The following message was shared with the UMBC community on May 19 to announce nationally recognized Medicaid subject matter expert Alice Middleton as the new executive director of The Hilltop Institute at UMBC:

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Dear UMBC Community,

I am delighted to announce that following a national search Alice Middleton has been selected as the fourth executive director for The Hilltop Institute at UMBC, effective June 1, 2025. Alice is a nationally recognized Medicaid subject matter expert and brings a wealth of experience to Hilltop.

Alice joined Hilltop in 2017 as chief of staff, became Hilltop’s deputy director in 2022, and has been serving as Hilltop’s interim executive director since May 1, 2024, following the retirement of Cynthia Woodcock. Alice will continue to provide leadership on programmatic strategy, direction, and delivery of client engagements for research, policy analysis, and data analytics on Medicaid, health care financing, and delivery system reform. She will lead Hilltop’s work with the institute’s long-time partner, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH). She will also continue to serve as the steering committee chair for AcademyHealth’s State-University Partnership Learning Network.

UMBC originally established The Hilltop Institute in 1994 as the Center for Health Program Development and Management in a unique partnership with the Maryland Department of Health acting as a non-partisan health research organization, with expertise in Medicaid and in improving publicly financed health care systems, dedicated to advancing the health and well-being of people and communities. It comprises close to 60 staff members with a broad spectrum of expertise, from social sciences, financial analysis, economics, law, and programming.

Alice came to Hilltop from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), where she was deputy director of CMS’ Division of Eligibility and Enrollment and was responsible for establishing national Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program eligibility and enrollment policies for low-income children and adults. Prior to that, she held various director-level positions at the MDH, such as deputy director of the Office of Medicaid Planning and the director of eligibility policy and special projects in the Office of Eligibility Services. She served as the MDH’s liaison to the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange during the launch of Maryland Health Connection, the state’s insurance marketplace.

Alice earned her J.D. from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. She was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 2005. She also has a bachelor’s in women’s studies from Towson University.

Please join me in congratulating Alice on this well-deserved position.

Karl V. Steiner
Vice President for Research and Creative Achievement

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Learn more about the work of The Hilltop Institute at UMBC.

The following message was shared with the UMBC community on May 19 to announce Alice Middleton, a nationally recognized Medicaid subject matter expert, as the new executive director of The Hilltop Institute at UMBC:

* * * * *

Dear UMBC Community,

I am delighted to announce that following a national search Alice Middleton has been selected as the fourth executive director for The Hilltop Institute at UMBC, effective June 1, 2025. Alice is a nationally recognized Medicaid subject matter expert and brings a wealth of experience to Hilltop.

Alice joined Hilltop in 2017 as chief of staff, became Hilltop’s deputy director in 2022, and has been serving as Hilltop’s interim executive director since May 1, 2024, following the retirement of Cynthia Woodcock. Alice will continue to provide leadership on programmatic strategy, direction, and delivery of client engagements for research, policy analysis, and data analytics on Medicaid, health care financing, and delivery system reform. She will lead Hilltop’s work with the institute’s long-time partner, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH). She will also continue to serve as the steering committee chair for AcademyHealth’s State-University Partnership Learning Network.

UMBC originally established The Hilltop Institute in 1994 as the Center for Health Program Development and Management in a unique partnership with the Maryland Department of Health acting as a non-partisan health research organization, with expertise in Medicaid and in improving publicly financed health care systems, dedicated to advancing the health and well-being of people and communities. It comprises close to 60 staff members with a broad spectrum of expertise, from social sciences, financial analysis, economics, law, and programming.

Alice came to Hilltop from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), where she was deputy director of CMS’ Division of Eligibility and Enrollment and was responsible for establishing national Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program eligibility and enrollment policies for low-income children and adults. Prior to that, she held various director-level positions at the MDH, such as deputy director of the Office of Medicaid Planning and the director of eligibility policy and special projects in the Office of Eligibility Services. She served as the MDH’s liaison to the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange during the launch of Maryland Health Connection, the state’s insurance marketplace.

Alice earned her J.D. from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. She was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 2005. She also has a bachelor’s in women’s studies from Towson University.

Please join me in congratulating Alice on this well-deserved position.

Karl V. Steiner
Vice President for Research and Creative Achievement

* * * * *

Learn more about the work of The Hilltop Institute at UMBC.

Toward the end of 2018, Chhaya Kulkarni, Ph.D. ’25, information sciences, was working as an IT analyst in India and contemplating pursuing higher education. Her mom, who had earned her own master’s degree in the ’80s, praised the mind-expanding potential of graduate work, and her cousin, who had already forged a path to UMBC, showcased the value of a Retriever education. In 2019, Kulkarni arrived on campus and began a fulfilling journey that will culminate as she dons her academic robes and is formally “hooded” at the graduate commencement ceremony on May 21. In the fall, she will be joining Towson University as an assistant professor in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences, where she will continue her research in Earth observation science and data analysis. 

Q: What were your first impressions of UMBC?

A: When I came to UMBC, I was initially just going to get my master’s. I enjoyed learning and interacting with the professors—it was a completely new world for me. Here the emphasis is on: What have you understood? What’s your take on a subject? And I really felt that I belonged. So I started thinking, “What if I do a Ph.D.?” The thought had always scared me and I had read somewhere that the thing that scares you, that’s the thing that’s going to change your life. 

Q: What were some of the biggest challenges you faced? 

A: Throughout my life, I had instances where I would start something and then, once the thrill was gone, I just gave it up. So getting the Ph.D. was in a way a test of my ability to pursue something which is intellectually challenging, but you know, it can get tedious after a while. Also, I had a baby in 2023, and afterwards it was very challenging for me to understand how to prioritize and balance work and life tasks.

Q: How did you meet those challenges? 

A: My advisor, Dr. Vandana Janeja, has had a profound impact on my time at UMBC, and I’ve looked to her as a role model. What stood out to me from the very beginning was her ability to think several steps ahead—she has a visionary approach to research and leadership that always kept me inspired. And she inspires me to not get bogged down by hurdles in life. I remember I once spoke to her about a problem and she listened to me very patiently and then she asked me, “Okay, so what are you going to do about it?” And I realized what she was telling me was that I have the ability to fix problems. 

Also, sometimes when I was overwhelmed by a task that seemed really complex and daunting, I’d talk to my mom. And she would tell me: “Why don’t you just start doing something? And you know, you’ll figure it out eventually.”

So those two things that Dr. Janeja and my mom told me—getting started and then determination to see it through—have left a profound impact on me.

Q: Are there qualities of your professors at UMBC that you’d like to emulate as you begin your own journey as a professor?

A: Yes, absolutely. When I was a teaching assistant, my supervisor was Dr. Jennifer Carter. I was struck by the care and thought she put into her teaching. She continuously refined her assignments and delivery to challenge students meaningfully. And she was so patient listening to students’ concerns. Her dedication and innovative teaching style made me reflect on how I want to teach—engaging, evolving, and impactful. 

And then Dr. Janeja again. I learned so much from how she manages her time and balances multiple roles with grace, whether as a mentor, researcher, leader, or collaborator. She is incredibly strong technically and deeply organized, and yet she carries all of that with remarkable humility. Working with her shaped not just how I approached research but also how I strive to show up professionally—with clarity, purpose, and compassion.

Q: How would you describe your research to the public?

A: Well, first off, one of the best parts of my UMBC experience has been the chance to explore so many different topics across data science and computing—often outside my original comfort zone.

My dissertation focused on the glaciers in Greenland. We used a new type of data analysis technique to visualize vulnerable regions where the most amount of melt is happening. And the idea is that scientists can then concentrate on these regions, to better understand why they are melting faster than other regions, or to try to slow the melting. As the glaciers melts, it contributes significantly to sea level rise. 

During my time at UMBC, I also received the NASA GESTAR II Fellowship, which gave me the opportunity to work with Dr. Nikki Privé, a scientist at NASA, on high-resolution digital twin simulations, which is where they make a virtual replica of the entire Earth’s atmosphere. In this case, we were using it to understand satellite data better. It was a valuable experience that connected my research to real-world applications.

I feel the most rewarding part of my research is seeing how it can be used by other people to advance science and our understanding of the world.

Q: What are some of your most memorable moments from your time at UMBC?

A: I was part of the National Science Foundation-funded research institute called iHARP, which works to integrate data science and polar science to better understand the polar regions of the Earth. There were a lot of other Ph.D. students there, and I met so many of my friends there. It was nice to meet in the hallways, ask about each others’ research, and joke around. We made many happy memories. 

One of the most meaningful experiences was teaching Ethical Issues in Information Systems. While I built on existing course materials, facilitating the class helped me grow as an educator and engage students in important conversations about technology and responsibility.

Q: How do you feel about staying in Maryland after you graduate?

A: When I was applying for jobs, in the back of my mind I did always have the hope that I wouldn’t have to leave Maryland. So when I got the offer from Towson, I was thrilled. Maryland feels like home. I love the greenery around here, and I love going on hikes. In the summer I go a lot to Patapsco Valley State Park. And I love taking my son to the National Aquarium in Baltimore. That’s another place I proudly endorse.

The Language, Literacy, and Culture Program is pleased to announce that Chelsea Mays-Williams of LLC Cohort 23 successfully and skillfully presented her dissertation research proposal on May 9, 2025.

Chelsea's project is titled, Black Women Navigating West Baltimore by Homeplace: Methodologies of Homeplace for Resilience.

After her presentation, Chelsea had a substantive discussion with her committee about the next stages of her work.  The committee agreed that the project is worthy of doctoral research and helped Chelsea consider some key issues as she moves forward into the research and writing.

Many thanks to Chelsea's committee members:

Chair:   

            Ramon Goings, Language, Literacy, and Culture

Members:   

            Nicole King, American Studies

            Michelle Scott, History

            Rebeca Gamez-Djokic, Vanderbilt University

            Sydney Lewis, University of Maryland, College Park

Please join us in congratulating Chelsea on reaching this significant milestone!

This is the last week to use our green move out collection bins to donate your gently used items to the Retriever ReStore! Once donated, your items are collected and sorted by Office of Sustainability and Retriever Essentials staff so you can shop from them for free at the Essential Space!

Help us keep these items out of the landfill and rehome them with new students:

School Supplies
Small furniture
Desk organization
Decorative items
Pots, pans, and dishes,
mirrors,
Non-perishable food items
+ More!

Bins are located in:

Walker Apartment Clubhouse
Erickson Hall
Harbor Hall
Patapsco East
Susquehanna Hall
Chesapeake Hall
Potomac Hall

Apartment Community Center