Advancing Excellence: Innovative Curriculum and Pedagogy

May 2, 2014 / 3 minutes of reading

This is the third in a series of articles on the four focus areas that are part of UMBC’s strategic planning process. The primary goal of the Innovative Curriculum and Pedagogy strategy group is to develop strategies and goals that will enable UMBC to continue its leadership in innovative curricula and academic programs that support and enhance undergraduate and graduate student success; prepare students for meaningful careers, lifelong learning, and engaged citizenship; and thereby maintain and enhance UMBC’s position as a national leader in undergraduate and graduate education. Jeff Leips, associate professor, biological sciences, and Carole McCann, professor and chair,… Continue Reading Advancing Excellence: Innovative Curriculum and Pedagogy

Rethinking Intellectual Activism Recap

May 2, 2014 / 2 minutes of reading

On April 12, 2014 over one hundred graduate students, faculty, staff, and community partners gathered in UMBC’s Performing Arts and Humanities Building for the Rethinking Intellectual Activism graduate student conference. Presenters represented UMBC’s Language, Literacy and Culture (LLC) Doctoral Program and the departments of Geography and Environmental Systems, Public Policy, Psychology, and Sociology, as well as universities across the country, such as UCLA, MICA, George Mason, and the University of Louisville, and the world, such as University of Oxford, England, Sabancı University, Turkey and North South University, Bangladesh. Presenters and attendees discussed a variety of topics connected to the notion… Continue Reading Rethinking Intellectual Activism Recap

NPR’s “Tell Me More” Host Meets with Faculty Researchers

May 1, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

Michel Martin, host of NPR’s Tell Me More, visited UMBC on April 29 to meet with faculty researchers from a variety of disciplines, speaking to the program’s focus on “conversations Americans are having now—about themselves, their families, their neighborhoods and the world.” Joining Martin were Alicia Montgomery and Amita Parashar, supervising and associate editors of Tell Me More. Martin, Montgomery and Parashar met with Anne Brodsky, associate dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Tyson King-Meadows, public policy and Africana studies; Jason Loviglio, media and communications studies; George Derek Musgrove, history; Penny Rheingans, Center for Women in… Continue Reading NPR’s “Tell Me More” Host Meets with Faculty Researchers

UMBC Again Named to Times Higher Ed List of “Top 100 Under 50” Universities Worldwide

May 1, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

For the third consecutive year, UMBC has been named to the Times Higher Education‘s 100 Under 50 list of the world’s best young universities. This year, UMBC ranked #65, joining such institutions as the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Université Paris-Sud, University of Calgary and University of Warwick. THE‘s “100 Under 50” highlights colleges and universities established less than 50 years ago that have promising futures. Particular attention was given to institutions with strong research, innovation and an international outlook. Phil Baty, editor of Times Higher Education Rankings, said: “The academy’s traditional, ancient elite should be warned – many… Continue Reading UMBC Again Named to Times Higher Ed List of “Top 100 Under 50” Universities Worldwide

Pres. Hrabowski and UMBC Students Headline U.S. News STEM Solutions Conference

Apr 25, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

President Hrabowski and three undergraduate scholars from UMBC kicked off the U.S. News STEM Solutions conference with a keynote panel on April 23. Dalton Hughes ’14, chemical engineering, Lauren Mazzoli ’15, mathematics and computer science, and Mitchel Zavala ’14, mechanical engineering, spoke about their UMBC experiences in a discussion moderated by PBS Newshour co-anchor Judy Woodruff. The panel addressed major issues in STEM education, including the challenge of retaining students as STEM majors, the need to increase the participation of underrepresented populations in STEM, and the importance of mentorship and a supportive peer community in student success. Mazzoli, Zavala and… Continue Reading Pres. Hrabowski and UMBC Students Headline U.S. News STEM Solutions Conference

Advancing Excellence: Research, Scholarship and Creative Achievement

Apr 24, 2014 / 3 minutes of reading

This is the second in a series of articles on the four focus areas that are part of UMBC’s strategic planning process. The primary goal of the Collective Impact in Research, Scholarship, and Creative Achievement focus area is to elevate UMBC as a nationally recognized and regionally relevant research university. The key drivers in achieving this goal are: creating an inclusive environment for faculty and students, developing excellence in new intellectual frontiers, and fostering multidisciplinary and inter-institutional approaches that build research, scholarship and creative achievement across the campus. Strategy group co-chairs Aryya Gangopadhyay, professor and chair of information systems, and… Continue Reading Advancing Excellence: Research, Scholarship and Creative Achievement

Advancing Excellence: The Student Experience

Apr 18, 2014 / 4 minutes of reading

Our UMBC: A Strategic Plan for Advancing Excellence is founded on a broadly inclusive process. With campus input, the Strategic Planning Steering Committee identified four areas widely viewed as drivers of future success for UMBC: The Student Experience, Innovative Curriculum and Pedagogy, Collective Impact in Research, Scholarship, and Creative Achievement, and Community and Extended Connection. A strategy group will explore and recommend goals for each area, and will recommend metrics to assess how well we are addressing our objectives. This is the first in a series of interviews with the co-chairs of each focus area. The primary goal of The… Continue Reading Advancing Excellence: The Student Experience

Sherri Braxton-Lieber Named Director of Instructional Technology

Apr 16, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

Dr. Sherri Braxton-Lieber, Special Assistant to the Provost and Director of Course Redesign at Bowie State University (BSU), has accepted UMBC’s Director of Instructional Technology position in the Division of Information Technology. She will start full-time on Tuesday, May 27, and serve as the primary point of contact for DoIT’s instructional technology support efforts.

UMBC Recognized for Value and Smart Students

Apr 11, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

Recent reports have recognized UMBC as a top school for “smart students” and a university that provides students with strong “ROI,” relating tuition and other costs to alumni salaries. Using student-reported data from College Prowler, Business Insider ranked UMBC in the top ten on a list of Public Colleges with the Smartest Students. A student review of UMBC on College Prowler describes, “UMBC is a great university. Its diversity, high-quality education, and leadership opportunities make it a place where everyone can shine.” The Business Insider story generated notable online interest, including over 15,000 views through UMBC’s Facebook page. In the Payscale.com College ROI report, UMBC… Continue Reading UMBC Recognized for Value and Smart Students

Lee Hawthorne Calizo, OSL, Recognized as ACPA Diamond Honoree

Apr 9, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

Lee Hawthorne Calizo, Director of Student Life, was recognized at the American College Personnel Association’s National Conference in Indianapolis in this years class of Diamond Honorees. Lee was nominated by colleagues who believe she has distinguished herself as a teacher, administrator, researcher, writer, and an association leader. In addition, Lee has demonstrated sustained contributions to ACPA, higher education, and the Student Affairs profession at the local, state, regional, national, or international levels.

UMBC’s Chess Team Ranks Second in the Nation

Apr 9, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

On Sunday, April 6, 2014, UMBC Chess took second place in the President’s Cup, also known as the Final Four of College Chess. UMBC has won the President’s Cup a record six times, and this year competed against Texas Tech, the University of Illinois and Webster University, which grabbed the title this year. Alan Sherman, director of UMBC’s Center for Information Security and Assurance, has been director of UMBC’s chess program for over a decade. Joel DeWyer, associate director of The Commons, is business manager for the team. His live tweeting of the competition, with play-by-plays conveying the energy of… Continue Reading UMBC’s Chess Team Ranks Second in the Nation

Shriver Center Peaceworker Fellows Meet With City Council

Apr 8, 2014 / 1 minute of reading

The Shriver Center’s Peaceworker Fellows recently met with City Council President Jack Young and City Councilman Jim Kraft to discuss their history of public service and their vision for moving Baltimore forward. UMBC’s Peaceworker Fellows have worked in public service internships at City Hall with Councilman Kraft for nearly a decade. This partnership has allowed Peaceworker alumni to hold positions in various City Hall offices. The above photo features the current cohort of Peaceworker Fellows at Baltimore City Hall on March 28, joined by Peaceworker alumni Kristyn Oldendorf from Councilman Kraft’s Office, Lisa Fink from the Mayor’s Office of Criminal… Continue Reading Shriver Center Peaceworker Fellows Meet With City Council