TTL Students and Alum--

Please join us on April 21 & 23 for UMBC's first BookFest, a two-day celebration of writers, readers, makers, and advocates. All events are free and open to the public, so bring a friend!

April 21

BookMarkIt --11 a.m.–1:00 p.m., Library Plaza
Enjoy letterpress printing, a book arts display, wrapped mysery books and giveaways, zinemaking and zine swaps, a book drive supporting the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture, the Baltimore County Bookmobile, bookish swag, and more!

One Maryland, One Book — 5:00–6:30 p.m., 312 University Center
In collaboration with Maryland Humanities’ One Maryland, One Book program, BookFest will welcome Lawrence Burney, the author of the 2026 OMOB selection No Sense in Wishing. Burney will be in conversation with writer Chris Terry (assistant professor of English) about his essay collection. Refreshments will be served!

April 23

Bigger Than Books: Understanding Attacks on Libraries--12:00-1:00 p.m., AOK Library Room 259. 

What should you know about the current assaults on authors, readers, libraries, and librarians? How can you better advocate for libraries, access to reading materials, and the freedom to read? Join facilitators Allison Jennings-Roche (UMBC Alum and Associate Director of Digital Initiatives and Collections at The University of Baltimore Library & Archives) and Tif Sutherland (Calvert Library and Maryland Library Association) for a lunch-and-learn. This event requires registration. Space is limited to 30 participants, so please secure your spot no later than April 20. Lunch will be served. REGISTER HERE!

Freedom to Read: Libraries and Our Democracy — 5:00–6:30 p.m. — Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery
Book challenges and censorship efforts are still on the rise across our state and nation. What can we do to protect the right to read and to ensure access to our nation’s library services? Join some of Maryland's distinguished librarians and advocates for a panel discussion: 

• Morgan Miller, Maryland State Librarian
• Stacey Nunn, Library Media Specialist, Southwest Academy Magnet School for Science and Engineering and finalist for School Library Journal’s School Librarian of the Year
• Christine Feldmann, Anne Arundel County Public Library
• Andrea Lewis, President of Citizens for Maryland Libraries
• Betsy Peisach, Maryland Public Television

This event is co-sponsored by the Maryland State Library Agency. Refreshments will be served!

For complete information about all the events, please visit the UMBC BookFest ’26 site.

Noreen Baroya 

Title: Mind & Muscle: Evaluation of Western Dentistry and Holistic Medicine for Myofascial Pain Care

Mentor: Dr. Tiffany Gierasch, Teaching Professor, UMBC Chemistry and Biochemistry

Location & Time: RAC 2PM-3PM, Poster #5

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Joshua Davis-Carpenter 

Title:Automated Detection Algorithms for Chemosensory Arrays of Bacterial Tomograms 

Mentors: Gus Hart, Brigham Young University

Location and Time: RAC Arena, 2PM-3PM, Poster #13 

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Sofia Dominesey 

Title: Mission to Europa: Translating Astrobiology into a Playable RPG Game 

Mentor: Stephen Freeland, UMBC Biology and Individualized Study Program (INDS)

Location: RAC Arena, 10-11am, Poster #35 

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Aeon Kaplowitz

Title: "Structural Effects in Zr-MOFs on Curcumin Stability and Delivery"

Mentor: Lisa Kelly, Professor, UMBC Chemistry and Biochemistry

Location & Time: RAC Arena, 2PM-3PM, Poster #39

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Anna Kim

Title: Cluster Headache Diagnostic Delay: The Role of Patients and Physicians

Mentor: Dr. Raimi Quiton, Clinical Associate Professor, UMBC Psychology

Location & Time: RAC 106, 9AM-9:15AM

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Joanna Pedro

Title: User Perspectives On AI-Assisted Dance Training: An Iterative Design And Qualitative Evaluation

Mentor: Ann Sofie Clemmensen, Associate Professor, UMBC Dance

Location & Time: RAC Arena Poster #118, 2pm-3pm 

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Aya Saeid

Title: Understanding the Arab Patient's Healthcare Experiences in the United States

Mentor: Dr. Robert Anderson, Associate Teaching Professor, UMBC Psychology

Location & Time: RAC 106, 2:15PM-2:30PM

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Shreya Singh

Title: Physician Burnout Through the Emotional State Theory of Happiness

Mentors: Kyle Bates Clinical Associate Professor, UMBC Emergency and Disaster Health Systems & Blake Francis, Assistant Professor, UMBC Philosophy

Location & Time: RAC Arena, 10AM-11AM, Poster #93

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Trisha Tomcy

Title: Investigating Estrogen-Dependent Neuroimmune Response Across Menopausal-like Stages in Astrocytic Culture

Mentor: Carmen Munoz-Ballester, Associate Professor, UMBC Interdisciplinary Life Science

Location & Time: RAC Arena, 10AM-11AM, Poster #104 

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Chloe Weaver

Title: The Making of Paradox: The Animated Series

Mentor: Sharon Tran, Associate Professor, UMBC English

Location & Time: RAC 106, 9:20AM-9:35AM

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Trilece Wilson

Title: Tears Made of Ink

Mentor: Nicole Pekarske, Associate Teaching Professor, UMBC English

Location & Time: RAC Stage, 11:15AM-11:30AM

To learn more about our students and their research Click Here!

Good morning, 

DAWA will have IACUC office hours in the ILSB today, Monday 4/13 from 8:30 am - 12:00 pm; opposed to Wednesday 4/15/2026. If you have any questions please reach out to iacuc@umbc.edu

Hadestown Theoretical Costume Design

Presenter: Timothy Clark
Mentor: Becca Janney, Theatre

Come see the costumes in person!

Special Exhibit, 9 a.m. – Noon, RAC Upper Track, First Floor

A common challenge presented to theatre designers is reimagining a show with iconic design choices that appear inseparable from the text. I explored originality and bold choices with a theoretical costume design of Hadestown, a musical by Anais Mitchell. Hadestown is a retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice which focuses on class inequity. My interpretation of the show takes place in 1950s America; a time where 20 to 30 percent of the population was living in poverty despite the economic boom for upper class citizens and the Third Industrial Revolution. I have gone through the design process as if it were a real production and created a packet that could be handed over to a costume shop to be realized. This includes preliminary research, an action plot, a piece list, sketches, finalized renderings with fabric swatches, and a costume for Eurydice. Mediums used include research collages, spreadsheets, graphite, watercolor, and fabric. My work represents the importance of originality in theatre design and production. It is imperative for a designer to think outside of the box when working on a show, such as Hadestown, that already has artistic choices that loom in the audience’s expectations for the show.

URCAD is Wednesday, April 22 in the RAC:

URCAD.umbc.edu

Hey everyone this is your final chance to apply! We’re still looking for applicants across multiple positions, so don’t miss the opportunity to get involved and make an impact.

⏳ Deadline: Wednesday, April 15th

Get your application in before it closes!

Click the LINK to apply!

Good evening Investors + Traders, 

Reminder that the Investing and Trading club is hosting its ‘Internship 101’ Event tomorrow, April 13th, from 7pm - 9pm at ILSB 237. The Internship 101 event will focus mainly on teaching students ways to prepare for internship interviews and processes, what to expect and what internships are like. How to be the perfect intern candidate. Food and Drink will be provided! We hope to see you there!

Hello, I'm a female UMBC graduate student looking for a private space to rent near campus for the next academic year, to move in late August/early September. 

About myself:

• Quiet, organized, and clean

• I appreciate having my personal space, but I am also open to sharing some space with roommates and making some friends around :) 

What I am looking for:

• Type: Private room in a shared apartment, or a fully private space to move by myself.
• Location: Ideally, walking distance from campus. Alternatively, a location where close and frequent UMBC transit is available.
• Bathroom: I'd prefer having my own bathroom, but I'm open to considering sharing.
• Furniture: Fully furnished.
• Light: I really appreciate a space with decent natural lighting.
• Household appliances: laundry and dryer available.

Email: beleng1@umbc.edu

Phone: (410)262-6109

Do Muslim Women Need Saving? A Case Study of Iran’s Veiling Policies

Presenter: Tanzila Malik
Mentor: Nehal Elmeligy, Gender, Women’s, + Sexuality Studies

Location:  12:15-12:30pm | RAC 230

Using Iran as a case study, this project shows how Western narratives about “saving” Muslim women often obscure struggles over power, identity, and state control rather than reflect women’s lived realities. Focusing on the period between the unveiling policies of Reza Shah Pahlavi’s modernization campaign and the mandatory veiling as a symbol of resistance to Westernization following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, this study investigates how both secular modernization efforts and Islamist movements used women’s dress as a political tool to promote competing political and ideological agendas. Using historical and content analysis of state policies, political rhetoric, and protest movements, this project explores how the hijab in Iran shifted from being prohibited to mandated. Early findings suggest that across these changes, the hijab was less of a purely religious practice and more of a flexible political symbol used to legitimize authority and regulate women’s roles in society. This historical case study is shockingly relevant as public debates about Muslim women’s freedom continue to influence global policy and media narratives, making it important to understand how these narratives are historically constructed.

URCAD is Wednesday, April 22 in the RAC:

URCAD.umbc.edu

Hi! I'm a Female UMBC student looking for a room to rent near campus before the end of the semester so ASAP. My budget is ideally around $500–$700/month, but I'm flexible depending on the situation.

A little about me:

• Quiet, responsible, and clean

• I keep to myself but am friendly and respectful of shared spaces

• I'm focused on school and work

I do have one calm indoor cat (Tigress). She's fully litter trained, quiet, and mostly stays in my room. I'm very diligent about keeping her space clean and would be happy to discuss a pet deposit if needed.

If anyone has a room opening or knows of a cat-friendly place near UMBC (Arbutus/Catonsville area), please feel free to message me!

Email: scontee1@umbc.edu

Phone: 240-930-4617 

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

Fully furnished 2BHK townhouse: 

• Spacious Living Room with a sofa + TV. 

• Oven, Microwave, Fridge, Dishwasher.
• In-house Laundry(Washer + Dryer).
• Centralised Heater and Cooler.
• 1 min walk to the UMBC Bus stop.
• 10-minute walk to UMBC campus.
• Rent is 600$ + utilities.

DM for more information: +12029375716 or email me at IO95979@umbc.edu