Bold Conversations

UMBC Bold: Campus Conversations was a series of listening sessions held in the spring of 2023 that invited the broad UMBC community to share their perspectives on the state of the university and to reflect on its future potential.

More than 1,000 participants attended 22 sessions that focused on a breadth of topics, including: the academic experience, our research enterprise, partnerships, governance, and other areas that impact students, staff, faculty, and alumni.

Read the Final Report →

UMBC's campus viewed from above, with the Baltimore skyline in the distance.

Our Guiding Questions

1. What achievements and core values should we celebrate and nurture?

2. What challenges might hinder our ability to advance our mission and vision?

3. What are your bold aspirations for the future of UMBC?

Four adults stand outside at a fall festival homecoming

UMBC Bold: Leadership

COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS

Vandana Janeja, Chair and Professor of Information Systems

Michelle Scott, Professor of History

Greg Simmons, M.P.P. ‘04, Former Vice President for Institutional Advancement

HONORARY COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Adrienne Jones ’76, Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates

Alan Wilson, Chair of the UMBC Board of Visitors

Subcommittees

UNDERGRADUATE ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

Subcommittee Conversation Dates: February 27 and March 29

Carolyn Forestiere, Professor, Political Science

Nilanjan Banerjee, Professor, CSEE

GRADUATE ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

Subcommittee Conversation Dates: March 13 and March 28

Lauren Edwards, Associate Professor, Public Policy

Rachel Brewster, Professor, Biological Sciences

INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE

Subcommittee Conversation Dates: February 28 and March 16

Belay Demoz, Professor, Physics

Tamara Bhalla, Associate Professor, American Studies

THE RESEARCH ENTERPRISE

Subcommittee Conversation Dates: March 9 and March 29

Charissa Cheah, Professor, Psychology

Jimmy Foulds, Assistant Professor, Information Systems

OUR ALUMNI COMMUNITY

Subcommittee Conversation Dates: March 13 and March 27

Jen Herson ’99, Interdisciplinary Studies – English, Visual Arts, Modern Languages and Linguistics, President and COO of Data Canopy, Vice President for Operations, Alumni Association Board of Directors

Jason Grant ’10, Computer Engineering, M17, Assistant Professor of Computing Sciences at Villanova, Meyerhoff Alumni Advisory Board President

UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCE AND ENGAGEMENT

Subcommittee Conversation Dates: March 7 and March 8

Bobby Lubaszewski ’10, Director of Communications and Marketing, Office of Institutional Advancement

Loren Henderson, Associate Professor, Public Policy

STAFF AS EMPOWERED STAKEHOLDERS

Subcommittee Conversation Dates: March 9 and March 31

Cael Mulcahy, Director of Operations, CAHSS

Michele Kimery, Business Services Specialist, Police

Amery Thompson, Assistant Director for Transfer Student Success, Off-Campus Student Services

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS

Subcommittee Conversation Dates: March 14 and March 16

Donna Ruginski, Executive Director for Cybersecurity Initiatives

Tim Oates, Professor of Computer Science Electrical Engineering

A COMMUNITY-ENGAGED UNIVERSITY

Subcommittee Conversation Dates: March 7 and March 27

Eric Ford, Interim Director, Shriver Center and Director, Choice Program

Brian Kaufman, Associate Professor, Music

FACULTY ADVANCEMENT

Subcommittee Conversation Dates: March 10 and March 14

Kathleen Hoffman, Professor, Mathematics

Felipe Filomeno, Associate Professor, Political Science

THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Subcommittee Conversation Dates: February 28 and March 28

Amir Ledbetter, Senior, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Tara Carpenter, Principal Lecturer, Chemistry

Ethan Post, President, Graduate Student Association, Master’s Student, Historical Studies