Times Higher Education has just named UMBC #3 in the nation in achieving social and economic impact. This 2019 University Impact Ranking measures how well universities deliver on UN Sustainable Development Goals, which were adopted in 2015 by all United Nations Member States as a blueprint for global peace and prosperity.

Core values

“The new Times Higher Education impact rankings are distinct from other university rankings in that they are a measure of the difference UMBC is making in the world,” says Katharine H. Cole, vice provost and dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. “It is not surprising that UMBC is ranked so highly as it is this type of societal and economic impact that is at the very core of UMBC’s mission and values. This is a place where people are committed to taking on global challenges to make the world a better place.”

The new ranking from the London-based international publication examines university performance in 11 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. UMBC led among U.S. universities in several categories, and ranked just after UNC Chapel Hill and Arizona State University overall. In the full global ranking, which includes hundreds of universities from 76 countries, UMBC was recognized as #62 overall.

“UMBC’s highly-recognized emphasis on inclusive excellence is well-aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals recognized by this impact ranking,” says Karl Steiner, vice president of research. “Our position among the top institutions recognizes our focus on social and economic impact across the nation and the world.”

Highlights

UMBC was highlighted as a top university in promoting sustainable cities and communities (#5 in the U.S., #36 in the world). This area extends across a broad range of fields. UMBC’s highlighted strengths range from atmospheric physics research to scholarship that rethinks the relationship between art institutions and the public, to the university’s work to decrease its carbon footprint, even at a time of significant growth.

UMBC’s particularly strong ranking in the area of gender equity (#5 in the U.S., #56 in the world) recognizes the university’s work to support women in STEM at all levels — undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate, and faculty. Highlights include the Center for Women in Technology and its CWIT Scholars Program, as well as UMBC ADVANCE, which supports the development, hiring, and advancement of women faculty in STEM.

UMBC was also #2 in the U.S. in both work to reduce inequalities (#23 globally) and the development of partnerships for the goals (#47 globally). The University was #3 in the U.S. for climate action (#23 globally) and #5 in the U.S. for promoting decent work and economic growth (#101 globally), and #55 globally for promoting responsible consumption and production.

This new ranking comes on the heels of U.S. News recognizing UMBC’s graduate programs as among the best in the nation, and NSF ranking UMBC as one of the top 150 U.S. universities in federal research funding. With its unique approach, this new measure brings together UMBC’s achievements in teaching, research, and creative achievement, and commitment to serving as a model for inclusive excellence.

Learn more about the full rankings and the methodology behind them.

Featured photo: Chemical and biochemical engineering Ph.D. student Adam Day (left) works with Prof. Erin Lavik (right) in her lab, which focuses on polymer synthesis and processing, drug delivery, and stem cell biology to create new therapies. All photos by Marlayna Demond ’11 for UMBC.

Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation seeks a Director of Finance and Human Resources responsible for the administrative functions of the foundation including the day-to-day management, fiscal operations and human resources administration. The Director of Finance and Human Resources reports to the Executive Director. S/he coordinates and supervises the work of the Financial Officer and shares supervision of the Executive Assistant with the Executive Director as well as assists in the coordination of workflows throughout the office.

Welcome

9:00 AM – 9:50 AM

UC 312

Remarks by Dr. Katharine Cole, Vice Provost & Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs

and

Wisdom Institute Breakfast with Student Speakers

David Fialkow, Mia Rickenbach and Scott Sainz

and

recognition of UMBC Review Faculty and Student Editors

General Session

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

UC 312

Alumni Keynote Speaker Eric Grollman, ’07, Sociology and Psychology

and

Introduction of the 2018-2019

Undergraduate Research Award Scholars

• Adnan Baker-Agha | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  Potential Antiviral Compounds For Influenza 
  Mentor(s): Paul Smith
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Karis Barnett | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  Comparison Of Solvent Delivery Systems For Enhancing Desorption Electrospray Ionization (DESI) Source 
  Mentor(s): William LaCourse
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Samar Behdin | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  Biochemical And Structural Characterization Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1 Spliced RNA 
  Mentor(s): Michael Summers
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.

 :      Keynon Bell | Chemistry and Biochemistry 

• 4D Mapping Of Spatiofunctional Enzyme Droplets In Living Cells 
  Minjoung Kyoung(s): Name
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Emily Cannistraci | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  Characterizing The Dynamic Capsid-SP1 Junction Helix Of The HIV-1 Gag Polyprotein And Maturation Inhibitor Interaction 
  Mentor(s): Michael Summers
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Kennedy Chioma | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  Characterization Of The Thermodynamic Processes Of Nucleocapsid Binding To Viral Rna 
  Mentor(s): Michael Summers
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Autumn Cook | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  The Rheology And Dynamics Of Active Matter Suspensions 
  Mentor(s): Daniel L. Blair
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Anna Feerick | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  Nitrogen Trichloride Detection In Indoor Pool Air Using Proton Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometry (PTR-MS) 
  Mentor(s): Thomas Jobson
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Garrett Freeman | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  Biochemical And Structural Characterization Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type-1 Spliced RNA 
  Mentor(s): Michael Summers
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Darin Gilchrist | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  Structural Determination Of HIV-1 MAL Minimal Packaging Region 
  Mentor(s): Michael Summers
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Puneet Gill | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  Distorted PerovskUC 204s For High Voltage Dielectric Capacitors 
  Mentor(s): Narsingh Singh
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Lauren Harris | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  Photodegradation Of Sulfonamide Antibiotics: Apparentreaction Kinetics And Identification Of Transformation Products 
  Mentor(s): Lee Blaney
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Britany Lee | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  NanocomposUC 204s For Low Dose gamma-ray Sensor 
  Mentor(s): Narsingh Singh
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.

• Avi Newman | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  Assay development For N2-Ethylguanine Using Liquid Chromatography- Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry Instrumentation 
  Mentor(s): William LaCourse
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Matthew Orellana | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  Analyzing The Monomeric Conformation Of The HIV-1 5′-Leader RNA Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy 
  Mentor(s): Michael Summers
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Angela Ossana | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  Infrared Emission Spectroscopy Techniques 
  Mentor(s): Bradley Arnold
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Cheyenne Palm | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay Characterization Of The HIV-1 Matrix-tRNA Complex 
  Mentor(s): Michael Summers
  UC Ballroom | 10 – 11:30 a.m.
• Dhruvil Patel | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  Potential Antiviral Compounds For Influenza 
  Mentor(s): Paul Smith
  UC Ballroom |
• Saiprasad Ravi | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  Regulation Of Glucokinase By Glucokinase Regulatory Protein In Hepatocytes 
  Mentor(s): Songon An
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• David Sachs | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  Design Of Materials For IR Detectors Using High Z Elements For Highenergy Radiation Environment 
  Mentor(s): Narsingh Singh
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Manos Tzortzakakis | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  A Calorimetric Approach To Structure-Reactivity Correlation In Epoxide Crosslinking Reactions 
  Mentor(s): Lisa Kelly
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.
• Mia Wessel | Chemistry and Biochemistry 
  Synthesis Of Gadolinium-Containing Dendrons For Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging 
  Mentor(s): Marie-Christine Daniel
  UC Ballroom | 1 – 2:30 p.m.