All posts by: Kayla Logue '27

From modern languages to modern dance—Xavier Mack ’16 performs around the world

Before Xavier Mack ’16 dove into the world of professional dance, he prioritized finishing his college education, earning his degree—not in dance—but in modern language and linguistics. Mack transferred to UMBC in his sophomore year, and after a rocky start, he sought out a social group through his programs and housing community and he found his feet firmly under him. Now, Mack is pursuing his other passion, “the power of body language in conversation,” by dancing at the largest modern dance company in the U.S, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Mack chats below with fellow dancer and UCM intern Kayla Logue ’27 about finding correlation between his linguistics and dance knowledge, his experience at Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, and how his time at UMBC has led to pursuing his passions.

Q: What was it like being an MLL student who also danced?

A: I loved studying two disciplines that had no seeming relation! I found so much enjoyment in the balance of moving my body and spending hours learning language in the lecture halls. Dancing served as a release for me, even though it came with its challenges. As my understanding of linguistics and dance deepened, I was able to discover more of a correlation between the two. Both of these fields are rooted in elements of communication. This discovery helped enhance my dance artistry as well as revealing the power of body language in conversation.

Q: Do you have a favorite performance memory while at UMBC?

A: My favorite performance memory at UMBC was dancing a duet called Floating Above by Carol Hess. This piece was acrobatic yet very slow and meditative.

Q: Is there someone from UMBC who inspired you and how?

A: I’ve always been able to find inspiration in my peers. Everyone had their own special gifting; things that came easy to them. Drawing from what I observed around me kept me reaching for my untapped potentials. However, my most influential person had to be Brandon P. Russell [assistant teaching professor of classical ballet and contemporary dance]. Brandon saw all of my capabilities and pushed me to be the professional dance artist I am today, even before I knew it was possible.

Photo right: Mack at his UMBC graduation.

Q: What was the process of getting into Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater?

A: My process for joining Ailey was a standard audition and callback in New York City. Since we were just coming out of COVID, they structured the preliminary audition to take place over several sessions within one day. Only 30 dancers could be in the room at one time and we had to wear masks. I had to return to NYC a few weeks later for the callback. Then, I waited about one week before I received the call offering me my job.

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As my understanding of linguistics and dance deepened, I was able to discover more of a correlation between the two. Both of these fields are rooted in elements of communication. This discovery helped enhance my dance artistry as well as revealing the power of body language in conversation.

Xavier Mack '16

Q: What has been your favorite part about being in the company?

A: My favorite part of being in the company is the touring! I’ve always had a heart for travel; especially international travel. This job helps soothe my wanderlust. I’m afforded the opportunity to visit incredible parts of the world and meet the special people who inhabit these places.

Q: Did you do any traveling while at UMBC?

A: I actually constructed my own study abroad experience. With the approval of my advisor, I connected with a middle school, in a suburb of Paris, and asked their principal if I could assist with their English language classes. The principal was more than happy to have me during three weeks of my winter break.

Xavier Mack in dance pose. — (Photo courtesy of Fredrik Gille)

Q: What’s a takeaway from UMBC that’s stayed with you?

A: Time management is the greatest skill I learned at UMBC and still use today. There are many things about my professional life that require timely/rapid responses. The discipline of managing my time gives me the ability to reply to alerts and submit important documents to my leadership teams, without falling behind or becoming stressed by long to-do lists.

Q: Why was it important that you finish your college education before performing professionally?

A: I had come way too close to graduation to turn away from obtaining my degree. In my opinion, my only option was walking across the stage. I poured an immense amount of time, hard work, and money into my education. I wanted to see that through to the end.

Learn more about extraordinary UMBC alumni, faculty, and staff who are chasing their dreams.

Retrievers giving back: How we’re supporting one another in the season of gratitude

We are nearing the end of the semester, and closing out the fall means celebrating with the season of giving and gratitude. UMBC feels the love of its community all year round, and that support is what inspires our Retrievers to give back.

UMBC Retrievers are acting on their gratitude for community members in various ways. ‘Tis the season, so let’s take a look at how our Retrievers are giving back.

Save-a-Swipe Program

Thanks to generous UMBC community donations, the Save-a-Swipe program reached a record 1,050 meal swipes this fall. This partnership between Retriever Essentials, Retriever Card Center, and Dining Services enables members to donate meal swipes to students facing food insecurity.

Canned food stacked on storage shelf — Some of the canned items available for Retrievers to take. (Brad Ziegler/UMBC)

Assistant director of Retriever Essentials, Michael Berardi ’19, media and communication studies, shares insight on just how important the donations received are and what it means to the community, saying, “Donations are what help nourish our community. Now more than ever, Retriever Essentials is a critical resource for thousands of Retrievers facing food insecurity. Nearly everything we distribute is either directly donated or purchased with donated funds and grants. We’ve seen incredible generosity from folks all around campus, and are so grateful for the consistent support for our students, staff, and faculty in need.”

Food for Fines

Food for Fines is a clever way to turn parking citation fines into charity donations to those in need. Partnering with Retriever Essentials, UMBC Parking Services reduces one citation to a warning in return for five toiletry or non-perishable food items. Food for Fines previously collected 388 pounds of donations, and they set a goal for 500 pounds this semester to help those in need. Thanks to the outpouring of generosity from UMBC students, they collected 879 pounds of food, making this likely the single largest physical donation in program history.

Three smiling people kneeling in front of a large table heaped with non-perishable items Retrievers are giving back to support UMBC — Just some of the 800+ pounds of food collected through Food for Fines! (Photo courtesy of UMBC Parking Services)

Athletics fundraiser

The highly anticipated women’s basketball beltway battle is not only an exciting game between UMBC and Towson, but it also served up a canned food drive! For every can donated, each person received $1 off concessions for the game.

10 for 10

For the past 10 years, Retriever Essentials has been dedicated to nourishing our ever-growing UMBC community by fighting food insecurity and providing essential resources to students, staff, and faculty. To celebrate a decade of service, Retriever Essentials is holding a 10 for 10 campaign, which encourages individuals to donate a recurring $10 per month (or as much as you are able) in honor of 10 years.

Canned food on storage shelf — The Essential Space is UMBC’s free store with a variety of donations available to those in need. (Brad Ziegler/UMBC)

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Learn more about how you can support Retriever Essentials and give back to our UMBC community.

Rising Star Alumni Award recipient Courtney Culp ’20—working to bring her success into the community

Rising Star is a worthy award for alum and Linehan Artist Scholar Courtney Culp ’20. During her time at UMBC, Culp was both an athlete and an artist, playing Division 1 soccer and pursuing a degree in visual arts. Now, this star has continued to rise higher, earning an M.F.A. in arts and entertainment at the Savannah College of Art and Design and working as a graphic designer at Warner Bros. Discovery—combining her degree and athletics experience into a role that creates key art designs for TNT Sports—NBA, NHL, U.S. Soccer, MLB, and more.

Culp chats below with fellow Linehan Scholar and UCM intern Kayla Logue ’27 about balancing athletics and the arts, her experience as a Linehan Artist Scholar, and how her time at UMBC has led her to a dream career.

Q: How does it feel to win an alumni award just a few years after graduation?

A: It honestly hasn’t hit me just yet, but I’m overjoyed with gratitude and am really looking forward to giving back to the community. I can see the steps that I took to get here and how UMBC played a huge role in my development. I want to pour back into the school, back into the campus, and the faculty and students. That’s what I’m really looking forward to, especially with the Linehan Scholars mentorship group.

Courtney posing in cap and cords for graduation pictures outside Sherman Hall — Culp representing UMBC’s graduating class of 2020.

Q: What motivated you to apply to the Linehan Artist Scholars Program? What did you find most valuable from this select experience?

A: The program’s mission statement and framework was something that really sparked my interest. I really enjoyed being surrounded by different types of creatives who pushed you to see things from other perspectives and become the best artist you could be. The extracurriculars, in terms of exposing us to the arts in different places, I thought were extremely valuable. Those experiences I believe made me not only a better and more well-rounded artist, but as a person as well.

Q: What was your experience being both an athlete and an artist at UMBC? Did those two parts of your life overlap in any way?

A: I always had two passions growing up: playing sports and the arts. Finding a school where I could excel in both of my passions was extremely important. At UMBC being an athlete and an artist was so much fun. Lots of early mornings at practice and late nights in the studio. Overall, I would say those two parts of my life have overlapped in every way possible. I enjoy using the arts to tell stories about my own and other’s lived experiences. In my senior year at UMBC, I produced A Mile in My Cleats, a documentary about Black women in sports. It explored their stories about having intersectional identities and how that impacted them as Division 1 athletes.

Courtney Culp poses with group for photo. — Culp and Carmen Freeman ’21 (UMBC volleyball player) presenting *A Mile In My Cleats* at the National Civil Rights Museum.

Q: What clicked for you here? Was there a specific time you remember having that realization that UMBC was the right community for you?

A: I played soccer my whole life, and always wanted to follow in my brother’s footsteps of playing collegiate sports. In high school, my family and I would go to different soccer camps across the country and see different schools that I was interested in. On my way back from one camp, we passed by UMBC’s campus, and we were like, ‘Let’s go drive through there, see what’s going on.’ We loved the campus immediately, my parents and I. Eventually going to soccer camp at UMBC, seeing the breadth of diversity on campus, the emphasis on educational advancement, and the dedicated arts programs, I knew that I would be seen, heard, able to thrive in the space that UMBC had built.

Courtney and two friends take group picture with a cityscape in the background — Making friendships that last a lifetime at UMBC.

UMBC Women's Soccer team huddled around True Grit Mascot for picture — Making friendships that last a lifetime at UMBC.

Q: Is there someone from UMBC who inspired you, and how?

A: Then-President Freeman Hrabowski spoke to a group of Linehan Artist Scholars on our orientation day. With the authenticity that he spoke with and the real joy that he felt being among his community, I felt very safe and appreciated being at UMBC. It didn’t matter who you were. Every time you saw him, he greeted you with a smile, a handshake, and asked how you were doing. So, just a really, really great person and that energy trickled down to the entire UMBC community.

Corrie Francis Parks, an associate professor of animation and interactive media, was definitely a big influence on me. Going into UMBC, I thought I wanted to be an animator. I took my first 2D animation class and realized I didn’t love the process of animating frame by frame. But she really showed the breadth of the animation pipeline and all the different things that you can do in the industry. That really sparked my curiosity for learning about different disciplines and mediums, and encouraged me to pursue Intermedia as my degree path. Having a wider foundation of knowledge and skillsets set me up for success in the entertainment industry as the work is extremely collaborative and interdisciplinary.

My two professors from studying abroad, Kimberly Anderson and Lynn Cazabon, were incredible. While in Rome for a month, they made sure that the students were okay and having fun. They were great at translating what we learned in textbooks to seeing it in real life right before our eyes. They really took an interest in the way you viewed the world and the ideas that were important to you.

All of my friends on the soccer team were great. The fitness tests, the early mornings—they’re bonds that have really stuck with me through life. We’re going to each other’s weddings now, which is crazy to think about for me. I still talk to my group of friends that I made in class over papier-mâché making in the Linehan Freshman Seminar. We’ve all stuck together and really support each other through different stages of life.

Q: What is your current role at Warner Bros. Discovery?

A: I am a graphic designer for Warner Bros. Discovery, specifically TNT Sports. I help create the key art designs for our entire sports portfolio— NBA, NHL, U.S. Soccer, MLB, and more. Our work is seen across promotional video campaigns, digital ads, and posters and billboards. We work closely with our broadcast teams designing logos for studio shows and building and designing physical sets. We aim to create best-in-class work that allows fans an exciting, quality experience while watching their favorite sports teams. We also work as an in-house creative studio, providing company needs like designing merchandise and redesigning the corporate offices.

Courtney Culp holding up a peace sign on set for TNT Sports. — On set for TNT Sports and SEC Media Day.

Courtney holding a clapperboard on set for SEC Football — On set for TNT Sports and SEC Media Day.

Q: What do you find most fulfilling about your profession?

A: Knowing that you’re a part of someone else’s joy. Knowing that there are such huge sports fandoms and people who look to sports as a way of entertainment or a way of connecting with those they love and their community, it’s really, really fun. It’s also a huge responsibility for me to make sure that we’re doing the best work that we can for the person on the other end. I’m always thinking of “younger me” or people who look for these moments as a source of joy throughout their day. That’s super, super important to me.

**Q: Have you done any more projects building off your senior year documentary, A Mile in My Cleats?**

A: My whole life has kind of been working through that lens because, while I love soccer, what really draws me to the sport is the connection it brings me to my family over a shared passion, and the growth formed from obstacles and challenges that make you a better person. My heart and my way of expression has always been through the arts and creativity. Being a Black woman in sports (or any other profession), there are a lot of things that we go through that others may not know or understand.

Now, working in the sports industry, the foundation of the work is always storytelling. How do we bring in the audience to connect with the product? The most authentic way is by sharing the experiences of the athletes, the teams, and coaches that allow others to see themselves in someone else’s journey.

Mark your calendars for the 2025 Alumni Awards on Wednesday, October 29, at 6 p.m., and consider joining the UMBC community at the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena to celebrate Courtney Culp and the many remarkable individuals receiving awards. The event will be livestreamed for those unable to join in person. You can learn more at alumni.umbc.edu/alumniawards.

UMBC’s 2025 Homecoming hypes up the Retriever community

Another dog-tastic weekend is in the books with the conclusion of UMBC’s 2025 Homecoming celebration. Past, present, and future Retrievers enjoyed more than 40 events this year, participating in popular UMBC classics such as the Homecoming Bonfire, GRIT-X, the Carnival, and especially, the Puppy Parade.

Check out the festivities at this year’s—thankfully, not rainy—Homecoming!

Firing up Homecoming

UMBC’s annual Homecoming Bonfire was a perfect way to kick off the Homecoming festivities and create a nice warm welcome for attendees. The UMBC Down and Dirty Dawg Band brought the spirit as family and friends gathered around the Bonfire.

Crowd gathers around Bonfire — A warm welcome to Homecoming. (Photos by Tanzila Malik and Kayla Logue)

Group of six friends pose for picture sitting on a hill — A warm welcome to Homecoming. (Photos by Tanzila Malik and Kayla Logue)

Retriever Madness returned to hype up the Retriever community for all the athletics teams playing during Homecoming and beyond. UMBC’s athletics teams came together with the campus community to introduce themselves before the basketball season began, and volunteers played games—including a dance battle—to win amazing prizes and Retriever swag.

UMBC Basketball player points to the stands. — Homecoming hype at Retriever Madness. (Photos by Trey Stewart, Hanna Rojas-Rhodes, and Kayla Logue)

Crowd in area clapping and cheering. — Homecoming hype at Retriever Madness. (Photos by Trey Stewart, Hanna Rojas-Rhodes, and Kayla Logue)

Also hot this Homecoming celebration were the UMBC GRIT-X presentations. This annual series of presentations celebrates the passion and achievements of UMBC’s alumni, faculty, and graduate students. The TED-style talks invite the community into ongoing research on campus, as well as invite alumni experts to share about their work in cutting-edge fields.

Two people smiling looking down at robot animal project. — **Shaness D. Kemp**, dance, takes to the stage at GRIT-X.

a person stands on a yellow-hued stage talking to a packed auditorium — **Shaness D. Kemp**, dance, takes to the stage at GRIT-X.

Tents were set up along Erickson Field with different clubs, departments, organizations, and vendors. At the Division of Professional Studies booth, Gowtham Karaka, M.P.S. ’24, played six simultaneous games of chess, against six different opponents, for nearly four hours straight. In total, he faced 28 challengers, and not one managed to beat him.

in a crowded outdoor booth, two men play chess in the foreground while other chess games are played in the background — Provost Manfred van Dulmen, right, was one of Karaka’s 28 challengers. (Photo courtesy of Allison Jones)

In order for all these events to work smoothly, volunteers from across campus worked to help create a fun and welcoming atmosphere for Homecoming guests. Gavin Gilliland, assistant director of first-year academic programs, explained his eagerness to help out: “I chose to volunteer at Homecoming because it’s so community focused. It’s a way to connect with the UMBC community broadly and interact not only with current students, faculty, and staff, but alumni, parents, guests, friends of UMBC, community members, and more.”

Gilliland, who helped check people into the Alumni and Friends Welcome Tent on Saturday, said that “being a small part of such a big day is an easy way to make an impact. I’m a people person and I love making small talk and helping people find their way, not just in my day job but at events like Homecoming as well. My favorite part of the day was seeing it all come together and seeing all of the friendly faces enjoying the celebrations.”

Group sits in field painting pumpkins. — Attendees could choose to carve or paint their Homecoming pumpkins.

Fun, family, and friends

A “phun” and out of this world event at Homecoming was Phun Phamily Physics. Attendees got to explore the UMBC Observatory with a rotation of family-friendly physics and astronomy demonstrations, as well as tour the control room and dome of the UMBC Observatory—the largest optical telescope on the East Coast!

Two people stand below telescope in observatory.

Kids gather at table with staff for a space themed activity. — Volunteers helped facilitate family-friendly physics and astronomy demonstrations.

Bringing folks back down to Earth, a record number of runners and walkers participated in this year’s sold-out Retriever 5K and Family Fun Run, exploring the highs and lows of aptly-named Hilltop Circle. This event’s emphasis was on camaraderie, bringing together all paces and styles to enjoy the fun.

Women hold up Homecoming medal with paw design. — Everyone is a winner at the Homecoming 5K and Family Fun Run.

Women wearing medal holds 5K race trophy and smiles at camera. — Everyone is a winner at the Homecoming 5K and Family Fun Run.

At a more sedate pace later in the day, furry friends, big and small, showed off their costumes in the Puppy Parade! After strutting their stuff, it was time for the costume competition. From mermaids to spaghetti and meatballs, dog breeds of all kinds showed their true “Retriever” spirit!

Black and white dog looking at the camera — Puppies strutting their stuff! (Kayla Logue/UMBC)

Dog in lion costume walking. — Puppies strutting their stuff! (Kayla Logue/UMBC)

People walking their dogs that are wearing costumes. — Retriever spirit at the Puppy Parade.

Dog in bumble bee costumes gives man a high five while women stands behind them. — Retriever spirit at the Puppy Parade.

The Homecoming Carnival is one of UMBC’s main events. Jenn Harvey Miranda ’09, modern languages and linguistics, M.A. ’11, TESOL, celebrated this year’s Homecoming by bringing her family for the first time to enjoy all the festivities. “It was pretty incredible being back on campus, especially since this fall marks exactly 20 years since I started there as a freshman! I was surprised at how being physically back in the space where so many memories took place transported me so completely back to my college days,” says Miranda.

Kids riding a rollercoaster. — The carnival fun continued after dark.

Family poses for picture in front of carnival games. — The carnival fun continued after dark.

“It was really special thinking back on the many friendships that were forged over my years there, and I’m so grateful I got to share the day with two of those very friends who I joined at Homecoming. And my 4-year-old is still talking about all of the rides he got to go on, so he had a lot of fun too.”

Retrievers going green: 7 ways UMBC has contributed to sustainability efforts

Climate change is an ever growing concern, and at times it can be confusing to know how we can help make a difference. Sustainability practices are the key to accessible and effective progress in our planet’s health, and UMBC is dedicated to this effort by enhancing campus’s culture of sustainability, engaging and empowering UMBC’s community to get involved, and serving as a sustainability leader within the University System of Maryland and nationwide.

Check out how faculty, staff, and students—often under the leadership of the Office of Sustainability—are going green through grants, campus installations, research, and community service projects:

Powered by the sun

UMBC received a $1.2 million solar energy grant from the Maryland Energy Administration to support solar power installations and additional sustainability initiatives on campus. The clean, carbon-free energy generated by the solar installations will meet roughly 2.5 percent of the campus’s current annual electricity demand, reducing UMBC’s carbon footprint by roughly 500 tons per year in support of the university’s Campus Clean Energy Master Plan.

Butterflies welcomed

Recently, UMBC revealed a new pollinator garden at the Center for Well-Being. Planted in June 2025, the garden qualifies as a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat and a Monarch Watch Waystation. In fact, monarch butterflies have already moved in. The pollinator garden will further promote ecosystem health on campus and bring UMBC closer to achieving the next level in the Green Grounds certification program.

Benefiting the community

PFAS, also called “forever chemicals,” are found throughout the country in water, soil, air, food, cleaning products, clothing, and even our bloodstreams. They are linked to a range of health problems, including decreased fertility, developmental effects in children, reduced immune function, and increased risk of cancer and obesity.

Three ducks sit on the sidewalk next to a pond with trees that are going green around the pond — UMBC Library Pond. (Marlayna Demond ’11/UMBC)

Like in most bodies of water now, PFAS were found close to home in the Baltimore Harbor. Under the leadership of Margaret Siao, M.S. ’25, chemical engineering, UMBC students used PFAS samplers installed around the harbor to measure how much of the chemicals were present and identify possible sources.

Fruitful campus connections

As an initiative of Retriever Essentials, a faculty, staff, and student partnership to tackle food insecurity within the UMBC community has been planted. Ariel Barbosa, program coordinator for Retriever Essentials at UMBC and a master’s student in community leadership, worked hard to ready seven garden plots for crop production in an effort to provide the UMBC community essential nutrition they are not receiving from canned food alone. Namely, The Garden remains a student organization that maintains the beds near the UMBC Police Station and works to address problems such as food waste and food insecurity through service opportunities.

a woman in a beanie crouches at work in a garden bed — Ariel Barbosa, left, helps get a garden plot cleared for the growing season. (Marlayna Demond ’11/UMBC)

The slow, steady work of removing invasive species

Over several weeks in fall 2022 and again in spring 2023, Isabel Dastvan ’22, geography and environmental systems, in collaboration with Facilities Management staff, completed on-the-ground surveys, created maps of invasive species, identified the most urgent invasive threats, and determined the best ways to combat their spread. Dastvan’s work revealed that there are at least 100 invasive plant species present in natural and managed spaces on campus, which can threaten native species, reduce ecosystem functions like pollination and water filtration, and increase the chance of fires by thickening vegetation. The end result of her work, completed as a Sustainability Fellow with Climate Corps, is a 187-page, comprehensive Invasive Species Management Plan for UMBC, which continues the school’s legacy of prioritizing sustainability and stewardship of the land the university occupies.

Let’s take a walk

In 2021, a $1 million grant from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund, combined with about $1.4 million of university investment, funded a major stream restoration on campus to address deterioration caused by decades of growth at UMBC and in the surrounding community. The restoration project raised the streambed and added natural features, slowing the stream’s flow and reconnecting it with the floodplain. The project not only created and enhanced wetland and stream habitats and functions, it also provides recreational enhancements such as walking trails with stream access and connection to other existing trails.

autumn leave color the trees in front of a modern building — Retrievers can access the Herbert Run Greenway by a walkway that skirts the CEI Arena. (Marlayna Demond ’11/UMBC)

UMBC’s commitment to earth-friendly research

Across the world, energy consumption is associated with an increased standard of living—but burning fossil fuels to produce much of that energy increases the concentration of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere.

Getting more energy from the sun could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but since the sun doesn’t always shine, we also need ways to store that energy and share it on the power grid. Three recently-hired researchers in the College of Engineering and Information Technology will build on the college’s strength in environmental research and expand faculty expertise in important areas such as energy storage.

Learn more about UMBC’s commitment to sustainability and how you can be involved.

Arts+ initiative at UMBC uplifts the arts and creates new avenues for student showcases

Moments after the final notes of a Mozart flute concerto resounded from the walls of UMBC’s Linehan Concert Hall, the sold-out audience rose to their feet to applaud Martha Long, principal flutist of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Beside her, conductor Jonathon Heyward beamed in admiration, letting the applause linger before signaling the start of the next piece.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performing in the Linehan Concert Hall. Focus is on the conductor and a flutist, with the audience seated in the background. — The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performing at the Linehan Concert Hall at UMBC. (Brad Ziegler/UMBC)

a conductor conducts an orchestra in front of an audience — The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performing at the Linehan Concert Hall at UMBC. (Brad Ziegler/UMBC)

The BSO’s concert on September 17 served as a fitting kick off for Arts+ at UMBC, a new initiative created to uplift the visual and performing arts at UMBC and to bring the surrounding community to campus to enjoy a vibrant celebration of creativity.

“As the inaugural performing arts event of our 2025 – 26 season, the BSO’s performance perfectly exemplified the power of the arts to bring together a diverse community—students, alumni, faculty, staff, donors, and the general public—for a marvelous shared experience,” says Tom Moore, co-chair of the Arts+ initiative and director of arts and culture. “As we build on the momentum of the BSO, it’s our intention that Arts+ events across the disciplines create similar opportunities to build a more vibrant campus community, to raise awareness of the excellence in our arts programs, and to establish UMBC as a renowned destination point for exhibitions, performances, lectures, and more.”

Impact of the arts

Window mural with yellow and purple shapes painted around door of the Fine Arts building. — One part of the Fine Arts Building window mural created by the Cheeky Magpie Collective with Arts+ funding at UMBC. (Photo courtesy of Tom Moore)

Throughout the year, Arts+ will explore a number of thematic areas, including Trailblazers; The Harlem Renaissance; Space, Place, and Justice; Connecting the Arts; and Artful Stories. Programming will celebrate not only work produced by faculty, departments, and centers, but also highlight student-produced pieces. Through a partnership with the Division of Student Affairs, more than 40 student events ranging from film festivals to exhibitions to music theater will celebrate the impact of the arts on the lives of our students, regardless of major.

With the support of the Arts+ initiative, alumni and student organizations are adding their artistic endeavors and passion for creativity to the campus landscape. For Jayden Rhodes ’25, design leader of the Cheeky Magpie Collective, that means helping transform the Fine Arts Building with window art on all five levels with playful shapes and colors. “We wanted to create a vibrant and energetic composition that called attention to the creativity contained within the university’s walls while also encouraging the emerging artists at UMBC,” says Rhodes, a Linehan Artist Scholar. The Cheeky Magpie Collective is made up more than 20 alumni and current Retrievers.

On December 5, there will be a campus celebration of the Arts+ programming, says Linda Dusman, co-chair of the Arts+. “This is our pilot year—we’ve never done anything this big,” says Dusman, music professor, who looks forward to seeing the interdisciplinary success of the initiative, threading all of UMBC’s arts programming together more seamlessly. The end-of-fall celebration will feature collaborative performances and exhibits from each art department and center on campus. In one night, the festival atmosphere will highlight all the possibilities the arts possess. “Especially in dark times, art can bring things into focus that allow for reflecting, enjoyment, and processing,” says Dusman. She adds: “Everyone is going to be shining that night.”

Find other Arts+ events and keep up with UMBC’s arts and culture on campus.

Kayla Logue ’27 is a 2025 UCM intern and Linehan Scholar who is majoring in dance.

Meet A Retriever—Kayla Logue ’27, dance major, cinematography minor, and Linehan Artist Scholar

Meet Kayla Logue, a junior with a dance major and a cinematography minor. Kayla is a Linehan Artist Scholar, is an intern for UMBC’s communications and marketing team, and is a Visual and Performing Arts Grit Guide at UMBC. She currently serves as the president of the Dance Council Of Majors; A student organization that works closely with the Department of Dance.

Q: Tell us about someone in the UMBC community who has inspired you or supported you, and how they did it.

A: I have had the pleasure of learning from many incredible professors so far here at UMBC, especially in the Department of Dance. One professor that I have had the pleasure to work closely with and who continuously inspires and supports me is Shaness D. Kemp.

Since my freshman year, I have looked up to Ms. Shaness because she is an incredible artist, teacher, and spirit! I had the opportunity to assist with her work for the Baltimore Dance Project in my sophomore year. Witnessing her rehearsal process and her creative mind inspires me as a dancer every day. As a teacher, professor Kemp always pushes me to be what she knows I am capable of, and she always supports me in achieving my goals.

Q: What’s the one thing you’d want someone who hasn’t joined the UMBC community to know about the support you find here?

A: UMBC is a place where you can find others who share your goals and are equally passionate.

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The community here has helped me to believe in myself more than anything.

Kayla Logue ’27

Dance, President of Dance Council Of Majors

Q: What part of your job do you enjoy the most and why?

A: As a Visual and Performing Arts Grit Guide, I absolutely love getting to share my passion for UMBC and its community! So far, I have truly found incredible opportunities in my time here, as well as a beloved home away from home with the family I have in this community.

Kayla Logue and friends pose for a picture in tent decorated with flowers — Kayla Logue with friends at the Linehan 30th Anniversary party (photo courtesy of Jillian Casey)

Q: What brought you to UMBC in the first place?

A: I came to UMBC because of the opportunities it presented. I loved the Dance Department and its faculty, I would be able to both dance and continue my passions for visual art, and I was still close to home.

Q: Since you’ve been a part of the UMBC community, how have you found support of your WHY? Tell us about the people who have helped you at UMBC, and why it has made such a difference to you.

A: The UMBC community has helped me gain confidence in all my endeavors. I have met so many fellow Retrievers who inspire me with their passion and drive, and I have such incredible support from my professors who want to see me succeed. The community here has helped me to believe in myself more than anything.

Kayla Logue and fellow dance majors take a picture outside Kennedy Center for a visit with the Department of Dance — Kayla Logue and fellow dance majors outside the Kennedy Center (Kayla Logue/UMBC)

Q: Are you involved in any campus organizations? Tell us about what you love about them!

A: I currently serve as the president for UMBC’s Dance Council of Majors. I am incredibly honored to be in this leadership position because we foster community engagement amongst those who love to move and groove.

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UMBC’s greatest strength is its people. When people meet Retrievers and hear about the passion they bring, the relationships they create, the ways they support each other, and the commitment they have to inclusive excellence, they truly get a sense of our community. That’s what “Meet a Retriever” is all about.

Fellow Retrievers offer 4 pieces of advice to get the most out of your time at UMBC

Now that the first week of classes is underway and you’re starting to find your new classrooms and make friends, you might be wondering how to make the most of this semester (whether it’s your first or last!) Faculty, staff, and students have chimed in to offer some advice for the year ahead, like embracing discomfort to help you grow, improving your financial literacy, and importantly, carving out your own ways to have fun.

Get money smart

Andrea Cipolla, director of financial aid and scholarships, explains how to get money smart while pursuing a degree: “Being financially responsible is an important aspect of the college experience. Make sure you utilize all the resources available to you. File your FASFA, participate in FinancialSmarts Cash Course to improve your financial awareness and skills, and file the Scholarship Retriever application every year.”

Claire McDonald having a discussion in the Career Center — Students and staff chat in the UMBC Career Center. (Brad Ziegler/UMBC)

Take breaths and take charge

Ann Sofie Clemmensen, associate professor in dance and the Linehan Artist Scholars Program director, highlights the importance of taking a breath, just as much as taking charge: “Do not hesitate to ask your professor, a teaching assistant, academic advisor, or a classmate for help, whether that is asking for clarification on an assignment or advice. In college, you cannot take a passive role, so I encourage every student to take charge of their academic trajectory.” She also wants to remind students that, “Inhalation is the source of inspiration, the exhale is the work that follows… so remember to take in deep breaths. Make sure you carve out time and space to breathe.”

a student stands in front of a poster that says Fashion club, talking to other students who might be interested in joining — Many students take charge of their time at UMBC by signing up for clubs at Involvement Fest. (Brad Ziegler/UMBC)

hundreds of students mill around booths at UMBC's involvement fest — Many students take charge of their time at UMBC by signing up for clubs at Involvement Fest. (Brad Ziegler/UMBC)

Clemmensen calls attention to a quote by the American filmmaker, David Lynch: “Ideas are like fish. If you want to catch little fish, you can stay in the shallow water. But if you want to catch the big fish, you’ve got to go deeper. Down deep, the fish are more powerful and more pure.” She explains that, “as a student, I encourage you to check in with yourself to see if you are primarily swimming in shallow water. If so, find the courage and motivation to explore further out.”

Use the resources available

Senior dance major, Madison Kayser, offers her resourceful advice as a transfer student to fellow Retrievers: “Really invest time into using resources and events provided to you by the school. I know it seems pointless, but trust me it makes or breaks your experience in college.”

large group of students walking away from the CEI Arena, one gives a peace sign — Students outside the CEI Arena for UMBC’s 2025 Convocation (Kiirstn Pagan ’11/UMBC)

Find the people who motivate you

“Be open minded and explore” is the core of what Tamya Davis, senior psychology and social work double major, wants to remind her fellow students.

“There is a lot to do and experience so trying new things, whether it’s a class or a food, can be really fun. Campus also has a lot happening always so go to different events, different clubs, etc. Never be afraid of being uncomfortable; it just means you have an opportunity to grow.”

students walk below a UMBC Retriever mascot made of balloons — Students celebrate the start of the new school year at Convocation. (Kiirstn Pagan ’11/UMBC)

Tamya also highlights the importance of having fun; “The people you meet on campus will definitely make your experience better since you are building community and a support system. As cliché as it sounds, it really helps to have people around you to motivate you and share your passion.”