The Division of Information Technology (DoIT) is thrilled to announce that Dave Souder has been awarded the Fall 2025 DoIT Gritty Award! This recognition celebrates Dave's exceptional professionalism, technical expertise, and continuous delivery of outstanding service in the face of rapidly evolving obstacles. 

Duty Beyond Campus 

Dave recently provided extraordinary support to the President's Office for a leadership retreat at a downtown hotel, aiding in a high-profile virtual meeting. The event brought together approximately a dozen senior university leaders, participating both in person and remotely, and required a flawless technical experience under less than ideal conditions.

Preparation for this event went far beyond standard support. Dave made multiple early-morning trips downtown, meeting with event organizers and hotel staff to scout out the facility, assess connectivity options, and determine the best combination of camera and audio equipment. The meeting space presented had significant limitations, containing only a TV and not having any wired internet connection available.

Excellence Under Pressure

Undeterred, Dave worked diligently to identify the most reliable wireless connection option, conducting multiple test calls with AV staff to ensure stability and performance. 

• He coordinated closely with the President's Office, DoIT staff responsible for laptop preparation, hotel administration, and hotel IT, successfully bringing together many moving parts into a single, seamless solution.

• Once the meeting was underway, access to the room was restricted to attendees only, as the information being discussed was confidential. Even so, Dave continued to monitor the event remotely using Webex Control Hub, verifying that the connection remained stable and that the meeting proceeded smoothly from start to finish.

• Less than 15 minutes after returning, Dave was already back out the door, immediately assisting users with another live Webex meeting. 

Dave's willingness to provide professional, high-quality service in a challenging environment, outside of normal working hours and location, demonstrates a level of dedication that embodies the spirit of the DoIT Gritty Award.

We are proud to recognize Dave for this work and commitment to excellence. Congratulations, Dave, and a huge thank you for going above and beyond!

About the DoIT Gritty Award

The Gritty Award is in recognition of outstanding work within the Division and beyond. Full-time DoIT employees, DoIT student 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. 

The DoIT Community & The DoIT Gritty Committee

Erica D'Eramo
Ada Crutchfield
Andrew Shebest
Anthony Finneran
Carlos McKinney
Daniel Loftus
Dave Souder
David Toothe
Debbie Michaels
Dondre Hatef
Josh Abrams
Khalil Alston
Matt Baker
Nick Beech
Peter Ariev

More than 20 years ago, Padmanabhan “Padhu” Seshaiyer, Ph.D. ’98, applied mathematics, observed researchers stretching aneurysm tissue samples in a neighboring lab, generating a dataset to describe the resilience of artery walls under varying conditions. Those mathematical computations could then be used to help doctors predict how likely an aneurysm in a patient’s artery was to rupture and choose the safest effective treatment—potentially saving lives.

For Seshaiyer, that exposure was a revelation. “Mathematics has a place to change people’s lives,” he realized. Today, as a professor of mathematical sciences at George Mason University (GMU), he directs the Center for Outreach in Mathematics Professional Learning and Educational Technology (COMPLETE). Previously, he also directed the STEM Accelerator Program for the College of Science at GMU, where he later served as associate dean for academic affairs. Both initiatives embody his mission: reform STEM education so every student experiences that same powerful connection to real-world impact.

Learning from mistakes

Seshaiyer grew up in India, earning a bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronics engineering and a master’s in mathematics. He loved math but, like many kids, kept asking, “Why do I need to know this?” Seeking applied graduate programs abroad, he chose UMBC in 1993 for its strong faculty and focus on applied math research—plus a presidential scholarship that made it possible. “UMBC had some really top-notch professors, and in particular, really good people doing applied mathematics,” he recalls.

At UMBC, mentors lit Seshaiyer’s path in research and teaching. With Manil Suri, professor of mathematics,he studied finite element methods, which break a complex problem into many simple pieces, solve each separately, then combine the results to approximate the behavior of the whole. His scholarship didn’t require him to teach, but he pursued classroom opportunities anyway to enrich his experience—which they certainly did. For example, “four into eight” means multiplication in Indian English, but division to American students. “Unless you’re in front of the classroom, make that mistake, and learn from it—well, that’s how you become a good teacher,” he reflects.

From “how” to “why”

A course with former UMBC engineering professor Jay Humphrey exposed Seshaiyer to biomechanics. Impressed, Humphrey later recruited him for a postdoctoral position at Texas A&M University. It was there that Seshaiyer observed the aneurysm experiments that sparked his pivot to education reform. Traditional teaching, he had seen, often skipped the “why,” leaving students disengaged. 

“There was a gap,” he says, “between understanding how to do the mathematics and the why.” That idea inspired him to found the COMPLETE Center, which has trained over 2,500 teachers since 2010 in blending procedural skills with conceptual understanding. The training is grounded in evidence-based pedagogy, such as the 5E instructional model: engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate.

“Students are not just consumers of mathematics,” Seshaiyer emphasizes. “They are producers of mathematics. It’s important to treat them as producers.” He starts lessons by making connections to real life. When teaching conic sections—the various cross-section shapes created if one slices through a cone—he begins with GPS satellites, which draw intersecting circles to pinpoint a location: “Now, I just told you why we need to learn what we’re learning.”

UMBC has emphasized this same shift toward relevance and active discovery in its own curriculum. MATH 110: Math in Action, launched in fall 2023, is a lab-based class for non-STEM majors that replaces traditional lectures with hands-on experiments—such as tracking brine shrimp movement to explore velocity or using clinometers to measure real-world heights—to demonstrate how math permeates everyday life. By encouraging students to investigate, analyze data, and forge their own connections, the course helps transform math anxiety into curiosity and shows that understanding the “why” can make the subject engaging and empowering for all learners.

Student-led discovery

Seshaiyer has realized that reforming mathematics education at the college level is insufficient, though. As chair of Virginia’s STEM Advisory Board, he spearheaded the state’s first K – 12 data science standards, in part responding to employer demands for a data science-ready workforce. Data science sits at the intersection of statistical reasoning, mathematical foundations, and computational thinking and may not carry the emotional baggage that straight-up “math” does for some students, Seshaiyer explains. 

In Virginia’s data science curricula, students follow a hands-on cycle: acquire data, process it, visualize trends, generate a model, use it to predict future results, and communicate the findings. Students often get to choose their own projects, which have included everything from river pollution to rates of depression among high schoolers.

The process follows a framework Seshaiyer developed called the “five Cs.” It starts with “context” (a real-world problem), followed by creating a meaningful “curriculum” that incorporates integrated “content” presented via effective teaching “concepts.” Throughout the process, the teacher cultivates student “competencies” including communication skills, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. 

Sometimes, the best thing a teacher can do to foster these skills is step away: A high school student interested in modeling the spread of Zika virus was in Seshaiyer’s office when an undergraduate student arrived who was interested in gang violence in Puerto Rico. Seshaiyer stepped out (ostensibly for a cup of coffee) and encouraged the two to discuss their ideas. When he returned, the two students had come up with modes of gang violence “transmission” that paralleled the ways Zika spreads. The research eventually yielded a published paper on which both students were co-authors. 

“Mathematics for impact”

Seshaiyer’s experiences at UMBC remain foundational, including a personal relationship with president emeritus (and fellow mathematician) Freeman Hrabowski, with whom he’s shared the stage for keynote addresses. “UMBC has definitely taught me so much,” says Seshaiyer, who received a 2024 Outstanding Alumni Award from the UMBC Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Recently nominated for Virginia’s Math Educator of the Year, his core passion—“mathematics for impact”—endures. UMBC is extending that same impact into K – 12 classrooms through strategic partnerships with Baltimore City high schools. A longstanding collaboration with Building STEPs brings MATH 110-style hands-on labs to rising seniors, helping build math confidence and real-world connections. 

Newer partnerships, such as with the Ingenuity Project at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, include hosting campus visits for students and professional development for teachers and supporting student research in math modeling. These efforts create pipelines for engaged, math-ready learners—proving that when institutions meet students where they are, math can be an exciting path forward rather than an obstacle to overcome.

Dear Campus Community,

I am writing to update you regarding four recent changes to federal immigration and visa policies. Each of these changes is summarized in bold, with details underneath, followed by campus guidance.

Please remember that each individual's circumstances are different, and this communication is provided for informational purposes only. It should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. If you have specific questions and hold F, H, or J immigration status, please contact the Center for Global Engagement. If you have specific questions and hold another immigration status, please consult with a private immigration attorney.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) expands adjudicative hold and intensifies review of applications for certain immigration benefits

On January 1, 2026, USCIS issued an updated policy memorandum, expanding on its December 2, 2025, memorandum, directing USCIS personnel to perform the following actions:

1. Place a hold on all pending benefit applications for aliens listed in Presidential Proclamation (PP) 10998, Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States, pending a comprehensive review, regardless of entry date; 

2. Conduct a comprehensive review of all policies, procedures, and screening and vetting processes for benefit requests for aliens from countries listed in PP 10998; and 

3. Conduct a comprehensive re-review of approved benefit requests implicated in PP 10998 that were approved on or after January 20, 2021.

Based on the above actions, students and employees who utilized Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents or listed a PP 10998 named country as their country of birth or citizenship on certain immigration benefit applications will be subject to a re-review of benefits eligibility and admissibility, including a potential interview or re-interview. The January memorandum expands, but does not replace, the policy outlined in the December memo. The expanded policy specifically:

1. Extends adjudicative holds to the additional countries designated under PP 10998.

2. Clarifies that the hold applies to individuals based on country of birth, nationality, certain citizenship-by-investment scenarios, and Palestinian-Authority-issued travel documents.

3. Communicates that "USCIS will place an adjudicative hold on all pending benefit requests submitted by or for aliens from the high-risk countries identified in PP 10998, allowing for a thorough case-by-case review. This hold will remain in effect until lifted or modified by the USCIS Director through a subsequent memorandum or memorandum attachment. Any requests to lift the hold due to litigation or other extraordinary circumstances must receive approval from the USCIS Director or Deputy Director."

4. Establishes very limited exceptions to the adjudicative hold for certain benefit types (e.g., some I-765 categories, I-90, N-600), subject to strict coordination requirements.

5. Explicitly states that it does not supersede the December 2 memorandum, except where it creates enumerated exceptions.

Exceptions to the adjudication hold include:

1. Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card);

2. Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document;

3. Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship ("Except Yemen and Somalia");

4. Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization filed under the (c)(8) [pending asylum], limited (c)(11) (parolees), and limited (c)(14) (deferred action) categories;

5. Form I-910, Application for Civil Surgeon Designation (only for physicians that are citizens or nationals of the United States);

6. Benefit requests filed by any alien who is an athlete or member of an athletic team, including the coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives for the purpose of participating in the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State;

7. Benefit requests that are a priority for law enforcement and where ICE has requested USCIS take adjudicative action to uphold public safety or national security;

8. Benefit requests filed by aliens whose entry would serve a United States national interest;

9. Benefit requests, as well as the associated underlying benefits, for any programs that are terminated or discontinued as a result of an Executive Order, Proclamation, Federal Register Notice, or Directive issued by the President, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or the USCIS Director; and

10. Automatic termination decisions for ancillary or related benefit requests when an alien is granted Legal Permanent Resident status or becomes a naturalized citizen.

Notably, there is no exception for immigration benefits commonly used in higher education, such as a Form I-765 filed for Optional Practical Training, a Form I-539 filed to change to nonimmigrant student status, or a Form I-129 filed by an H-1B petitioner requesting extension of an H-1B employee's stay. Furthermore, on December 5, 2025, USCIS posted on its "X" account, "...all final decisions for asylum have been shut down, we've paused adjudication of immigrant and non-immigrant benefits for any alien from the 19 countries of concern, and we will review all existing green cards that were granted in the last 5 years."

Campus Guidance:

• Citizens of the countries listed in PP 10998 should be aware that their immigration benefits approved on or after January 20, 2021, may be subject to renewed scrutiny. As a result, USCIS may require additional documentation, biometrics, interviews or re-interviews. 

• Affected individuals should expect delayed processing and increased scrutiny of their immigration benefit requests. While petitions may still be submitted, they will be processed by USCIS up to the final adjudication stage, at which point they will stall until the adjudicative hold is lifted. A "final adjudication" refers to the issuance of a final decision on a case, such as an approval, denial, or dismissal.

USCIS announces increased premium processing fees

On January 12, 2026, USCIS published a final rule in the Federal Register announcing increases to premium processing fees effective March 01, 2026. 

Premium processing is a service whereby DHS provides expedited processing of eligible immigration benefit requests in exchange for an additional fee. This service is necessary for certain students and employees who require certain time-sensitive immigration benefit requests to be processed by a specific date in order to study or work at UMBC.

Below is a summary of premium processing fee increases that are most likely to impact our UMBC community. For a full listing of the fee increases, please refer to the published final rule.

1. Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H-3, L-1A, L-1B, LZ, O-1, O-2, P-1, P-1S, P-2, P-2S, P-3, P-3S, Q-1, TN-1, and TN-2): The fee will increase from $2,805 to $2,965

2. Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (E11, E12): Increases from $2,805 to $2,965

3. Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status (requests for change of status to F-1, F-2, J-1 or J-2): Increases from $1,965 to $2,075

4. Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization (F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training or STEM Optional Practical Training): Increases from $1,685 to $1,780

Campus Guidance:

• In order to avoid having to pay the additional fee, students and employees who know they will require premium processing should ensure their time-sensitive immigration benefit petitions are postmarked prior to March 1, 2026. 

• Please note that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) recently implemented operational changes meant to consolidate its processing network under the Delivering for America (DFA) plan. One such change could result in a postmark date being applied to a piece of mail days after USPS first receives the mail from a customer. According to advice issued by USPS, "customers who want a postmark aligning with the date on which the Postal Service first accepted possession of their mailpiece may request, for no additional fee, a manual (local) postmark at any Post Office, station, or branch when tendering their mailpiece."

• Students, employees, and hiring departments should budget for the additional expense required for premium processing requests postmarked on or after March 1, 2026. 

U.S. Department of State added 25 more countries to the visa bond list

On January 8, 2026, the Department of State expanded the list of countries whose nationals are subject to visa bonds. As outlined in a temporary final rule published in the Federal Register on August 5, 2025, the Visa Bond Pilot Program requires covered individuals applying for visas as temporary visitors for business or pleasure (B-1/B-2) to post a bond of up to $15,000 as a condition of visa issuance. This pilot program runs from August 20, 2025 through August 5, 2026.

Bonds are only required from individuals applying for a visitor visa (B-1/B-2) with a passport issued by one of the countries listed in the notice. 

Campus Guidance: 

• Family members and friends of UMBC students and employees wishing to visit them in the United States should confirm whether or not they are subject to the Visa Bond Pilot Program. 

• Individuals subject to the Visa Bond Pilot Program should contact the U.S. Consulate or Embassy where they plan to apply for a visa to inquire about the actual bond fee.

U.S. Department of State pauses immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries effective January 21, 2026

On January 14, 2026, the Department of State announced that, effective January 21, 2026, it is pausing all visa issuances to immigrant visa applicants who are nationals of the following countries:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Yemen 

This pause only applies to immigrant visas. It does not apply to non-immigrant visas, such as those issued to H-1B employees, J-1 exchange visitors, and F-1 students.

Campus Guidance:

• Individuals who have questions or concerns about the pause on immigrant visa processing for individuals from the listed countries should consult with a private immigration attorney.

Resources

1. UMBC's Employee Assistance Program provides employees with access to free confidential counseling and connections to attorneys who can help with a variety of issues, including immigration concerns.

2. The Office of International Students and Scholars is available to consult on immigration-related travel issues for individuals holding F-1, H-1B, and J-1 immigration status.

3. Individuals in other immigration statuses may contact a private immigration attorney.

UMBC's Center for Global Engagement is committed to providing comprehensive support to all international students and scholars. If you have further questions about these immigration policy updates, please reach out to our team by visiting our contact page.

Additional information and resources related to immigration and other federal policy updates are available on UMBC's Federal Orders and Actions Page.

Sincerely

David L. Di Maria
Vice Provost for Global Engagement

Location:

1138 Regina Dr

Features:

1. Fully furnished
2. Spacious living hall
3. Ample closet/storage space
4. Sofa, TV, Microwave, Oven, dining table included

Rent:

$375/month + (~$50 for utilities)

Excellent location with easy bus access to both UMBC and public transit. 

DM for details or to schedule a visit. For call/text - use (443) 379-4570

A Conversation with Maggie Fernandes, Megan McIntyre, and Jennifer Sano-Franchini 

Hear diverse perspectives on genAI in higher education