All posts by: UMBC News Staff

Updates at Semester’s End ↗

Dear UMBC Community, 

As the fall semester draws to a close and we look forward to celebrating graduates at Commencement ceremonies tomorrow and Thursday, I write to share updates on some key areas of focus. This is a long message, and so I hope you will bear with me, because I wanted to be as thorough as possible in sharing information about some of the work we have been doing this semester. 

First, though, I want to acknowledge that this has been a very demanding semester for many individuals personally and for our community broadly. The pressures on higher education are unrelenting, and many contexts and events bring anxiety, fear, and pain for members of our community. We all live in this world, not apart from it, and I know that its dissonance, divisions, and dangers can weigh heavily upon us. 

Whether you are affected directly or indirectly, your well-being matters to me. I see how hard you are working, and I see your dedication, your resilience, and your love for UMBC. I urge you all to continue to care for yourselves and one another and take full advantage of our resources for care and support as needed (for students and for faculty and staff). 

Federal actions and orders

One area of ongoing challenge and focus is our response to impacts related to executive orders and actions by the federal government. Our core team has continued to meet regularly throughout the fall semester, monitoring and responding to multiple ongoing and developing issues, including many affecting international students and scholars, our LGBTQ+ communities and communities of color, and UMBC’s research enterprise. 

I encourage you to regularly visit our website for the latest information on UMBC’s response to federal actions and orders. Of particular interest: the Office of International Students and Scholars posts relevant immigration policy updates; please check back often for the most up-to-date information in this frequently changing environment (for instance, last week, the office posted travel considerations for winter break). 

Given the immigration enforcement actions we are seeing nationwide, I also want to remind you of the guidance, information, and resources we have shared related to the possibility of such enforcement action at UMBC, including this guidance concerning requests from any external law enforcement agencies for information, records, or access to non-public areas of the campus. We remain concerned about and attentive to the impact of these and other federal actions and policy changes on our international students, staff, and faculty, who are a vital part of the UMBC community and the global education we provide. At the heart of that education is our core commitment to inclusive excellence, which remains unyielding.

Strategic planning

Setting the course for the future of inclusive excellence at UMBC is key to the work we are doing now to develop the university’s next strategic plan. I hope you all saw the recent communication from Professor Charissa Cheah, who is leading the strategic planning steering committee. As she noted, the committee has met three times this fall to advance work on five strategic pillars, which were shaped by input from the community in the Bold Conversations and Core Values survey. 

My sincere thanks to Charissa, the members of the steering committee, and all who have and who will yet participate in setting the course for our future. I look forward to continuing progress toward a new strategic plan in fall 2026. 

Budget

As we articulate broad goals for the future and specific initiatives to achieve them, we will ensure that our resources align with our priorities. Doing so requires that we hold ourselves to a high level of accountability and to strategic long-term budgeting. This is especially important as we continue to respond to fiscal pressures, including reductions in state funding. 

As I shared during our Fall Opening Meeting, we reduced expenses by $14.5 million to balance the current (Fiscal Year 2026) budget in response to significant state cuts. While the state continues to be a strong, dedicated supporter of UMBC and higher education (its investment in UMBC has grown significantly over the past several years), given the financial outlook for the state of Maryland, we are planning for additional cuts for the coming fiscal year. 

These are not one-time or one-off cuts; a review of our primary revenue sources can illuminate a clear picture of what we face. UMBC’s main sources of revenue and their outlooks are:

  • State allocation (outlook: declining, especially due to the tax revenue implications of so many Marylanders having lost federal jobs this year)

  • Federal research funding (outlook: declining, due to changes in federal policy and priorities)

  • Student revenue (outlook: increasing modestly; revenues grew $1.8 million in FY25, reflecting an increase in undergraduate revenue and a decrease in graduate revenue)

  • Philanthropy (an area of focus for strategic growth in FY26 – 27)

In light of the outlook for the coming year and our aim to budget strategically to advance our highest priorities, we are working with our colleagues in both academic and administrative areas of the university to determine how best to absorb and minimize the impact of anticipated state funding cuts in FY27. 

Additional updates

I hope you saw the happy news we announced late last week of the appointment of D. Paul Monteiro, Jr., as our new vice president for government relations and community affairs. He succeeds former Vice President Yaakov “Jake” Weissmann ’06, who was named secretary of the Maryland Department of Budget and Management in October. 

Paul joins us this week at a particularly important moment for our work with the state on issues related to the budget and much more, as well as at a time that calls for even stronger coalitions and more effective advocacy with local, state, and federal officials and partners. Welcome to UMBC, Paul! 

The search for our next vice president of administration and finance is ongoing, and we are moving as quickly as we can to fill that leadership role.

Finally, I want to highlight one other important update shared recently by Tanyka Barber, our vice president for institutional equity and chief diversity officer. Tanyka provided a status report on the university’s ongoing response to UMBC’s 2024 agreement with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to improve and expand upon our work to prevent and respond to reports of sexual misconduct and sex discrimination under Title IX. That agreement followed a lengthy investigation by the DOJ that found systemic failures in the university’s Title IX compliance between 2015 and 2020.  

As Tanyka noted in her message to the community, this work is progressing effectively and efficiently, and it is coordinated collaboratively by Tanyka and a small team of other leaders, including Kacey Hammel, chief of staff to the president; Tiffany Tucker, director of athletics, physical education, and recreation; and me. I am grateful to Tanyka and her entire team, as well as to Kacey and Tiffany for their dedication to this comprehensive, important effort.

 Our commitment is not only to the DOJ, but, more importantly, it is to all of you, and to all who will join this community in the years to come. Nothing is more important than your well-being, and we will continue to hold ourselves to the highest standards of care, safety, integrity, and accountability. 

My best to you and your families as we look to a well-deserved winter break. In the days ahead, I hope that you find time to rest and recharge and that you encounter joy, love, and grace this holiday season. 

Sincerely, 

President Valerie Sheares Ashby

UMBC Strategic Plan Steering Committee Update to the Campus Community ↗

Dear UMBC Campus Community,

I am writing to share an update on our progress in developing the UMBC Strategic Plan.

The Strategic Plan Steering Committee has met three times this fall to advance our work on the five strategic plan pillars. These pillars were shaped by the feedback shared by our community in the Bold Conversations and Core Values survey. As a reminder, the five pillars are:

  • Grow Student Opportunity and Success
  • Transform Teaching and Learning
  • Redefine Excellence in Research and Creative Achievement
  • Cultivate Organizational Innovation and Vitality
  • Strengthen Maryland and Its Communities

The strategic plan committee members have been divided into five Pillar Subgroups, each tasked with developing a plan for their particular pillar through the spring semester. Once the pillar plans are drafted, the committee will undertake several steps to ensure that the final UMBC strategic plan is ready to share with the community in the fall of 2026.

We will be seeking assistance from our community in developing these plans. Some of you may receive outreach in early 2026 to engage in planning; this outreach could be through a survey, focus group, or other method chosen by the pillar subgroups. I encourage those of you who receive outreach to engage in this important work on behalf of UMBC. It is essential that we hear voices from across campus and benefit from community expertise, perspectives, and ideas.

There will also be several opportunities for the larger campus community to share feedback. News about these opportunities will be posted in the myUMBC Strategic Planning group. Please follow this group as soon as you can to ensure you are in the know regarding events, activities, and forums led by the strategic plan committee to engage with you, because we want to hear from as many community members as possible to ensure that the strategic plan is our community’s plan for the future.

I also want to note that the current strategic planning website will be updated soon. It is being redesigned to ensure easy access to strategic planning process key information. The new site will include an interactive timeline focusing on major milestones, a page with the steering committee roster, and a form to provide feedback.

Thank you in advance for your engagement and feedback in support of our UMBC strategic planning process. I am excited about what the coming months will bring in developing the plan, and I look forward to seeing you at related events.

Warmest regards,

Dr. Charissa Cheah
Professor of Psychology and Asian Studies Faculty Affiliate
Chair, UMBC Strategic Plan Steering Committee

Leadership Announcement ↗

D. Paul Monteiro, Jr.

Dear UMBC Community,

I am delighted to announce the appointment of D. Paul Monteiro, Jr., as our new vice president for government relations and community affairs. Paul is an experienced administrator and lifelong public servant who has held leadership roles in local, state, and federal government and in higher education. He served most recently as the inaugural secretary of the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation.

Prior to his appointment to Governor Wes Moore’s cabinet in 2023, Paul was nominated by U.S. President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate in 2022 as director of the U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service (CRS). Created by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, CRS works to mitigate community tensions based on race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, or disability. Paul had served as acting director of CRS from 2015 to 2017, before taking on a role as chief of staff to the president and assistant vice president of external affairs at Howard University.

Paul’s public service goes back many years. He served from 2009 to 2013 in the Obama administration as an associate director in the Office of Public Engagement, and he was appointed by President Barack Obama as national director of AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA). During his time on the White House staff, Paul coordinated the My Brother’s Keeper mentorship program for young men and served as a liaison to numerous religious, secular, and ethnic communities, including Arab American and Afghan American groups.

A former ex-officio member of the National Counterterrorism Center’s Heritage Council, Paul was awarded a citation from the National Security Council in 2013 for his work on international priorities, including the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, refugee resettlement, and other humanitarian efforts.

Locally, he has served as a member of the Prince George’s County Public Schools Board of Education, the Emerging Leaders Impact Fund in Prince George’s County, the Board of Governors of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., and the Board of Advisors of the Madison House Autism Foundation, based in Rockville.

Raised in Hyattsville, Maryland, Paul is the proud son of immigrants and was the first in his family to attend college. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Maryland and a law degree from the Howard University School of Law. In law school, he served as a fellow in the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project, where he spent a year teaching middle and high school students about the U.S. Constitution.

The depth and breadth of Paul’s service to communities locally and globally speak volumes about his commitment to making a meaningful difference. We are fortunate to have in Paul not only someone whose knowledge and expertise in policy, governance, and advocacy will serve us well, but also someone whose personal values align so beautifully with UMBC’s.

He has expressed to me his admiration for UMBC and its public mission, and I know he looks forward to continuing to strengthen our engagement with government officials and our collaboration with UMBC’s neighbors.

Paul will hit the ground running; I am grateful that he is able to begin in the role next week, in preparation for the start of the Maryland General Assembly’s regular session in January, and at a time when our advocacy with local, state, and federal government is more demanding and more consequential than ever.

Please join me in welcoming Paul to UMBC!

Sincerely,

President Valerie Sheares Ashby

Monteiro to serve as VP of government relations and community affairs

In an email to the campus community, UMBC President Valerie Sheares Ashby has announced that D. Paul Monteiro, Jr., will join the university as vice president for government relations and community affairs. The letter follows in full:

Dear UMBC Community,

I am delighted to announce the appointment of D. Paul Monteiro, Jr., as our new vice president for government relations and community affairs. Paul is an experienced administrator and lifelong public servant who has held leadership roles in local, state, and federal government and in higher education. He served most recently as the inaugural secretary of the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation.

smiling black man in gray suit and blue tie posing in front of a united states flag

Prior to his appointment to Governor Wes Moore’s cabinet in 2023, Paul was nominated by U.S. President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate in 2022 as director of the U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service (CRS). Created by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, CRS works to mitigate community tensions based on race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, or disability. Paul had served as acting director of CRS from 2015 to 2017, before taking on a role as chief of staff to the president and assistant vice president of external affairs at Howard University.

Paul’s public service goes back many years. He served from 2009 to 2013 in the Obama administration as an associate director in the Office of Public Engagement, and he was appointed by President Barack Obama as national director of AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA). During his time on the White House staff, Paul coordinated the My Brother’s Keeper mentorship program for young men and served as a liaison to numerous religious, secular, and ethnic communities, including Arab American and Afghan American groups.

A former ex-officio member of the National Counterterrorism Center’s Heritage Council, Paul was awarded a citation from the National Security Council in 2013 for his work on international priorities, including the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, refugee resettlement, and other humanitarian efforts.

Locally, he has served as a member of the Prince George’s County Public Schools Board of Education, the Emerging Leaders Impact Fund in Prince George’s County, the Board of Governors of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., and the Board of Advisors of the Madison House Autism Foundation, based in Rockville.

Raised in Hyattsville, Maryland, Paul is the proud son of immigrants and was the first in his family to attend college. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Maryland and a law degree from the Howard University School of Law. In law school, he served as a fellow in the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project, where he spent a year teaching middle and high school students about the U.S. Constitution.

The depth and breadth of Paul’s service to communities locally and globally speak volumes about his commitment to making a meaningful difference. We are fortunate to have in Paul not only someone whose knowledge and expertise in policy, governance, and advocacy will serve us well, but also someone whose personal values align so beautifully with UMBC’s.

He has expressed to me his admiration for UMBC and its public mission, and I know he looks forward to continuing to strengthen our engagement with government officials and our collaboration with UMBC’s neighbors.

Paul will hit the ground running; I am grateful that he is able to begin in the role next week, in preparation for the start of the Maryland General Assembly’s regular session in January, and at a time when our advocacy with local, state, and federal government is more demanding and more consequential than ever.

Please join me in welcoming Paul to UMBC!

Sincerely,

President Valerie Sheares Ashby

Submersive Subversive Art

While many know that Charm City is home to the wizard of weird himself, John Waters, along with the quirky American Visionary Art Museum, poodle skirts, and flamingos galore, most probably don’t associate UMBC with the same offbeat reputation. But take a splash in the wacky waters and you’ll find Retrievers all the way down.

By Janelle Erlichman Diamond

It’s a few minutes into her Fluid Movement water ballet scene, and while most of the swimmers have dropped the red cloaks that hid their bathing suits—a nod to The Handmaid’s Tale—and slipped into the pool as Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” plays on the speaker, Delana Gregg stands alone. As the song reaches its crescendo—“let the choir sing”—Gregg, still in her red cape, falls dramatically backward into the water as the audience gasps and cheers.

Gregg, M.S. ’04, Ph.D. ’19, has worked at UMBC for more than 20 years and is currently the assistant vice provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs, working with the Academic Success Center and with data and analytics supporting student success. But her summers are filled with swimsuits, glitter, and choreography sheets. 

Fluid Movement is a Baltimore-based nonprofit performance art organization that creates joyful, inclusive, quirky, and accessible performances in public spaces, most notably their annual synchronized swimming shows in city pools. “Our art is a love letter to the city of Baltimore and its residents,” says Ashley Ball, Fluid Movement artistic director. “We focus on inclusivity and the empowerment that comes from movement.” 

Baltimore City’s commitment to the quirk is well documented, but you might be more surprised to learn that UMBC may be one of the best breeding grounds for pursuing and creating non-traditional art. (John Waters, the kinky, eccentric, famous Baltimore-based filmmaker, writer, and artist known as the “Pope of Trash,” borrowed UMBC film equipment to make some of his early films.) UMBC, a school with an R1 classification for its high level of research and known by a national audience perhaps for the immensely successful STEM-focused Meyerhoff Scholars Program or the 2018 NCAA men’s basketball upset, has a long history of stirring the artistic pot—and current Retrievers play an active role in the weird and inclusive art world of Charm City. 

Water ballet get STEAM-y

groups of women holding up workers rights signs and an Enoch Splash Library sign
Photos by Erik Whipple

Gregg swam in her very first water ballet in 2014—Star Spangled Swimmer—and has starred in, stage managed, or produced almost every ballet since including her role as a fatberg in Sinkholes, Sewers, & Streams: A Water Infrastructure Ballet. This past summer she added directing to her repertoire with The Handmaid’s Tale scene in the Dive Into Banned Books: A Water Ballet of Resistance and Joy performance. 

That her love for theatrics and performance might be nurtured at a school that has earned a national reputation for excellence in STEM education is not a surprise to Gregg. “Art and design are in everything, and you can’t have theatre without science and technology,” she says. Anyone who has ever built a set or mixed music can attest to that. “Performance is the ultimate interdisciplinary project, and community performance allows for all the different talents to find expression. You know how to sculpt, sew, run cable, create a program, design a logo, write a script, plan a budget, figure out how to create a waterproof, lightweight, affordable set design that can fit in a storage pod—so much geometry and engineering—we need all of those talents, along with sparkle.”

Ball, the artistic director, comes from a STEM background and has her master’s degree in environmental engineering. “People in STEM need art just as much as anyone else, and a Fluid Movement show is nothing short of an engineering marvel,” she says. 

And it’s clear that this is a draw for Retrievers. “I’ve met so many UMBC people via Fluid Movement: former board members like visual arts professor Timothy Nohe and Kelly Quinn—people who are committed to creating art in Baltimore with people in our communities. UMBC alumni who live in the area, like Amelia Meman ’15; Maria Blanca, M.A. ’15; and Charlotte Keniston, M.F.A. ’14, Ph.D. ’24—it was so great to work with them at UMBC and to create art with them in Baltimore City. Other amazing artists, like Ann Tabor ’03 of the Mercury Theater, I met through Fluid Movement and realized the UMBC connection later,” says Gregg. 

“People are validated by seeing people of all shapes and sizes and ages and ethnicities performing. My performing at age 60-plus as a full-figured, African American woman is affirming to many people in our audiences.”

— Judith “Judi” Reynolds-Stokes ’87, M.A. ’02

“I think there is something about working at a university committed to excellence that makes space for people to be excellent in many aspects of their lives,” says Quinn, managing director of The Choice Program at UMBC and a longtime Fluid Movement participant. “I’m really grateful that I have a boss who’s challenged me as part of my performance plan for this year to incorporate more of my artistic work with Fluid Movement into my leadership of our organization,” says Quinn. This next year she’s going to add “whimsy and creativity” to her storytelling. “I think that’s a testament both to Fluid Movement and my boss’s understanding of the value of arts in everyday life. People at UMBC—including our leadership—really take seriously our artistic and civic lives beyond our position descriptions.”

There’s a place in the pool for everyone

These artistic endeavors may hit the UMBC sweet spot because of the recognition that STEM and art go hand in hand, but the accessibility and inclusiveness of the programming also aligns with the Retriever spirit. “I first became acquainted with Fluid Movement while lifeguarding for Baltimore City Aquatics,” says Judith “Judi” Reynolds-Stokes ’87, M.A. ’02, who works as an instructor, advisor, and career counselor at the Caroline Center, a workforce development program for adult women. “I guarded many of their water ballet shows and loved their creativity and inclusivity. I decided that I wanted to be a swimmer in one of their shows.” Her Fluid Movement debut was in the 2019 show Fluid Movement: The Water Ballet in honor of the nonprofit’s 20th anniversary. 

“I think the pull of Fluid Movement for UMBC folks is that you can be a big kid having fun dancing, swimming, and acting. You get to wear pretty costumes and outrageous makeup, and the best part is you get to bring others joy and laughter,” says Reynolds-Stokes.

Like Gregg, she loves that the quirky—in the best way possible—group brings her so much joy and affirmation. “People are validated by seeing people of all shapes and sizes and ages and ethnicities performing. My performing at age 60-plus as a full-figured, African American woman is affirming to many people in our audiences. It lets others know that they too can be in a Fluid Movement show and will be accepted just as they are,” says Reynolds-Stokes, who swims with Stephanie Johnson ’86, her aunt and a fellow UMBC alum. “I love to swim and dance and put on pretty things, so Fluid Movement is a perfect fit for me.”  

Release the Kraken

The American Visionary Art Museum, adjacent to the Inner Harbor, is another incubator of Baltimore quirk. The distinctive landmark and home to Fifi, a 15-foot pink poodle on wheels, is dedicated to the preservation and display of outside art and features the work of self-taught artists. (Retriever Jess Owens-Young ’08, political science, recently showed her sports-inspired work in the museum’s galleries.) That includes the Kinetic Sculpture Race, for which teams build and pedal works of art for eight hours on Baltimore City streets, including a foray into the Baltimore Harbor.

In 2011, Steven McAlpine, assistant teaching professor in the Individualized Study Program (INDS), was at the race, as a casual observer with his son. “Dad, can we build one of these?” he asked in awe. McAlpine had also been blown away by both the artistry of the floats and the physical effort of the 15-mile human-powered, all-terrain race for custom-built amphibious sculptures. McAlpine was trying to figure out how he could construct a 12-foot high and 30-foot-long creature at his house when he had a lightbulb moment—the answer was UMBC. 

In 2014, McAlpine started the Kinetic Sculpture Project, an interdisciplinary applied learning experience funded by the Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship and UMBC community engagement organization BreakingGround. Students from INDS, mechanical engineering, computer engineering, visual art, psychology, geography and environmental systems, and mathematics all came together to design, build, and race the Kraken Upcycle in the 2015 race. “You need all those perspectives and disciplines to be that innovative,” says McAlpine.

In the 400-level class, students studied sustainable design methods and use of recycled materials (including plastic bottles and barrels as well as reclaimed metal and wood) that would often involve McAlpine dumpster diving—especially after the theatre department broke down a set.

“I wanted to explore something less traditional, where I could express new, wacky ideas and merge creativity with engineering.” 

—Michael Webb, computer engineering student

a parade featuring inflatable sculptures of a cityscape and caped man sitting on a wheelchair
Top and bottom photos courtesy of Steve McAlpine; 
 Middle photo by Poulomi Banerjee ’16, M.P.P. ’21

That very first year UMBC’s team was awarded the “Grand Mediocre East Coast Champion,” and in the 10 years since, more than 100 students have passed through the class. Last year UMBC teamed up with a disability advocacy organization and took home the “Best Art Award” for IMAGE Man—in which a larger-than-life teal superhero sits in a wheelchair with a football in hand, flying over some of Baltimore’s iconic buildings, such as the Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower and the Baltimore World Trade Center. 

Of all the years UMBC has participated, McAlpine was especially proud of this one since it showed “the beauty of an infusion of a new partnership,” that, like the water ballet, also underscored UMBC’s commitment to accessibility for all. 

“It’s a lot of work—but unconventional art that leans a little offbeat and weird is never all work because it’s playful too,” says McAlpine. “I think it’s absolutely essential for education to feel thrilling and full of discovery and adventure.”

An Out-of-the-Ordinary Spectacle

Dulcey Comeau, a sophomore computer engineering student, participated in the 2025 race with IMAGE Man. “The race day was super cool; we woke up early to get our capes and our helmets, and we spent some of the morning talking to people who wanted to know more about the float,” says Comeau. “It was a cool experience to have people cheering you along all throughout Baltimore,” she says. The race started a bit rocky—they were having some issues with the brakes—but once they were fixed, it was smooth sailing. 

“Part of the race is to ride through the mud and I remember getting stuck, and it was so fun to be pushed up the hill through the rest of it,” she says. “Usually as engineers, we create something for a very specific reason with specific standards for the customer, so it was cool to create something for ourselves and really see the full engineering cycle. The opportunity to have creative freedom with such little specifications made the project that much more enjoyable, and I was able to find the fun in being an engineer again.”

Michael Webb had a similar experience. “As a computer engineering student, I was initially drawn to STEM-related clubs and activities like Baja SAE and UMBC’s chapter of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Those organizations are incredible for hands-on experience, but they tend to be more formulaic, focused on refining and improving designs from past generations,” the sophomore says. He wanted something a little more left-field and subversive. “I wanted to explore something less traditional, where I could express new, wacky ideas and merge creativity with engineering.”

The Kinetic Sculpture Race, like Fluid Movement, is a perfect blend of the new iteration of STEM—one that includes art with an emphasis on off-the-wall—and it’s in that combination that UMBC excels. The UMBC team and faculty Webb ended up working alongside helped challenge some of his established systems and beliefs and consider alternative perspectives. 

“The Kinetic Sculpture Race is unlike anything I had ever seen before,” says Webb. “It was fun, quirky, and completely different from the structured world of engineering I’m used to. The whole event is just for fun, and the sculptures people bring in are absolutely wild: a giant poodle, giant alligators, even a platypus with a differential axle. The rules are just as wacky—you can even bribe the judges.”

It was the wake-up he needed. “In engineering, the goal is usually performance and efficiency,” he says. But in the Kinetic Sculpture Race, the goal is simply to make something imaginative and have fun trying to race it. “It’s messy, unpredictable, and just laughs; a reminder that engineering and art can come together and be creative, ridiculous, and fun at once.” 

UMBC hosts 2025 IEEE Baltimore Technical Colloquium

On November 15, more than 120 engineering and computer science professionals and students convened on the UMBC campus for the 2025 IEEE Baltimore Technical Colloquium, co-sponsored this year by the Department of Information Systems. It was the second IEEE Baltimore Technical Colloquium, and saw approximately 20 percent growth in attendance compared to the inaugural event.

The colloquium focused on innovation and leadership in cutting edge areas such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, quantum computing, computational medicine, trustworthy computing, and more. The event, held in the Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Building, was a chance for academic experts, industry leaders, and students from around Baltimore to share their research, network, and find new inspiration.

Chinonso Ezeobi, M.S. ’22, electrical engineering, and a current Ph.D. student, served as conference vice chair. “Curating programs for our IEEE professional community has been incredibly rewarding,” he said. “Serving as chair has provided invaluable opportunities to expand my network and develop my leadership capabilities.”

The event attracted major area universities, companies, and organizations including the Army Research Lab, Northrop Grumman, JP Morgan Chase, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Ezeobi delivered opening remarks and, along with several other UMBC students and faculty, presented research. Student and alumni volunteers helped keep the program running smoothly. 

Jeanne van Briesen, dean of the College of Engineering and Information Technology, delivered keynote remarks on how engineers and scientists can tackle complex, modern problems, such as reverse engineering the human brain and preventing nuclear terror. In these so-called “wicked problems,” engineered, natural, and data systems interact with human and social systems, creating situations where there is no clear, single solution and oftentimes attempts to fix the original issue create new problems. 

Van Briesen described how “convergence research,” which integrates knowledge, methods, and expertise from different disciplines to form novel frameworks that catalyze new discoveries and innovations, can help humanity tackle its most intractable problems. She gave examples of convergence research at UMBC addressing challenges such as improving mental health, increasing the safety of first responders and soldiers, and making medicine cheaply and on-demand. 

“A wicked problem is sometimes described as a problem that cannot be fixed—but never tell an engineer something can’t be done,” she said.

Reminder – Guidance Regarding Potential for Federal Immigration Enforcement at UMBC ↗

Dear UMBC Community,

In recent weeks, concerns and questions about the potential for federal immigration enforcement at UMBC have risen to a new level. The ever-increasing online visibility of enforcement actions and shifts in Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s strategy nationwide have understandably caused anxiety across our country and at UMBC. 

Today, I want to remind you of guidance, information, and resources that may be of assistance to you and provide clarity during these uncertain times. 

Key resources and information

First, our federal orders and actions website contains detailed information and communications about federal actions and their impacts on our UMBC community. You will find a web page that covers guidance related to federal immigration law enforcement, and links to the Office of International Students and Scholars immigration policy updates, which features recent clarifications regarding the entry ban on certain H1-B employees.  

Role of the UMBC Police Department

I also want to address the important role of the UMBC Police Department in responding to federal immigration enforcement notifications and actions. Should you receive a request from external law enforcement for information, records, or access to non-public space on campus, immediately notify the Police Department at (410) 455-5555. They will coordinate with relevant university officials and respond to the request. The Police Department and my office—the Office of General Counsel—will work together to ensure that any contact with outside law enforcement agencies, including federal agencies, is handled lawfully, carefully, and with the safety and privacy of our community in mind.

Will federal immigration enforcement notify UMBC of plans to come to campus?

Several of you have asked if federal immigration enforcement will notify our Police Department of any plans to come to UMBC. Federal law enforcement personnel are not required to notify campus or local law enforcement before entering public spaces. Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have previously indicated that, as a matter of professional courtesy, they would contact our Police Department if they plan to visit or operate on our campus. While that notification would be greatly appreciated, there is no legal requirement for advance notice, and federal agencies may conduct lawful activity in public areas without prior coordination. 

If the Police Department becomes aware of the presence of federal law enforcement personnel on campus, they will immediately work with university leadership and my office to confirm legal authority and purpose, ensure compliance with Maryland law and university policy, determine the appropriate response, and take all lawful steps to protect the safety and well-being of our community. 

Campus communications

Many of you have inquired about communications to the campus community. Consistent with regular university procedures, if a situation presents a safety concern or results in a significant disruption to normal campus operations, the Police Department will promptly use its established emergency and safety communication systems, such as UMBC Alerts, to keep the UMBC community informed. If you have not yet signed up for UMBC Alerts, please consider doing so.

The department will partner with university leadership, including my office, to ensure consistent, timely, and lawful communication. If the activity is lawful, limited in scope, and there is no direct safety impact, the Police Department, my office, and university leadership will monitor and manage the situation appropriately, and communicate updates as necessary through official university channels, which include UMBC Alerts, and emails through myUMBC.

Please be assured that the shared goal of the Police Department, my office, and university leadership is to protect and support our university community and maintain open communication and mutual trust. We are committed to reinforcing safety, care, and belonging at UMBC. Should you have any further questions, please contact my office at ogc@umbc.edu or call the UMBC Police Department at (410) 455-5555.

Thank you.

Regards,

Paul Meggett
Vice President and General Counsel

Leadership Announcement ↗

Dear UMBC Community, 
 
Many of you likely have heard by now the news that our very own Yaakov “Jake” Weissmann ’06 has been named to a top position in Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s cabinet. The governor announced recently that he was tapping Jake to be the next secretary of the Maryland Department of Budget and Management (DBM), effective October 22. 
 
The news is unequivocally good for the state, and to have a UMBC alumnus in a top leadership role in Maryland is a point of pride for our university. In announcing the appointment, Gov. Moore noted Jake’s deep experience as a public servant and called him “one of the most effective policy minds in our state.” 
I agree, and I know that Jake’s incredible knowledge of the state budget and all things state government, as well as his long-held commitment to serving the public, make him an outstanding choice for this role. At UMBC, we have been fortunate that for the past two years, Jake served the public through his work leading our Office of Government Relations and Community Affairs, first as associate vice president and, since August 2024, as vice president. 
 
It has been an enormous gift to work with Jake and to benefit from his counsel as we have built and strengthened relationships with elected officials and government agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. He has positioned us not only to be well-known among our public officials, but also to be well-supported; he believes deeply in UMBC’s distinctive value and conveys that value to others in ways that resonate meaningfully and build lasting connections. 
 
That work has been especially important this year, as we have navigated many actions and changes at the federal level, as well as reductions in state funding. Jake has been a tireless advocate for UMBC’s community, for its research, and for its values. 
 
Jake returned to UMBC in 2023 after serving as an assistant chief administrative officer in Montgomery County. Before that, he spent 14 years with the Maryland General Assembly, 12 of those in the Office of the Senate President. Among other roles, he served as chief of staff to two Senate presidents. Jake majored in social work and psychology at UMBC, and it was here that he became passionate about a life in public service and community engagement. He went on to earn a master’s degree in social work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and a law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law. In 2023, Gov. Moore appointed Jake to the Maryland State Board of Elections. 
 
We will work to fill the role of vice president for government relations and community affairs expeditiously, ideally before the next Maryland legislative session begins in January. For now, I want to celebrate Jake and offer my sincere thanks to him for his outstanding service and myriad contributions to UMBC. Please join me in congratulating Jake on this exciting and wonderful next step in his career in public service!
 
Sincerely,
 
President Valerie Sheares Ashby

Hrabowski Fund for Innovation awardees continue to drive new approaches to teaching and learning

A cross-disciplinary incubator rooted in theatrical storytelling. Artificial intelligence and machine learning ethics education that blends ethical inquiry with hands-on technical exploration. Letterpress printing and bookmaking while students uncover “The Secret Lives of Books.” These are several of the 2024 – 2025 projects selected to receive grants in the Hrabowski Fund for Innovation competition. The fund supports initiatives to enhance teaching and learning at UMBC, with specific emphasis on innovative approaches to increase student success.

“The Hrabowski Innovation Fund has helped to drive innovation in pedagogy and student success at UMBC for the past 13 years. Recent projects have enhanced course and curriculum development, built generative AI literacy and introduced AI-powered tools, and engaged students in cross-disciplinary, international, and community-based projects that prepare them for their majors and careers.” says Kerrie Kephart, interim director of the Faculty Development Center.

Implementation and Research Awards
  • IMPACT Lab: Interdisciplinary Music, Performance, Art, Collaboration, and Theatre Lab – Nigel Semaj (THTR) and Colleagues
  • Developing Ethical Inquiry: A Participatory and Exploratory Lab Model for AI/ML Ethics Education – Rebecca Williams (CSEE)
  • Computing for All: Cultivating a Culturally Responsive and Inclusive Computing Ecosystem – Patricia Ordóñez (IS) and colleague
Adaptation Award
  • Hilltop Print Shop: Supporting Applied Learning in a Humanities Makerspace – Lindsay DiCuirci (ENGL) and colleague
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award
  • Developing an Approach to Creating and Refining Innovative Learning Outcomes in a University Music Education Program – Brian Kaufman (MUSC) and colleague 
SEED Awards
  • Transforming Graduate Writing Support – Nicole Morse (LLC) and colleagues
  • Centering Student Perspectives on Generative AI Integration in a Design Classroom – Yasmine Kotturi (IS)

The Hrabowski Fund for Innovation exemplifies UMBC’s commitment to investing in faculty initiatives that fuel creativity and enterprise and also create opportunities for student engagement. Proposals for the next round are due by October 31, 2025. For more information and to apply, visit UMBC’s Faculty Development Center website. 

Government Shutdown Questions and Answers ↗

Dear UMBC Campus Community,
As your vice president for communications and marketing, occasionally you will hear from me related to external news and how it may impact our community, as well as communications, marketing, and branding information.
Today, I write to share questions and answers, as well as resources if you need assistance, regarding the U.S. government shutdown that began at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, October 1. Several agencies and parts of the U.S. government have begun shutting down because Congress did not pass a stopgap funding measure by the deadline of midnight on Tuesday, September 30. 
Will the federal shutdown impact federal student financial aid?
No, because aid funds are disbursed at the beginning of the semester. Most aid programs are approved by Congress a year in advance, so a shutdown will not impact them. 
FAFSA processing, Pell Grant and loan disbursements, loan servicing, and critical operations will continue. Title I and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) grant funding is available as usual. States, schools, and other grantees will be able to access funds from recent awards. 
The Office of Federal Student Aid is retaining employees as needed to conduct rulemaking and actions as required by law.
Students will need to continue making loan payments on their outstanding student debt. However, borrowers looking for specific assistance from the U.S Department of Education will not receive it during the government shutdown.
If you have questions about UMBC financial aid, please call 410-455-2387 or use this form to be connected with a UMBC financial aid representative.
What does the shutdown mean for immigration services for students, faculty, and staff?
Fee-funded operations of federal agencies providing immigration services generally continue during a shutdown. However, operations funded through appropriations are generally suspended.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will continue to process applications and petitions. However, processing times may be delayed particularly if an adjudication is dependent on functions performed by other agencies affected by the shutdown, or if USCIS resources are reprioritized. The E-Verify program will not be operational during the shutdown. 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection will continue to operate at U.S. ports of entry.
The U.S. Department of Labor has suspended immigration functions, including the processing of labor condition applications (LCAs), prevailing wage requests, permanent labor certification (PERM), and temporary labor certification applications. 
The U.S. Department of State will continue to provide consular processing during the shutdown. This includes issuance of U.S. passports and visas as well as providing assistance to U.S. citizens abroad. Certain domestic consular operations are suspended.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will continue operations during the shutdown.
For immigration services questions, please reach out to the Center for Global Engagement. 
What is the impact on federally funded research projects?
The shutdown will have little to no impact on the continuance of federally funded research activities. Our institution’s research projects will proceed as usual, unless otherwise notified by the UMBC Division of Research and Creative Achievement (ORCA).
As for our NASA research activities, the researchers at Goddard have already received detailed information from their respective leadership about continuing to follow the standard procedures they have used during previous federal government shutdowns. 
What about new grants, research proposals, or questions regarding the status of a federally funded research proposal?
A shutdown means that federal agencies cannot issue any new grants, contracts, amendments, continued funding increments, supplements, or no-cost time extensions requiring explicit prior federal awarding agency approval.
If you are planning to submit a research proposal, you will need to submit by the original deadline (unless you hear otherwise). It is important to note that the proposal review process will be delayed during the shutdown. This is because during the shutdown, most federal agency staff will not be working. Therefore, any inquiries about pending research applications, deadlines, or approvals may not receive an answer until the staff are back to work. Federal websites and other systems may also be unavailable or limited, resulting in little to no support for resolving problems or answering questions. 
If you have planned meetings, travel, or conferences with federal agencies, please check for postponements or changes beforehand.
Should you have any questions regarding federally funded research or a federally funded research proposal, please contact your applicable office in the Division of Research and Creative Achievement (ORCA). 
What is the impact on veterans and active duty service members’ education benefits and services?
GI Bill benefits for student veterans currently enrolled and certified should not be affected by a short-term government shutdown. However, any student veteran working to obtain GI Bill benefits during or shortly after a shutdown may experience delays. 
Also, any questions or requests for assistance from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may go unanswered due to some employees being furloughed.
During the shutdown, VA benefits will continue to be processed and delivered, including compensation, pension, education, and housing benefits. Please note that the GI Bill hotline will be closed, regional benefits offices will be closed, and the VA will not provide veteran career counseling or transition assistance activities until the shutdown is over. The VA has posted contingency planning information and resources on its website.
As for federal tuition assistance (TA) for servicemembers, Tuition Assistance Requests (TARS) with an October 1 start date forward will be impacted until a budget or continuing resolution is approved. Soldiers whose TA requests are canceled due to the government shutdown will receive a message in ArmyIgnitED or My Education Portal.
For assistance from UMBC with VA or servicemember benefits, please call the Registrar’s office at 410-455-2500 or submit an inquiry to our certifying officials here. 
What UMBC human resources services are available to faculty and staff in need of support during this time?
The UMBC Employee Assistance Program offers free confidential counseling services, legal support and other benefits. In addition, the resources for displaced federal workers website provides services and opportunities that may be helpful.
How will the shutdown impact any UMBC students with federal internships?
UMBC students with federal internships should contact their immediate supervisor to determine how their work may be affected by the shutdown, and reach out to the UMBC Career Center to review any potential impacts of changes to their federal internship.
What will happen to faculty and staff working for federal agencies through the intragovernmental personnel act (IPA)?
Any faculty or staff with appointments at federal agencies through the IPA should reach out to their federal point of contact for additional guidance.
* * * * *
If you need any additional information about the impact of federal orders, please visit the UMBC Federal Actions Website.
Thank you.
Warmest regards,
Lisa K. Van Riper
Vice President for University Communications and Marketing

Government Shutdown Questions and Answers

Several agencies and parts of the U.S. government have begun shutting down because Congress did not pass a stopgap funding measure by the deadline of midnight on Tuesday, September 30. Below are some frequently asked questions.

Will the federal shutdown impact federal student financial aid?

No, because aid funds are disbursed at the beginning of the semester. Most aid programs are approved by Congress a year in advance, so a shutdown will not impact them. 

FAFSA processing, Pell Grant and loan disbursements, loan servicing, and critical operations will continue. Title I and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) grant funding is available as usual. States, schools, and other grantees will be able to access funds from recent awards. 

The Office of Federal Student Aid is retaining employees as needed to conduct rulemaking and actions as required by law.

Students will need to continue making loan payments on their outstanding student debt. However, borrowers looking for specific assistance from the U.S. Department of Education will not receive it during the government shutdown.

If you have questions about UMBC financial aid, please call 410-455-2387 or use this form to be connected with a UMBC financial aid representative.

What does the shutdown mean for immigration services for students, faculty, and staff?

Fee-funded operations of federal agencies providing immigration services generally continue during a shutdown. However, operations funded through appropriations are generally suspended.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will continue to process applications and petitions. However, processing times may be delayed particularly if an adjudication is dependent on functions performed by other agencies affected by the shutdown, or if USCIS resources are reprioritized. The E-Verify program will not be operational during the shutdown. 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection will continue to operate at U.S. ports of entry.

The U.S. Department of Labor has suspended immigration functions, including the processing of labor condition applications (LCAs), prevailing wage requests, permanent labor certification (PERM), and temporary labor certification applications. 

The U.S. Department of State will continue to provide consular processing during the shutdown. This includes issuance of U.S. passports and visas as well as providing assistance to U.S. citizens abroad. Certain domestic consular operations are suspended.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will continue operations during the shutdown.

For immigration services questions, please reach out to the Center for Global Engagement. 

What is the impact on federally funded research projects?

The shutdown will have little to no impact on the continuance of federally funded research activities. Our institution’s research projects will proceed as usual, unless otherwise notified by the UMBC Division of Research and Creative Achievement (ORCA).

As for our NASA research activities, the researchers at Goddard have already received detailed information from their respective leadership about continuing to follow the standard procedures they have used during previous federal government shutdowns. 

What about new grants, research proposals, or questions regarding the status of a federally funded research proposal?

A shutdown means that federal agencies cannot issue any new grants, contracts, amendments, continued funding increments, supplements, or no-cost time extensions requiring explicit prior federal awarding agency approval.

If you are planning to submit a research proposal, you will need to submit by the original deadline (unless you hear otherwise). It is important to note that the proposal review process will be delayed during the shutdown. This is because during the shutdown, most federal agency staff will not be working. Therefore, any inquiries about pending research applications, deadlines, or approvals may not receive an answer until the staff are back to work. Federal websites and other systems may also be unavailable or limited, resulting in little to no support for resolving problems or answering questions. 

If you have planned meetings, travel, or conferences with federal agencies, please check for postponements or changes beforehand.

Should you have any questions regarding federally funded research or a federally funded research proposal, please contact your applicable office in the Division of Research and Creative Achievement (ORCA). 

What is the impact on veterans and active duty service members’ education benefits and services?

GI Bill benefits for student veterans currently enrolled and certified should not be affected by a short-term government shutdown. However, any student veteran working to obtain GI Bill benefits during or shortly after a shutdown may experience delays. 

Also, any questions or requests for assistance from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may go unanswered due to some employees being furloughed.

During the shutdown, VA benefits will continue to be processed and delivered, including compensation, pension, education, and housing benefits. Please note that the GI Bill hotline will be closed, regional benefits offices will be closed, and the VA will not provide veteran career counseling or transition assistance activities until the shutdown is over. The VA has posted contingency planning information and resources on its website.

As for federal tuition assistance (TA) for servicemembers, Tuition Assistance Requests (TARS) with an October 1 start date forward will be impacted until a budget or continuing resolution is approved. Soldiers whose TA requests are canceled due to the government shutdown will receive a message in ArmyIgnitED or My Education Portal.

For assistance from UMBC with VA or servicemember benefits, please call the Registrar’s office at 410-455-2500 or submit an inquiry to our certifying officials here. 

What UMBC human resources services are available to faculty and staff in need of support during this time?

The UMBC Employee Assistance Program offers free confidential counseling services, legal support and other benefits. In addition, the resources for displaced federal workers website provides services and opportunities that may be helpful.

How will the shutdown impact any UMBC students with federal internships?

UMBC students with federal internships should contact their immediate supervisor to determine how their work may be affected by the shutdown, and reach out to the UMBC Career Center to review any potential impacts of changes to their federal internship.

What will happen to faculty and staff working for federal agencies through the intragovernmental personnel act (IPA)?

Any faculty or staff with appointments at federal agencies through the IPA should reach out to their federal point of contact for additional guidance.

* * * * *

For more information about the impact of federal orders, please visit the UMBC Federal Actions Website.

Mark your calendars for the 2025 Service Awards! ↗

Let’s honor the UMBC staff whose incredible work brings our collective purpose to life and creates endless possibilities for our community.
When: Thursday, December 4, 2025 | 11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Where: Retriever Activity Center
Keep an eye out for future announcements and registration details!
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1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250 Directions & Parking

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