We are proud to announce that Josh Abrams has been awarded the DoIT Gritty Award for his critical support of instructors and colleagues in the Instructional Technology team.  The Gritty Award is in recognition of outstanding work within the Division. Full-time DoIT employees and teams are eligible to be nominated for going above and beyond! Anyone in DoIT can nominate someone for the Gritty by completing this short Gritty Nomination Form. 

For his exceptional efforts and commitment to excellence, we are proud to present Josh with the DoIT Gritty Award. Congratulations!

Josh Abrams has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication and adaptability in his role as an instructional design specialist at UMBC. His unwavering commitment to providing seamless support for users and team members has been particularly evident during challenging moments, such as complex Blackboard support requests or vendor downtime. Through thick and thin, Josh has remained responsive and proactive, swiftly identifying issues, communicating effectively with all stakeholders, and providing practical remedy options to minimize disruptions.

One user recently expressed deep appreciation for Josh's guidance, highlighting how his expertise has been invaluable in helping them become comfortable with Blackboard Ultra. Thanks to Josh's patience and clear explanations, they can confidently navigate a new platform to prepare their course and better support students. His recent assistance in copying a course and setting up a gradebook showcased his meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that each gradable item had the correct point values while decluttering unnecessary items.

Beyond his professional knowledge, Josh's warmth and kindness create a supportive environment that puts people at ease. Users feel comfortable asking questions because he approaches every interaction with encouragement and patience. This supportive attitude has made a significant difference in the personal growth and confidence of those he assists.

Josh Abrams is truly an inspirational contributor to faculty and student learning at UMBC. His contributions are deeply appreciated, and it is clear that he has a profound impact on the individuals he helps. 

Thank you, Josh, for your time, expertise, and kindness—your efforts do not go unnoticed.

The DoIT Community & The DoIT Gritty Committee

Erica D’Eramo

Ally Hepp

Carlos McKinney

David Toothe

Dondre Hatef

Kashka Donaldson

Mariann Hawken

Nick Beech

Tony Finneran

Roy Prouty

Debbie Michaels - tiebreaker

Ray Soellner  - tiebreaker