Jamie Gurganus,’04, M.S. ’11, Ph.D. ’20, mechanical engineering, assistant teaching professor in UMBC's Engineering and Computing Education Program and director of the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning, has received the Michael P. Malone International Leadership Award from the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU). The award, established in 2000, recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to advancing international education at public higher education institutions.

“Congratulations to Dr. Jamie Gurganus on winning the 2026 Malone Award,” APLU President Waded Cruzado said in a press release. “Her efforts to advance international education have increased global learning opportunities for students, advanced international skills among faculty, and bolstered global research partnerships.” 

Gurganus has expanded global engineering education at UMBC by developing a multidisciplinary, international learning model, based on an approach called Collaborative Online International Learning, that connects students across multiple countries. It broadens the international experience available to students from isolated study abroad opportunities to accessible, curriculum-integrated international collaborations. Students are prepared to collaborate across cultures and address complex global challenges. Gurganus also played a significant role in advancing faculty development through UMBC’s Global Learning Lab, which provides a collaborative framework for instructors to exchange best practices, develop innovative approaches, and expand access to global learning across the curriculum. Gurganus was recognized Aug. 3 at the APLU Commission on International Initiatives Summer Meeting. 

“Throughout my career, I've believed that engineering and computing education should extend beyond classrooms and borders,” Gurganus says. “What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that it celebrates something I care deeply about: when we intentionally bring together students, faculty, and institutions across borders to solve meaningful challenges, we don't simply broaden perspectives; we generate better ideas, stronger collaborations, and more thoughtful engineers, innovators, and leaders. Some of the most impactful innovation happens when people with different experiences challenge one another's assumptions, learn from one another, and work toward a shared purpose.” 

Photo: Jamie Gurganus, left, accepts 2026 Michael P. Malone International Leadership Award at APLU Commission on International Initiatives Summer Meeting (Photo courtesy of Gurganus)

It was nice to see Ms. Diane Stonestreet at the World Congress of Biomechanics in July 2026.  Ms. Stonestreet was supported by the ME S-STEM Scholarship Program during her undergraduate studies at UMBC.  Currently, she is a PhD student at Cornell University in biomedical engineering. We are glad to see that she is doing well and has secured several awards in research conferences. 

Want to make a real impact on campus culture, gain valuable leadership skills, and earn Retriever Dollars?

The College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT) is recruiting Peer Dialogue Leads for our Fall 2026 Student Climate focus groups!

In this role, you’ll partner with a staff/faculty member during 1 to 3 focus groups this semester to help break the ice, encourage open dialogue, and ensure your fellow engineering and computing peers feel safe and heard. At the end of the semester, you’ll also help review the findings to directly influence recommendations made to COEIT leadership.

What’s in it for you?

• Earn While You Lead: $25 in Retriever Dollars added to your campus card per focus group session you support and reflect upon.

• Low Pressure, High Impact Time Commitment: You’ll participate in 1 lunch training + 1 to 3 focus groups over the semester + 1 end-of-semester data review for a total of approximately 5-8 hours over the semester).

• Build Resume Skills: Gain hands-on experience in inclusive leadership, active listening, and problem-solving—skills top engineering and tech employers look for.

Full position details are attached or available via this link.

How to Apply:

Fill out this quick, 5-minute application form: https://forms.gle/SHiv5PaFMGj5BhdS6 

(Note: You must be signed into your UMBC account).

Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Apply by Monday, August 31st for best consideration!

Questions? Reach out to Jess Myers at jessm@umbc.edu.

Aging intersects with almost every industry, from tech and healthcare to business, policy, and design! Stop by The Commons Main Street on Thursday, August 27th from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM to meet the Erickson School team, explore specialized career pathways, and read alumni success stories.

All,

The JN-26 on the 3rd floor had a near catastrophy this morning when a run was begun and quickly aborted due to unbalanced loads. Upon inspection, it was found that there was a mismatched swinging bucket left in the rotor with the three other correct buckets. Further investigation revealed six aborted runs previous without the log book being filled out prior to use. 

This mistake cost a weeks worth of research investment and potentially could have destroyed a $30,000 piece of equipment. It is imperative that log books be filled out prior to use and unexpected equipment failure be reported to your PI or to me or both. 

This equipment is vital to everyones research in the building, we cannot afford to lose any of these units due to careless mistakes. 

Thank you!

Join us in the Graduate Student and Postdoc Development (GSPD) unit this fall for the Teaching Assistant Basic Series, a 7-session professional development workshop series designed to support Teaching Assistants, Postdocs, and graduate students in general in building effective, inclusive, and transferable teaching skills. It is also a opportunity to earn a CIRTL certificate!

      Location: ILSB 118 (and ILSB 237 on Oct 9)
      Time: 12:00 - 1:00 PM
      When: FRIDAYS this Fall
      Hosted by: Dr. Robin Cresiski & Dr. Jamie Gurganus 

Fall 2026 Workshop Schedule:

Click each date to sign up!

1. September 11 – Fostering Belonging & Community

2. September 25 – Active Learning: What Why and How?

3. October 9 – Formative Classroom Assessment Techniques

4. October 30 – Improving Your Teaching Through Feedback and Classroom Management

5. November 13 – Grading Assignments

6. November 20 – Overcoming End of Semester Overwhelm

7. December 11 – Translating Your TA Skills to Your Resume

This 7-session series contributes toward earning a CIRTL Certificate, a strong addition to your CV or resume and a valuable credential for future academic and professional opportunities.

We hope you will join us for a fall of learning, reflection, and community-building!

Please sign up for each session by clicking on the links abve and add to your calendar. We will send a reminder e-mail closer to each workshop date to those who RSVP to each session.

Already attended the Basic Skills Series in prior semesters? Gear up for the Teaching Assistant Advanced series, also coming this fall! It will also be posted on our myUMBC.

Share this post and the flyer below with your fellow TAs, postdocs, graduate students, and those interested in becoming a TA. You can still earn a CIRTL certificate if you are not a TA!

Carole McCann is retiring from UMBC after 38 years as a teacher, researcher, and leader in the field of Gender, Women's, and Sexuality Studies. Beyond GWST, Carole has been a stalwart champion of interdisciplinarity at UMBC, establishing UMBC's innovative Interdisciplinary CoLab internship program. 

Join the Department of Gender, Women's, + Sexuality Studies for a celebration of feminist leadership in her honor on September 3, 2026, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. in UMBC's Skylight Room, with refreshments served. The event will also serve as a fundraiser for the endowed fund the university established in her name – Carole R. McCann to support learning and leadership opportunities for students.

Join us as we celebrate Carole, connect with the GWST and UMBC communities, and consider donating to the Carole R. McCann Endowment for Gender, Women's Sexuality Studies to support the cultivation of future leaders.

If you are unable to attend but would like to share a message or memory, please visit https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/KJxi7jbU.

The Graduate Student Association is seeking graduate student representatives to serve on the Graduate Assistant Advisory Committee (GAAC) for the 2026–2027 academic year.

The GAAC is responsible for providing a platform specifically for GA’s to voice their concerns. We strive to work productively and coordinate with administrators to maintain a positive work environment and bring about positive changes for graduate assistant students. 

We are looking for:

1 representative from CAHSS

1 representative from CNMS

1 representative from COEIT

📅 Position Start Date: Aug 20, 2026

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews will begin immediately. Positions will be filled on a first-qualified, first-served basis, so we encourage interested students to apply as soon as possible.

This is a great opportunity to:

• Gain leadership and service experience
• Contribute to graduate assistants' betterment 
• Work closely with the GSA to support your graduate student community
• Earn a stipend for your time.

If you're interested in serving on the Graduate Assistant Advisory Committee, submit your application today! (https://forms.gle/UXVtCcYR3UhieTDD7)

We look forward to welcoming our new GAAC members!

Hello everyone! 

We hope to see you there!

Interface Graphic Designer

The IRC is seeking an undergraduate UMBC student with excellent color and composition skills, trained in both modernist and contemporary graphic design styles to develop UI/UX design for multimedia projects. This person must be comfortable working collaboratively and in a team of programmers leading the design for VR and AR interface. This person should also be adept at multi-page print work and working with charts/diagrams is a plus. This position gives preference to a graphic design student in the Visual Arts who has experience with Figma and In-Design and is comfortable in most Adobe products such as Illustrator. While some Figma is required, no experience with AR/VR or similar media is required. An ability to work with Tableau and Excel is a plus.

The position is 8-10 hours per week at $16 per hour and the IRC will work with the students' class schedule. All work is on-site at the IRC, with no hybrid or off-campus hours. 

If interested please fill out this form, or send an email [with a portfolio link] to lmoren@umbc.edu