Dear UMBC Community,

I am writing to provide an update on our efforts following UMBC’s 2024 agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to strengthen and expand initiatives for preventing and responding to reports of sexual misconduct and sex discrimination under Title IX. The agreement followed a lengthy investigation by the DOJ that found systemic failures in the university’s Title IX compliance between 2015 and 2020. 

The agreement is in effect through the 2028 – 29 academic year and commits us to taking many steps to bolster our Title IX office and its work, provide specific support for student-athletes and the Athletics Department, expand training for all members of the community, and provide financial relief to certain individuals, as determined and directed by the DOJ. 

The update provided here shares a report of progress since the fall 2025 update. As required by the agreement, UMBC submitted its fourth monitoring report to the DOJ this winter. The university has fully implemented all of the initial provisions of the agreement and remains in the monitoring phase of the agreement. Thus, the work that we continue to do goes above and beyond what is required under the agreement. It is not the agreement that drives our work, but rather our commitment to uphold the highest standards of care, safety, integrity, and accountability for our campus community. 

Our recent work includes:

• Increased engagement with our Coordinated Community Response Team to receive feedback on policies, procedures, programming, coordination, and communication efforts;
• Successful implementation of mandatory Title IX training for students and employees;
• Expansion of specialized education and training efforts to include offerings for those designated as confidential resources;
• Targeted support and resources for student-athletes; and
• Integrated use of restorative practices as an informal resolution method as appropriate.

The Office of Equity and Civil Rights (ECR) in particular bears a significant load of this work.  And, none of this is possible without the dedicated staff who work tirelessly across campus to uphold our commitment. Thanks to the many campus partners who continue to engage and support these efforts.  

Sincerely,

Tanyka M. Barber
Vice President for Institutional Equity and Chief Diversity Officer

To view the original post, please click the link below:
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/announcements/posts/158745

The 2026 UMBC Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey was launched! Information gathered from the survey will be used to inform our ongoing education, prevention, and response work, and is an important component in campus-wide efforts to stop, prevent, and remedy the effects of sexual misconduct at UMBC.

All students who complete the survey will be entered into a drawing to win one of five $100
UMBC Bookstore gift cards.

You can access the online survey here. The survey will be open from Wednesday,
April 15 until Thursday, April 30, and will take about 15-25 minutes to complete.

This survey is anonymous and confidential. After completing the UMBC Sexual Misconduct Campus Climate Survey, you will be prompted to enter your name and email address in a separate voluntary survey to enter for a chance to win one of the gift cards.

Content note: This survey asks some questions about personal experiences with sexual and
interpersonal violence. Some of the language used in this survey is explicit and direct and
may be triggering or uncomfortable for some participants. Information on how to get help, if you need it, appears before and after the survey and is available on the ECR website.

Thank you in advance for your participation!

This week, we are hosting the final sessions of our signature programs for the semester—the Inclusive Excellence in Action Series, Culture Conversations, and Circles for Beloved Community.

These sessions provide space for faculty and staff to connect with colleagues, engage meaningfully, and gain valuable insights.

We invite you to register and attend.

Today | 11:30 am - 1:30 am | Virtual 

Centering Our Humanity: Leveraging Inclusive Excellence in Anti-DEI Times

April 15 | 12 pm - 2 pm | Virtual 

Building and Sustaining Transformative Relationships

April 15 | 4pm - 5:30 pm | University Center 302

Circles for Beloved Community

These events are open for full participation by all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected category under applicable federal law, state law, and the University's nondiscrimination policy.

Dear UMBC Community, 

Inclusive excellence is at the heart of UMBC’s identity. We are strengthening this commitment by introducing a framework that helps form a shared definition to guide our work.

The Division of Institutional Equity team has developed a draft framework for inclusive excellence, building on ideas shared by our campus community through the series UMBC Talks in 2024 and 2025. The framework is intended to articulate our shared commitments, communicate our values, guide action, inspire collaboration, and support the development and implementation of UMBC’s next strategic plan.

This spring, we are inviting the entire campus community to participate in dialogue sessions to help continue to shape the framework. These conversations are an opportunity to share your experiences, reflect on your values, and provide feedback to strengthen this work.

UMBC Talks dialogues are 90-minute, facilitated conversations led by Ciara Christian, M.A. ’18, Ph.D. ’22, director of the Center for Social Justice Dialogue, and David Hoffman, Ph.D. ’13, director of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life.

The following UMBC Talks dialogue sessions are currently scheduled:

• Friday, April 10, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m., UC 312 - Focused on faculty and staff experiences but open to all. Participants will have opportunities to connect with others who share similar UMBC affiliations. RSVP here.

• Wednesday, April 15, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., UC 312 - Open to all. Conversations will take place in mixed groups. RSVP here.

• Friday, April 24, 10 a.m. – noon, UC 312 - Focused on graduate student experiences, but open to all. Participants will have opportunities to connect with others who share similar UMBC affiliations. RSVP here.

• Friday, April 24, 2 – 4 p.m., UC 312 - Focused on undergraduate student experiences but open to all. Participants will have opportunities to connect with others who share similar UMBC affiliations. RSVP here.

• Tuesday, April 28, 3 – 5 p.m., Virtual - Open to all. Conversations will take place in mixed groups. RSVP here.

Each session will follow the same format, so you can choose the time that works best for you. We encourage you to participate and share your perspective as we shape this important work together.

Sincerely, 

Tanyka M. Barber
Vice President for Institutional Equity and Chief Diversity Officer

To view the original post, please click the link below:
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/announcements/posts/158459

As part of UMBC’s ongoing commitment to fostering equitable and inclusive learning and working environments, we are pleased to share training opportunities designed to strengthen inclusive practices and support meaningful engagement across our campus community. These offerings include virtual courses available through Vector Solutions, along with in-person sessions facilitated by partners in the Division of Institutional Equity (DOIE).

Faculty, staff, supervisors, and campus partners are encouraged to participate. For questions or enrollment support, please submit a request form here or email culture@umbc.edu.

Virtual Training Options 

Becoming an Ally: Part 1

This course introduces the foundations of allyship and provides participants with tools to begin practicing allyship in personal and professional settings. Topics include defining allyship, approaches to becoming an ally, strategies for self-education, and ways to recognize unfairness and advantage. 

Becoming an Ally: Part 2

This course builds on Part 1 by focusing on translating values into action. Participants will examine effective and ineffective allyship and explore strategies for sustaining ongoing allyship efforts.

Diversity Competent Mentoring: Developmental Networks 

This course helps mentors understand how developmental networks support mentees in navigating workplace expectations while honoring their identities. Participants will explore boundary-setting, goal development, and the importance of valuing unheard perspectives and distinctive skills.

Diversity Competent Mentoring: Relational Mentoring 

This course focuses on building authentic mentoring relationships that support mentee success without requiring identity compromise. Participants will explore relational mentoring strategies and approaches for fostering inclusion through connection. 

Diversity Competent Mentoring: Combating Bias as a Mentor 

This course examines common harmful behaviors and preconceptions experienced by individuals from underrepresented groups. Participants will learn practical strategies for addressing bias and reducing its impact in academic and professional environments. 

In-Person Training Options

Building Inclusive Departmental Cultures

Available Facilitators: Jasmine A. Lee, Associate Vice President for Community & Culture/Co-Director of Social Justice Dialogue, Ciara R. Christian, Co-Director of the Center for Social Justice Dialogue, and Sy Simms, Learning and Development Specialist.

Building Inclusive Departmental Cultures is a general workshop and tailored in-person training session designed to equip participants with the knowledge, language, and practical tools needed to cultivate environments where every member of a department can thrive. Drawing from theory, lived experience, and real-world scenarios, the training explores how identity, systemic dynamics, and everyday practices shape the culture, climate, and relational health of academic and professional departments. Grounded in frameworks for equity-centered organizational change, this training integrates education and storytelling to encourage participants to examine the cultures already present in their departments. Additionally, it invites participants to recognize how unexamined assumptions, exclusionary norms, and gaps in awareness can influence team dynamics, decision-making, hiring and retention, policies, and the overall sense of belonging within a unit. The session emphasizes accountability, courageous self-reflection, and the importance of intentional, sustained action in building cultures where all people feel valued and included. 

During this session, participants will:

• Learn and define key terms connected to inclusion, equity, organizational culture, and belonging in higher education contexts.
• Explore how departmental culture is shaped, reinforced, and changed through daily interactions, norms, structures, and leadership practices.
• Examine the role that identity and positionality play in how individuals experience departmental culture differently.
• Reflect on personal assumptions, blind spots, and areas of growth related to their own contributions to departmental climate.
• Identify common barriers to inclusion that emerge in academic departments, including microaggressions, gatekeeping, and cultural homogeneity.
• Engage in interactive activities and dialogue to practice inclusive communication and collaborative problem-solving.
• Discuss concrete strategies for building and sustaining departmental cultures that center equity, access, and belonging.

Example Learning Outcomes: By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Demonstrate increased awareness of how departmental culture is constructed and how it differentially impacts members across identities and roles.
• Interrogate their own positionality and assumptions, including how their behaviors and decisions contribute to or detract from an inclusive departmental climate.
• Apply practical strategies and best practices for fostering equitable norms, policies, and relational practices within their department.
• Commit to continued learning and action in order to build and sustain departmental cultures where all members experience genuine inclusion and belonging. 

Dialogue Practices for Building Departmental Belonging 

Available Facilitators: Jasmine A. Lee, Associate Vice President for Community & Culture/Co-Director of the Center for Social Justice Dialogue, Ciara R. Christian, Co-Director of the Center for Social Justice Dialogue, Wendy Low, Coordinator, Center for Social Justice Dialogue

Dialogue Practices for Building Departmental Belonging is a hands-on workshop designed to equip participants with concrete skills for engaging across differences and fostering genuine belonging within their departments. Through a blend of facilitated practice, real-world scenarios, and reflective exercises, participants will develop practical fluency in the dialogue behaviors that most directly shape whether colleagues feel seen, heard, and valued, including active listening, naming assumptions, navigating difficult conversations, and communicating with intentional vulnerability. Grounded in established dialogue facilitation and relational practice frameworks, the session moves participants from awareness to action: identifying specific habits that undermine trust and connection, and replacing them with practiced, repeatable skills for more authentic engagement. Participants leave with a personal toolkit of dialogue strategies they can apply immediately in departmental interactions in one-on-one conversations, team meetings, or moments of conflict and repair.

During this session, participants will:

• Learn and define key terms connected to dialogue, relational communication, active listening, and belonging in organizational and academic settings.
• Explore the distinction between dialogue and debate, and examine how different communication habits shape the culture and relational health of a department.
• Engage in personal reflection and storytelling to examine their own experiences of belonging and exclusion in professional communities.
• Reflect on personal communication patterns, biases, and tendencies that may either open or close space for authentic connection across difference.
• Examine common communication breakdowns and relational ruptures that occur in departmental settings and how they impact belonging.
• Practice core dialogue skills—including deep listening, inquiry, and perspective-taking—through structured interactive activities.
• Discuss strategies for facilitating and sustaining dialogue practices that foster trust, psychological safety, and a culture of belonging within their department.

Example Learning Outcomes: By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Demonstrate increased knowledge and skill in the use of dialogue practices that support authentic connection, trust-building, and belonging across differences in departmental settings.
• Interrogate their own communication patterns and relational habits, including the ways in which they may unintentionally close space for others to feel heard and valued.
• Apply practical dialogue strategies and facilitation tools to navigate difficult conversations, bridge differences, and strengthen departmental relationships.
• Commit to continued learning and practice in order to cultivate departmental communities grounded in genuine belonging, mutual respect, and relational accountability.

Learn More & Get Involved

We encourage all campus partners to take advantage of these opportunities to strengthen our shared culture of equity and belonging.

For questions about registering, scheduling, or determining the best session for your role, please visit culture.umbc.edu or contact the Community & Culture team at culture@umbc.edu.

Dear colleagues,

We are excited to invite you to partner with the Division of Institutional Equity in an ongoing, community-wide effort to foster a more loving, inclusive, and just campus: Culture Builders @ UMBC.

Culture building is the intentional practice of shaping the values, relationships, and everyday practices that define how we live, learn, and lead together. In a time marked by polarization and a loss of shared humanity, creating an inclusive culture requires all of us—each of us has a role to play.

Culture Builders @ UMBC is an academic-year cohort for staff and faculty who are interested in deepening their capacity to support meaningful culture change in their local contexts. This is not a traditional training or a space for quick fixes. Instead, the cohort invites participants into a process of reflection, dialogue, and practice that supports more sustained and thoughtful approaches to inclusive excellence.

As a Culture Builder, you will:

• Engage in critical, practice-based conversations about identity, community, and belonging

• Reflect on your own role in shaping culture within your department, unit, or sphere of influence

• Learn alongside colleagues across roles and disciplines

• Develop a context-specific action plan and implementation strategy to support culture change over time

Throughout the year, participants will be guided through a process of deepening awareness, grappling with complexity, and taking thoughtful action in their work.

This year’s cohort will engage Valarie Kaur’s See No Stranger as a shared text to support reflection and dialogue. The book will serve as a conversation partner as we explore what it means to build a more just and connected campus community. All participants will receive a copy.

What to Expect:

• Small cohort experience: 10 staff and faculty participants will be selected from across campus
• Monthly cohort sessions: 2-hour meetings for reflection, dialogue, and applied learning
• Small group connections: Opportunities for ongoing support and accountability
• Culture Change Project: Each participant will develop a strategic action plan, with the goal of piloting a program, initiative, or practice where appropriate
• Campus engagement: Participants will contribute to a shared kickoff event in the fall and a final showcase of learning

If you are already engaged in equity-focused work—or looking for a meaningful way to begin—this is your invitation to join a community committed to building the culture we want to see at UMBC.

APPLY TODAY

Please complete the application form HERE by April 30, 2026.

Supervisor support is required and must be submitted by May 1, 2026 via the Supervisor Support Form. Applications will be reviewed after the deadline, and participants will be notified in mid-May.

We look forward to building a thoughtful and engaged cohort for the year ahead.

This April, the Division of Institutional Equity has a full lineup of events and opportunities for the UMBC community. All events and opportunities across the division are open to full participation by all community members. Here’s how you can get involved!

April 1 – 16 | The Commons: 004

Clothesline Shirt Making & Rally Sign Making

Join the Women’s, Gender and Equity Center throughout April to create shirts for the Clothesline Project and rally signs for the Take Back the Night march. Supplies will be available all month, with completed shirts displayed on April 9 and 16. Participants are invited to contribute to ongoing awareness efforts, with later creations featured in future exhibits, including Relationship Violence Awareness Month.

April 1 | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm | University Center 312

Trans Week of Visibility Panel and Resource Fair: Visibility in Higher Education

Join the Pride Center and Women’s, Gender, & Equity Center for a panel and resource fair celebrating Trans Week of Visibility. This event will feature a facilitated panel discussion, community resources, and opportunities for connection centered on trans and non-binary experiences in higher education. Attendees can engage in meaningful dialogue, enjoy refreshments, and explore resources supporting visibility and inclusion.

April 6 | 11:00 am – 2:00 pm | The Commons: 328

Green Dot Training: An Interactive Bystander Training

Join the Women’s, Gender, and Equity Center and the Division of Student Affairs for a hands-on bystander intervention training as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This interactive session equips participants with practical tools to help prevent power-based violence, including sexual and partner violence. Attendees will also have the opportunity to earn a digital credential to showcase their training and commitment to creating safer communities.

April 7 | 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm | The Commons: 329

Crafting Your Story: Crochet & Connect

Join Social Justice Dialogue Facilitation Fellows for a creative and reflective afternoon of crochet, storytelling, and dialogue. Participants will learn basic crochet techniques while engaging in guided conversations around identity, growth, challenges, and community. No experience is needed, materials, snacks, and refreshments will be provided.

April 7 | 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm | The Commons: 004

Sexual Assault 101: Consent on Campus – How to Support a Survivor

Join the Women’s, Gender, and Equity Center in partnership with Turnaround Inc. for an interactive workshop. This session explores the realities of sexual violence on college campuses, including consent, myths, and prevalence. Participants will engage with real-life scenarios and gain practical tools to support survivors and foster a culture of respect and accountability.

April 8 | 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm | Virtual

Start by Believing: Supporting Disclosures of Sexual Violence

Join the Division of Institutional Equity and UMBC Campus Police for a workshop designed to help faculty and staff confidently respond to disclosures of sexual violence. Participants will learn about the Start by Believing campaign and build skills to support survivors in a trauma-informed, survivor-centered way. This session aims to strengthen a culture of support, safety, and accountability across the UMBC community.

April 8 | 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm | Engineering 027

ADS Film Screening: Being Michelle

Join the Office of Accessibility and Disability Services for a screening of Being Michelle, highlighting the powerful story of a deaf, autistic woman who endured incarceration and systemic neglect. The film explores her resilience and the impact of support through her connection with a blind life coach, Kim Law. Come watch, reflect, and engage. Popcorn will be provided.

April 9 & 23 | 3 pm - 4:30 pm | The Commons: 2B23

SistaCare

Join the Center for Social Justice Dialogue for SistaCare - a community care and dialogue group that provides a supportive space to explore the experiences of Black/Africana women and femmes on campus while fostering connection, reflection, and care. These sessions invite participants to learn, share, and build community, and are open to all individuals. Event details: [April 9] [April 23].

April 9 | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm | The Commons: 004

Movie Night: Nevertheless

Join the Women’s, Gender, and Equity Center for a special evening screening of Nevertheless (2020), directed by Sarah Moshman. This documentary shares powerful, intersectional stories of individuals impacted by sexual harassment across industries, connecting to the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements. Come watch, and engage in reflection and conversation on preventing sexual misconduct. Pizza, popcorn, and sweet treats will be provided.

April 10, 15, 24 & 28 | Multiple Times | In-person & Virtual

UMBC Talks: Inclusive Excellence

Join the Center for Social Justice Dialogue and Center for Democracy and Civic Life for a series of 90-minute, co-facilitated dialogues designed to shape UMBC’s shared definition of inclusive excellence. These interactive sessions invite students, faculty, and staff to engage with a drafted framework, share perspectives, and contribute to guiding the university’s future vision and strategic direction. Each session offers space for meaningful conversation across different campus experiences. Event details: [April 10] [April 15] [April 24:10am & 2pm] [April 28].

April 13 | 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm | AOK Library Gallery

Guest Lecture: Silent No Longer

Join the Office of Accessibility and Disability Services for an upcoming conversation with Robert Stack on advancing disability rights and addressing systemic barriers. The conversation will also highlight his new book, Silent No Longer: Advancing the Fight for Disability Rights, which explores critical issues within the disability services industry. Attendees can expect insights into profit-driven care, disparities in funding, and challenges impacting quality support. This session invites the community to engage in meaningful dialogue and advocate for more equitable and dignified care systems.

April 14 | 11:30 am - 1 pm | Virtual

Inclusive Excellence In Action Series

Join us for the second session of this semester’s Inclusive Excellence in Action series, “Skills to Center Humanity in the Academy: Responding to Anti-DEI Efforts Across Higher Education”. This session will equip participants with practical tools, strategies, and key takeaways to strengthen inclusive leadership, relationship-centered engagement, and humanizing approaches that foster learning and beloved community across campus.

 April 15 | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm | Virtual

 Supervisors: Navigating Accommodations and FMLA from Referrals to Implementation

Join Human Resources and Accessibility & Disability Services for an upcoming session designed for UMBC supervisors on supporting disability inclusion in the workplace. The session will review FMLA leave and disability accommodation processes, with a focus on navigating accommodations and extended leave requests. Open to supervisors, this online session will deepen understanding of FMLA and accommodations while building capacity for inclusive excellence at UMBC.

April 15 | 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm | Virtual

Culture Conversations

Join the Office of Community and Culture for a facilitated conversation on “Sustaining Transformative Relationships". Participants will learn how to cultivate relational practices that strengthen connection, reduce harm, and support more sustainable ways of working together.

April 15 | 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm | University Center:302

Circles for Beloved Community

The Office of Community and Culture invites faculty and staff to gather in facilitated spaces to build trust and understanding. These circles offer an opportunity to slow down, connect across roles and experiences, and practice being in community together.

April 16 | 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm | The Commons: Mainstreet

UMBC’s Take Back the Night 2026

Join the Women’s, Gender, and Equity Center for an evening of solidarity and action during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This event features a resource fair, survivor speak-out, campus march, and opportunities for community reflection and healing. Attendees are invited to stand against sexual violence, support survivors, and engage in building a safer campus community, with self-care spaces and support resources available throughout.

April 17 | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm | Virtual

Dis/Ability On The Job: Accommodations and FMLA 101 for Non-Supervisors

Join Human Resources and Accessibility & Disability Services for an upcoming session tailored for UMBC employees on supporting disability inclusion in the workplace. This session will review FMLA leave and disability accommodation processes, with a focus on managing one’s own health conditions and returning to work. Open to all employees, this online event offers an opportunity to deepen knowledge and contribute to a more inclusive and supportive workplace at UMBC.

April 20 | 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm | The Commons: 318

Building Better Days (Tools for Daily Engagement): The 80/20 Principle 

Join UMBC’s Davonya Hall and Danielle Woody from Towson University for an interactive session on applying restorative practices in everyday workplace interactions. This session explores the 80/20 principle, emphasizing proactive relationship-building as the foundation for a healthy and supportive community. Participants will gain practical tools and strategies to foster trust, accountability, and meaningful engagement in their daily work.

April 23 | 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm | The Commons: 004

Survivor Self-Care Day

Join the Women’s, Gender, and Equity Center for a restorative afternoon of trauma-informed self-care during Sexual Assault Awareness Month. This event offers survivors and allies space to relax and decompress through activities such as yoga, acupuncture, health check-ins, and crafting. Participants are invited to prioritize healing, wellness, and community care in a supportive environment.

Discussion Group Meetings

Join the Women’s, Gender, and Equity Center this month for weekly discussion group meetings! Connect, share, and grow through spaces such as Grad Connect, We Believe You, Rebuilding Manhood, Spectrum, Women of Color Collective, Women and Gender Minorities in STEM, Returning Adult Learners, Athletics Group, Between Femmes, and Head Space. Visit https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/womenscenter/events?mode=upcoming&page=1 for more information and schedules for each group.

Employee Annual Title IX Training Requirement

Pursuant to UMBC's Interim Policy on Sex Discrimination, Sex-Based Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct, all faculty (including adjunct faculty), staff (regular and contingent), and student-employees (including teaching assistants and graduate assistants) are required to complete Title IX training each year. Employees who have not yet completed the training requirement should review the instructions and complete the outlined series of three asynchronous modules as soon as possible. New employees should complete training within 60 days of hire.The training will cover topics such as an overview of the Office of Equity and Civil Rights (ECR), what constitutes prohibited conduct under university policy, responding to a disclosure, procedures for reporting and resolving reports of prohibited conduct, trauma-informed care, confidentiality, and other applicable policies and procedures. Additional information regarding the training may be found in ECR's training FAQs. If you still have questions, please contact ECR at ECRtraining@umbc.edu.

Inside DOIE is a monthly series that introduces the faces in the Division of Institutional Equity. This project is an opportunity for our campus community to get to know the team.Role within the Division: Associate Vice President, Community & Culture; Co-Director, Center for Social Justice Dialogue
How long have you been at UMBC?: Since 2019, 2024

How would you describe your role within the Division of Institutional Equity? 

Beyond the titles, within DOIE and across campus, I think of myself and my role as a culture builder, community connector, institutional navigator, and joy pusher, working to lead with love and model inclusive excellence in how I exist and the work I do.

Can you share a moment or experience that shaped your passion for equity and inclusion work?

I started my career as an undergraduate student working at the Center for Multicultural Affairs; that experience, spanning over 3 years, continues to inform my thinking and opened the door for me to (still) be doing this work today.

What is one initiative or project you're currently working on that excites you?

Watching the Center for Social Justice Dialogue grow and expand has honestly been a dream come true. I was introduced to intergroup dialogue theory as part of my Master's program and have been dreaming of and planning for a center like this since 2010. I cannot wait to see the ways it continues to evolve and the impact it leaves on campus.

Outside of work, what's something that brings you joy or helps you recharge? 

I really enjoy roller skating (think Roll Bounce)! Putting on my black suede skates with iridescent wheels and vibing to the music brings me a lot of joy.

Can you share a book/quote/movie or something others can engage with from your perspective of inclusive excellence?

There are so many books I would recommend! The top on my list are Emergent Strategy, Adrienne Maree Brown; All About Love, bell hooks; Healing Resistance, Kazu Haga; Practicing Liberation, Tessa Hicks Peterson

Spring 2026 Highlights:

• MAR 26: Tea Time With Tori: Tech Drop-in & Conversation, MP 222, Noon-2 PM
• MAR 25: Accessibility Tour: Wayfinding, Skywalks and Resources, MP 222, Noon-1:00 PM
• MAR 30: Campus Accessibility Spring Update, Engineering 027, Noon-1:00 PM (Hybrid)
• APR 8: ADS Film Screening: Being Michelle, Engineering 027, 4:00 PM -6:00 PM
• APR 13: Guest Lecture: Silent No Longer, AOK Library Gallery, 3:30 PM -4:30 PM
• APR 15: Supervisors: Navigating Accommodations and FMLA from Referrals to Implementation, Noon-1:00 PM, Virtual
• APR 17: Dis/Ability On The Job: Accommodations and FMLA 101 for Non-Supervisors, Noon-1:00PM, Virtual
• APR 24: Tea Time With Tori: Tech Drop-in & Conversation, MP 222, Noon-2 PM
• APR 24: Digital Accessibility Challenge Day: Review your Site, Content, & Documents (Campus Wide)
  

Contact us: disability@umbc.edu | (410) 455-2459 | sds.umbc.edu

To view the original myUMBC post please click the link below:
https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/accessibility/posts/157680