ShadyGrove

Five people pose next to a mail in ballot drop off box on campus.

Voting Is an Everyday Practice

Today, millions of college students across the country are voting. Other students are not voting—they might be discouraged that their voice can make a difference, uninformed about their voting rights, or just unengaged with the political process.  In a conversation facilitated by UMBC Magazine, Musa Jafri ’24, political science, SGA director of civic engagement, Sunil Dasgupta, professor of political science, and founder and host of the podcast “I Hate Politics,” and David Hoffman, Ph.D. ’13, language, literacy, and culture, the director of UMBC’s Center for Democracy and Civic Life, discuss the vital democratic process—on campus and off—and the daily practice… Continue Reading Voting Is an Everyday Practice

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Non-Linear Paths to Leadership

Francisco Cartagena describes his academic journey as unorthodox. Now an employee for the City of Gaithersburg, Cartagena started his educational path as an undocumented student. While charting numerous challenges, Cartagena ’19, political science, M.P.S. ’22, cybersecurity, also found ample opportunities for growth along the way, becoming an effective leader of social change at UMBC at The Universities at Shady Grove. Cartagena arrived with his family from El Salvador as a preteen. In 2009, he graduated from high school and set out to Montgomery College to pursue his associate’s degree in general studies—a goal that would take him a decade to… Continue Reading Non-Linear Paths to Leadership

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World traveler finds future in data science at UMBC

While working at Sodexo, a food services company, Tchuissi Mbu Nyamsi ’22 realized that there were data problems she wanted to solve. “I realized it was something I really wanted to have more knowledge in and I wanted to sharpen my skills,” she says. So she enrolled in UMBC’s master’s program in data science at the Universities at Shady Grove. Continue Reading World traveler finds future in data science at UMBC

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UMBC continues to advance Maryland’s biotech workforce through $900K biomanufacturing grant

UMBC’s new biomanufacturing program “is really the next wave of UMBC expanding our training offerings,” says Annica Wayman, associate dean. It builds on success with an award-winning Biotech Boot Camp and the Translational Life Science Technology bachelor’s degree, launched in 2019. Continue Reading UMBC continues to advance Maryland’s biotech workforce through $900K biomanufacturing grant

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UMBC continues to advance biotech in Maryland through new $900K biomanufacturing grant

A growing list of programs and partnerships is positioning UMBC as a leader in developing Maryland’s biotech and biomanufacturing workforce. “We are driven by the vision that Maryland can be a leader in biotech,” Dean Bill LaCourse says. “We’re establishing strong pathways to develop the workforce, where students and professionals have an array of choices about how to get to the biotech career they want and that the region needs.” Continue Reading UMBC continues to advance biotech in Maryland through new $900K biomanufacturing grant

Young adult with long, curly hair smiles for a portrait, wearing graduation regalia and a bow tie.

UMBC’s newest grads leave a legacy of advocacy, inclusion, and support for fellow students

On the back of every UMBC black and gold ID card is a guide to essential emergency resources, including numbers for health, counseling, sexual assault, and suicide prevention helplines. The new card design was the result of student advocacy through UMBC’s Retriever Courage initiative, seeking to better prevent and respond to sexual assault and violence. And the person who suggested that change is Autumn Cook, graduating this week, a tireless advocate for fellow UMBC students. Continue Reading UMBC’s newest grads leave a legacy of advocacy, inclusion, and support for fellow students

UMBC launches Biotech Boot Camp to train workers displaced by COVID-19 for in-demand jobs

While some industries have lost jobs during the pandemic, the biotech industry has seen explosive growth. This new program seeks to address a mismatch between available workers and available jobs. Setting people up to succeed in well-paying new jobs and simultaneously filling the gap in the biotech workforce “is a win-win that we’re really excited to be a part of,” Annica Wayman says. Continue Reading UMBC launches Biotech Boot Camp to train workers displaced by COVID-19 for in-demand jobs

two students in lab coats at a microscope

UMBC’s newest biotech grads launch careers that will make a difference

UMBC’s Translational Life Science Technology degree is one of UMBC’s newest academic programs. The interdisciplinary program “is different from other majors,” says Titina Sirak ’20, “because you take a whole range of classes. It helps you open up your mind to different sides of biotech.” Continue Reading UMBC’s newest biotech grads launch careers that will make a difference

First In Class

It’s no secret why first generation college students thrive at UMBC. Our network of first generation staff and faculty make it the center of their work as educators and researchers. Continue Reading First In Class

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