In the 1960s, a common routine for elementary school students was to practice hiding under their desks in case of a nuclear blast. Following the Bay of Pigs standoff in 1961, international tensions remained high as the United States and the Soviet Union continued advancing their nuclear weapons. But global armament was only a minor inconvenience to Stanley Czajkowski in those days. As a third grader in Miss Hamill’s class, he was busy falling in love with the riddle of math. Unbeknownst to this future Retriever was how he would eventually use those foundational mathematical skills to develop algorithms designed to… Continue Reading The math (and the man) behind our national security
At UMBC, we welcome Retrievers of all stripes… and feathers. Spotted on campus recently enjoying student life is an 87-year-old yellow crowned amazon parrot named Chicken. Yes, you read that right, Chicken. Elle Kreiner ’20, anthropology, a current master’s student in applied sociology, rescued the bird in 2017 after his long-term caretaker passed away and the family wasn’t able to keep him. Despite coming to campus to spread his wings (metaphorically—Chicken doesn’t enjoy flying), Kreiner doesn’t believe their parrot would make a great student, although he does speak three languages. Prior to his time with Kreiner, Chicken lived in pre–World… Continue Reading Bird Brainiac
With Jess Presuel ’23, biological sciences, an international student from Mexico Jess Presuel’s route to UMBC was not a direct flight from Mérida, Yucatán—her home state in Mexico—to UMBC. She originally arrived in Maryland in 2015 as an au pair to a family with five children. There, she immediately felt accepted and as she cared for the children, they helped her learn English. Over time, Presuel realized she was ready to pursue her dream of becoming a surgeon, starting in fall 2021 working toward a degree in biological science. At UMBC, Presuel knew that she wasn’t just on campus to… Continue Reading How to Bridge Your Two Homes
“One of the things I’m most appreciative of is the inclusive and diverse campus of UMBC,” says Shahreen Zannat ’22. “This means a great deal to me because I often find myself to be a little isolated in group settings due to my disability. But not only are the faculty extremely accommodating, but students go out of their way to support me.” Continue Reading Connecting face-to-face: Valedictorian prioritizes supporting one another
Diane Stonestreet ’22, mechanical engineering, shares, “my time at UMBC has given me the space to better understand and take ownership of my journey as a first-gen student. I’ve become confident in myself, and aware that I do deserve the opportunities that come my way.” Continue Reading First-gen engineering grad is energized by helping others
Chetan Desai, M.P.S. ’22, data science, came to UMBC from India in Spring 2021, overcoming the barriers of international travel during the pandemic, with a unique goal in mind. He wanted to combine his skills in data science with his passion for sport. Continue Reading Data science grad finds unique way to pursue passion for sport
As a Cybersecurity and Center for Women in Technology Scholar from São Paulo, Brazil, Priscila de Almeida Feitosa ’22, computer science, found like-minded classmates at UMBC—students who wanted to change the status quo of representation in technology fields. Continue Reading Challenging the status quo and inspiring young women in tech
These Individualized Study instructors eagerly invite the students into the mystery and wonder of the world with reverence—and a healthy dose of skepticism. Continue Reading Reframing the Question
UMBC is excited to announce the 32nd annual Alumni Awards. While the in-person ceremony may be smaller than past years, we are celebrating more alumni than ever. Continue Reading The Alumni Awards Return
Nothing is sweeter than a Homecoming that truly feels like coming home. And after a year’s hiatus, Retrievers streamed onto campus Saturday, October 9, with family and friends in tow to celebrate. Eager to reconnect with each other and campus, alumni, students, and friends took part in carnival games, rides, and food trucks—with everything pausing for one of the most anticipated moments of every Homecoming: the puppy parade. It wouldn’t be a UMBC Homecoming without an opportunity to promote the passion and achievements of our faculty and alumni. In the Proscenium Theatre, Grit X presenters delved into compelling aspects of… Continue Reading Welcome Home, Retrievers!
