Dear Graduate Students,

Thank you to everyone who showed interest in serving on the GSA Elections Committee. We received an incredible response from students committed to strengthening transparency, accountability, and representation within our graduate community.

We are excited to announce the selected Election Committee Co-Chairs:

✨ Reena Kale — GSA Co-Chair
✨ Neil Kpamegan — Non-GSA Co-Chair

Please join us in congratulating both Reena and Neil!

We look forward to working with them as they help lead the upcoming GSA election cycle.

We also want to extend our appreciation to all other candidates who applied. Your dedication to graduate student governance is deeply valued, and you will be considered for Election Committee member positions. We hope you continue to stay involved and support ongoing GSA initiatives throughout the year.

Thank you for your continued engagement and commitment to our community.

—Team GSA

In a sparsely wooded expanse just off Hilltop Circle, engines rev and dirt flies. Drivers whoop as they steer through trees, clear rocks, traverse ditches, and accelerate down steep hills. You might expect UMBC Police would be handing out tickets for such shenanigans—but this is officially sanctioned fun. It’s all part of the annual Faculty and Staff Drive Day, hosted by UMBC’s Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Baja racing team on Halloween this year.

On the grass, an array of single-seat, off-road vehicles sit parked, showcasing the skills of the UMBC team, whose 20 or so student members pull together to design, build, and race a new car each year. On Drive Day, adventurous UMBC community members and industry sponsors are invited to feel the thrill of hopping behind the wheel. 

The club takes safety seriously. Drivers don a neck restraint, helmet, goggles, and gloves. They are buckled in with a 5-point harness and slip their hands through wrist restraints that will keep their arms inside the vehicle at all times. If things get really hairy, there’s a kill switch that shuts off the engine. 

Plenty of team volunteers are on hand to calm nerves, free stuck vehicles, and fill empty gas tanks. When a suspension arm on one of the cars gets bent in a run-in with a tree, the team grabs tools, lifts up the vehicle, and swaps in a new arm. 

“I want two things: for people to be safe and for them to have fun,” says Shawn Pourifarsi, a junior computer engineering major and co-vice president of the club. 

For two Residential Life staffers who stopped by for the first time, the event was a great success on both counts. “It was terrifyingly fun,” says Marnea Shamblen, an administrative assistant. “What a rush,” agrees her colleague Grace Collins, the residential education and leadership coordinator, still savoring the adrenaline kick. “I give it a 10 out of 10.”

Permanent Private Room Available for a Female at Westland Gardens

This month, we're joining the Epilepsy Foundation of America in going "All In for Epilepsy." Being All In doesn't mean doing everything; it means doing something to support the epilepsy community. Whether that's learning seizure first aid, sharing facts, wearing purple, or showing compassion to someone who lives with epilepsy, every action counts.

Recognizing National Epilepsy Awareness Month (NEAM)

November is a time to educate, advocate, and empower. Epilepsy affects 3.4 million Americans, including about 456,000 children, yet it's often misunderstood. Through awareness and education, we can build a stronger, more informed community that ensures no one faces epilepsy alone.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that can affect anyone, regardless of race, age, or gender.

• 1 in 10 people will have a seizure in their lifetime.

• 1 in 26 will develop epilepsy.

• Seizures can look different for everyone (not all seizures involve convulsions).

Unfortunately, misunderstanding and stigma still surround epilepsy. Many individuals experience "felt stigma" — a fear of discrimination or shame about their condition — which can negatively impact mental health and quality of life, even when seizures are well controlled.

Together, we can change that narrative.

Take Action: Go "All In" This November

This month, you can make a difference by taking one meaningful step:

• Learn Seizure First Aid

Register for a free Seizure Recognition and First Aid Training to gain the skills and confidence to help someone experiencing a seizure. 

UMBC community members can also review SDS's emergency steps here:

SDS Emergency Response: What to Do in an Emergency

• Share Your eJourney

Your story can inspire hope and remind others they're not alone. Submit your epilepsy story on the Epilepsy Foundation's eJourney Blog and help empower others to speak up.

• Spread the Word on Social Media

Use your voice to educate others. Share facts, experiences, or resources using #NEAM2025 and #AllInForEpilepsy. Encourage your followers to re-share Epilepsy Foundation content to help stop the stigma.

• Get Involved Locally

Find your local Epilepsy Foundation and participate in NEAM events, from walks and fundraisers to community education sessions. Every connection strengthens the movement.

We're All In

Epilepsy affects everyone, everywhere — but together, we can build a safer, more inclusive future. This November, let's commit to learning, advocating, and supporting our epilepsy community. Because when we're All In for Epilepsy, no one faces it alone.

Learn more and get involved: www.epilepsy.com/NEAM

Good morning, Retrievers!
Our ThriveFest Breakfast is happening right now until 12 PM in Lower Flat Tuesdays!

Swing by to grab some breakfast, connect with fellow grads, and kick off your Friday with good energy.

Come through before it's gone!

MSRP webinars are open to all Faculty and Staff. 

Click here to Register. All webinars are approximately 45 minutes in length.

JUST ANNOUNCED! 

See the short film "A Shared Story of Distance" by UMBC international student Giovanna Orfali (Visual Arts, '26) before the screening of "Brief Tender Light". More information on the films here. 

Dear UMBC Community,

With exterior work on the second phase of the Sherman Hall Renewal Project continuing this month, I wanted to make you aware of some upcoming noise disruptions that may occur now through December 5.

During this time, the north and south towers will be prepared for new steel, new window openings, and new brick, and the east and west sides will have their exterior facades removed. This work will generate some periods of intermittent or consistent noise levels above normal conditions and may disrupt activities that require very quiet conditions, especially in the buildings closest to Sherman Hall.

I encourage you to follow the Facilities Management myUMBC group to receive continuing information on this project, and if the noise is impacting you, please work with your manager to identify the appropriate options for your work schedule (telework, flexible schedule, etc.).

Thank you for your continued patience as we move forward with this important project.

Sincerely,

John Zahor
Assistant Vice President for Facilities Management

As a highly visible representative of the museum to the public, the Temporary, Part-time Visitor Experience Associate must be an enthusiastic, customer-services oriented individual to create and foster a positive and welcoming experience for BMA visitors and members. The ideal candidate will have impeccable communication and customer service skills and will be comfortable managing multiple priorities while working in a public-facing, team-based environment.

The Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) seeks a qualified Staff Accountant to play a key role in maintaining accurate financial records, supporting month-end and year-end close processes, and ensuring compliance with internal controls and external regulations. This position requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and a passion for supporting the arts through sound financial stewardship.