You made the connection at an event — now what? Following up after a networking conversation can feel uncomfortable, especially if you're worried about saying the wrong thing or coming across as pushy. The truth is, thoughtful follow-up is not awkward — it's professional. It's also one of the most effective ways to turn a short interaction into a lasting relationship.

Why Follow-Up Matters

Networking doesn't end when the event does. A follow-up message shows appreciation, reinforces your interest, and helps people remember who you are. Most professionals these days expect a follow-up — and many are happy to continue the conversation if you take the initiative.

Keep It Simple and Timely

You don't need a long or perfectly worded message. Aim to follow up within 24–48 hours with a brief note that:

• Thanks them for their time
• Mentions something specific from your conversation
• Expresses interest in staying connected
• Shares information or resources

A few thoughtful sentences can go much further than silence.

Focus on Connection, Not Asking for a Job

The goal of a follow-up isn't to ask for a job — it's to build rapport. Instead of jumping straight to requests, focus on continuing the relationship. Over time, strong connections naturally lead to opportunities, referrals, and advice, which is crucial given that you're now 20x more likely to get a job from a referral than a cold application.

Use Retrievers Connect to Follow Up with Confidence

Not sure how to reach out? Retrievers Connect makes following up easier and less intimidating. The platform is designed specifically for UMBC students and alumni, creating a supportive space for career conversations, informational interviews, and mentorship.

Because everyone on Retrievers Connect is there to connect, you can reach out knowing the expectation is conversation — not perfection. And if you're hoping to take things a step further and participate in a Retrievers Connect-powered mentorship program, graduate students can check out the Graduate Student Mentoring Network, or the GSMN.

Consistency Builds Confidence

The more you practice following up, the easier it becomes. Each message builds confidence, strengthens your professional presence, and helps you develop a networking style that feels authentic to you. It also tends to sting less when you don't hear back right away. Just go down your list and reach out to the next person. It can start to feel that easy.

Ready to Build Connections That Last?

Start turning conversations into career momentum by using Retrievers Connect to follow up, stay connected, and grow your professional network — without all the awkwardness. Good luck – you got this!

ONE FEMALE ONLY! PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE DESCRIPTION BEFORE CONTACTING! Looking for ONE FEMALE roommate for a furnished bedroom including linens in a Maiden Choice/Arbutus area private single-family home. The house will be shared with two female UMBC students/professional and the landlord couple. We're looking for a kind person that respects diversity that are either a UMBC/UMB Ph.D., Graduate, or Junior/Senior Undergraduate student that are a non-smoker within the home, non-drug user, pet-free, and a tidy person to share a large open concept newly renovated 4 bedroom and 3.5 bathrooms on a dead-end quiet street. If you have a medical support animal; no cats or shedding animals are allowed due to allergies, and you will need your updated documents from your physician and veterinarian. All medical and support animals must remain in the tenant’s bedroom and crated when not home or in their room, and you are responsible for cleaning up after your pet. You will have to submit proof of renter’s insurance. Other than medical support animals, absolutely no other animals are allowed. We currently have a non-shedding older friendly labradoodle that will not be crated, will not run away if the door is left open, and the sole responsibility of the landlord. 

The house is less than 2 miles from the UMBC campus and close to two shopping centers with shuttle stops to both sites and walking distance to our house. The UMBC Shuttle and public transportation bus stop is located a very short walk over to the next block. The UMBC Transit runs buses almost every 15 minutes from the Paradise-Purple Line during the week from 7am-12am. The first pickup at Leeds Avenue and Colchester Road bus stop is roughly around 7:25am during the week, again around 7:45am, and so on. The UMBC transit adds a third bus during the week around 10am. You can monitor the buses on the Transit Predictions (goswift.ly). The Purple-Paradise line is the most reliable of all the UMBC transit schedules. 

The room for rent is a second-floor large bedroom with a large closet including hangers and a hamper. There's a queen bed, matching long dresser with mirror, armoire, two nightstands, desk with chair, smart TV, two sets of new bedroom linens and new bath towel sets. You will have your own large kitchen cupboard and a locker cubby in the laundry room. You have access to a spacious open concept kitchen with everything you need to prepare meals including meal prep gadgets, icemaker, dishwasher and garbage disposal, laundry room, large front covered porch, living and dining rooms. All the bedrooms and living/sitting/dining/kitchen areas have Wi-Fi with streaming cable services. All utilities are included, water, gas, electric, and again the Wi-Fi with streaming cable services. The landlord is responsible for cutting the grass and landscaping. We are still doing renovations to the outside landscaping, sidewalks, and foundation border. There is street parking where we ask our tenants and their guests to be respectful to our neighbors and park directly in front of our house only. We have lease restrictions for overnight guests and shared cleaning responsibilities. The bedroom suite is available starting around January 1st or before and ending around May 25th, that includes holidays, weekends, Spring and Winter Breaks and/or vacations. Perfect for winter session!  The monthly rent is $1,000 FIRM, and we prefer a 4/5 month or a month-to-month lease with a $500 deposit. We’re a private home and NOT an Airbnb, hotel, campus apartment or dorm. All you need to do is bring your personal belongings, toiletries, food, laptop, and books! If interested, call 410-999-4668, Monday-Friday, 6pm to 8pm, to discuss further and a time to show you the house.

Hi everyone,

First I want to congratulate everyone for making it to the end of the semester, and a special congratulations to our new graduates! Second, happy holidays! I hope whatever you do with your break it's relaxing and fulfilling! 

I'm writing to give everyone an update regarding the UMBC HPCF and other Research Computing projects currently undertaken by DoIT.

Summary

• Staff will be continuing to reach out to PIs in an effort to migrate storage volumes to the new RRStor system

• Scheduled cluster downtime

• SIG UE Nominations 

Migration of Storage to RRStor

At this time, we have completed almost all migrations for PI specific groups. Non-PI storage, such as those for datasets, ongoing grants, and classes are ongoing, and are expected to be completed by mid- to late-January. Please continue to work with HPC staff to get these scheduled and migrated!

Cluster Manager Updates

On Thursday Dec 18, 2025 we had a scheduled downtime to patch our cluster management software in order to improve stability and memory management. There should be no impact on the user experience as a result of these changes.

SIG UE Nominations
In an effort to gain a consistent set of users to come to the SIG UE meetings, we have started a SIG UE nomination process. Selected members will be expected to come to as many of the SIG UE meetings as possible, work with the HPC user base to identify problems, and relay this information to the HPC staff. If you're interested in being selected as a member please respond to this Google Form by January 14th, 2026: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeRmu5ixHGCoMv-vwFfRMMfe2uBRQ5puwSEqUaZLj0D3w6hDw/viewform?usp=preview .

Publications
If you have any publications, presentations, theses, or other works that made use of the campus cluster(s), please submit an RT Ticket with bibliographic information so that we can accurately reflect this work in our records and on the HPCF Website. 

Need Help?
As always, please communicate any issues/questions to the Research Computing RT Queue (hpcf.umbc.edu > User Support > Request Help).

Join me in congratulating Jessica Ndiritu on being our new Youth Advisory Representative on the Red Cross E-Board!

Thank you to everyone who voted, we're excited for the new semester ahead!

Best,
RCC E-board

Promotions have begun for the 2026 University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents Student Excellence Scholarships, which recognize outstanding undergraduate and graduate students across USM institutions.

This is a self-nomination scholarship. While the application portal opens on Tuesday, January 6, students are encouraged to review the requirements and begin preparing materials in advance.

Application Deadline: Friday, February 6
Requirements: Completed application, including a letter of recommendation
Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate USM students in good academic and disciplinary standing
More Information: Full details and application access are available on the official scholarship website

Students are strongly encouraged to consider applying and to begin preparations early.

Corris Davis’98, M.P.P. ’19, Ph.D. ’25, didn’t originally envision such a long career at UMBC or the number of students she would directly impact. As a Meyerhoff Program Scholar, Corris experienced how intentional mentoring and support could lift up students on their UMBC journeys. Now the senior director of the Office of Academic Opportunity Programs—which she founded as a home to UMBC’s five TRIO Programs as well as first-generation student programming—Corris has been at the front lines for first-gen and low-income students for 26 years. By forging cross-departmental connections, Corris has built a network of support and encouragement for UMBC’s growing population of first-gen students. Tell us all about it!

Q: What’s one essential thing you’d want another Retriever to know about you? 

A: I’m a three time UMBC alum—undergrad in biological sciences in 1998, M.P.P. ’19, and Ph.D. ’25, public policy—who has recently rekindled a love for Galaga and LEGOs (because everything old is new again).

Q: What’s the one thing you’d want someone to know about the support you find here?

A: “Support” and “community” aren’t just words. People show up for each other because that’s who we are, be it faculty, staff, students, or alumni.

Q: What part of your job do you enjoy the most and why?

A: I support programs that allow students from middle school all the way to undergrad to see what they can be. I have seen students that I met in 8th or 9th grade earn Ph.D.s. I love knowing that while I don’t always work directly with students, the work I do supports them in reaching their goals.

Q: What brought you to UMBC in the first place? 

A: I started my professional staff journey as the office coordinator of the TRIO Upward Bound program at UMBC, one of what is now five TRIO programs hosted at UMBC (Upward Bound, Upward Bound Math/Science, Talent Search, McNair Scholars, and now Student Support Services). Since then, I’ve been the assistant director of Upward Bound, and then director. In 2016, I was able to form the Office of Academic Opportunity Programs that houses all of the TRIO Programs as well as first-generation student programming.

After completing my bachelor’s degree, I left UMBC to go to a Ph.D. program in molecular and cellular biology, but about seven months in, I realized that it was not a good fit. I had previously worked with Upward Bound as an undergrad so I essentially came home until I could figure out what my next moves were. I didn’t think that I would still be at UMBC 26 years later.

The reason I stay at UMBC is that I am given the space to help students who are from similar backgrounds to grow and thrive and have great experiences.

Photo: Over the years, many participants have become like family, says Corris. Left side front to back: Prentiss Haney, Gerrod Williamson (Upward Bound alum and current staff member), Corris’s wife, Consuela Lowery; on the right from front to back: Tobias Davis (Upward Bound alum), Dr. Durell Callier ’14, McNair Scholar alum), and Corris.

Q: Tell us about the people who have helped you at UMBC, and why it has made such a difference to you.

A: I must start with the late LaMont Toliver, director of the Meyerhoff Scholars Program. While my initial relationship with him was as a Meyerhoff Scholar, once I became a staff member, he provided even more guidance and support. I use much of what I learned from him in my work in supporting students now, both directly and behind the scenes. I recall him sharing a quote from Harry Truman: “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” This has shaped a lot of my work at UMBC. It’s all about advancing our students.

I’ve found support at UMBC in two ways: sometimes by making the ask, and sometimes because people see the vision and step forward on their own. A great example is the creation of the First Generation Network. While it’s not as active as we’d like currently, it’s very existence comes from a group of campus partners, many of whom were first-generation students themselves who understand the importance of the work and volunteering. 

We’ve been able to honor first-generation graduates with cords for about six years now. Offices like the Academic Success Center, the Career Center, and several Student Affairs departments have regularly stepped up, not just as cord pick-up sites, but as co-creators of programming that supports UMBC’s first-gen students. Support may be handing out graduation cords, or staffing First Gen Week tables, or even redesigning programming and workshops so they tackle the hidden curriculum and the barriers created by higher-ed jargon.

Although my office sits in Academic Affairs, this cross-division collaboration is exactly how things get done at UMBC: People come together to support students. It’s impossible to name everyone who has supported me and this work over the years, but I must acknowledge the incredibly talented staff in AOP. Their commitment, partnership, and care make everything we do not only possible, but even more meaningful.

Q: What would you tell someone who is considering a career at UMBC?

A: UMBC is a place where you can take a dream and run with it. We have a culture of supporting students and supporting each other in that work.

UMBC’s greatest strength is its people. When people meet Retrievers and hear about the passion they bring, the relationships they create, the ways they support each other, and the commitment they have to inclusive excellence, they truly get a sense of our community. That’s what “Meet a Retriever” is all about.

Learn more about how UMBC can help you achieve your goals.