Dear UMBC Community, 

UMBC has a strong tradition of civic engagement and participation in local, state, and national elections. This year, Marylanders will elect statewide officers, including the governor, as well as state and federal legislators. 

The Maryland primary election will take place on June 23, 2026. Below are a few ways to get involved.

Vote on campus: Between May 11 and continuing through Election Day, registered Maryland voters can request a mail-in ballot and return it using the official Board of Elections drop-off box located in the lobby of The Commons near the Campus Information Center desk. No postage is required, and ballots will be collected multiple times each week. 

Register to vote: If you are an eligible Maryland resident, you can register using the state's online portal. The deadline to register in advance of the 2026 primary election is Tuesday, June 2. If you are registered in another state, UMBC's voter registration portal can help you take the first steps to register and vote in your home state.

Students, make a pledge to vote: Every election year, ALL IN to Vote hosts a Pledge to Vote leaderboard for university students across the country. In 2022, UMBC ranked #4 in the nation on the student leaderboard. Students who plan to vote, consider taking the pledge, and encouraging others to do the same.

Access voter resources: For the latest information, including early voting dates and ballot request deadlines visit the ALL IN to Vote portal hosted on the UMBC Center for Democracy and Civic Life website.

Serve as an election judge: The Baltimore County Board of Elections is recruiting election judges to work at polling stations during the 2026 primary election. These are paid positions and offer a meaningful way to support the democratic process. 

Get involved in your community: Whether or not you are eligible to vote, there are many ways to stay engaged and make an impact in your community. Follow the Center for Democracy and Civic Life's myUMBC page so you will receive alerts about upcoming opportunities for learning and conversation.

If you have questions, please contact the Center for Democracy and Civic Life at civiclife@umbc.edu.

Thank you for being an engaged member of our community. 

David Hoffman
Director, Center for Democracy and Civic Life

The transition from the classroom to a professional career is no longer just about your GPA or the title on your degree. According to NACE's Job Outlook 2026 survey, the hiring landscape has shifted toward "skills-based hiring," with 70% of employers now using this approach to identify top talent. This means that while your degree gets you in the door, your ability to demonstrate specific competencies is what gets you the offer.

Employers today are looking for more than technical knowledge; they are looking for candidates who can solve problems, collaborate across teams, and adapt to a rapidly changing digital world.

The "Big Three" Attributes

When employers scan your resume, they aren't just looking for what you did — they are looking for evidence of why you did it and/or how you think. The NACE 2026 report highlights three core competencies that consistently top the employer "wish list":

• Teamwork: The ability to work effectively with diverse groups toward a common goal.
• Problem-Solving: Approaching challenges with a creative mindset and practical solutions.
• Communication: Expressing ideas clearly and concisely, especially in written form.
  

As noted by NACE, more than half of surveyed employers also want college graduates to demonstrate specific skills with examples, not just list them on their resume. 

The Rise of AI Literacy

The most significant trend in the 2026 Outlook survey is the explosive demand for AI Literacy. The expectation for entry-level talent to have foundational AI skills has nearly tripled since late 2025. Employers are looking for versatile experts — students who don't just rely on digital tools but also know how to direct them to improve efficiency and judgment.

Experience Over Theory

If two candidates are equally qualified, what breaks the tie? Experience. NACE data consistently shows that internships are the top deciding factor in hiring decisions. Whether it’s a U.S.-based internship, a co-op, or on-campus student work, having a real-world track record proves to recruiters that you can translate academic concepts into professional results.

The Power of Skills-Based Storytelling

Because 70% of employers use skills-based hiring at least half the time, your interview strategy must evolve. Instead of simply listing your responsibilities, share specific STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) stories. Employers want to hear about the exact moment you used your analytical skills to solve a problem or your leadership to guide a team through a setback. Your examples need to be concrete and showcase an impactful outcome or result.

Check Out Your Future

See how your fellow Retrievers have leveraged their skills to land roles at top companies and organizations worldwide by visiting our UMBC Outcomes & Success Stories page. Then set up an appointment with the Career Center (we’re open all summer!) to see how you can best showcase your skills to employers.

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for additional tickets for the May 21st graduation ceremony at 10:00 AM. If you happen to have any extra tickets available, I would really appreciate your help. I’m also willing to pay for them.

Please feel free to message me if you have any available!

Phone: 240-370-4619

Thank you so much!

KARL (The Kalfoglou Advocacy and Research Lab), run by Dr. K., is looking for energetic students who are interested in working on social justice research and advocacy largely focused on college students' access to basic needs like food, housing, and transportation. We work closely with Retriever Essentials. Students participating in KARL will meet as a team once a week (time to be determined) and spend 2 hours per week on their project(s). Projects may be appropriate for presentation at URCAD 2027. Participants will register for PBHL 490 for 1-credit (registration requires permission of the instructor).

This fall KARL will be focused on building the Maryland College Basic Needs Community of Practice. We are doing outreach to campuses who have yet to join, building a website, organizing webinars, writing newsletters, creating slide decks, making films, advocating for policies that support students, and possibly conducting qualitative and/or quantitative research. 
Please provide the requested information and you will be notified in the next few weeks if you will be extended an invitation. If this doesn't work out, you can always take Dr. K's PBHL 355 Public Health Justice and Advocacy course next Spring where we will also focus on campus food insecurity.

Hey Retrievers,

We wanted to let you know that OGSL has run out of coffee cups for the time being. We are working on getting a restock delivered as soon as possible, but in the meantime, the coffee station is "BYOC" (Bring Your Own Cup).

If you’re heading our way and need your caffeine fix, please:

• Bring a reusable cup or tumbler from home.

• Grab a cup from one of the restaurants downstairs and bring it up with you.

We know this is a bit of a hassle, and we’re sorry for the inconvenience! We'll post another update as soon as the new cups arrive. Thanks for being patient and for keeping the sustainability vibes high in the meantime. 🐾

— The OGSL Team

The USM Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation is now accepting applications for the Generative AI Pedagogy Fellows Program for 2026-2027. This year-long program offers faculty a unique opportunity to deepen their expertise in AI pedagogy while contributing to evidence-based teaching practices across our system.

Program Highlights

• $1,500 stipend for full participation

• Structured cohort-based learning with peers across USM

• Opportunity to design and implement an AI-infused intervention in your own course

• Leadership experience facilitating faculty development workshops

Who Should Apply

We’re seeking faculty who are already experimenting with generative AI in their teaching and are interested in peer leadership and workshop facilitation. The full call for applications can be found here with complete details on requirements, expectations, and the application process.

The application deadline is Friday, May 22, 2026.

Regards, 

Anupam Joshi
Vice Provost and Chief AI Officer

Ana Oskoz
Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs

Reposted from UMBC News: Meyerhoff Scholars Program Celebrates 500th Ph.D. by Sarah Hansen

This spring, the Meyerhoff Scholars Program at UMBC celebrates a landmark achievement: 500 program graduates have earned a Ph.D.

The milestone highlights the program’s success as the nation’s original model for increasing diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Grounded in high expectations and robust support, Meyerhoff Scholars consistently go on to excel in top graduate programs and lead in academia, industry, and government while mentoring the next generation. UMBC has maintained its position as the national leader in producing Black M.D./Ph.D. graduates: Between 2014 and 2024, UMBC alumni accounted for 15 percent of all such dual-degree recipients nationwide, far outpacing any other institution. UMBC is also the leader in graduating Black students who go on to earn Ph.D.s in the life sciences, math and computer sciences, and engineering.

Keith Harmon, director of the Meyerhoff Scholars Program, celebrates graduating scholars at the 2024 Meyerhoff Senior Reception. (Jim Burger for UMBC)

Joseph Washington ’97, mechanical engineering, a member of the fourth Meyerhoff cohort (M4), embodies this trajectory. A first-generation college student, he initially considered trade school after a knee injury derailed his plans to attend the U.S. Naval Academy. The Meyerhoff scholarship changed his path. In particular, Selection Weekend for admitted Meyerhoff Scholars and Summer Bridge, intensive group programming prior to the scholars’ first UMBC semester, affirmed his identity and potential: “The most important message I internalized from the Meyerhoff program was that I can be Black and intelligent,” he recalls.

Washington earned a master’s degree before returning to UMBC for his Ph.D. Today, he serves as an assistant teaching professor at UMBC at the Universities at Shady Grove. He mentors students informally, advises the UMBC chapter of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and creates space for Meyerhoff Scholars to discuss graduate school and careers. “UMBC has always felt like home,” he says. “I would not be here if not for the Meyerhoff Scholars Program.”

A family tradition

Sadella Santos ’12, chemical engineering, M20, and her sister Melissa Santos ’12, chemical engineering, M19, also credit the program with shaping their journeys. Sadella, a senior scientist at Exponent, Inc. with a Ph.D. in chemical engineering, values the emphasis on community. “Academic success is a collective effort, rather than individual competition,” she says. “At work, I champion the message that diverse perspectives are necessary to drive scientific progress.” She pays it forward by reviewing abstracts for the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS) and hosting lab visits to expose high school students to possible careers.

Meyerhoff Scholar alumni gathered at the 2022 Meyerhoff Family Meeting. (Marlayna Demond ’11/UMBC)

Melissa, who earned a Ph.D. in chemical engineering followed by a J.D., applies problem-solving and adaptability skills honed through Meyerhoff to her legal career. She recently participated in a panel for McNair Scholars on summer research experiences. “Community and network are important,” she notes. “Surround yourself with people who will support you but also challenge you to grow.”

Meyerhoff scholars often refer to themselves as family—and that’s especially true for the Santoses. Justin Santos ’17, biochemistry and molecular biology, M25, is the third scholar in the family. He is completing his M.D./Ph.D. in neuroscience at Emory University this spring and will begin residency in emergency medicine at Washington University in St. Louis. He mentors students pursuing clinical-scientist careers and assists with ABRCMS abstract reviews. “High-quality, comprehensive mentorship” was invaluable to him, and he works to provide that same guidance to others.

Reaching back to pay it forward

Naomi Mburu ’18, M26, chemical engineering, was UMBC’s first Rhodes Scholar, attending Oxford University on one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious scholarships. She earned a D.Phil. in engineering science from the University of Oxford and today serves as lead analyst at Fusion Advisory Services, providing analysis of the fusion industry to a wide range of stakeholders. Meyerhoff pushed her beyond her comfort zone into leadership roles and strengthened her public speaking and networking skills, she says. She now reviews scholarship essays for UMBC students and organizes summer internships to bring diverse talent into the fusion energy field. “Supporting the next generation is so important,” she says. “I have only come this far myself with the help of my own mentors.”

From left to right, UMBC sophomore Amir Walton-Irvin, and juniors Jessica Slaughter, Deeya Mistry, and Phoenix Bryant all received a Goldwater Scholarship this year—and all four are Meyerhoff Scholars. (Brad Ziegler/UMBC)

These alumni illustrate the program’s lasting influence. Meyerhoff Scholars do not simply succeed—they reach back, creating opportunities and building communities for current students and early-career researchers. The model’s impact now extends even further: universities including Penn State, UNC-Chapel Hill, UC Berkeley, Stony Brook, and others have adapted key elements of the Meyerhoff approach with support from funders such as the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and Simons Foundation. The Howard Hughes Medical Institute has also been a long-term supporter of Meyerhoff and its replications.

With more than 2,200 undergraduates supported to date and a national reputation for producing leaders committed to diversity in STEM, the 500th Ph.D. stands as compelling proof of the Meyerhoff model’s effectiveness. As alumni advance in their fields and invest in those who follow, the Meyerhoff Scholars Program continues to change lives one by one, transforming the face of American science through excellence, community, and a powerful ripple effect that will benefit generations to come.

Sign up for the Fall 2026 Monthly Payment Plan to pay your Fall tuition in 4 easy installments. 

You do not have to be enrolled in classes to enroll in the Monthly Payment Plan! Just estimate your costs, and if need be, you can make changes once you know your exact costs

 Fall 2026 Monthly Payment Plan

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Hello beautiful people! The semester has flown by, and now our last event of the semester is TOMORROW :0  Come out to the Pride Center from 2:30-4:30 to share food and spend time with friends before finals! You can sign up to bring food here

Hello everyone! It’s the final countdown of the semester!

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Updates and Events:

The Global Pantry Initiative (Aftermath):

Thank you to all who submitted ingredients ideas, the initiative has been a huge success! Furthermore, if you would like to see more cultural ingredients from these regions, or any culture, please feel free to input them in our suggestion box below. The more inputs we get, the more we can give!

Earth Day Free Farmers Market Recap:

During our first ever Earth Day Farmer’s Market, we were able to give out over 2.5k lbs of food to almost 300 UMBC students and faculty. We are so grateful for the opportunity to serve this community!----

Data:

In the month of April, we’ve distributed nearly 13k lbs worth of food and other household essentials. This includes data from our Essential Space, Free Farmers Market on Thursdays, and our Earth day farmers market.

Thank you all for your support and presence this semester!

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Suggestion Box:

To improve on our services, and try to address everyone’s different needs, we would love to hear your feedback!

https://forms.gle/oUvd1EaMcmmasKFn8

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Thank you so much for taking the time to read our newsletter, and good luck on finals!

If you have any questions about what we provide, volunteering opportunities, or general inquiries, feel free to email us at retrieveressentials@umbc.edu at any time!

Sincerely,

The Retriever Essentials Team