UMBC has entered into a partnership that will allow employees of Amazon to attend UMBC and expand their skills for free. 

Since partnering with the Career Choice program in September, 10 local Amazon employees have been awarded a total of $38,300 toward their courses of study at UMBC, said Dale Bittinger, M.P.P. ’16, assistant vice provost for strategic undergraduate engagement, partnerships, and pathways at UMBC. The program has also made it easier for students who are working part-time at Amazon to stay enrolled at UMBC.

“As a U.S. News and World Report Best Value institution, UMBC remains committed to keeping college affordable,” said Yvette Mozie-Ross ’88, vice provost for enrollment management and planning. “Strategic partnerships with employers, like Amazon, that support and promote education and degree attainment, is one important way we deliver on this commitment.”

Admissions staff who recently attended their first Amazon Career Fair found a great deal of enthusiasm for the UMBC connection from Amazon employees who have been requesting this both for themselves and for their children, said Bittinger.

Afreeka Chambers, a senior majoring in biological sciences who also works full time as a fulfillment associate at Amazon, explained that the program has made her educational journey more accessible and fulfilling. She hopes to attend dental school after she graduates from UMBC.

“Thanks to Amazon’s Career Choice program and their partnership with UMBC, I’ve been able to pursue my degree with greater ease,” she said. “Being part of the Career Choice program has not only relieved financial burdens but also reinforced my commitment to personal and professional growth, aligning perfectly with Amazon’s dedication to empowering its employees to reach their full potential.”

Learn more about UMBC’s Career Choice program with Amazon.

On today’s episode we hear about a series of fantastic presentations from UMBC’s Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day, also known as URCAD. During URCAD, students from across the social science disciplines presented their excellent research to the campus community and beyond.  Our special host for today’s episode is our production assistant, Jean Kim. Stay tuned for this wonderful celebration of undergraduate achievement–in podcasting as well as in social science research!

The student interviewees are as follows:

1) Quantitative Analysis of Youth Incarceration in MD’s Juvenile Justice System

-Pakeeza Awan

2) Racial-Ethnic Socialization Facilitates Civic Engagement in Asian-American Adolescents through Character Development

-Rachael Joslow

3) Slow Fashion in the Washington Metropolitan Area

-Lien Hoang

4) Food Insecurity Among College Students at a Minority Serving Institution

-Emmanuella Osei

5) White, Pink, & Pretty: How Barbie’s Feminism Fails its Viewers

-Carrington Cline

6) Keyboard Warriors: An Analysis of Sudden Politicized Spirals Within Youtube Comment Sections of Non-Political Videos

-Ziegfried Byrd

Check out the following links for more information on UMBC, CS3, and our host:

• The UMBC Center for the Social Sciences Scholarship
• The University of Maryland, Baltimore County
• Ian G. Anson, Ph.D.

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Retrieving the Social Sciences is a production of the UMBC Center for Social Science Scholarship.  Our podcast host is Dr. Ian Anson, our director is Dr. Christine Mallinson, our associate director is Dr. Felipe Filomeno, and our production intern is Jean Kim.   Our theme music was composed and recorded by D'Juan Moreland.  Special thanks to Amy Barnes and Myriam Ralston for production assistance.  Make sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, where you can find full video recordings of recent UMBC events.