**Please note the room has changed to Fine Arts 118**

 Please join us for the Newbery Award Honor Author Andrea Wang's talk at UMBC on April 15, sponsored by the Department of Education and the Global Asias Initiative. 

Link to the event: https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/asianstudiesprogram/events/153250

Join us to celebrate Professor Sharon Tran's new book, Asian Girlhood in the Shadows of US Empire! We are excited to gather on Wednesday, 4/29 at noon in FA 558 to talk about this new book and enjoy some refreshments together.

Book Raffle:

Asian Studies will be giving away a copy of Dr. Tran's book to one affiliate faculty member and one student at the celebration. 

Book Summary:

Representations of the “Asian girl” as lucky objects of humanitarian rescue and rehabilitation have been used to advance America’s imperial ambitions from World War II to the wars in Korean and Viet Nam. In this compelling work, Sharon N. Tran traces the production and instrumentalization of this figure through an examination of state documents, military newspapers, documentary photographs, and other archival materials. Theorizing “Asian girlhood” as a technology of imperial power, Tran exposes how the Asian girl is invoked as a shield that protects the innocence of US empire while she is excluded from innocence herself—relegated instead to a precarious position between child and adult, human and nonhuman, plaything and laborer.

Offering fresh insight into how imperial power operates, Tran analyzes figures such as the Japanese American school-girl in the context of World War II incarceration, the elusive “camptown girl,” and the objectified image of the “Napalm Girl.” Her innovative feminist approach interrogates the tendency to reclaim innocence for the Asian girl or to reframe her as an empowered woman. She engages the work of writers and artists such as Kiku Hughes, Nora Okja Keller, Aimee Phan, and lê thi diem thúy to demonstrate how Asian American literature offers rich theoretical interventions for critiquing the child–adult dichotomy that underpins key structures of imperial domination, illuminating more capacious conceptions of girlhood.

Restoring the dignity and agency of a figure too often denied both, Asian Girlhood in the Shadows of US Empire is a groundbreaking intersectional contribution to studies of gender, race, childhood, and state power.

This event is open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.

The Election Board recently received election complaints pertaining to alleged active campaigning on The Commons Terrace by Genevieve Okoro. The complaints connect to a potential violation of the following election rules: 

• Rule 5: “’Campaigning’ refers to advertising one's candidacy through verbal, written, printed, or electronic promotion. ... “Active campaigning” refers to activities which involve direct physical, verbal engagement with people, and direct messaging via social media (see Rule 7).” 
• Rule 12: “No active campaigning is allowed from 12:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. during the campaign, and voting periods; passive campaigning will be permitted during the voting period.” 
• Rule 17. “Campaigns are prohibited from sitting at non-reserved tables in The Commons with the intent to distribute information in support/opposition of a candidate and/or ballot issue(s).” 

As a related note, all candidates received the following reminder via email from the Election Board Chair on Tuesday, April 7th: “Remember that active campaigning concluded [sic] this Saturday at 11:59pm. While you can share the link with students and explain how to vote, you are only allowed to campaign in a passive way for the duration of election week.” 

After careful review of the complaint and 2026 Election Rules, the Election Board voted to open an investigation of this complaint into Genevieve Okoro.  

In investigating the complaint against Genevieve, the Election Board Chair shared an email from Genevieve—time stamped before the complaints were submitted—in which Genevieve described the actions included in the complaints: “as I go around with  my poster without saying anything to anyone, and someone comes up to me and asks what I am running for, can I then tell them to vote for me?” The Election Board Chair responded in two separate emails that this was a form of active campaigning and thus prohibited. 

Given the combination of firsthand accounting, photographic evidence, and the disregard for explicit feedback from the Election Board Chair to the candidate, the Election Board agreed that Genevieve Okoro was engaged in active campaigning during Election Week in violation of Rules 5 and 12. To address this violation, Election Board: 

1. implemented a sanction of a suspension of her campaign until 11:59pm on Friday, April 17th and; 

2. required an Election Board-approved statement to be posted on all campaign-connected accounts acknowledging the issue and the associated sanction. 

Rule 17 was dismissed in this situation as the table in question was outside The Commons on the Terrace, not in The Commons proper. The table in question was also non-reservable, meaning a reserved/not reserved distinction was not applicable. It was also unclear from the reporting whether the candidate sat at the table when engaged in active campaigning. 

The Election Board wants to reiterate that any student who believes that they have witnessed an Election Rules violation should report a complaint to the Election Board, remembering that complaints must be filed by 48 hours after an alleged violation is discovered OR by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, April 19th-- whichever is earliest. 

The Election Board recently received an election complaint pertaining to a flyer for Genevieve Okoro’s Senate candidacy that was located on “student org tables” in The Commons. The complaint did not include which election rule was believed to be violated.  

The flyer was an example of passive campaigning: “activities which do not involve direct physical, verbal engagement with people…” (Rule 5, Election Rules 2026). “Permissible passive campaign methods include but are not limited to: putting posters, flyers, banners, etc. in any location that does not violate UMBC rules (see UMBC Campus Posting Policy); using campaign buttons; wearing a sandwich sign; and posting publicly on social media” (Rule 8, Election Rules 2026). Passive campaigning “will be permitted during the voting period” (Rule 12, Election Rules 2026). The flyer was not found in a prohibited area. 

After careful review of the complaint and 2026 Election Rules, the Election Board agreed that no rule was violated and voted to dismiss the complaint. 

The Election Board wants to reiterate that any student who believes that they have witnessed an Election Rules violation should report a complaint to the Election Board, remembering that complaints must be filed by 48 hours after an alleged violation is discovered OR by 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, April 19th-- whichever is earliest. 

UMBC’s CSEE department will hold its annual Research Day on Friday, April 17th, from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM in University Center 312. It will bring together students, faculty, and staff for a day of presentations, posters, and community engagement.

Three CSEE faculty will present their AI-related research:

• Dr. Dong Li, From Everyday Devices to Intelligent Health Sensing, 10:00-10:25 am

• Dr. Ergun Simsek, Dispersion Metrology with Neural Networks, 11:10-11:35 am

• Dr. Tejas Gokhale, Cognitive Vision: Intelligence as Concept Learning, 1:00-1:25 pm

There will also be additional talks by CSEE alumna Dr. Janerra Allen and undergraduate, MS, and Ph.D. students, as well as a poster session featuring more than 20 student research posters. Refreshments and lunch will be provided for all attendees. See the full schedule and get more information here, and RSVP if you plan to attend.

Inclusive excellence has long been a cultural touchstone at UMBC. Before now, we haven't had a definition or any other shared language to describe what we mean. This is your chance to inform our definition. Leaders in the Division of Institutional Equity have drafted a framework for inclusive excellence, and we want your input! 

The framework aims to articulate our community's shared commitments in a way that can communicate our values, guide action, inspire new collaboration, and support the development and implementation of UMBC's next strategic plan.

Join The Centers for Social Justice Dialogue and Democracy and Civic Life for UMBC Talks, which are 90-minute, co-facilitated dialogues designed to support your engagement with the framework. Each UMBC Talk will be the same, so please sign up for the one that best suits your schedule. We hope to see you there. Come and leave your mark on this important moment in UMBC's history. 

Spring Semester Open Forums

Wednesday, April 15, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., UC 312 - Open to everyone. Conversations will be held in mixed groups.

Friday, April 24, 10:00 a.m. - noon, UC 312 -Foregrounding graduate student experiences but open to everyone, with opportunities for all participants to be in conversation with people with similar UMBC affiliations.

Friday, April 24, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m., UC 312 -Foregrounding undergraduate student experiences but open to everyone, with opportunities for all participants to be in conversation with people with similar UMBC affiliations.

Tuesday, April 28, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., Virtual - Open to everyone. Conversations will be held in mixed groups.

Stay tuned for potential additional dates! Download the attached flyer to post or share. Please RSVP by indicating that you are attending on the specific event page, linked above. 

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UMBC Talks is a collaborative initiative that aims to enhance the sense of community, vibrancy, and well-being at UMBC through guided community conversations that reestablish our commitment to inclusive excellence and foster a sense of pride for what it truly
means to be a UMBC Retriever. Using this framework offers a dialogic process for gathering community input on shared values.

If you have any questions about this feedback process, please feel free to reach out to Drs. Ciara Christian and David Hoffman at culture@umbc.edu.

These events are open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.

Hi everyone!

Preparing for a summer research experience? The CNMS is hosting a presentation on Wednesday (4/15) by Peter DeCrescenzo, Assistant Director of Academic Programs. The session will take place in the Learning Collaboratory (UC 115) at 12pm.

Join us to learn what to expect, how to prepare, and strategies for making the most of your internship. This session will provide practical guidance on navigating research environments, building professional relationships and positioning yourself for future academic and career success.

Topics include:

• Setting expectations for research mentors and lab environments
• Professional communication and networking
• Maximizing your research experience
• Preparing for presentations and future opportunities

I've had the privilege of being mentored by Peter, and he's had a profound impact on my professional development. Through his mentorship, I was able to pursue a research opportunity that ultimately led to a publication, and his advice continues shaping how I approach my goals.

I strongly encourage you to attend and take advantage of this opportunity to learn directly from his experience.

Warm regards,

SACNAS Executive Board

Happy Monday! Take a look at the events that will take place at The Mosaic Center this week: 

Monday, 4/13/2026 | Unidos 2:30-3:30 PM 

Wednesday, 4/15/2026 | Donuts & Dialogue 12 -1  PM 

We hope to see you at our upcoming events and sponsorships! Questions regarding Mosaic programming can be sent to our email: themosaic@umbc.edu. 

The Mosaic Center and all events are open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.

The Career Center is currently recruiting for our next Social Media Intern for Summer 2026 through Spring 2027. 

Learn more about the position and Apply Here, the Position closes soon! : https://app.joinhandshake.com/public/jobs/10888967?utm_source=web&utm_campaign=job_share&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_content=stu-copy_link-job_page

We would also like to congratulate our current social media intern, Nadia McCall on her upcoming graduation this May. Get to know a little about Nadia and more about her experience working as our social media intern for the past year with this Q&A:

Name: Nadia McCall

Pronouns: She/Her

Semester of Internship: Summer 2025 -Spring 2026

Major: Animation

Current Class Level: Senior

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

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): UMBC Career Center

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

Title of position: Social Media Intern

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

My day to day responsibilities include creating graphics and video content for the UMBC Career Centers social media pages, as well as tracking engagement and interaction on Instagram and LinkedIn. 

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

I learned about this position during the spring semester of my junior year via handshake, and applied by submitting my resume, as well as previous social media accounts that I've managed and a writing sample. 

What resources did you use to find your current experience?

Handshake

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

I most enjoyed using my social media and graphic design skills in a professional context for the first time. I manage my own social media accounts for my art, but this was my first introduction with collaborating with others in a professional setting. I also really enjoy enaging with the student body and working with fellow interns at the Career Center 

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

I have made an impact through my work by interacting with a plethora of people across campus and giving them a platform to be seen and heard. Social media is a great tool to connect all kinds of people together -- not just on campus but across schools and jobs as well, and introduce them to career oppertunities. 

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

Organization and time management is key -- deadlines are rarely flexable and it is important to manage your time appropriately. Its also important to pay attention to details especially when producing content. 

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

"Working as Social Media Intern for the Career Center was an amazing and well rounded opportunity to explore media managing and creation of digital content. This position introduces you to a plethora of skills that I will take with me when applying to jobs in similar fields."