Daveed Diggs has fundamentally transformed the modern cultural landscape by dismantling the traditional boundaries between genres and identities. In the entertainment world, his breakout performance in Hamilton showcased a rare technical dexterity, blending high-speed hip-hop with classic theatricality to earn both a Tony and a Grammy. Beyond Broadway, Diggs has pioneered a gritty, intellectual realism through his writing and production in Blindspotting, while simultaneously anchoring complex sci-fi narratives like Snowpiercer and the 2026 film In the Blink of an Eye.

His impact on Jewish American Heritage is equally profound. As a Black Jewish man, Diggs provides a visible and vibrant counter-narrative to monolithic depictions of Jewish identity. By consistently celebrating his dual heritage—notably through the cultural landmark "Puppy for Hanukkah"—he has normalized intersectionality for a global audience. This work offers authentic representation for Jews of color, ensuring that the Jewish American experience is recognized in its full diversity.

Ultimately, Diggs represents a new era of the American "multihyphenate." By refusing to silo his identities or his experimental and mainstream pursuits, he has expanded the parameters of creative excellence, proving that authenticity is the ultimate catalyst for cultural progress.

Want to make an impact while growing as a leader? Become a Peer Leader for the STEM LLC! Peer Leaders help build community, support incoming students, and create meaningful connections within the LLC experience. It’s a great opportunity to strengthen your leadership, communication, and mentorship skills while gaining valuable experience for future careers and graduate opportunities. Plus, you’ll play an important role in helping fellow STEM students feel connected, supported, and successful at UMBC!

Apply to become a peer leader here!

If you have Blue Books you no longer need, please contact Julie at julier@umbc.edu to arrange for us to pick up.

Please share with others.

Thank you!

Hello everyone,

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Women in Cybersecurity will be postponing their election to Fall 2026. In-person elections will take place at the start of next semester and all are welcome to run. Those who have already applied through the Google Form will be notified and are welcome to run again if interested. Election date, time, and place will be announced around that time.

Apologies for the inconvenience and see you next semester for our new board selection!

UPDATE: The standing desk has a new home! 

*********** Current faculty or staff members of AAAFSC, if you need a standing desk, please reach out to suns@umbc.edu.  A gently used VariDesk Pro Plus 36 is looking for a new home on campus. Need a cart to transport. ***********

The UMBC Instructional Technology Update is provided by the Division of Information Technology for students, faculty and staff. If you have questions or need help, please consult the Blackboard Help FAQs or directly at www.umbc.edu/blackboard/help.  You can also contact the Technology Support Center at 410.455.3838 or submit an RT (Request Tracker) ticket via the myUMBC Help Menu or directly at my.umbc.edu/help.

HEADLINES

What’s New: Digital Accessibility (DA)

• SP26 Provost’s Perspectives on DA: 3/13 & 4/24 (including delayed Federal implementation)

• Making Math Accessible: A Practical Guide for STEM Instructors 

• Raise a FA26 Bb Course Ally Score by Fixing the Prior Version

• Achieve ‘Strive for 85’ DA Goal: Enroll in CoRE Foundations

• DA Steering Committee Launches 'Strive for 85' Ally Course Accessibility Goal

• UMBC Adopts Mathpix Snip to Advance STEM Digital Accessibility

• Beyond Compliance: How MLLI is Redefining Inclusive Pedagogy 

• Access in Action: 3 Minutes with Faculty Senate President Nancy Kusmaul 

Additional Updates

• Blackboard News

  • SU2026 Courses Created in Blackboard on April 16, 2026

  • Reminder: Blackboard Courses Scheduled for Server Retirement  

  • Latest updates to Ultra courses

• 2026-27 Learning Analytics Mini Grants CFP Due Friday, 6/5/26

Training & Professional Development (view upcoming events)

• Course Roadmap to Equity Digital Accessibility Summer Camp

  • Session 1: June 3 (12 PM - 3 PM): Fine Arts & Humanities

  • Session 2: June 10 (12 PM - 3 PM): STEM & Social Sciences

• What’s New in Ultra for Teaching & Learning (5.15)

• Improve Your Course Accessibility Score with Ally (6.2)

In Case You Missed It: Recordings & Tips (myUMBC login required)

• YuJa Migration Video Collection 

  • Organization Tips for Your Media Library

• Digital Accessibility

  • Practical Fixes for Digital Accessibility in STEM with Dr. Sarah Bass 

  • Accessible Math Collection 

  • Getting Started with Digital Accessibility Collection

  • Website Accessibility Tips

Other DoIT & UMBC News

• Spring Cleaning Your Cloud Storage

• Streamlining Transcription: How DoIT and the AOK Library Leveraged AWS to Enhance Media Accessibility at UMBC

• Accessibility & usability updates for myUMBC (phase 1 & phase 2)

• New Deadline, Same Mission: The accessibility mandate has been extended, but our commitment remains

• New Sites resources, site admin training, and project phases for accessibility 

• UMBC REX Analytics Adds New Portal & Hub 

• Upgrade Alert: RT 6 Has Arrived!

Parking Services is in the process of permanently removing all visitor pay-to-park stations across campus. The current equipment and software are outdated, labor-intensive, and no-longer cost effective. As part of this transition, UMBC has moved to fully contactless parking payments, with Park Mobile serving as the exclusive payment platform for all visitor pay-to-park locations.

Departments that previously utilized guest codes for visitor parking have already been transitioned to our new vendor, Offstreet Technologies. Offstreet provides a streamlined parking validation process through contactless parking payments using departmental chartstrings.

As we begin the shut down and removal process of the pay stations,  campus visitors may park in any pay-to-park lot at no cost during the transition period. Effective, Tuesday, May 26, all visitors will need to pay-to-park using one of the following methods:

• ParkMobile App 
• QR Code Scan
• Text-to-Pay
• Offstreet Registration Link (provided by host department)

Advantages of ParkMobile 
• User-friendly platform that allows visitors to pay for parking in less than one minute.
• Eliminates the need to stand outside in inclement weather to complete parking transactions.
• Reduces common user errors, including incorrectly entering license plate information or inserting credit cards into cash receptacles.
• Provides digital receipts for business and reimbursement purposes.
• Allows visitors to pay in 15-minute increments.
• Enables users to extend parking sessions remotely
• Sends alerts prior to parking session expiration.

We appreciate the campus community’s patience and support as we continue modernizing UMBC’s parking operations and improving the visitor parking experience. 

Questions regarding ParkMobile and visitor parking? Please email parking@umbc.edu 

Temporary Private room available for Summer 2026 in a 2BHK townhouse for a male at Westland Gardens for a 3-month move-in. 


Perfect for interns, students living on campus whose apartments will be closed, or anyone looking for temporary housing.

Fully furnished 2BHK townhouse:

What you get:

• Spacious living room with sofa + TV. 
• Fully equipped kitchen (Oven, Microwave, Fridge, Dishwasher). 
  In-unit Washer & Dryer.
• Central heating & cooling. 
• Just a 1-minute walk to the UMBC bus stop. 
• Only 10 minutes walk to campus.
• Availability: May 25th - Aug 15th. 
• Rent is just 600$ only(I can help you with BGE + Wifi). 
  

DM for more information: +1-202-937-5716 or email me at IO95979@umbc.edu

Come by Commons 308 for Breakfast Burritos & more!

Hurry before it runs out!!