Congratulations to Erika Bucciantini, the 2026 recipient of the Bernard L. Berkowitz Memorial award.  Erika is a doctoral student in The School of Public Policy at UMBC with a specialization in Urban Policy. She holds a Bachelors in Humanities & Social Sciences from Western Washington University and a Masters in Classical Studies from the University of Kentucky with additional certification from the Institute for Latin Studies. Her research interests include the impact of neoclassical monuments and architecture in the American landscape, land use, and displacement. As a Graduate Assistant, she is proudly supporting Dr. Loren Henderson in her research on the plight of Black farmers in America. Erika’s other pursuits have included teaching and presenting in the areas of Ancient Studies, World Languages, English, and Humanities, serving on the citizen input board for the Dickerson Area facilities in Montgomery County, and keeping a large garden and a small flock of chickens.

Erika will be recognized in a brief ceremony on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 4pm in the AOK Library Gallery.  

Following the precentation, Dr. Eric Stokan's Urban Problems and Policy Analysis students will present their "neighborhood development plans" as part of a collaboration with the Urban Land Institute of Baltimore.  More information about the simulations can be found in this May 2024 article.  

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

***Repost***

Monday, April 27, 2026 · 4 - 5:30 PM
Library and Gallery, Albin O. Kuhn : Gallery

Part of the Spring 2026 Humanities Forum

Romanticism Bewitched: Witchcraft, Revolution and the Female Demonic

Orianne Smith, Professor, English, UMBC 

The Romantic-era witch was a remarkably flexible symbol of political and social disorder. The recent seventeenth-century witch hunts had already revealed deep anxieties about the subversive potential of women, and the witches who stalk the pages of Gothic poetry and prose or glare menacingly from works of art by Henry Fuseli and William Blake embody revolutionary anger and the possibility of radical social transformation. Despite the fears surrounding such figures, however, the Romantic period also saw witchcraft open up in conceptually new ways, enabling writers and artists to envision alternative means of interacting in the world that were not predicated on the subordination of women and other marginalized groups. Here, Orianne Smith embarks on an interdisciplinary reimagining of witchcraft, women's writing, religion, and social reform, providing original insights on the history of witchcraft and its influence on public discourse, literature and art.

This public forum is 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.

Co-sponsored by the Department of English.

Graduate Student Appreciation Week is coming to a close, and this is your moment to take it all in. The late nights, the stress, the wins, the growth — it all led here.

Get a ticket to Grad Prom & Awards and come celebrate yourself and the people who made this journey what it was. Whether that’s your friends, classmates, or the ones who kept you going behind the scenes — this night is for all of you. 🎓

No pressure, no expectations — just good music, good food, and a space to actually enjoy the moment together.

🗓️ Friday, April 10
⏰ 5–8 PM
📍 UC Ballroom

You made it this far. Take the night to celebrate that

The Albin O. Kuhn Library and Gallery, Dresher Center for the Humanities, and UMBC Department of English invite you to celebrate National Library Week and UMBC BookFest, April 19-25, 2026

Monday, April 20

12:00 - 1:00 PM: Banned Books Read-In | Library Rotunda

Exercise your freedom to read! Learn more about book challenges and bans in the United States, spend some time reading books that have been banned or challenged, and find out which 10 books were most frequently banned or challenged in 2025.

4:00 - 7:00 PM: Our Stories Matter: Books, Arts, and Community | Library 7th Floor

Make a mosaic that celebrates individual and community stories, embracing and amplifying all voices. This program is part of a series that will continue through 2026.

Tuesday, April 21

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM: BookMarkIt | Library Plaza

Celebrate all things books with letterpress printing, zinemaking and swaps, a book drive, giveaways, and more!

3:00 - 5:00 PM: Find the Library at Transfer-Palooza! | UC Ballroom

Hey, transfer students! We will be at Transfer-Palooza with information about library services, plus stickers and swag!

5:00 - 6:30 PM: One Maryland, One Book: An Evening with Lawrence Burney, Author of No Sense in Wishing | UC 302

The author of the 2026 One Maryland One Book selection will join Assistant Professor of English Chris L. Terry to reflect on his essay collection, growing up in Baltimore, and his deep relationship to music. Refreshments will be served.

Wednesday, April 22

4:00 - 5:00 PM: A New Model: The Barack Obama Presidential Library with Dr. Kenvi Phillips, Barack Obama Presidential Library Director | Library 7th Floor

With approximately 95% of its records created digitally, the Obama Presidential Library is the first digital repository among the 16 presidential libraries stewarded by the National Archives and Records Administration. The library is constantly developing new pathways to process and make records available to the public. This talk will explore how the library is bridging the gap between traditional brick-and-mortar library needs and expectations and digital possibilities. Refreshments will be served.

4:00 - 6:00 PM: BCPL Mobile Services Visit | Library Plaza

Learn about the various mobile services offered by the Baltimore County Public Library - available for free to all UMBC community members!

Thursday, April 23

12:00 - 1:00 PM: Lunch and Learn: Library Advocacy Workshop | Library Room 259 

Join the Maryland Library Association to learn how everyone can be an advocate for library access and services. Lunch will be provided.

4:30 - 6:00 PM: Freedom to Read: A Panel on Libraries and Democracy | Library Gallery

Book challenges and censorship efforts are on the rise across our state and nation. What can we do to protect the right to read and ensure access to library services? Join this timely conversation with Maryland librarians, the Maryland State Library Agency, and Citizens for Maryland Libraries. Refreshments will be served.

Friday, April 24

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Decorate a Library Tote Bag | Library Atrium

You need something to carry all those books! Stop by the library atrium to decorate your own totebag. All supplies will be provided.

All Week

Monday-Friday 12-4: Drop-in button-making | Alan and Wendy Wilson Innovation Lab

Use old book pages and covers to create one-of-a-kind buttons!

All library open hours: Drop-in blackout poetry | Library 1st Floor

Upcycle an old book page into a new piece of literature.

Career Paths for Graduate Students is happening TODAY on the 3rd floor of The Commons.

Even participating in one mock interview or one conversation can help you feel more prepared for what’s next.

Make sure you bring two copies of your resume to hand out to employers. Don’t have a printer? No worries! We will have printing on-site tonight. 

Whether you join us when doors open at 5 PM or after your evening class, we hope you will make it.

Employers attending include:

• Boeing Intelligence & Analytics
• Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
• Maryland Department of Health
• Social Security Administration 
• In-Depth Engineering Corporation

See you there!

It’s not too late to join the party! 🌍✨

Cultural Day is in full swing at the UC Ballroom, and the vibes are unmatched. We’re having a blast just hanging out, chilling, and celebrating the diverse cultures that make our UMBC community so incredible.

Whether you’re just finishing up class or need a mid-day break, swing by to recharge and connect!

What's Waiting For You

• Free Goodies: We have free treats and swag up for grabs while supplies last! 🎁

• Chill Atmosphere: Everyone is having a great time hanging out, playing games, and listening to music.

• Grad Prom Tickets: Don't forget to grab your tickets for our final GSAW celebration—Grad Prom & Awards! It’s happening tomorrow, Friday, April 10, from 5–8 p.m. 🎟️✨

On April 6, 2026, Zareen Taj of LLC Cohort 22 successfully defended her dissertation and earned the title of Doctor of Philosophy.  Her degree will be conferred in May.

Her virtual defense went smoothly and she gave a powerful presentation of her dissertation research, Journey of a Scholar-Activist: An Autoethnographic and Multimodal Inquiry.

The program wishes to acknowledge the guidance and commitment of Zareen's committee:

Co-Chairs:

            Tania Lizarazo, Modern Languages, Linguistics and Intercultural Communication

            Joby Taylor, The Shriver Center

Members:   

            Tanya Saunders, Language, Literacy, and Culture

            Sally Scott, Community Leadership

            Melissa Skye Kerr Chiovenda, George Mason University

Congratulations, Dr. Taj!

Ready to travel the world without leaving campus? 🌍✨

Join us as we continue our Grad Student Appreciation Week and celebrate the incredible tapestry of traditions and backgrounds that make UMBC so unique. It’s Grad Cultural Day, a time to come together, share our stories, and honor the diverse cultures that enrich our community every day!

Today in UC Ballroom from 12-4pm!

What’s Happening?

Global Vibes: Enjoy an afternoon of music and interactive games.

Test Your Knowledge: Challenge your friends to cultural trivia.

Community Spirit: Meet new people and celebrate what makes us "us".

***reposted from CARAT***

The University System of Maryland's (USM) Wilson H. Elkins Professorship (traditional) and the Elkins Professsorship for Academic Transformation are open to UMBC faculty at the rank of Associate Professor and Professor for Academic Year 2026-2027.

Review the attached program information and the USM Wilson H. Elkins Professorship information page, which includes links to both opportunities, at https://www.usmd.edu/usm/academicaffairs/elkins.html.

Elkins Professors will exhibit, at a minimum, all the following qualifications:

• A solid record of achievement in a recognized academic or professional discipline
• Evidence of significant achievement outside traditional disciplines but linked in scholarly and professional ways to the work of the USM
• Demonstrated ability and continuing desire to lead and inspire undergraduate and graduate students in a range of learning situations
• Demonstrated ability and intent to participate in programs and activities outside the USM

Both opportunities require an institutional nomination from a Dean or Provost supporting the faculty member’s candidacy, necessitating an Internal Competition at the College level (detailed information with timeline is attached).

Qualified CAHSS faculty may prepare and submit a pre-proposal, following the attached Internal Competition instructions, to the CAHSS Dean's Office (via Box link) by April 20, 2026. Following a review of the pre-proposals, the advancers (one per professorship) will be notified to prepare complete proposals by April 24, 2026. The College-level nominated proposals will be submitted to the Provost's Office by May 10, 2026 for review and final selection, and then forwarded to the Office of the President. The UMBC nominated proposals must be routed for approval by the Office of Sponsored Programs (in Kuali) prior to submission to USM. The deadline for nomination submissions is May 22, 2026.  

Questions: Contact CARAT - Marc Ruppel, Director (mruppel@umbc.edu) or Rachel Brubaker, Associate Director (rbruba1@umbc.edu)