Join us next Monday, May 4 for a celebration of the many accomplishments of the Global Asias Initiative here at UMBC! The Global Asias Initiative, a three-year initiative funded by the Mellon Foundation, has created a forum for engaging in conversations in the fields of Asian American Studies, Asian diaspora studies, and Asian Studies and has strengthened support for Asian and Asian American students on campus. The Initiative has has created connections across disciplines, institutions, organizations, and communities here on campus and beyond. 

Full information is available on the event website and through the myUMBC event posts linked below. 

*Please RSVP for each event using the myUMBC links below*

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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

11:00am-12:30pm
Welcome & Belonging and Community Luncheon: Conversations on Asian experiences at UMBC

Join us for our Belonging and Community luncheon to kick off the Global Asias Closing Symposium, which is dedicated to the power of storytelling, creative expression, and community. We will share personal stories through art and reflection to celebrate the joy, calm, and cultural heritage that sustain us. From these individual stories, we will build a shared vision of grounded community and understanding of Asian experiences at UMBC. Through a series of collaborative art activities and dialogue, we will turn our hopes for connection and belonging into a visual representation of our future at UMBC. Hosted in partnership with the Mosaic Center, the Center for Democracy and Civic Life, and the Office of Residential Life.

Location: Fine Arts 011
Lunch is Provided

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1:00pm-2:15pm 
Keynote Address with Dr. Anna Guevarra
Stories of Displacement: Unearthing Submerged Histories and Engaging Multiple Publics 

Join us for a presentation by Dr. Anna Guevarra (University of Illinois – Chicago). Dr. Guevarra will be discussing the “Dis/Placements”: A People’s History of Uptown Project and its connection to her Global Asias in Chicago course and will explore the politics and ethics of involving students in community-engaged projects.

Location: Fine Arts Recital Hall (Room 118)
Chai & Samosas Provided after the lecture in the recital hall lobby

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3:00-4:30pm
Global Asias in Dialogue Roundtable

Faculty roundtable focused on a discussion of research and teaching through a Global Asias lens. In addition to the panelists, the audience will have the opportunity to discuss pedagogy, curricular development, and research around the study of Asia, its diasporas, and other Global Asias themes. All are welcome.

Location: Performing Arts & Humanities Building (PAHB) Room 216
Refreshments Provided

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5:00-6:30pm
Global Asias Student Showcase & Reception

Join us for a student exhibition, interactive activities, and a celebration of the work of the grant! We will open the Global Asias Student Showcase Exhibition, which will feature mixed media work from students developed through a series of Global Asias workshops this spring. In partnership with the National Association of Asian American Professionals – Baltimore Chapter, we’ll also have art-making and other activities to interact with.

Location: AOK Library Gallery
Food from Ekiben provided

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Thank you to our partners the Asian Studies Program, Mosaic: The Center for Cultural Diversity, Residential Life, McNair Scholars Program, and the Baltimore chapter of National Association of Asian American Professionals for support organizing this celebration.

Please contact Global Asias Project Manager, Priya Bhayana at priyab@umbc.edu for more information.

Poster Design by Tyra Bounxouaysana ’26, commonvision UMBC Student Design and Print Center

BYDB: Building Your Digital Brand

Hosted by the Office of Professional Programs, GEARS, and the Career Center

📅 April 28, Tuesday | 5:00–7:00 PM

📍 UMBC Commons, Rm. 329

📥 Please RSVP by pressing "Sign-up" button on the event page here.

📸 BIG bonus: We will have a professional photographer on site providing FREE headshots/ Linkedin Profile pictures.

😋 Snacks available!

Whether you're job hunting, networking, or just starting to think about your professional presence online, this is the event for you! Join us for BYDB: Building Your Digital Brand,  an interactive workshop designed to help you craft and strengthen your digital identity in today's competitive landscape.

Who You Are:

• A graduate or undergraduate student looking to build or refine your online professional presence

What to Expect:

• Tips and strategies for building a strong, authentic digital brand
• Guidance on optimizing your LinkedIn, portfolio, and other professional platforms
• Networking opportunities with fellow students and career professionals
• Resources and support from the UMBC Career Center and Office of Professional Programs

Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up your existing presence, this is a great chance to invest in yourself and your future career.

Follow us on Instagram @gears_umbc for updates on upcoming events!

Struggling to find time to write? You are not alone. 

To help our graduate community build stronger, more consistent writing habits, GEARS has partnered with the Women's, Gender and Equity Center to bring you weekly Writing Accountability Groups (WAG)! Join us tomorrow to see what it's all about!

🗓️ Every Tuesday
🕔 5:00 - 6:30 PM
📍 Commons 004

Bonus: ☕️🧁 Free Starbucks coffee, muffins, and cakes!

How Group Writing Helps You Progress:

• Built-in Accountability: Committing to a specific time and place makes you far more likely to actually sit down and write. 
• Shared Focus: Working quietly alongside your peers creates a highly focused environment that minimizes procrastination.
• Sustainable Habits: Writing for just 90 minutes every week helps you chip away at those daunting research papers or funding applications without burning out.

Whether you need to write 500 words or just outline your next chapter, come grab a coffee, pull up a chair, and let's get some writing done together.

Follow us on Instagram @gears_umbc for updates on upcoming events!

Submit to the UMBC Student Orgs's Spring Semester Recap! We want to showcase what your student org did this semester. Respond to the google form with pictures and information from your events this semester! 

Form:https://forms.gle/nx5CPTwTZCs7ezzS8

Closes on May 1st!

Name: Connie Du

Pronouns: She/Her

Semester of Internship: Fall 2025

Major: Economics, B.A.

Current Class Level: Senior

This semester I completed a(n)...: Internship

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name):  Baltimore Magazine 

Location of the Organization (City, State): Cockeysville, Maryland

Title of position: Sales Intern 

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities:

I helped the sales team identify new prospects for upgraded advertising packages (called Enhanced Directories). My daily responsibilities included researching businesses (either through the website or cold searching on Google) that aligned with the section we were focusing on, such as weddings or restaurants. I would then reach out to them over the phone or email to connect with potential clients. 

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

I saw a listing on Handshake and decided to apply on 10/23/24. I heard back a week later from the Account Manager and had my first interview on 11/1/24. I later spoke with the Vice President of Sales on 11/15/24, and finally with the President of Baltimore Magazine on 11/21/24. I officially started on 12/20/24 as a part time Sales Intern, but slowly switched to a full time over Summer 2025. I then switched back to being a part time intern in Fall 2025. 

What resources did you use to find your current experience?

Handshake 

What have you enjoyed the most about your position and organization?

I enjoyed connecting businesses with our packages and being able to build meaningful relationships with them.

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

I believe I made an impact by connecting more with small/local businesses with advertising opportunities that fits their needs. I was able to help those types of businesses gain more exposure.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

Find an internship that genuinely interests them and don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone- even if it doesn't relate to what you're studying. I was too focus on finding just finance role until I started being interested in sales/marketing and decided to apply. 

Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / working with the Career Center.

I loved the professional experience with the Sales Team and learning more about how advertising works. The Career Center helped me feel confident through being enrolled in PRAC for 3 semesters and being able to help me reflect and share my journey with other students. 

This Week in EA:

• Advanced Study (MA/MS/PhD) in Germany | Monday, April 27 | 12pm-1pm | Fine Arts Room 459
  The German Program at UMBC is hosting an informational event on April 27th, 2026 about financially attractive opportunities to pursue advanced degrees (MA/MS/PhD) in Germany! Hear from Amelia Wallace, Danielle Bolden, and S. Maila Raphael about their experiences with the DAAD and the Fulbright program in Germany. The event will be held in the Fine Arts Building in Room 459 from 12.00-1.00pm.

• Predeparture Orientation for Summer ‘26, Fall ‘26, and AY ‘26-27 Non-Faculty Led Programs
  Have you confirmed your participation in a Study Abroad program for Summer 2026, Fall 2026, or Academic Year 2026-2027? If so, please make sure that you have marked your calendar for your Orientation! General Program Orientation is on May 1st from 1:30-4-30pm in ILSB118. If you are unable to make it to your assigned orientation, please contact our office by emailing educationabroad@umbc.edu.

Upcoming Events and Deadlines

• Advising for Spring 2027 and Winter 2027 study abroad programs is now available! After you have attended a Study Abroad 101 session, email educationabroad@umbc.edu to schedule your meeting!

• Study Abroad 101 Sessions
  Monday | 2pm-3pm | Virtual
  Tuesday | 1pm-2pm | Virtual
  Friday | 11am-12pm | Virtual

On April 24, 2026, Nneka Chisholm of LLC Cohort 23 successfully defended her dissertation and earned the title of Doctor of Philosophy.  Her degree will be conferred next month.

Nneka’s virtual defense went great and she gave a powerful presentation of her dissertation research, Black Love on Screen, Black Women’s Lived Romance.

The program wishes to acknowledge the guidance and commitment of Nneka's committee:

Co-Chairs:

            Ramon Goings, Language, Literacy, and Culture and

            Emerald Christopher, Georgetown University

Members:

            Beverly Bickel, Language, Literacy, and Culture

            Christopher Sewell, Colorado College

            Kris Marsh, University of Maryland, College Park

            Brandy Wallace, Sociology, Anthropology, and Public Health

Congratulations, Dr. Chisholm!

Private room available in a 2BHK townhouse for a male at Westland Gardens for a 3-month move-in, available from May to August. 

Fully furnished 2BHK townhouse: 

What you get:

• Spacious living room with sofa + TV
• Fully equipped kitchen (Oven, Microwave, Fridge, Dishwasher)
• In-unit Washer & Dryer
• Central heating & cooling
• Just a 1-minute walk to the UMBC bus stop
• Only 10 minutes walk to campus

DM for more information: +1-202-937-5716 or email me at IO95979@umbc.edu

There will be an event at the CEI Arena Tuesday, April 28th.  Expect heavier than usual traffic around the Arena between 5:00pm and 7:00pm.