved with the Association.

Thank you for being a part of this community. We appreciate each of you and look forward to seeing you again soon.

Take care, and we'll see you soon!

Effective today, July 1, 2026, the University System of Maryland (USM) has officially launched its new Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program.

Please visit our website for additional information on this program: https://hr.umbc.edu/pfml/

Updates to ETS: 

Optional Code Field Removed: The "Optional Code" field has been removed. Any comments you previously entered there should now be placed in the Employee Comments field.

New "Time Category" Field: A new Time Category field is now available. Please use this field to specify payroll-related information when applicable, such as: Call Back Time, On-Call Pay, PFML Pay, or Shift Differential.

July is Disability Pride Month💚💛❤️💙🤍🖤

This July we're also celebrating 36 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and uplifting disability as a vital part of human diversity. Disability Pride challenges stigma, honors lived experiences, and promotes access and inclusion — because having a disability is something to be proud of and is valued.

The Disability Pride flag represents:

❤️ Physical disabilities

💛 Neurodiversity

🤍 Invisible/undiagnosed disabilities

💙 Emotional/psychiatric disabilities

💚 Sensory disabilities

🖤 Faded Black background: mourning and rage for victims of ableist violence

Want to learn more? Check out campus events, courses in Critical Disability Studies, or get involved with orgs like Sign of Life, NAMI, Best Buddies, the DAU, and more.

Let’s celebrate disability pride this month and every day.

July is ADA’S 36th Anniversary: July 26, 2026 

ADA turns 36 this year, and here are some facts you should know.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed in 1990, was a landmark moment in U.S. civil rights history. It made it illegal to deny someone a job, education, or housing just because of a disability. But the ADA didn’t just happen. It was demanded. Activists crawled up the steps of the U.S. Capitol during the Capitol Crawl to fight for equal rights.

Today, the ADA protects people with both visible and invisible disabilities, including PTSD, ADHD, and diabetes. It also covers far more than physical spaces for access. Think about websites, apps, voice recognition, closed captioning, and screen readers. In fact, in 2022 alone, over 3,000 web accessibility lawsuits were filed under the ADA for being inaccessible to people with disabilities.

From the U.S. to international countries such as the U.K., Canada, and Australia, the ADA’s influence is global.
And yes, even Siri owes a thank you to the ADA.

Equal access isn’t extra. It’s essential. Access is inclusive excellence.

July 28 is World Hepatitis Day

World Hepatitis Day is observed each year on July 28 to raise awareness about viral hepatitis and encourage action to prevent, diagnose, and treat this often overlooked disease. According to the World Hepatitis Alliance, more than 287 million people worldwide are living with hepatitis B or C, yet many remain unaware of their infection due to the lack of symptoms in the early stages. Viral hepatitis affects different age groups depending on the specific virus. Acute hepatitis A peaks primarily in adults aged 30 to 49. Acute hepatitis B and hepatitis C disproportionately affect middle-aged adults, while chronic hepatitis C is most prevalent in young adults (20–39) and older adults (55–70). 

This year's World Hepatitis Day theme, "Let's Break It Down," focuses on breaking down the barriers that prevent people from accessing hepatitis prevention, testing, treatment, and care. Misinformation, stigma, limited awareness, and inequitable access to healthcare continue to stand in the way of eliminating hepatitis and improving health outcomes for millions of people worldwide.

You can take action by:
• Learning the facts about hepatitis and sharing accurate information with others
• Talking to a healthcare provider about hepatitis testing and vaccination
• Challenging stigma and misconceptions surrounding hepatitis
• Supporting efforts that expand access to prevention, treatment, and care services

Key facts to know include: hepatitis B and C are the leading causes of liver cancer, nearly two million new hepatitis infections occur each year, effective treatments are available for hepatitis B and C, and vaccination can prevent hepatitis B infection. With increased awareness, education, and access to care, hepatitis elimination is an achievable goal.

Together, we can break down barriers, reduce stigma, promote early detection and treatment, and work toward a future free from hepatitis.

July is National Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness & Prevention Month 

July is National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about cleft lip, cleft palate, and other craniofacial conditions while supporting individuals and families affected by these differences. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cleft lip and cleft palate are among the most common birth differences in the United States, affecting thousands of children each year.

Cleft lip occurs when a baby’s upper lip does not fully form during early pregnancy, while cleft palate happens when the roof of the mouth does not close completely. These conditions can affect feeding, speech, hearing, dental development, and overall health. With early medical care, surgical treatment, and ongoing support, individuals with cleft and craniofacial conditions can and do live full, healthy, and successful lives.

It’s important to remember that cleft conditions don’t just affect babies—they continue into adulthood. Many adults live with the long-term effects, even if they’re less visibly recognized due to surgery or lack of awareness. We often only see images of infants when discussing cleft conditions, but adults with lived experience are just as important to highlight. Did you know several well-known public figures were born with a cleft lip or palate? Their stories help challenge stigma and show that this condition is more common—and more lived—than people realize.

National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month highlights the importance of education, early intervention, access to healthcare, and continued research. It also provides an opportunity to celebrate the strength and resilience of individuals living with craniofacial differences and to recognize the healthcare professionals, caregivers, and advocates who support them.

You can take action by:
• Learning about cleft lip, cleft palate, and craniofacial conditions and sharing accurate information
• Supporting organizations that provide resources, treatment, and advocacy for affected individuals and families
• Promoting understanding and inclusion for people with visible and invisible differences
• Encouraging access to prenatal care, early diagnosis, and specialized treatment services

Key facts to know include: cleft lip and palate develop early in pregnancy, these conditions can occur together or separately, a combination of genetic and environmental factors may contribute to their development, and early medical intervention can significantly improve health and quality of life outcomes.

Together, we can raise awareness, reduce stigma, support affected individuals and families, and promote access to the care and resources needed for every person to thrive.