The Best of Baltimore Grant, a UMBC initiative started in fall 2025, is changing how students from Baltimore City imagine college: not as a distant possibility overshadowed by debt, but as a tangible, financially supported path forward, and right in their backyard.

For first-year student Essence Jones, who went to Baltimore City College, a high school in east Baltimore, “that financial freedom really pushed me towards UMBC,” she says, describing the moment she learned the grant would cover what other aid could not—including room and board. A double major in biological sciences and psychology, Jones is already thinking ahead to a future in forensics, drawn by what she calls “the puzzle problem-solving aspect” of analyzing crime scenes. But her present focus is simpler: adjusting, learning, and finding her place and people.

Embracing the ‘B’ in UMBC

The Best of Baltimore grant grew out of President Valerie Sheares Ashby’s desire to see a greater number of Baltimore City high school students become Retrievers. And the grant is just one part of a bigger initiative, says Yvette Mozie-Ross ’88, vice provost for enrollment management and planning: “This year, we have been more intentional with our outreach efforts—partnering with community based organizations such as CollegeBound and College Track to continue to help us get the word out about the many benefits of a UMBC education and specifically how the Best of Baltimore grant can make a UMBC education attainable for all Baltimore City residents.”  

The grant is designed to cover remaining billed costs after federal grants, subsidized loans, and other scholarships are applied—closing gaps that often prevent students with demonstrated financial need from enrolling. 

Early results suggest momentum. In its first year, the program offered awards to nearly 140 students, with dozens ultimately enrolling and receiving grants ranging from $1,100 to $22,000. Just as importantly, Mozie-Ross notes, the early promise of financial support helped families make confident decisions about college. And the increased outreach methods are paying off—applications from city residents grew by 20 percent for fall 2026.

UMBC, Jones says, meets her at her pace and provides lots of student support. She points to spaces like the Learning Collaboratory, where students gather to work through complex chemistry problems together. “You’re both teaching and learning,” she explains. “That helps solidify the information.”

That sense of shared effort—of not struggling alone—has defined her early college experience. Whether studying with friends from her STEM courses or working quietly on the sixth floor of the library, Jones has found community. Her path to science was shaped before UMBC. At Baltimore City College, she was inspired by teachers who looked like her—women of color leading classrooms in biology and chemistry. “Being able to see them in that space… really helped me enjoy science,” she says. Now, she hopes to carry that sense of belonging forward.

Support fosters success

Deylon Moy Joseph, a mechanical engineering first-year student and another Best of Baltimore awardee, echoes Jones’ observations about support and community at UMBC. Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, he arrived in the United States in 2022 and enrolled at Mergenthaler Vocational-Technical High School—a mile north of Jones’ school. From the start, financial reality shaped his college search. “It was necessary for me to get some type of college funding,” he says. “I didn’t want to be stuck with really heavy student loans.”

At UMBC, he found a layered support system: the prestigious Meyerhoff Scholars Program, and unexpectedly, the Best of Baltimore grant. “We didn’t have to apply, but when we were accepted to UMBC, we received letters saying, ‘Congratulations,’” he recalls. “It was amazing.”

For Moy Joseph, that confidence extends into the classroom. He describes his technical coursework as demanding but manageable—especially with the right support. He credits faculty like Joseph Washington ’97, mechanical engineering, an assistant teaching professor whose open-door approach allows students to work through complex problems in real time. “Having the professor right there to give pointers… it really made retention much easier,” he says.

Outside class, in spaces like the Retriever Learning Center, students gather around whiteboards filled with equations, working through concepts together. “It’s so easy to study with someone,” Moy Joseph says. “And it’s satisfying to help people, too.”

That reciprocity—learning, then teaching—is central to many Retrievers’ experiences. It reflects a broader culture at UMBC, one that merges academic rigor with connection, starting in our very own neighborhood.

All,

Steris will be here on the morning of June 29th to do their preventive maintenance. I'll have them beginning in the basement and then work their way up through the building. The PM's take about 70 to 90 minutes to complete. Please be aware of this.

Thank you!

Social media is one of the most powerful tools departments use to share news, celebrate achievements, and build community. It’s also one of the most consistently inaccessible corners of institutional communication. The good news is that most major platforms now have built-in accessibility features, and the habits that make social media accessible also tend to make it more engaging for everyone.

Note: The availability of some accessibility features depends on whether you are using the mobile application or a desktop/browser.

1. Write Alt Text for Every Image You Post

Alt text on social media works the same way it does everywhere else: it describes an image to someone who cannot see it. Write a descriptive sentence about what the image shows and why you’re posting it. 

Most major platforms now support alt text -- you just have to use it. 

• On Facebook: When composing a post with an image, click the three dots (…) on the photo and select “Edit alt text.” 

• On Instagram: Before posting, tap “Advanced settings” at the bottom of the caption screen and select “Write alt text.”

• On LinkedIn: After uploading an image, look for the “Alt text” option before publishing.

• On X: Tap the image after uploading and select “Add description” before posting.

Note: If a platform doesn't support native alt text (like TikTok), write a brief visual description directly at the bottom of your post caption.

2. Caption Your Videos

Video content without captions excludes users who are deaf or hard of hearing, and also anyone watching without sound, which is a significant portion of social media users. Most platforms generate auto-captions.

• On Instagram and Facebook: Auto-captions are generated for Reels and videos. 

• On LinkedIn: You can generate captions, but uploading a caption file (SRT format) when posting a video will be the most accurate.

• On YouTube: Auto-captions are available, and can be corrected via YouTube Studio.

Consider burning captions directly into the short-form videos (e.g., TikTok-style content) before posting, so they appear for all platforms. Regardless of how you add captions to your social media videos, they should be accurate for your audience.

3. Provide Essential Text Outside of Images

Graphic design tools make it easy to create visually striking images with text overlaid for event announcements, quotes, and infographic-style posts. But text embedded in an image cannot be read by a screen reader, cannot be resized by users with low vision, and is not searchable.

• If your graphic includes essential information (event name, date, location, deadline), repeat that information in the post caption or body text so users with screen readers will have access to the same information.

• Use high-contrast text on image graphics. Light text on a light background or dark text on a dark background is hard to read for everyone, not just screen reader users. If you use a color contrast checker, aim for a ratio of at least 4:5:1.

4. Use CamelCase for Hashtags

Screen readers rely on capital letters to distinguish individual words. Without capital letters, hashtags are read aloud by screen readers as a single string of text: #digitalaccess becomes “digitalaccess” becomes one undifferentiated word. CamelCase (capitalizing the first letter of each word in a hashtag) allows screen readers to identify and announce each word separately.

• Write #DigitalAccessibility instead of #digitalaccessibility.

• Screen readers translate “umbc” to “uhm-buck” when they read out loud. If you want accuracy, use hyphens between the letters: “U-M-B-C”

This is a small habit that makes hashtags more readable for everyone -- including sighted users scanning a post.

5. Write and Format for an Inclusive Audience

Consider all of your audience when preparing and publishing your social media posts. 

• Keep emojis to the end of your posts rather than bullet points or in the middle of your sentence. Screen readers will read aloud the exact text description, which will break up the flow of your post.

• Avoid using external font generators to create styled text on platforms like Instagram and X. Words written in these fonts cannot be read by screen readers, and many are difficult to read by visual users as well.

• Write with clear and simple language, and avoid unnecessary jargon and idioms to support users with cognitive or language-processing disabilities.

• When adding links to posts and bios, include context and clear labels so your readers know where the link leads. For example, “Learn more about our summer accessibility training series” or “Request support” instead of a short URL.

Social media accessibility is an ongoing practice, not a one-time fix. Building these habits into your regular posting workflow means every post you share is reaching your full audience.

---

Tips and strategies adapted from “Accessible Social Media” training (2026), prepared by the Maryland Assistive Technology Program, and "Social Media Accessibility Guidelines" (n.d.), prepared by UMBC's University Communications & Marketing team.

The UMBC Career Center works hard to ensure that employers recruiting through Handshake are legitimate. Handshake verifies employers and uses fraud detection tools, but no system is perfect. Unfortunately, scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and may attempt to impersonate legitimate employers through job postings, emails, text messages, or social media.

If you ever receive a job offer or communication that doesn't feel right, trust your instincts and contact the Career Center at careers@umbc.edu before responding.

🚩 Common Red Flags

Be cautious if an employer:

• Offers you a job without an interview.
• Wants to hire you immediately.
• Asks you to deposit a check or purchase equipment with company funds.
• Requests your Social Security number, banking information, or credit card before you've officially been hired.
• Asks you to send or receive money on the company's behalf.
• Uses a Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, or other personal email account instead of a company email address.
• Has an email address that doesn't match the company's website.
• Offers unusually high pay for very little work.
• Has numerous spelling or grammatical errors.
• Asks you to communicate only through text messaging or encrypted apps.

Before You Apply

Take a few minutes to verify the employer.

✔ Visit the company's official website.

✔ Search online for the company name plus words like scam or reviews.

✔ Compare the contact email to the company's website.

✔ Google the phone number.

✔ Search for the position on the company's official careers page.

If something doesn't match, proceed with caution.

Protect Your Personal Information

Never provide the following personal information before verifying the employer and accepting a legitimate offer:

• Social Security Number
• Bank account information
• Credit card numbers
• Copies of your driver's license or passport
• Payment for training, equipment, or background checks

Legitimate employers do not ask candidates to send money in order to get hired.

Email & Phishing Scams

Scammers frequently impersonate:

• UMBC faculty or staff
• Well-known companies
• Recruiters
• Human Resources representatives

Remember:

• The "From" address can be spoofed.
• Always hover over links before clicking.
• Never click links or open attachments from suspicious emails.
• Be cautious if you're asked to reply to a different email than the sender's address.
• Forward the suspicious emails to security@umbc.edu.

If You Think You've Been Scammed

If you did not send money:

• Stop communicating with the individual immediately.
• Report the incident to the Career Center.
• Follow UMBC DoIT's recommendations if you shared university credentials.
• Consider notifying UMBC Police if appropriate.

If you did send money or shared financial information:

• Contact your bank immediately.
• File a report with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
• Notify local or campus police.
• Continue monitoring your financial accounts for suspicious activity.

Report Suspicious Employers

If you encounter a suspicious job posting in Handshake, report the employer and email the Career Center (careers@umbc.edu).

Please include as much information as possible, including:

• Employer name
• Job title
• Job ID or posting link (if available)
• Emails or screenshots
• Any communication you received

The sooner we know, the sooner we can investigate and, if necessary, remove the employer and notify other students.

Remember

If a job sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

When you're unsure, ask. The Career Center is happy to review a job posting or email before you respond. We'd much rather answer a quick question than have a student become the victim of a scam.

Disclaimer

The UMBC Career Center makes every effort to provide students with access to legitimate employment opportunities. Employers recruiting through Handshake are subject to employer verification and platform fraud detection measures; however, no screening process can guarantee that all employers or job postings are free from fraud.

UMBC is not responsible for employers' representations or guarantees regarding job postings, compensation, working conditions, workplace safety, or other employment-related matters that may arise during or after employment.

If you encounter a suspicious job posting, employer communication, or believe you have been contacted by a fraudulent employer, please report it to the UMBC Career Center as soon as possible at careers@umbc.edu or 410-455-2216. Prompt reporting allows us to investigate, work with Handshake to remove fraudulent employers when appropriate, and notify other potentially affected students.

If you surveyed UMBC’s Class of 2026 and generated a word cloud, the word “community” would instantly dominate the screen. You might be tempted to dismiss it as a buzzword until you see how many graduating students highlight the communities they found and the communities they made as their defining experience of being a student at UMBC. “I can be myself here and I’m not going to be judged. Community is truly the word to describe UMBC,” says Shawn Bearam, Jr., computer science.

Who are the graduates of the Class of 2026?

It’s safe to say they contain multitudes: There’s an engineering management graduate student from India who devoted time to helping Marylanders complete their taxes; an English and political science student who volunteered as an educational and workforce advocate for Baltimore City youth; a mathematician—and Survivor hopeful—teaching game theory and disease modeling to students in Rwanda while also helping them understand the U.S. college admissions process.

What do they have in common? If you meet a Retriever from the Class of 2026, you will walk away from the encounter feeling hopeful for the future. These leaders and educators and entertainers and researchers are making room in the world for each person’s voice to be heard and heeded. We can’t wait to see where they take it from here!

“It’s the people”

If community is the key takeaway from the Class of 2026, where are students finding their niche groups? Vunnathi Ankem, psychology, saw a way to bridge multiple areas together. As a resident assistant, a researcher, and a multifaceted student leader, she has spent her four years both building community and studying its impact on the human experience. From hosting public-service retreats in Baltimore to interviewing members of the South Asian diaspora for her thesis, Ankem’s work bridges the gap between community- centered research and heartfelt advocacy. 

As a newly awarded Fulbright Scholar to India, Ankem leaves behind a campus made stronger by her leadership and a personal roadmap focused on healing, mentorship, and global research. “When I think about what I’m proud of, it’s not the awards, it’s the people,” says Ankem. “I remember all the people who were there when I needed support—those people meant more to me than any accomplishment. My advice would be to think about what you’ll look back on. It will most likely be community—the people who were there when you weren’t at your best.”

Bearam in computer science was not content to confine himself to one campus community. He puts it plainly: “I found communities where it seemed that everyone was having fun together, and I wanted to be a part of that,” he says. He had roles with the events staff in Athletics, at UMBC’s research and technology park, bwtech@UMBC, and working as a lead

office assistant for the vice president of student affairs. If that wasn’t enough, he also served as a lead resident assistant and a first-year ambassador for the Student Government Association.

“I started to see that I was able to learn so much here,” says Bearam. “I saw people who looked like me in different spaces, and I knew they would be able to understand me, so I wanted to get involved.”

Rileigh Mansfield, mathematics, also made it her goal to build connections across a variety of UMBC communities. As a Meyerhoff Scholar, she served as a peer advisor and conducted research with multiple math professors, “but honestly,” she shares, “some of my most meaningful involvement has been more informal. Last spring, I was having a tough semester when I got invited to join a group from the math lounge to play the board game Catan on Tuesdays. It became a little community and something to look forward to every week—a much-needed step back from school and work. I actually play in competitive Catan tournaments now, and I’m even hosting an official tournament this spring through the math honors society.”

“Just see it through”

Often, the defining moment in a student’s successful academic trajectory is a challenge that they can point back to. When Chinonso Ezeobi decided to pack up his life in Nigeria and come to the United States to pursue his Ph.D. in electrical engineering at UMBC, he was thrilled at the prospect of finding a program that would bring him fulfillment. However, financial struggles and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic quickly threatened Ezeobi’s plans for the future.

“Once I navigated through one challenge, another one came in,” he says. “But at the end of the day, it was worth it. I was able to pull through all of those challenges. I was also able to transition from being an international student to having a green card through self-petition and self-advocacy, so I’m able to graduate without the additional pressure of thinking about my visa status while looking for jobs. My faith and the community at UMBC were essential in navigating through all challenges. The motivation was that I had a community of people who wanted my success, people who I felt would advocate for me even when I’m not in the room.” 

Never one to be derailed, Ezeobi found mentors across campus who made it their mission to keep him on the path to his Ph.D. Ezeobi recognized how invaluable their support was and found his own ways to give back to the place and people who gave him so much, including keeping his door open to any students who may need an advocate on their side. 

At one point, Maia Turman Cooke, English and political science, was thinking about backing out of her scholar’s program opportunity. In the end, though, she was surprised by how the McNair Scholars Program changed her life. “At the beginning of the application process, it seemed like a lot, and I wanted to quit—I didn’t want to join. The director of the McNair Scholars Program, Dr. Michael Hunt [’06, Ph.D. ’25], called me and said, ‘Just see it through, see it out. If you don’t like it when you get more involved, then you can leave.’”

Turman Cooke processed the expectations of the programs—like pursuing graduate school—while recognizing she had so much to learn about how research worked. “I was so overwhelmed because I thought I had to solve every world problem. But my peers convinced me to stay. Soon, that work became a normal part of my schedule. I had no idea what research was, and now it’s something I’m super passionate about,” says Turman Cooke, who starts her Ph.D. in English at the University of Maryland, College Park this fall.

“A person who needs a path”

Sometimes the way forward is clearly marked, and other times Retrievers forge their own way. Kayla Nemirovsky, mathematics and financial economics, had a love for international travel and a scholarship with the Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program but wasn’t sure how those interests combined with her majors.

Nemirovsky, who is staying at UMBC to pursue her master’s degree in teaching, charted her own route at UMBC as an Education Abroad ambassador, sharing widely with her peers the importance (and accessibility) of studying abroad for any major. Her Sondheim mentors connected her with an internship at the Maryland State Department of Education, and this experience helped her solidify her interest in math education curriculum and policy.

“I’m a person who needs a path,” says Nemirovsky, who has traveled to more than 30 countries and counting. “I realized once I got to college that there’s kind of no more path—I have to make my own. At was really scary to me, so having mentors who can help me make this path…give

me advice and offer suggestions, that was extremely helpful. I really believe you have to choose the people you look up to and kind of aspire to be them.”

Over his two years of graduate study at UMBC, Yash Bhatt, M.S., engineering management, saw his time at UMBC as much bigger than “just earning a degree.” He charted a path to contribute meaningfully to both the university and the greater Baltimore community. As a graduate student, Bhatt arrived at UMBC with an undergraduate degree and professional experience, but he says he was not yet the confident leader he is today.

Outside of the classroom, Bhatt dedicated himself to enhancing student life for his classmates. As a member of the Indian Graduate Student Association and the Black and Gold Student Advisory Board, he advocated for international students and contributed to university decision-making. Bhatt also joined two Alternative Spring Break experiences. Starting as a participant and returning as a program leader, Bhatt immersed himself in what he considers a genuine “American student experience,” building local friendships and making connections within local government and community organizations, in addition to the service the participants provided to the community.

“The best part of my UMBC experience has been the people and the sense of community,” says Bhatt. “UMBC has this unique balance—it’s diverse and full of opportunity like a larger university yet still close-knit enough that you truly feel seen and supported.”

Read about more members of the Class of 2026.

We will be closed July 1- 5th, reopening on July 6th. Please plan accordingly for any poster printing you may need or reach out if you have questions. researchgraphics@umbc.edu

Tyler Josephson, an assistant professor in the Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering at UMBC, has received an Amazon Research Award to improve the accuracy of scientific computing. The project, titled “Autoformalization for Scientific Computing in Lean,” aims to bridge the gap between complex scientific theories and the computer code used to simulate them.

In modern science, researchers use computer simulations to model everything from new medicines to climate change. However, these simulations often rely on code that is difficult to check for errors. If a mistake is made when translating a mathematical equation from a research paper into a computer program, it can lead to incorrect findings. 

While "formal methods"—a type of high-level logic used to prove code is correct—are common in cybersecurity and hardware design, they are rarely used in general science because they are difficult and time-consuming for humans to learn and use to write code. 

Photo: Tyler Josephson, second from right, works with students in the lab (Marlayna Demond '11/UMBC)

Josephson, who leads the AI and Theory-Oriented Molecular Science (ATOMS) Lab at UMBC, is developing a new AI system to help solve this. Using a specialized programming language called Lean, the team is building AI "agents" that can read scientific papers and automatically translate the math into formally verified code. 

"We don't think humans will manually formalize a century of scientific theory without machine assistance," Josephson notes, highlighting the need for AI-human collaboration to scale these efforts. 

The award provides almost $77,000, which Josephson plans to use to support student researchers on the project. 

Ultimately, the tools could help researchers tackle challenges such as designing new materials for gas separation or speeding up drug discovery by providing a rock-solid foundation for digital experiments. 

Roberto Yus, an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering (CSEE) at UMBC, has received a National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award to fund his work aiming to make sensor data more accessible. The award is one of the most prestigious for early-career faculty and supports both research and education activities.

Simplifying complex sensor data

Yus’ CAREER award proposal tackles a problem currently limiting the impact of the billions of sensors and smart devices that have been deployed around the world in the so-called “Internet of Things”: Even when sensors are widely distributed, most organizations struggle to use the data because turning raw sensor readings into useful answers often requires deep technical expertise.

Yus’ project aims to solve this challenge by developing a system that allows regular users—such as educators, factory operators, public health officials, or building managers—to ask simple questions. For example, a building manager may want to know how many rooms were underutilized in the last month and how much energy they consumed. The computer system will automatically figure out which sensors and AI models to use to find the answer, while balancing concerns of privacy, efficiency, and accuracy. 

"The prevalence and pervasiveness of sensing and communication devices have the potential to transform our world. Yet, it is necessary to provide a systematic and simple means to filter the massive data that these devices collect,” says Mohamed Younis, chair of the CSEE department. "Roberto's proposed research aims to address this need. Employing AI in the process increases the system’s agility and opens the door to adopting it for a wide range of applications.”

Yus plans to test his approaches with smart home devices in his laboratory, with a smart manufacturing testbed at the Center for Research in Emergent Manufacturing at UMBC, and with sensors deployed on the UMBC campus. 

“The opportunity to work with students to develop sensor applications that will be useful to them, for example remotely checking the wait time at Starbucks, I think that will be amazing,” Yus says.

Supporting research success

Several internal UMBC grants helped Yus build the foundation for his successful CAREER proposal. He received seed funding to explore a multidisciplinary approach to deploying sensors in assisted living communities and also received funding for an undergraduate student researcher to explore the intersection of AI and the Internet of Things. 

UMBC’s College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT) also provides active proposal mentorship to faculty, including workshops, one-on-one coaching, and feedback. "This invested format of more directed one-to-one support has emerged in the last few years, and I do believe it helps faculty shape their proposals," says Vandana Janeja, associate dean for research in COEIT. 

Since 1995, when NSF established the CAREER award program, 36 COEIT faculty have received awards. Yus’ award also marks the 51st CAREER award for the university as a whole. 

Integrating education with research is a key characteristic of CAREER award projects. As part of his project Yus will develop new hands-on university courses, high school internships, and a summer camp for Baltimore-area students that will help educate the new generation of researchers. Campus leaders praised Yus' passion for research and community dedication.

"He is a wonderful researcher and at the same time he supports others. He is keenly aware of what matters in research, as evident from his own foundational work and also interdisciplinary work," Janeja says. 

For his part, Yus expressed deep gratitude to his colleagues for their support and to NSF for the funding. “I’m very excited to get started,” he says.

The DoIT Technology Support Center is looking to hire additional student consultants to work during the upcoming semester and beyond. Please see our job description below and visit our job posting on Handshake to apply. (Search for DoIT Technology Support Center Student Consultant.) The application will be open until July 18, 2026.

TSC Student Consultant Job Description

Technology Support Center (TSC) student consultants are the first points of technical contact for the UMBC community and those who do well often go on to work in other areas of the Division of Information Technology (DoIT). Minimally, consultants are expected to provide initial triage and support for a wide range of information technologies including accounts, hardware, instructional technologies, networking, software, telecommunications, and basic web development.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Provide technical assistance to users by phone and online;
• Answer TSC phones in a professional and courteous manner;
• Create, update and resolve tickets in the Request Tracker (RT) ticketing system;
• Create, update, suggest and recommend relevant FAQ articles to users (www.umbc.edu/faq);
• Provide direct assistance to users on technical issues they cannot easily resolve on their own;
• Respond to all work-related communications in a timely manner;
• Escalate urgent problems to the Full-Time staff, as appropriate.

Required Skills and Experience

• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate by phone or in writing.
• Demonstrated writing ability.
• Demonstrated ability to achieve successful outcomes in handling difficult situations and customers.
• Demonstrated analytical and troubleshooting skills.
• Ability & willingness to learn coupled with a clear understanding of one’s technical abilities, so as to triage and escalate an issue that leads to an effective solution for the user.

Date: Wednesday, July 1, 2026 

Time: 3:00PM ET - 4:00PM ET

Location: Virtual

Cost: Free

Click here to register

Event Overview:

Description:

Join this virtual open house to learn about the Individual Career Development (K Award) opportunities supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). The event will open with a short presentation on active funding opportunities followed by breakout sessions where you can ask questions about specific activity codes or how to prepare a K award.

For event questions and special requests contact: NINDSKAwards@ninds.nih.gov