Provost’s Perspective: Nov. 21, 2025

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 12:36:17 -0500
provost

Welcome to a special Fall Break edition of the Provost’s Perspective. In this edition I want to highlight a few areas and efforts that I am particularly grateful for as we come to the home stretch of the semester – in particular, related to our commitment to shared governance and supporting our community.

Faculty compensation has been a consistent concern since I arrived at UMBC. I am excited to announce that a faculty-led compensation committee has been formed and met this week to start actively examining our faculty compensation and make recommendations. I am grateful for the efforts of Kelly Coleman, Christopher Correnti, Frank Ferraro, Amy Froide, Anupam Joshi, Jeannette Kartchner, Doug Lamdin, Daniel Lobo, Ana Oskoz, and Brad Peercy for their work in helping to ensure we have competitive and equitable compensation for all faculty.

I also want to express my gratitude for the long fall break that begins on Wednesday. The academic calendar change, made in coordination with the Faculty Senate and the university administration, is a great opportunity to recharge and reset as we head into the final month of the fall semester.

Packed Arts Weekend on Tap

Each week my goal is to both inform and highlight different aspects of the UMBC community. This week I would like to shine a spotlight on the outstanding work being undertaken in the Department of Music. Each semester, more than 200 students participate in 15 groups, ensembles, bands, and choirs that perform locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.

This week is a particularly packed period. I encourage you to find a performance and support our artists. A few highlights this weekend include:

UMBC Gamelan Ensemble

Friday, November 21, 5 p.m.

The Music Box

The Department of Music presents the UMBC Gamelan Ensemble under the direction of Michelle Purdy. The ensemble performs on a central Javanese gamelan (a gong-chime orchestra of Indonesia), and also on a Balinese gamelan angklung (one of many types of gong-chime orchestras from the island of Bali, Indonesia).

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UMBC Jazz in Concert

Saturday, November 22, 3 p.m.

Linehan Concert Hall

The Department of Music presents UMBC Jazz in Concert, featuring the Jazz Guitar Ensemble, the Jazz Small Groups, and the Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Tom Baldwin, Tom Lagana, and Matthew Belzer.

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UMBC Percussion Ensemble

Sunday, November 23, 1 p.m.

Linehan Concert Hall

The Department of Music presents the UMBC Percussion Ensemble under the direction of Dustin Donahue in a concert of music by William Duckworth, Philip Glass, Fritz Hauser, JLIN, and Yousif Sheronick.

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UMBC Camerata: Through Perspectives INjustice

Sunday, November 23, 7 p.m.

Linehan Concert Hall

The Department of Music presents the UMBC Camerata under the direction of Lulu Mwangi Mupfumbu. Its program Through Perspectives INjustice, featuring works by Joel Thompson and Jarrett Roseborough, will explore the critical social justice issue of police brutality and its far-reaching effects on society, with a particular emphasis on its impact on youth of color.

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Coffee with the Provost: Thursday, Dec. 4

Come join me for a cup of coffee or tea Thursday, Dec. 4, from 10-11 a.m. in the Fireside Lounge in The Commons (third floor near the Skylight Lounge). This come-and-go hour is a great opportunity to connect in a casual, non-programmed setting. I look forward to seeing many of you there and our conversation together.

Fireside Lounge, The Commons

New Faculty Spotlights

Each week we feature the newest faculty members of our community.

Yiwen Hu, Assistant Professor, CSEE

Areas of Research/Interest: My research areas include wireless communication (5G and beyond), network security, and mobile systems, with a recent focus on innovating next-generation emergency (9-1-1) services.

Fun Fact About Yiwen: I’m a pet lover. I have a French bulldog named Chocolate. The name might seem risky, but it’s to remind her not to eat chocolate and to inspire her to live a healthier life!

Myoung Eun Pang, Assistant Teaching Professor, MLLI

Areas of Research/Interest: Language and identity

Fun Fact About Myoung: Maryland is the fifth state I’ve lived in since moving to the U.S.

Are you a new faculty member? Please take two minutes to fill out the form and submit your bio if you have not already done so.

New Staff Spotlights (Coming Soon)

Are you a staff member who joined UMBC in the last year? Email Aaron Burnett, director of provost communications, to be featured in an upcoming edition of the Provost's Perspective.