When UMBC founded the Institute of Politics (IoP) in fall 2024, the new politics research center housed in the College of Arts, Humanities, and the Social Science outlined a clear mandate: to produce public-facing and community-engaged research and events on political, policy, and social issues for the betterment of Maryland, and to include UMBC students every step of the way.
Two years on, the IoP and its signature research product, the UMBC Poll, have already become indispensable to policy makers and the press and are garnering a reputation for accuracy and up-to-the-minute relevancy. Thanks to covering such hot button issues as Gov. Wes Moore’s approval ratings and the Key Bridge rebuild, the UMBC Poll has garnered over 400 mentions in the press so far in 2026.
True to the IoP’s founding mission, students are centered in the work. IoP Director Mileah Kromer and Associate Director Ian Anson are committed to giving their students hands-on experience in developing, conducting, analyzing, and publicizing high-visibility political polls. That commitment kicked up a notch as spring semester came to an end. The IoP held two events that brought policy-minded Retrievers together with state and local leaders to share visions for a better future–and to learn from each other how to bring those visions to fruition.
Students share UMBC Poll results on parks and recreation use
On April 29, IoP research assistants Trisha Sirsat, Audrey Grutzik, and Sofia Cabrera presented results from the IoP’s March statewide poll and April poll of Baltimore County. Each poll included an array of questions that gauged residents’ opinions toward parks, recreation, and public lands. The audience of state and county leaders included Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Joshua Kurtz and Baltimore County Director of Recreation and Parks Bryan Sheppard. The students’ presentation provided analysis regarding visitation, preferred activities, and areas for expansion and improvement. When the leaders peppered the students with questions, the students were prepared.
“I was really impressed with the quality of the analysis,” said Kurtz, who appreciated how the student’s youthful perspective added to the value of the research. “Having our young people who are about to step into the professional world and be the next set of leaders doing this research is critically important.”
AAPI event connects students with careers in politics
A week later, the IoP brought another set of leaders to campus to engage with students, this time to mark Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Politics Everywhere: Understanding the AAPI Vote was co-moderated by Sirsat and UMBC alum Del. Mark Chang ’99 and kicked off with a keynote by Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller followed by a panel including Dels. David Moon, Kris Valderrama, and Harry Bhandari, Ph.D. ’21, and Sushant Sidh, principal at Capitol Strategies.
The event was inspired by Del. Chang, who worked with Sirsat to develop questions for the panelists. The panelists shared similar stories of having been written off, undervalued, or discriminated against early in their careers until learning that they deserved to have their voice heard—a lesson they urged the assembled students to take to heart.
“Volunteer, work on a campaign. And when the time comes, run for office. Don’t ever keep that off your list of things to do, said Lt. Gov. Miller, who added this incentive: “When any of you decide to run, give me a call. I would love to be able to be the first one that writes you a check for your campaign.”
The students say working on critical policy research and engaging with local and state leaders shows them how government actually works and helps them make connections for the future.
“It was really exciting and fulfilling to see leaders so invested and interested in our work,” says Sirsat, a junior majoring in political science. “I think it’s really valuable to meet and have conversations with experts in positions you may want one day.”
Kromer says the recent events, and all of the IoP’s work, are key to living up to the IoP’s commitment to its public-facing mission. “I want to elevate the voices of everyday Marylanders and provide policymakers useful information about how they can better serve the residents of the state,” says Kromer, who adds that students can look forward to more exciting opportunities in the fall.
