PROMISE: Maryland's AGEP is dedicated to increasing the numbers, diversity, inclusion and accessibility of Ph.D.s in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. PROMISE also provides a strong support system for historically excluded populations students and postdocs in all fields of study, and for all graduate students. Come out for dinner, connection, and networking on Friday, August 30 at the University Center, Room 312!

This event is for individuals who self-identify as being from an historically excluded populations and 1st generation students in the US, including graduate students, postdocs, faculty and staff.

Please email promise@umbc.edu if you require particular accommodations.

UMBC's Office of Sustainability (OoS) is administering their annual sustainability survey and needs your help!

The OoS sends this survey every year to assess the university community's sustainability knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, trends and practices. This is your opportunity to comment on our performance, identify weaknesses and priorities, and sign-up for future news from the sustainability office, including opportunities to participate in this year's Climate Action Plan update.   

Click here to take the Sustainability Survey

This survey is entirely voluntary, and should take about 10 minutes to complete.  It will be open until the end of September, but act now!  This is your chance to have your voice heard!  You have the right to skip any question you do not wish to answer, but we hope you will give all of the questions your full consideration. It is critical that our survey represents the views and experiences of our shared community of students, faculty, and staff.  Even if you have not engaged with sustainability in the past, we encourage your participation!  If you have any questions regarding this survey, please contact UMBC's Office of Sustainability directly at sustainability@umbc.edu.

Looking to engage more with sustainability on campus?  Attend our Sustainability Office Hours held every other Monday (starting September 16) from 12:00-1:00 in MP105.

Hello Retrievers and Valued Riders, 

We are excited to share an opportunity for you to play a crucial role in shaping the future of one of the busiest bus stops in Catonsville! The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) is working with Baltimore County to identify potential improvements to the bus stop located in the Giant/Walmart shopping center at Rolling Road and US-40. The bus stop is a vital transfer point for MTA, RTA, and our UMBC Route 40 bus, and your input is invaluable.

Your feedback will not only play a crucial role in shaping the design of the new bus stop but also in enhancing the overall transit experience for the community.

How You Can Help:

• Complete the Online Survey: Share your thoughts and suggestions by completing the brief survey.
• Spread the Word: Mention the project to friends, family, and fellow transit riders. Feel free to share the survey on social media or hang flyers in your area.

Feel free to use the following suggested social media posts to spread the word:

"MTA is collaborating with Baltimore County to identify potential improvements for one of the busiest bus stops in Catonsville, located in the Giant/Walmart parking lot. Your input is crucial in helping us understand how to enhance this bus stop. Please take a moment to complete a brief survey and let MTA know what improvements would enhance your experience." - Project Flyer.

Your participation is invaluable and greatly appreciated in meeting our community's needs. If you have any questions or need more information, please don't hesitate to contact us or visit the Project Website. Thank you for being so supportive in making our transit system better for everyone!

Safe Travels,

Your Transit Team

Meet Buhlebakhe Ncubefrom Zimbabwe. She spent six weeks at UMBC as part of the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, the flagship program of the U.S. Government’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) hosted by UMBC’s Center for Global Engagement (CGE). The new cohort included 25 innovators from countries across Sub-Saharan Africa representing education, journalism, tech, health care, and more. Buhlebakhe is now back home reminiscing about her YALI summer experience and the Retrievers she connected with along the way. Take it away, Buhlebakhe.

Q: Briefly introduce yourself. What’s one essential thing you’d want another Retriever to know about you?

A: I am the chief of staff for the Shasha Network, located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, but I work remotely from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Shasha Network is a nonprofit organization that provides early career resources, opportunities, and support to students and educators across Africa. I have a bachelor’s degree in civil and water engineering from the National University of Science and Technology in Bulawayo.

Q: Tell us about someone in the community who has inspired you or supported you, and how they did it.

A: From the first day we arrived in Baltimore, Madison Pickard, M.A. ’24, intercultural communication, assistant director of special programs, and co-academic director of the YALI Fellowship at CGE, went above and beyond for the YALI Fellows. She drove us to different meetings and events all day and stayed with us late into the night, often going back to her home around midnight. Despite everything, she still showed up the next day with a smile and energy, ready to help us tackle the busy day ahead. Through her, I have learned what it means to be truly selfless and fully involved in someone else’s journey and ensure they are set up for success.

Q: Since you’ve been a part of the UMBC community, how have you found support of your WHY?

A: When I was at UMBC, I was exposed to various types of leadership styles, and rather than try and alter who I am to fit into a particular style—I learned how to use my uniqueness and strengths to create my path as a young leader. The UMBC team went above and beyond to make sure that we had access to coaches and experts in various fields. The facilitators are exceptional, and the people I met through networking sessions are quite eager to work with me beyond the fellowship. Lastly, the UMBC team is full of cheerleaders who constantly push me to challenge myself. I have done so, and I am thankful to them for their support and faith in my abilities.

Q: Tell us about what you love about the organization you’re involved in.

A: I am grateful that I was placed at UMBC for the YALI fellowship. The community at UMBC is very welcoming. Baltimore and Maryland are full of humanity, culture, history, art, and love. I was able to connect with people not just through networking but on a human level. There is nothing pretentious about UMBC. People here genuinely want the best for you, and everyone wants to come together and create a better and stronger community. That sense of pride in being from UMBC is something I will always carry with me as an adopted Marylander and Retriever!

* * * * *

UMBC’s greatest strength is its people. When people meet Retrievers and hear about the passion they bring, the relationships they create, the ways they support each other, and the commitment they have to inclusive excellence, they truly get a sense of our community. That’s what “Meet a Retriever” is all about.

Learn more about how UMBC can help you achieve your goals.

Renaissance Fine Arts  is searching for a dynamic individual to join our team as a full time Art Photo Editor/Art Handler.

About The Gallery:
For over 35 years, we have been helping our clients create beautiful and unique collections. With three gallery locations, we house the largest collection of art in the Mid-Atlantic region. We are dedicated to providing our clients with the highest standards of service and finest artwork and custom framing available. We are looking for a talented and detailed oriented individual to join our team as an Art Photo Editor/Art Handler! 

A project management career is a wise choice for today’s fast-paced industries. Program and project management positions ensure that complex projects are executed efficiently and align with an organization’s strategic goals. 

In a recent episode of the UMBC Mic’d Up podcast, Karanveer Anand, a Technical Program Manager at Google, shared his experiences and insights into these fields. He highlighted the intricacies of these roles, the challenges involved, and the skills needed to succeed.

Welcome to the Fall semester! After what was hopefully a relaxing and perhaps even productive summer, we are coming back to campus to take classes and get reconnected with friends and student organizations.

Additionally, you may be hoping to get hired this semester. Due to a variety of reasons, perhaps the only jobs you can apply to are the ones that are on-campus. You may be experiencing challenges trying to locate on-campus employment, asking yourself where can you find these jobs, and how can you land one sooner rather than later?

At the Career Center, we totally understand and are here to help! Here are a few tips to get you started.

1. Go to Handshake. Handshake is the one-stop shop for students to find employment. By adjusting the filters in your search parameters to on-campus positions, you’ll be able to find new openings as they are posted and be able to apply as soon as possible. Just remember — not all campus jobs are posted on Handshake, so you may need to go beyond the platform.
2. Build Your Network. Whether you like it or not, your network can help tremendously when it comes to the job market. By knowing students who are working in your desired positions, you may be able to get a solid referral. By connecting with faculty members and expressing interest in their work, you might be invited to join their lab. Find opportunities such as these to get insider information on open positions.
3. Attend Career Events. Events hosted by the Career Center may lead you to a job position that’s a good fit! By becoming active on-campus and showing up to events regularly, you will increase your visibility and may become top of mind for employers when a job opening comes up.
4. Utilize Online Resources. The Career Center’s website is full of helpful resources to give you the tools that you need to find a position. In particular, we have an entire section on our website dedicated to help you find an internship or job. Take advantage of what our website has to offer, and search our pages for the latest information.
5. Get Personalized Support. If you need 1:1 support or guidance through this process, you can schedule an appointment with the Career Center. Our staff are more than happy to help you discover the best path in terms of finding an on-campus job.

We hope that you will use some or all of these tips to find the perfect on-campus job for you. Best of luck with your search!