The Language, Literacy, and Culture Program is pleased to announce that Nneka Chisholm of LLC Cohort 23 successfully and skillfully presented her dissertation research proposal on April 4, 2025.

Nneka's project is titled, Black Love on Screen: Black Women's Lived Romance.

After her presentation, Nneka had a substantive discussion with her committee about the next stages of her work.

Many thanks to Nneka's committee members:

Chairs:   

     Ramon Goings, Language, Literacy, and Culture

     Emerald Christopher, Georgetown University

Members:   

     Bev Bickel, Language, Literacy, and Culture

     Kris Marsh, University of Maryland, College Park

     Christopher Sewell, Colorado College

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

Name:
Ameen Salih

Pronouns:
he/him

Semester of Internship:
Summer 2024

Major:
Mechanical Engineering

Current Class Level:
Junior

This semester I completed a(n)...
Internship

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name):
Dejana Truck and Utility Equipment

Location of the Organization (City, State):
Baltimore, Maryland

Title of position:
Mechanical Engineering Intern

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities:
I am currently an intern at Dejana Truck and Utility Equipment, where I’ve worked for nine months. My day-to-day includes designing truck fixtures and upgrades using SolidWorks. I also assist with business operations—managing Excel sheets, handling customer emails, and communicating with clients. This role has strengthened my technical, communication, and leadership skills.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?
I applied for the internship during the Spring 2024 semester after finding the opportunity on Handshake. I quickly scheduled an interview, toured the facility, and received an offer shortly after.

What resources did you use to find your current experience?
I used Handshake and the UMBC Career Center’s resume and interview prep resources.

What have you enjoyed the most about your position and organization?
What I’ve enjoyed most is seeing my designs come to life and knowing they’re making a real impact for customers.

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?
I’ve completed numerous tasks that directly contribute to product development. Seeing the final results of my designs being delivered to customers is very rewarding.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?
Start early and apply widely—even to roles where you don’t meet every requirement. Use multiple platforms like Handshake, LinkedIn, and company websites. Tailor your resume, prepare for interviews, and make the most of networking opportunities.

Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / working with the Career Center.
“What I’ve enjoyed most about my position at Dejana is seeing my designs come to life and knowing they’re making a real impact for customers. The Career Center played a key role in my journey by providing resources like Handshake, which helped me find this opportunity, and offering guidance on resume building and interview preparation.”

The 2025 M.O.S.T. Grant Cycle

We hope that you would consider submitting a proposal either for an individual faculty or institutional grant supported by the Maryland Open Source Textbook (M.O.S.T.) Initiative. The due date for proposals is April 18^th at 11:59PM Eastern.
 
The Faculty Grant Program offers support in the way of Adopt/Adapt OER ($1,000 grant + Participation in the Lumen Circles Community of Practice) and Create/Revise and Publish OER ($2,000 grant + Participation in the Rebus Textbook Success Program).
 
Institutional grants will include $20,000 to support significant advances in OER adoption, scaling, and sustainability in support of student success. In addition, grantees will receive strategic planning and implementation support for their projects from M.O.S.T. in the form of consultations and regular monthly check-ins.
 
For more details and to review the call for proposals for each grant, please visit our website or email us at most@usmd.edu.
 
Sincerely,
The M.O.S.T. Team

Location: 5000 Westland Blvd, Halethorpe

Availability: May 1, 2025 – August 31, 2025

A 1-bedroom apartment at Maiden Choice Apartments is available for summer sublease. The current resident is a UMBC alumnus seeking a responsible tenant for the duration.

Rent & Utilities:

• Monthly Rent: $1,185
• Utilities: Approx. $100/month
• Internet: $60/month

Flexible rental options – whether you’re interested in the entire apartment, just the bedroom, or even the living area, let’s chat and figure out what works best for you!

Apartment Features:

• Brand new carpets
• Renovated fully equipped kitchen
• Brand new refrigerator
• Spacious closets
• Central heating & air conditioning
• Shared laundry facilities in the building

Contact for Details or Viewing:

DM/WhatsApp: +1 (443) 759-1952

Email: rwalid1@umbc.edu