Dear UMBC Community,

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Christa J. Porter as the next vice provost and dean of the Graduate School. Christa joins UMBC on July 1 from Kent State University in Ohio where she serves as the interim dean of the Graduate College and as a faculty member. 

The vice provost and dean of the Graduate School is a key position in serving the university to guide the future of graduate education and graduate student success at UMBC. Christa is a collaborative leader who brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to inclusive excellence and student success to the role. She brings substantial administrative experience at the department and university level, working across colleges and divisions in a shared governance environment. 

As we embark on strategic planning, Christa also has significant experience in this space. In addition to her administrative experience, Christa brings a very strong record as a faculty member. Christa is a nationally recognized scholar, teacher, and mentor. Her areas of expertise include the socialization and trajectory of Black women in higher education, student development at the intersections of identities, and research and praxis in higher education and student affairs. In addition to serving as the next vice provost and dean of the Graduate School, Christa will also have a faculty appointment in the Language, Literacy, and Culture doctoral program.

Christa earned a Ph.D. in college student affairs administration and an interdisciplinary qualitative research studies certificate at the University of Georgia, a M.A. in higher education from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a B.A. in social relations and policy from Michigan State University.

I want to give a special thanks to Jeffrey Halverson, who has selflessly served as the interim vice provost and dean of the Graduate School. His thoughtful leadership has been invaluable during this season of transition. I also want to take this opportunity to thank Ana Oskoz for chairing the search committee and everyone who was involved in the search process. I appreciate your continued commitment to graduate education at UMBC. 

Please welcome Christa to the UMBC community as she returns to Maryland. 

Sincerely, 

Manfred H.M. van Dulmen

Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

It’s April, and while the flowers are starting to bloom, we’re underway on the implementation of SAP Concur! Our new travel system is packed with powerful features that will save time, reduce frustration, and improve efficiency. Here’s what’s coming and why you’ll love it:

Snap & Submit – No more saving paper receipts or manually typing in details. Just take a photo of your receipt using the SAP Concur mobile app, and the system will automatically extract the data—so you can submit expenses in seconds!

Smart Travel Booking – Book flights, hotels, and rental cars all in one place, with recommendations that follow UMBC Travel policy. SAP Concur finds the best options at preferred rates, so you get a seamless, policy-compliant travel experience.

Built-in Compliance – Travel expenses are automatically checked against the UMBC Travel policy, flagging any out-of-policy expenses before submission. This means fewer corrections, faster approvals, and a smoother reimbursement process.

Mobile Convenience – Need to submit while on the go? No problem! The SAP Concur mobile app lets you manage your travel from anywhere—whether you’re in the office or halfway across the world.