Khalil Alston of the Division of Information Technology (DoIT) has been named the recipient of the June Gritty Award for exceptional technical support and outstanding professional service across multiple high-stakes university events.

Complex Virtual Event: Middle States Self-Study Community Event

Khalil's remarkable performance was highlighted during two critical campus initiatives. Most notably, he played a pivotal technical role in the April 23 virtual Middle States Self-Study Community Event, where he managed a complex virtual platform that engaged the entire campus community.

Khalil provided excellent technical support and training. This virtual event invited the entire campus community to share feedback on UMBC’s draft Self-Study. Kahlil arranged and led training sessions for senior university administrators in the weeks leading up to the event. The event involved a main session, multiple breakout rooms, chat, a timed activity, and individual user support. During the event, he served as the lead technical support of the DoIT Classroom Technology team, which included Dave Souder and Steve Anderson. His clear instructions, attention to detail, and calm demeanor demonstrated DoIT’s professionalism at its finest. Event organizers were pleased with the results!

"His clear instructions and calm demeanor demonstrated DoIT professionalism at its finest," said event coordinators.

Onsite Crucial AV Support for UCM at OCA Mocha

In addition to the self-study event, Khalil has consistently provided crucial audiovisual support for University Communications and Marketing (UCM), including challenging off-campus events. During one OCA Mocha event, he remained on-site after initial assessments, ultimately preventing a potential technical disruption.

Event organizers praise Alston's technical expertise and commitment, as well as his ability to quickly resolve equipment challenges and create hybrid meeting environments where standard technologies were unavailable.

“Again, Khalil saved the day! Khalil’s technical skills and commitment to excellence are second to none. His pleasant disposition, too, is worthy of praise. DoIT and the UMBC campus as a whole are fortunate to have him.”

The Gritty Award recognizes UMBC employees who go above and beyond their standard job responsibilities, with Khalil emerging as a standout performer this month.

"UMBC and DoIT are fortunate to have such a dedicated professional," said a UCM nominator, Leslie Kruger.

For all of your exceptional efforts and commitment to excellence, we are proud to present you all with the June DoIT Gritty Award. Congratulations! 

Thank you, Khalil for all of your hard work!

The DoIT Community & The DoIT Gritty Committee

Erica D’Eramo

Ally Hepp

Carlos McKinney

David Toothe

Dondre Hatef

Kashka Donaldson

Mariann Hawken 

Nick Beech

Tony Finneran

Roy Prouty 

New Student Spotlight Alert!

Are you an incoming freshman or transfer student joining the NSBE family at UMBC this fall? We want to feature YOU! 

Tell the world who you are by being part of our New Student Spotlight Series on Instagram. It's your time to shine and connect with your NSBE fam early! 

Fill out the form

Deadline: August 5th, 2025

Submit a photo + your info

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScR22REjVeioBUIQPlMLohVY3TAazpV3Tg6XRofVR6DbpC3sw/viewform

Let’s get to know the future of NSBE @ UMBC — don’t miss out! 

#NSBE #UMBCNSBE #NSBESpotlight #UMBC27 #UMBCTransfers #EngineeringExcellence #BlackEngineersMatter

2025 AP Scores will start being released by College Board this week – the week of July 7th. Even if you requested scores be sent to UMBC it still may take up to a few weeks for those scores to be received, processed, and evaluated. For additional information on how to transfer coursework and AP scores, you can view this helpful guide – including UMBC’s College Board Code. 

Until the course equivalency is fully listed in your course history you will not be able to use it as a prerequisite to make schedule changes on your own. You can check to see if the course has been fully evaluated by going to myUMBC>>Profile>>Grades>>Course History.

While advisors may be able to make updates to our FALL 2025 course suggestions based on your incoming AP information,  it is the student's responsibility to make schedule adjustments and to reach out to campus representatives if they have questions or concerns. We strongly encourage students to remain vigilant with their incoming AP scores and to make adjustments to their upcoming schedule ASAP. To do so, you can follow the steps outlined below:

• First, you should consult our AP Transfer Policies to verify whether or not you will be receiving credit for your pending scores.

• Next, you can reach out to CNMSAdvising@umbc.edu if you have any questions or concerns about how your scores may affect your STEM course suggestions for the fall (i.e. MATH/BIOL/CHEM/PHYS courses, etc.). Questions regarding any other APs should be directed to the departments that oversee that major. A complete list of advising contacts across all departments on campus can be found HERE. 

• Finally, you will need to use the Schedule Planner or Course Search to put together a new schedule. A helpful video guide for how to ADD/DROP/SWAP classes can be found HERE.  If there are major scheduling concerns or difficulties, you can reach out to CNMSAdvising@umbc.edu for a follow-up advising appointment. 

**IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are attempting to adjust your schedule prior to when your AP credits have been fully articulated, you will need to reach out to the respective department (i.e. BIOL, CMSC, ENGL, PSYC, etc.) or professor on record for override permission. To do this, you will need to have already selected your preferred section number of the course you are attempting to register for. All communication must come from your UMBC email account and will need to include your full name, Campus ID (AB0000), specific section information (i.e. LEC/DIS/SEM/LAB), and a screenshot of the related AP score. 

Please make sure to confirm that your scores were sent and received by UMBC prior to the start of the Fall semester. Overrides will not be given for Spring courses.

If you have any questions please email CNMSAdvising@umbc.edu.

We are proud to highlight the academic achievements, professional development milestones, and well-deserved recognitions earned by our colleagues across Enrollment Management this past academic year. From advanced degrees and certifications to impactful presentations and prestigious awards, these accomplishments reflect an ongoing commitment to student success, leadership, and scholarly excellence.

Degrees

• On March 3, 2025, Monique Ransom, Associate Director for Academic Advisor Development & Student Transition Programs in the Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising, successfully defended her dissertation titled Finding Support and Sense of Belonging While in the 'Murky Middle': A Phenomenological Analysis of Black Students' Academic Advising Experiences at a PWI. She earned a Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership from Frostburg State University. Dr. Ransom’s dissertation is published and available in ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.

• This spring, Sharisse Gibson, Program Specialist for Financial Literacy and Education in OFAS, earned an M.S. in Marketing from Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School.

• This summer, Kevin Mitchell, Senior Manager of EM Business Systems and Solutions in OEM, earned an M.S. in Cyber Operations from University of Maryland Global Campus.

Certifications, Credentials, Certificates

• In April, Kashif Khan, IT Specialist in OEM, earned the Google Cybersecurity Certificate, completing 8 courses that demonstrate competency in identifying and mitigating common cybersecurity risks and threats.  

• In December 2024, Samantha Drummond, Executive Administrative Assistant for OAPA and the Registrar's Office, was named Admin of the Month by the American Society of Administrative Professionals (ASAP). She also completed the ASAP Professional Administrative Certification of Excellence (PACE), and this spring, she completed the Building Bridges Across Maryland leadership and professional development program.

• This summer, Andrea Cipolla, Director of the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships (OFAS), passed the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators(NASFAA) Certified Financial Aid Administrator® exam, affirming her dedication to ethical and effective financial aid practices.

• Amanda Copper, Financial Aid Counselor in OFAS, earned three NASFAA credentials: Application Process, Needs Analysis, and Student Eligibility.
  

• Meaghan Walker, Student Services Coordinator in OFAS, earned her first NASFAA credential in Consumer Information.
  

• Shelly Kessler, Manager of Audit & Compliance in OFAS, earned all 16 NASFAA credentials.
  

• OFAS team members Jenn Volberding (Associate Director of Scholarships), Briana Cross (Assistant Director, Merit Scholarships), and Natalie Smith (Scholarships Coordinator) each earned two NASFAA credentials in Cost of Attendance and Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Promotions

• In May, Rosalie Chesley was promoted to Program Specialist in Undergraduate Admissions and Orientation.

Presentations & Publications

• In December, Carmen Cain, Assistant Registrar in the Registrar's Office, presented University Catalogs: Page to Screen at the Middle States Association of Collegiate Registrars and Officers of Admission (MSACROA) Conference in Baltimore. Her session explored adapting print catalogs to the digital environment using catalog software, with a focus on user experience.

• On November 4, 2024, Desiree Sterling, Coordinator for Pre-Transfer Advising in OAPA, presented Lizzo, ASMR Embodiment, and a Surround Sound Cultural Critique on Body Positivity as part of the Dresher Center’s CURRENTS: Humanities Work Now series. She also led a session at the UMBC Black Excellence Summit in February titled Stepping into Excellence with Line Dancing, highlighting the cultural roots of line dancing in the Black community. The day ended with her leading attendees in a lively soul train line. Desiree, a two-time UMBC alum, also published a book review in Critical Studies in Media Communication in July 2024 titled Misogynoir Transformed: Black Women’s Digital Resistance.

• Ericka Thompson (Assistant Director for Allied Health Programs), Deanna Cerquetti (Academic Advisor), and Dr. Kenneth Baron (Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Advising and Student Success) presented Pathways to Purpose: Innovating Healthcare Career Exploration for the Next Generationat the Northeast Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NEAAHP) Conference this summer.

Awards

• This year, Ciera Clay Valian, Senior Assistant Registrar for Transfer Services and Articulation, received the Jakubik Family Endowment Award during the Presidential Faculty and Staff Awards, recognizing her exceptional contributions to student academic success.

• Bethany Spore, Compliance Manager in the Registrar's Office, is a 2024-2025 recipient of the Diane M. Lee Teaching Award, for her work as an instructor for UNIV 101. She is known for her student-centered approach, emphasizing active listening and individualized support.

• On May 15, Dr. Laszlo Korossy, Assistant Director of Advising, Outreach, and Assessment in OAPA, received the Faculty/Staff Mentor Award at UMBC’s inaugural Asian Cultural Celebration & Awards, in recognition of his work in Orientation Advising.