The Center for Women in Technology periodically receives donations from individuals and organizations who want to support students through scholarships. We are currently accepting applications for these Donor-Supported Scholarships for the 2023-24 academic year. Current COEIT undergraduate students of all genders in good academic standing are welcome to apply. The awards will be made by the beginning of the Fall 2023 semester, and range in amount from $1000 to $3000 for the academic year. Eligible students will be able to view the opportunity in Scholarship Retriever: https://umbc.academicworks.com/ 

The deadline to apply is May 31, 2023. Questions? Contact Dr. Seaman at cseaman@umbc.edu.  

When the impacts of COVID-19 had the world on pause in March 2020, like many others, Ify Jacob ’23, computer engineering, spent time sheltered at home thinking of what he would do once it was safe enough to return to life as he knew it. But he never really returned to the life he was used to. 

One of the first decisions that Jacob made while dealing with the early days of COVID distancing was to become more active on UMBC’s campus when he returned. This choice changed the trajectory of his academic and professional journey. 

In summer 2021, Jacob applied to be a UMBC Welcome Week leader (known as a “Woolie”) and a teaching assistant, both leading and serving fellow students by helping them build community and feel supported. “I wanted to get more involved, beyond getting an education,” says Jacob. “I wanted to give something back to my campus community while also branching out of my comfort zone.” And giving back became part of his education.

Jacob went on to serve as vice president of UMBC’s Residential Student Association, where he helped students connect with each other after dealing with COVID. He assumed several leadership roles as a member of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and joined groups like Club Soccer, the Tau Beta Pi engineering fraternity, the Filipino American Student Association, and the Vietnamese Student Association. These experiences helped him gain more confidence in his leadership and communication skills. 

“I’m grateful that I branched out because I met some amazing people and believe I left a positive impact on the UMBC community,” he says.

Emerging as an engineer

Jacob comes from a family of computer scientists and engineers. His father is an electrical engineer and his sister Nsikan Jacob ’18, computer engineering, was a UMBC Center for Women In Technology (CWIT) Scholar who is currently working on a master’s in computer engineering and communications at Johns Hopkins University. His other sister, Aniebiet Jacob, attended UMBC as a computer science major and a Meyerhoff Scholar before transitioning into a full-time career in tech. 

“It’s great to see women in STEM. The accomplishments of my sisters inspired me to work hard,” says Jacob, “and their support has been important to me.”

Jacob didn’t always know he wanted to be a computer engineer. He initially had his sights set on pursuing a business degree, and recalls having a disinterest in coding, saying, “it seemed like I was learning another language and I was not a fan—and then the pandemic happened. That got me to focus on my coding skills because all I could do was school work.” 

Jacob spent many hours learning coding languages such as Python and C++. Jeremy Dixon, senior lecturer in computer science and electrical engineering, was instrumental in helping Jacob develop his programming skills, which informed his interest in pursuing software engineering as a career.

“Professor Dixon’s instructional videos were amazing,” says Jacob. “His class got me into coding and made me say I can do this long term.”

Learning as an intern and teacher

With this new career vision in mind, Jacob applied for an internship with Northrop Grumman as a systems engineer in summer 2022, coordinated with the support of UMBC’s Career Center. Upon completing the internship, Jacob was then offered a full-time position with Northrop Grumman as a software engineer, which he will start after graduation. 

Wanting to connect others with STEM opportunities, and support them the way he felt supported, Jacob taught students ages 9-13 the basics of coding via an online course for a year. Then he had a chance to serve as a teaching fellow in introductory engineering courses, which he did for four consecutive semesters. 

Jacob’s teaching experience helped him to strengthen his public speaking skills and made him more confident as a leader. Because of this, Jacob took a seminar course to obtain an associate undergraduate teaching certification through the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning, facilitated by lecturer Jamie Gurganus ‘20, mechanical engineering, director of the Center. 

“Dr. Gurganus gave me the opportunity to be a teaching fellow and has been a professor, mentor, and advisor to me since my freshman year. She’s had a huge impact on my undergraduate experience, and I’m forever grateful for the opportunities she has given me,” shares Jacob. 

Developing community builders

Jacob’s experience of approaching leadership through the lens of service, with a focus on building community, is shared by many at UMBC, including in the Class of 2023. 

Humanities Scholar Clair Volkening ’23, English, has used her voice as a writer, editor, and facilitator to help UMBC community members build connections with one another and to inspire social change. 

McNair Scholar and first-generation college student Joana Hernandez ’23, chemical engineering, learned first-hand the power of research mentorship, and responded by helping fellow students navigate the academic research process. 

Tim Edwards ’23, music education and jazz studies, developed his passion for music education through a two-year internship with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s OrchKids program, while also performing and leading UMBC’s chapter of the National Association for Music Education. 

Shriver Peaceworker Fellow Grant Clifton’23, M.A., Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), has helped English language learners gain confidence and improve their conversational skills through the community he’s built with them as a language instructor.

As graduates, these students will now move on to serve as community builders around the world, with plans taking them from the Baltimore-Washington corridor to Indonesia. 

Read more Class of 2023 stories.

Given UMBC will be migrating to Ultra by the start of Winter 2025, five more departments will fully adopt Ultra for Fall 2023, The following departments join Theater and Gender, Women's, + Sexuality Studies in applying a consistent look and feel for their students when courses are created every semester:  

• American Studies

• Education

• Emergency Health Services

• Erickson School of Aging Studies 

• Mathematics/Statistics

Additionally, at least eight foreign languages in the Modern Languages, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication department have been fully using Ultra for the last year including Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. English 100 and IHU courses also leverage an all-Ultra adoption.

Instructional Technology offers the following course creation and conversion support for department adoption of Ultra:

1. For departments or disciplines that want to adopt Ultra by default, Blackboard course shells can be designated as Ultra when courses are created. This approach can be especially helpful for instructors who are new to UMBC and need to quickly prepare course resources.

2. If departments decide to adopt Ultra after courses are created, we can bulk convert Original courses to Ultra in early August or early January before the semester starts. Using this approach, courses start in Original before content is added and students begin to work, but switch to Ultra with the assistance of Instructional Technology staff.

3. If departments want faculty to prepare courses for Ultra over a semester before fully adopting, we can bulk copy and convert older Original courses to Ultra (e.g., prepare in fall, adopt in spring). Additional time and flexibility are key to this approach, allowing faculty review previously offered courses in Ultra and optimize a redesigned format.

Please open an RT ticket to request any of these department adoption strategies. Providing the discipline's prefix for the courseID ensures Instructional Technology can quickly identify courses and trigger the conversion process on behalf of faculty, saving time and effort.

Finally, we have extensive training options for departments including customized workshops, recording artchives, and other resources.

Baltimore City Schools has become a FoodCorps host site -- a nationwide AmeriCorps service-year program focused on food access and education. Great Kids Farm will host 3 food education fellows beginning in August of 2023. Job description: LINK. 

How to apply: see below.

We'll train our food education team in all of our programs, and the team will teach both at the farm and at schools across the city. We're eager to hire a passionate educator team which reflects the diversity of Baltimore City and City Schools students. The position is an 11-month role from the end of August 2023 to the end of July 2024. AmeriCorps members earn "living stipends" in place of salaries. This year's stipend is $33,000 for all 11 months. Applicants receive basic health and dental insurance, and are eligible for a $6,895 award toward education expenses at the completion of the year.

There are some additional benefits! See below for:

• Who are we looking for?
• The job application information for all Baltimore and DC area openings.
• Application instructions
• Additional benefits information

Who are we looking for?

LINK: Baltimore & DC Job Description

Instructions To Apply: Read all steps carefully!

1. Review all the information about Food Corps as a program: foodcorps.org/apply
2. There are 2 tracks, Great Kids Farm is only 1 track - Review what it means to be a Food Education Service Member, which is the track available at Great Kids Farm
3. Read the full application here, before selecting on the link which takes you to the Google Form - https://foodcorps.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/PY24-Service-Member-Application.pdf
4. Prepare your resume and the answers to all of the questions noted in #3 above.
5. As you prepare your answers, prepare to let the FoodCorps team know that you are interested to work for the Baltimore Site and tell us why! You can include this information in the motivation section and/or the 'anything we didn't ask that you want us to know about you' section.
6. Fill out your application: https://foodcorps.tfaforms.net/4942118
7. LET US KNOW IF YOU APPLY! The applications go to a central application system for all FoodCorps locations. If you let us know that you applied, we can help bump your application and/or ensure that it gets to us. We have no way to know that you applied unless you tell us directly. Email: lnmenyuk@bcps.k12.md.us

Additional Benefits:

Education Award: After successfully completing your FoodCorps term of service, you'll be eligible for a $6,895 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. You can use the award to repay qualified student loans and to pay current or future educational expenses at eligible institutions of higher education and training programs. The award is good to use for up to 7 years. Please note that this award is considered income for tax purposes.

Health insurance: You'll receive basic health, dental, and vision coverage.

Student Loan Forbearance: Most student loans are eligible for forbearance. This means that you can wait until the end of the year to start paying off student loans, without penalty and without adding extra interest onto the loan.

Relocation support: To support the transition into service, all incoming service members will receive $500 to cover relocation costs or to support a gap between jobs. These funds can be used for rent, gas, moving van rental, security deposit, and other costs associated with starting in a new role.

Partial Childcare Reimbursements: For eligible participants who would need this in order to participate.

SNAP: Some service members are eligible to receive SNAP benefits

Need-Based Funding: FoodCorps members can apply for funding to cover costs related to medical or family emergencies, natural disasters, or other unexpected costs related to service throughout their year of service.

Baltimore City Schools has become a FoodCorps host site -- a nationwide AmeriCorps service-year program focused on food access and education. Great Kids Farm will host 3 food education fellows beginning in August of 2023. Job description: LINK. 

How to apply: see below.

We'll train our food education team in all of our programs, and the team will teach both at the farm and at schools across the city. We're eager to hire a passionate educator team which reflects the diversity of Baltimore City and City Schools students. The position is an 11-month role from the end of August 2023 to the end of July 2024. AmeriCorps members earn "living stipends" in place of salaries. This year's stipend is $33,000 for all 11 months. Applicants receive basic health and dental insurance, and are eligible for a $6,895 award toward education expenses at the completion of the year.

There are some additional benefits! See below for:

• Who are we looking for?
• The job application information for all Baltimore and DC area openings.
• Application instructions
• Additional benefits information

Who are we looking for?

LINK: Baltimore & DC Job Description

Instructions To Apply: Read all steps carefully!

1. Review all the information about Food Corps as a program: foodcorps.org/apply
2. There are 2 tracks, Great Kids Farm is only 1 track - Review what it means to be a Food Education Service Member, which is the track available at Great Kids Farm
3. Read the full application here, before selecting on the link which takes you to the Google Form - https://foodcorps.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/PY24-Service-Member-Application.pdf
4. Prepare your resume and the answers to all of the questions noted in #3 above.
5. As you prepare your answers, prepare to let the FoodCorps team know that you are interested to work for the Baltimore Site and tell us why! You can include this information in the motivation section and/or the 'anything we didn't ask that you want us to know about you' section.
6. Fill out your application: https://foodcorps.tfaforms.net/4942118
7. LET US KNOW IF YOU APPLY! The applications go to a central application system for all FoodCorps locations. If you let us know that you applied, we can help bump your application and/or ensure that it gets to us. We have no way to know that you applied unless you tell us directly. Email: lnmenyuk@bcps.k12.md.us

Additional Benefits:

Education Award: After successfully completing your FoodCorps term of service, you'll be eligible for a $6,895 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. You can use the award to repay qualified student loans and to pay current or future educational expenses at eligible institutions of higher education and training programs. The award is good to use for up to 7 years. Please note that this award is considered income for tax purposes.

Health insurance: You'll receive basic health, dental, and vision coverage.

Student Loan Forbearance: Most student loans are eligible for forbearance. This means that you can wait until the end of the year to start paying off student loans, without penalty and without adding extra interest onto the loan.

Relocation support: To support the transition into service, all incoming service members will receive $500 to cover relocation costs or to support a gap between jobs. These funds can be used for rent, gas, moving van rental, security deposit, and other costs associated with starting in a new role.

Partial Childcare Reimbursements: For eligible participants who would need this in order to participate.

SNAP: Some service members are eligible to receive SNAP benefits

Need-Based Funding: FoodCorps members can apply for funding to cover costs related to medical or family emergencies, natural disasters, or other unexpected costs related to service throughout their year of service.

Image description: Rachael smiling while standing in front of a UMBC building. She is wearing a brown, long-sleeved top.

Positionality statement: This post is written by Rachael Joslow, a third-year and student staff at the Women’s Center. In addition to my experience growing up as an only child with a single mom, this blog will be about what a romantic relationship is and how I’ve struggled to understand what it means to have one over the years. With sharing my personal experiences, I hope this blog can be something that others can relate to and shed light on a different perspective on dating and relationships.

Something that I’ve been thinking about more often this year is my perception of relationships in a romantic sense. As I’m getting older, I start to realize how I don’t know what it means to have a partner or what it means to have a romantic relationship. It’s so normalized to find a romantic relationship in our society. Ever since I was young, it’s been ingrained in me by others in different ways that I’ll get married or “you’ll find the one when you’re older.” Even in school growing up, it’s the “high school” experience to have your first kiss, be asked out to prom, have sex, and all those personal experiences. Why does it matter to everyone so much during that time? Maybe peer pressure and all that stupid shit. 

Growing up, I was an only child in a single parent household, so it was only my mom and I! It never felt empty or like something was missing, it was just another type of household that I was more used to. With having a single mom, I experienced how I didn’t need to have both a mom and a dad in terms of emotional support, because I was surrounded by so much love and support from other family members and family friends growing up. 

As I was surrounded by a loving community, I came to understand the different types of love that you can receive and give to others. 

I recently recalled a conversation I had in 5th grade with another classmate: “oh, it would be okay if I married somebody or if I married nobody! If I do get married, the person can be a girl or a boy.” Ten years later, I am someone who experiences attraction for any gender. But now, I’ve been vehemently opposed to getting married or being in relationships. Other thoughts that come to mind are after being through relationships, I really don’t know how to be in one. I don’t know what to look for in a partner, I’m not sure how to act in one, and I also don’t know what it means to have a partner. I see what everyone else does in relationships, but I haven’t figured out what that looks like for me. I feel like I’ve also gotten to the point where I don’t have the capacity for relationships, because I recognize that it requires a lot of time and effort that I don’t have.

There’s so many unrealistic standards that we have for relationships. Everyone either broadcasts their own opinion on what a relationship should be like, or puts their relationship online, mostly showing the positive aspects. There is so much romanticization of dating online. It sets unrealistic standards and expectations on what a relationship is which results in people missing the importance of them. There have been many instances where people fall into this loophole of falling in love with the idea of a relationship or the idea of a partner. It becomes difficult to experience relationships genuinely when people are constantly sharing on social media about “if your partner doesn’t do this then… [insert bad indicator that the relationship is unhealthy]” or “here’s 10 signs that your relationship may be healthy/toxic” Constantly internalizing other people’s personal experiences and preferences creates a disillusion for what you actually want in a relationship rather than figuring out your needs and wants and what you like or dislike.

Image description: Two phones in the graphic with a pink, red, and blue background. Two hands are reaching out in the middle of the graphic.

The standards that society has for women in relationships are toxic, and often do not prioritize their well-being. Growing up, we’re conditioned with heteronormativity and taught that we have to learn how to take care of a family and partner in relationships. Ultimately, our identity becomes the caretaker, but not who we are. From previous experiences, I found myself putting my partner’s needs above my own rather than thinking how I felt. My friends noticed that I would be in this constant state of being anxious if I did something to make them upset, or assuming already that I had done something wrong. I would constantly be worrying if I upset them, and it would feel like the end of the world if that were true. There would be unrealistic standards for me to meet, and it would not be communicated with me often, so there would be this big blow up about how I have done something wrong multiple times when all the while, I hadn’t even realized it. Communication is so vital in relationships. Everyone says this, but in any relationship, friendship or romance, it is so important to talk about your needs and wants, because you don’t want a type of resentment to build overtime between you and your partner. It would be this constant cycle of undervaluing how I was feeling, and then convincing myself that things were fine when they really were not.  

I’ve now taken the time to not be in relationships, and it’s been the best decision for myself! I’ve been able to focus on my other types of relationships such as family, friends, and with myself. Focusing on myself, and learning more about who I am has been one of the best forms of love for me. Giving myself space from romantic relationships has put myself in a healthy headspace such as finding joy in the type of person I’m becoming, and pursuing my personal interests. I’ve become friends with so many wonderful people these past few years, and I truly believe they have brought out the best within myself. The friendships I’ve made have made my heart full in ways that I can’t describe. I feel that friendships are often overlooked in terms of the different types of love there are in life.

Society perceives romantic love as the ultimate form of love that you can receive and give, but that shouldn’t be the case!

I belong to the people I love, and they belong to me-they, and the love and loyalty I give them, form my identity far more than any word or group ever could.

Veronica Roth