Dear colleagues,

UMBC is thrilled to welcome Matthew “Matt” Trevett-Smith as the incoming director of the Faculty Development Center beginning on June 29. Matt joins us from the University of Delaware, where he served as the director of the Center for Teaching and Assessment of Learning (CTAL) since 2019.

Matt is an educational developer with over 15 years of leadership experience at research-intensive universities. He specializes in faculty development, CTL capability building, and the navigation of shared governance to drive institutional excellence.

At the University of Delaware, he served as a pivotal leader reporting to the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Programs and University Initiatives, coordinating university-wide initiatives including the strategic response to Artificial Intelligence for teaching and UD’s Foundational Course Initiative, which has transformed gateway curriculum for over 17,000 students and counting. He recently co-chaired the Provost’s Task Force on Learning Goals & Assessment, leading a collaborative effort that achieved a 90% alignment of Program Educational Goals across all undergraduate and graduate degree-granting programs.

Previously, Matt served as the founding director of the Center for Teaching & Learning at Boston University. In this role, he built the center from the ground up and played a critical strategic role in the rollout of the BU Hub, the university's inaugural pan-university general education curriculum. His career also includes leadership roles at the University of Virginia’s Center for Teaching Excellence.

A cultural anthropologist by training, Matt holds a Ph.D. and M.A. from the University at Buffalo. His leadership is guided by the “Equity-Excellence Imperative”; the belief that institutional excellence is only realized when we proactively broaden pathways to success. He is an active leader in the Association for Undergraduate Education at Research Universities (UERU) and was recognized as an Adobe Digital Literacy Thought Leader in 2018.

I want to thank Kerrie Kephart for her thoughtful and effective leadership as the interim director of the center. I greatly appreciate her insightful contributions, including spearheading a self-study that provided a roadmap for the center’s future. Please join me in thanking Kerrie for her service to the FDC and UMBC as she returns to her role as an associate director for the center.

Lastly, I also want to thank co-chairs Kyung-Eun Yoon and Sarah Leupen for leading the search and the numerous committee members for their hard work and dedication that culminated in a successful appointment.

Sincerely,
Ana Oskoz
Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs

Manav Narendra’s story has been shaped by constant motion. A math and computer science double major, who graduated from UMBC this spring, Narendra grew up moving frequently between India and the United States, adapting to new schools, cultures, and environments every few years. Raised by a single mother who was always striving to create a better life for them, Narendra grew accustomed to change—but also to the challenges that come with it.

Coming to UMBC marked a turning point. Narendra sought out a smaller, close-knit academic environment where he could build community, form lasting friendships, and explore what it means to belong somewhere. In this Office Hour, President Valerie Sheares Ashby—who has also been at UMBC for four years—and Narendra reflect on growing rooted to a place and what effect those lasting connections can have.

UMBC Magazine: Manav, tell us about your background and what brought you to UMBC. 

Manav Narendra: I’m originally from India, and I’ve spent about half my life there and half in the U.S. Growing up, I moved a lot because my mom would switch jobs for better opportunities. By my senior year of high school, we had just moved to Maryland. I applied to a vast array of colleges, but I ultimately chose UMBC because I wanted a smaller, more personal environment where I wouldn’t feel lost.

And here, I’ve met people in so many different ways—through classes, the Honors College, tutoring, tennis, even the Career Fair. It’s been really meaningful.

President Valerie Sheares Ashby: You wanted a place where you could feel seen—that is powerful. And these smaller communities within UMBC can really shape your experience.

UMBC Magazine: How did moving so often affect your ability to build relationships?

Narendra: It was difficult. I became more introverted over time because you don’t really get the chance to build lasting friendships when you’re always leaving. I just didn’t realize how much I was missing in terms of long-term connections until I got here. Nevertheless, I’m forever grateful to have met so many incredible people from such beautifully different walks of life—they’ve all shaped who I am today.

President Sheares Ashby: I understand that. I am an introvert, too, and I think those kinds of experiences can really shape how you connect with people. It is not always easy to keep starting over. When I moved to Baltimore, I did not know anyone here, but from experience, I knew what I needed to put in place in order to feel like I am grounded and rooted in community. I learned how to do that when I was your age. In college and in graduate school, I started to ask myself: “What is it that I need to feel grounded?” And then I would go get it—I do not wait for it to happen.

UMBC Magazine: How has UMBC shaped your conception of community?

Narendra: I’ve made friendships that have lasted all four years, which still surprises me. I’ll see someone on campus and think, “Wow, I’ve known you for so long.”

President Sheares Ashby: That is such a special realization. I always tell students that those relationships are one of the most important parts of college. You learn so much in the classroom, but those connections—those are what stay with you.

UMBC Magazine: What does “home” mean to you now, after having moved so much?

Narendra: Growing up, home was my mom. Wherever she was, that’s where home was. She was the only constant in my life. I was diagnosed with cancer when I was 13, and my mom and I went through it together. I dealt with the physical pain, but she carried the brunt of the emotional and mental burden. She quit her job to take care of me. I couldn’t have done it without her. Now, I feel like I have another home here. I have a place where I belong, where I feel valued. It’s comforting to be in one place and not have everything constantly changing.

UMBC Magazine: How did that experience influence your future goals?

Narendra: It’s made me want to give back. I’m looking at various roles, ranging from data and actuarial science to software and astrophysics—seeing where I can best utilize my skills to make a difference: something that helps people and advances our collective understanding of the world. I feel like I’ve been given a second chance at life, and I want to use it well.

President Sheares Ashby: Often, our experiences guide us toward that sense of purpose. There is this idea of finding where your talents meet the greatest need—that is where meaningful work happens.

After Shanika Freeman ’24 walked across the stage, she had something on her mind—basic human rights. For the past four years, Freeman’s research has focused on the reentry experiences of formerly incarcerated women in the United States and Maryland. Basic human rights—including access to healthy food, education, housing, healthcare, clothing, and job skills development—are difficult to access for people in the reentry process due to limited to no financial resources, support networks, services, and stigma. 

“In Maryland, over 15,000 women are released from prison every year. Just imagine, you’ve been released, and unfortunately, you couldn’t get a transitional program or reentry program, so you are basically by yourself,” said Freeman during her individualized study major’s capstone presentation. “You go out, you kiss the ground because you know you are free, but you are only given about $50 to $100 of gate money to find transportation and all your basic needs.”

Reentry programs are not the root of these obstacles. During her research, Freeman learned that the U.S.incarceration system’s emphasis on punishments rather than rehabilitation means many women are released without workforce skills needed to meet the demands of a changing job, let alone recreate a new life. All of these factors increase recidivism rates.

“I wasn’t born to be caged up and chained up,” is a quote by Susan Burton that inspired Freeman to continue her research on successful reentry pathways. Burton is the founder of A New Way of Life Reentry Project, a non-profit organization in California that provides safe housing, pro bono legal services, advocacy, and family reunification for formerly incarcerated women. Leading with compassion inspired Freeman to seek similar approaches in her own work. 

She didn’t know at the time that her search would lead her to Norway, whose incarceration system is widely recognized as one of the most humane rehabilitative institutions in the world. Their rehabilitation process emphasizes mentorship, skill-building, communal living, mirroring regular life based on the Norwegians’ belief that the only right a person loses through incarceration is liberty. As a result, Norway has one of the lowest rates of recidivism in the world. Thanks to a 2025 – 2026 Fulbright U.S. Student Program award, Freeman crossed the Atlantic to Bergen, Norway, to conduct research on the reentry experiences of Norwegian women into the community after incarceration. 

Janteloven, a culture of humility 

For the first time, Freeman boarded a plane, leaving the United States and Baltimore for Bergen, a city on Norway’s southwestern coast known as the city between the seven mountains. Freeman quickly found that life in Bergen is about enjoying nature. She remembers walking from her small studio apartment to the University of Bergen and seeing hikers everywhere. While cross-country skiing is the official national sport, hiking is an integral part of Bergen culture. Freeman joined the locals on both activities, and suited up with hiking boots and cross-country skis—also a first. 

“I love this city. It’s not crowded. You can take a hike up a mountain any day of the week. Mount Fløyen is the closest and most popular mountain in Bergen,” said Freeman. “So many beautiful views and at the top, you can also get hot chocolate, coffee, and Norwegian waffles. It’s all really nice.” While she enjoyed the outdoors, Freeman did have some first-day jitters when it came time to join the research team.

“I was a bit hesitant when I arrived because I had just graduated with my bachelor’s, and most of my colleagues had a Ph.D. or were earning one. I was a bit worried about fitting in. But they welcomed me with open arms,” says Freeman. “Bergensere really value you and your voice, no matter what. It doesn’t matter if you have a degree or not, they really value you and make sure your voice is heard.”

This practice of equality and community above all is called Janteloven, a Scandinavian cultural, social, and literary concept that emphasizes equality, humility, and collective conformity over individual achievement. Freeman’s welcome was an example of Janteloven. This extends to architecture, clothing, and even standing in line. 

“From my perspective, a lot of Norwegians are sort of hard to crack because they don’t usually do small talk. Back in Baltimore, if you’re standing in line at the grocery store, you can strike up a conversation with anyone. Not here so much,” explains Freeman. “They’re not being rude. They value your time, and they value their time as well, and don’t want to inconvenience anybody. It’s a cultural norm.”

Janteloven in the prison system

Possibly because of this norm, it took time for Freeman to find participants who wanted to focus on their own story. “It’s such a sensitive subject that I researched. One of the challenges I faced was helping participants feel comfortable speaking,” said Freeman. “I talked about their feelings during incarceration and reentry. It’s a very vulnerable state to be in.” Her Fulbright research advisors stepped in and connected Freeman with a few participants and guided her to pivot from solely focusing on reentry to include the system side of the process by speaking with experts in the field of criminology and penology—the philosophy, management, and effectiveness of prison systems and rehabilitation methods.

“One of my main findings was that Norway’s successful reentry is shaped primarily by its welfare system. It is set up to help with social support, housing, education, and job support. They have something called the import model,” said Freeman, “which means that they rely on external public services like healthcare, education, and libraries that are delivered by community providers rather than the prison staff themselves.” Freeman notes that this is in stark contrast to what she found in her research on the U.S. reentry process, where these services are usually contracted out. In Norway, staff are almost always civilians from the same communities into which the residents—Norway doesn’t use the term inmate or prisoner—will be released.

Freeman found a successful example to observe at WayBack, a Norwegian nonprofit foundation that supports formerly incarcerated individuals’ return to society by coordinating services and building networks for successful reintegration. However, the process doesn’t end there. WayBack’s approach to intervention is also based on peer-to-peer mentorship, a form of rehabilitation support Freeman has rarely seen in Baltimore.

“Norway’s welfare state and broader cultural belief systems, Janteloven included, reinforce the idea that the conviction and sentence to prison itself is the punishment,” Freeman explained. “So while you are inside, rehabilitation should be the main priority.”

But nothing is perfect. Another of Freeman’s findings includes the shortcomings of the Norwegian incarceration system. Freeman explained that there are prisons where women have limited gender-specific support and lack the services needed to overcome major barriers, including trauma, addiction, and mental health. “There was a recent report criticizing Trondheim Prison, a few hours from Bergen, due to human rights violations,” said Freeman, after submitting her research. “This was extremely surprising to me. They were in violation of mishandling medication, isolation, and unsanitary conditions, to name a few. So, despite all of the progress, there are still things that aren’t being addressed as quickly as others might want, but at least they are working to address it.”

Human rights in Bergen and Baltimore

After four seasons in Norway, Freeman is packing up and preparing to return home to Baltimore, leaving with a greater appreciation for Janteloven. She is hopeful that one day she will return to the city between the seven mountains either for travel or to pursue a master’s program to continue her research. In the meantime, Freeman is already working on adding a visual element to her research, as she plans to spend the summer filming a documentary on the impact of incarceration on Baltimore communities and families. 

“Having both the reentering system and the criminal system perspectives made my research stronger. My main goal is to work with reentry programs or even programs inside the prison system,” says Freeman. “I want people to think about the human rights of people in the prison system. No matter what they did, just because they were inside, it doesn’t mean they don’t deserve basic human rights.”

Read more Fulbright stories and learn about UMBC’s Fulbright preparation.

This article is a repost from UMBC News and Magazine!

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).

Visit the original post from The Career Center:

Explore Graduate & Professional Programs at the NIH Graduate & Professional School Fair!

Interested in biomedical research, healthcare, public health, pharmacy, psychology, or related fields? Join the 2026 NIH Graduate & Professional School Fair and connect with representatives from more than 240 colleges, universities, medical schools, and professional programs from across the country.

Date: July 15, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET
Location: Natcher Conference Center (Building 45), NIH Main Campus, Bethesda, MD

What to Expect:
• Admissions and application guidance from experts
• Career development and graduate school preparation sessions
• Opportunities to meet directly with program representatives

Free to attend! Registration is required.  Register and learn more: https://www.training.nih.gov/me/gfair/

Don't miss this opportunity to explore graduate and professional education pathways and connect with institutions from across the nation!

Note: UMBC will not be providing transportation for this event. Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation.

Hi All,

I hope your summers are going well. As many of you know, the Center for Social Science Scholarship (CS3) partners with the Department of Information Systems around the undergraduate Data Science Scholars program. If you have students with data science experience and interest in using their data science scholars to work with a faculty member/mentor from the social sciences, please pass this along. Please note the deadline for the application is Friday, July 10th. If they have questions about the application, please note that they can contact: DataScienceAIScholars@umbc.edu

CS3 will also post this to our normal channels.

Thanks, and enjoy the rest of your summer!

Sincerely,

Eric


--
Eric J. Stokan, Ph.D.
Associate Professor | Department of Political Science
Director | Center for Social Science Scholarship
USM Wilson H. Elkins Professor (2025-2026)
Affiliate Faculty | School of Public Policy
University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
Co-Director | MGMT Lab | Indiana University Bloomington
Editorial Board | Urban Affairs Review and State and Local Government Review
586-202-7540
estokan@umbc.edu
www.ericjstokan.com
Pronouns: He/Him/His

June 18 is Autistic Pride Day

Created in 2005 by the self-advocacy group Aspies For Freedom, Autistic Pride Day is observed annually on June 18. Wikipedia states: It is a global, neurodiversity-affirming celebration created by and for autistic individuals to embrace their identities, challenge outdated medical stereotypes, and promote self-advocacy.

June 11-17 is Neurodiversity Pride Week

You can go here to see some of the week's events, held all over the world. (These events are not affiliated with UMBC)

Autism-focused documentary on Netflix “ Room to Move”

Available to Netflix subscribers

Room to Move is a 2026 autism-focused documentary currently airing on Netflix. It follows celebrated dancer and choreographer Jenn Freeman as she channels her recent Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis, received at age 33, into creating her first full-length dance show. The film provides an intimate look into adult neurodivergence, identity, and the creative process. 

Body/mind Affirmation - welcoming the whole person in the room - Stimpunks Glossary

Body/mind affirmation is the practice of welcoming the whole self — body and mind together — into a space, and inviting bodymind’s needs to be met instead of suppressed.

Body/mind refuses the split between body and mind. The two are not separable. How we think, sense, move, and regulate happen together, as one entangled bodymind. The term comes from disability studies, where it names what the mind/body divide erases.

Stimpunk’s example of a Body/mind affirmation that can be read out loud or included via text:

Please do what is most comfortable for your body/mind!

I invite you to do whatever your bodies and minds need to be more comfortable and safe.

You can lie down, take notes, don’t take notes, get some water, stretch.

Check in with yourself right now and what you need, whatever helps your body and mind in this moment, in this space.

The Division of Information Technology (DoIT) is thrilled to announce that Colin Corcoran has been awarded the May 2026 DoIT Gritty Award! This recognition celebrates Colin’s exceptional dedication, technical resilience, and ten years of continuous support for a vital community initiative.

Every year, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides seamless, free tax preparation support for low-income individuals in the community. It is an immense contribution to the greater UMBC community—and for the past decade, Colin has been its technical backbone alongside the Client Services Student Team and with vital support from Courtney Burkett. 

From Makeshift to Seamless

The journey of the VITA program's infrastructure is a masterclass in resilience. For ten years, Colin and the DoIT Client Services student staff have operated entirely behind the scenes to make this program a reality.

In the early days, the setup was a physically demanding, makeshift system that required grueling effort to deploy and maintain. Through tireless work and adaptability, Colin successfully transformed that clunky foundation into the smooth, digital service it is today. Because of his grit, community members experience a seamless process during an otherwise stressful tax season.

The Backbone of the Initiative

What makes Colin exceptional is his ability to manage complex, fast-moving technical needs while maintaining a community-first mindset. Backed by the leadership of Courtney Burkett and the hard work of the student team, Colin delivers professional-grade IT support that directly changes lives.

"His work often goes unnoticed by the public," noted the Gritty Committee, "but he is the reason this vital initiative can happen year after year. Colin represents the very best of DoIT’s spirit of service."

Celebrating Excellence

By modernizing the VITA program's tech footprint, Colin has proven that dedicated technical leadership leaves a lasting legacy on campus. He delivers high-stakes technical execution with the kind of care, professionalism, and grit that elevates the entire university.

Congratulations to Colin for a well-deserved Gritty Award! Thank you for 10 years of going above and beyond!

About the DoIT Gritty Award

The Gritty Award recognizes outstanding work within the Division and beyond. Full-time employees, student employees, and teams are all eligible. Do you know someone going above and beyond? Complete the Gritty Nomination Form today!

The first draft of this article was generated by GenAI and edited by the Communications Team. 

Friendly reminder that OSP's Coffee Chat Continues June 24th with Modular vs Detailed Budgets! Sign up can be found HERE. 

Thank you!

OSP Training Team

UMBC's Department of Information Systems shared an alumni spotlight for Sri Kavya Penta, M.S. ’26. As a teaching assistant, researcher, and published scholar, she explored the intersection of artificial intelligence, data analytics, and human-centered computing while developing the skills and confidence to tackle complex real-world challenges.