Happy Friday and welcome to the second installment of the Provost Newsletter (permanent name TBD). 

Thank you to everyone who submitted potential names for the newsletter. If you have a suggestion, send it to Aaron Burnett. Don't delay in submitting your ideas as next week we'll  vote on the top three choices.

A brief recap for those who missed last week's newsletter: each week I will highlight accomplishments to be celebrated, events to attend, and examples of the great work being done by you, our faculty and staff at UMBC. If you have a person, program, or event that should be highlighted, please submit it here.

And with that, on to the show …

16 Years And Counting: UMBC Named a 'Great College to Work For'

For the 16th consecutive year UMBC has been named a "Great College to Work For" by ModernThink. More impressively, it marks the 14th consecutive year UMBC has been named to the Honor Roll as a top 10 four-year institution based on the number of categories in which the university received top marks (nine categories!). 

I find this honor particularly compelling because it is based on responses from you, our faculty and staff, concerning your personal experiences as employees at UMBC. For more than a decade-and-a-half you have built a community that supports and values inclusive excellence and I am proud to be a part of that. Way to go Retrievers!

Homecoming Kicks Off

As the days grow shorter and the evening air becomes crisp, all signs point to one of my favorite events of the year: Homecoming. Pull out your black and gold gear, turn up your school spirit to 11, and join me as we kick off Homecoming 2025. 

From choir performances to bonfires to a puppy parade, there are events for everyone. The puppy parade is one of my favorites and my dogs Winston and Emmie participated last year. Learn how you can get in the homecoming spirit here. 

Don't Miss GRIT-X Oct. 9

What happens when you ask UMBC's alumni, faculty, and graduate students about their passion for UMBC's impact in areas of research and creative achievement? You get GRIT-X, the uniquely UMBC take on the TED Talk. The ninth installment features nine speakers from across a wide spectrum of topics. Sign up now for this can't-miss event and catch up on the previous year's talks. 

DATE CHANGE: Join Me for Coffee on Thursday, Oct. 9, 10-11 AM

Mark your calendars as I'll be hosting Coffee with the Provost next Thursday from 10-11 a.m. in ITE-456. No RSVP required and all are welcome. Stop by, grab a cup, and say hello!

New Faculty Spotlights

Each week we feature the newest members of our community.

Liana Harron, Assistant Professor of Piano, Music Department

Area of Research/Interest: Piano Performance

Fun Fact about Liana: Dr. Liana Pailodze Harron, blending her Georgian heritage with an American spirit, captivates audiences with daring performances that breathe life into contemporary classical music. Praised by Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Tim Page of The Wall Street Journal as 'smashingly effective,' her latest album with Vesna Duo mesmerized audiences, showcasing her passionate interpretations. Her artistry has graced esteemed venues across the United States and Europe, including iconic stages like Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the New World Center, and the United Nations.

Neha Singh, Assistant Teaching Professor, Information Systems

Areas of Research/Interest: Applied Data Science, Artificial Intelligence Literacy and Education, Responsible and ethical computing

Fun Fact about Neha: I never had pets and still do not have any.

Are you a new faculty member? Please take two minutes to fill out the form and submit your bio if you have not already done so. 

Help Make this Newsletter Better

Do you have a great idea? Are you organizing an event everyone should know about? Let us know here. 

Thank you for all you do for UMBC each and every day. You are what makes this community great. 

Until next week, 

Manfred van Dulmen

UMBC Graduate School invites you to the Fall 2025 COMPASS Mentoring Workshop—an afternoon dedicated to building stronger, more productive mentoring relationships between Ph.D. students and their faculty mentors.

Whether you're navigating the early stages of your doctoral journey or guiding students through theirs, this workshop offers practical strategies, reflection, and tools to support equitable and effective mentoring.

Intended Audience: Ph.D. students and faculty who mentor Ph.D. students.

Date: Friday, October 10, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Location: Public Policy Building, 4th Floor
Lunch and materials provided

Event and Conference Services (ECS) is excited to announce that UMBC has been named a 2025 Planner's Choice Award Winner in the Best Client Experience category. This award, facilitated by Unique Venues, recognizes top venues across the U.S. and celebrates excellence in providing outstanding client service. Kayla Cooper, assistant director for sales and marketing in ECS, will accept the award on behalf of UMBC at the Unique Venues annual conference this November. Congratulations to all of our DoSA staff who supported ECS in this achievement!

ECS staff are known for their dedicated advising, expertise in the field, campus partnerships, and excellence in providing resources for successful meetings, events, and conferences. They schedule and manage over 7,000 events annually for internal and external clients.

Unique Venues helps support unique spaces and non-traditional venues in growing their business with intentional partnerships that create genuine connections and lasting impressions. 

UMBC received Unique Venue's Planner's Choice Award for Best Mid Market Venue in 2021 and were runners up in 2024 and 2023. 

This webinar is the first in the AI in Practice webinar series for the 2025-2026 academic year sponsored by the University of Baltimore, UMBC, and JHU.

AI Literacy: Employer Expectations for New College Graduates
Wednesday, October 8th | 12:00-1:00 PM EDT, online via Zoom

Register online: https://bit.ly/AiP-Oct8

What AI skills do employers actually want from new graduates? Join us as we go beyond the technical basics to explore the real-world competencies that drive hiring decisions today. Our expert panelists, Dean Merritt, Esq. from Mindgrub and Karolyn Babalola, PhD from Booz Allen Hamilton (UMBC '03), will share insights on essential AI literacy, ethical considerations, and the gap between classroom learning and workplace application. Perfect for students preparing for the job market, faculty designing curriculum, and career professionals staying ahead of industry trends.

Webinar video recording

Calling All Graduate Students! 

Do you want to share your thoughts and recommend any other interesting games that you would like to play on the next game night?