“There’s a little engineer in all of us. Because the truth is you’re iterating all the time. You’re failing, but you’re learning from those awesome failures.” 

Jamie Gurganus ’04, M.S. ’11, Ph.D. ’20, mechanical engineering, doesn’t believe engineers need to be geniuses; she also doesn’t believe failure means it’s the end of the road—so much so that her winding and impressive career over the last twenty years has been a product of taking chances, accepting the small failures, and still marching onwards. 

As an undergraduate, Gurganus pursued an opportunity to teach STEM subjects in local middle schools. The experience sparked her interest in engineering education. Her desire to help everyone see that they, too, could become an engineer has driven her professional life ever since. Students praise her for lifting them up when they felt discouraged and always encouraging them to aim high.

Gurganus’ tireless advocacy for students and continual innovation in teaching will be recognized on October 29, when she will receive the 2025 Outstanding Faculty Award from UMBC’s Alumni Association Board of Directors. 

Building confidence

Gurganus says that as a college student, she never expected to end up where she is today: “I didn’t think I’d ever be faculty or get a Ph.D.”

But when she got a National Science Foundation-funded fellowship in 2002 from the Teaching Enhancement Partnership Program at UMBC’s Shriver Center, she found herself enjoying the STEM classes she was teaching at local schools, especially connecting with students who may have assumed their options in life were limited.

“Many of these students came from precarious situations and weren’t thinking about going to college, much less having a STEM career,” Gurganus remembers of the Title I schools, which means they had high percentages of children from low-income families.

Gurganus taught as part of the partnership program for almost three years, and then proceeded to earn a graduate fellowship both through NSF and later NASA, which in turn cultivated a real passion for teaching and research. 

Gurganus also became a substitute teacher for the Anne Arundel County public school system, focusing on teaching mathematics. “My goals were fostering engineering awareness in these kids and showing them they, too, could do this—and showing them the real-life applications of it all.”

Breaking down the basics of math and engineering got the kids excited. As they got excited, they became more engaged, and as they became more engaged, their grades began to improve significantly. It might not have been the only reason for the successful outcome, but Gurganus believes being a young college student played a hand in it all. The breadth of knowledge and sense of authority was always present but packaged in a way that the students weren’t familiar with.

While in graduate school at UMBC, Gurganus also helped lead professional development for Project Lead The Way, a national nonprofit organization that provides STEM education programs for PreK-12 students, and Engineering is Elementary, which provides engineering teaching materials. In 2012, she became an instructor in mechanical engineering and assistant director of engineering education initiatives in the College of Engineering and Information Technology at UMBC, transitioning to a faculty role in 2014.

Over the years, Guganus’ skills, passions, and love for her students have improved UMBC’s course offerings, reputation, and quality of education. Currently, Gurganus is the associate director for STEMed Research, director for the Center for the Integration for Research, Teaching and Learning in the Graduate School and an assistant teaching professor in the engineering and computing education program. She also serves as a faculty fellow in entrepreneurship for the Alex. Brown Center For Entrepreneurship and Innovation, has mentored around 150 engineering teams under the senior capstone design course (including teaming up with Steve McAlpine to guide the kinetic sculpture team this year), and is an honorary faculty coach for UMBC’s softball team. 

Reaching across borders, she has also built international partnerships in Brazil, Portugal, Africa, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Germany, and collaborates widely on STEM education initiatives.

Embracing the journey

If her professional progression comes across as linear and like it unfolded at breakneck speed, Gurganus is here to assure you it did not.

“It’s been an interesting journey,” she says. “I stopped trying to plan my future and just accept (and expect!) the unexpected. I just take it on and see what happens.”

She’s never strayed from that principle, letting the journey—and the experiences it’s unveiled—guide her to new milestones. One of those milestones has been the nurturing of a strong undergraduate teaching fellows network on campus. Remembering her own experiences as a student and then seeing much of the same insecurity in the local middle school students from years ago, Gurganus struck out to find students who could guide other students by relating to the stresses of failure they might feel. 

“I had this mission to foster a community of individuals who never thought of themselves as being ‘smart enough’ to teach others in their own technical field,” Gurganus says. If this sounds familiar, that’s because it’s how Gurganus expresses she felt as a student herself.

While the teaching fellows program was started nearly 20 years ago as a tool for undergraduate students to assist faculty, and more importantly their peers, in classes, Gurganus has expanded the program in an organic way. 

“These students just became friends and bonded over their common interests or maybe their similar experiences in undergrad,” she says. 

“The teaching fellow program laid a foundation for growth and confidence-building in the formative stages of my career,” says De’Shaunna Scott ’19, computer engineering, who is now a principal RF integration engineer at Northrop Grumman. “I quickly felt overwhelmed and out of my element, but Dr. Gurganus was the guiding light I could always turn to. There were times, I would just show up after work and sit in Prof’s office unloading all the stresses I endured. Without fail and without question, Prof listened to every one of those complaints and provided words of advice that I still use to this day.”

“Prof G profoundly shaped my life and inspired me to become faculty,” adds Shannon Clancy ’19, mechanical engineering, who is now an assistant professor of engineering at Elizabethtown College. “As her teaching fellow and research assistant, I experienced mentorship rooted in care, unwavering support, and high expectations—even during my most uncertain moments. The teaching fellow program was the catalyst to get my Ph.D. I wanted to teach undergraduate students and build a community in my own way like Prof had.”

The fellows’ connection with each other, as well as the students they teach, has fueled the community’s growth. Gurganus begins naming fellows who are thriving post-UMBC, having gone on to receive master’s degrees, Ph.D.s, research fellowships, and more. It’s an obvious point of pride for her as she recalls the impact of all the work being a two-way street—for both her and the students.

“To teach is to engineer,” she adds. “You try it, you make it better, you bring your own spark, to keep improving with purpose and heart.”

By Nikoletta Gjoni ’09

Mark your calendars for the 2025 Alumni Awards on Wednesday, October 29, at 6 p.m., and consider joining the UMBC community at the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena to celebrate Jamie Gurganus and the many remarkable individuals receiving awards. The event will be livestreamed for those unable to join in person. You can learn more at alumni.umbc.edu/alumniawards.

3-Minute Thesis Competition

Why Participate?

Calling all graduate students! Get ready for an evening of fun, food, and friendly competition! 

Date: Thursday, October 30th
Venue: UC-310
Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Plus, we've got you covered with free pizza and drinks to keep the energy high!

Name: Edmond Batchankwe Ndanji

Pronouns: He/Him

Semester of Internship: Summer 2025

Major: Computer Science

Current Class Level: Junior

This semester I completed a(n)...: Internship

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): Cisco Systems Inc

Location of the Organization (City, State): RTP, NC

Title of position: Software Engineering Intern

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities:

During my Cisco internship, my days usually began with a check-in meeting with my mentor to review progress and set priorities. I would then dive into reading documentation, exploring new concepts, and planning out the steps for my project work that day. Some days involved deep problem-solving on my own, while others were filled with collaboration and brainstorming with teammates to find the best approach. This rhythm taught me how to break down complex goals into actionable steps, adapt to new challenges, and stay organized in a fast-paced environment. By the end of each day, I could see how small, consistent progress built toward creating something impactful.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

I first learned about the Cisco internship position online and began reaching out to multiple recruiters to express my interest. After making those connections, I was able to secure an opportunity to move forward in the process. The first step was completing an online assessment, which tested my problem-solving and technical skills. This was followed by a behavioral phone interview where I discussed my experiences, teamwork, and communication style. Finally, I completed a technical interview that focused on evaluating my coding abilities and approach to problem-solving.

What resources did you use to find your current experience?

Alumni Networking, LinkedIn or other social media

What have you enjoyed the most about your position and organization?

What I've enjoyed most about my position at Cisco is the company's welcoming and intentional culture, where collaboration and support are a priority. I've appreciated having access to advanced AI tools that make development more efficient and creative. The hybrid work environment has also been a highlight—spending four days in the office each week provides the perfect balance of in-person collaboration and focused work time.

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

I believe I've made an impact by taking ownership of tasks that directly moved my team's projects forward. For example, I worked on resolving blockers in our backend–frontend integration so features could be tested and deployed without delays. I also shared solutions and resources with my teammates, which helped streamline our workflow. By consistently making progress on my deliverables and contributing ideas during discussions, I was able to help the team work more smoothly and keep our projects on track.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

My advice is simple—don't give up on applying. In my case, my internship offer came later than expected, so persistence was key. Surround yourself with peers who are also going through the application process to keep each other accountable and motivated. Keep refining your resume, attending career fairs, and seeking feedback. All these small, consistent efforts add up and eventually open the door to the opportunity you've been working toward.

Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / working with the Career Center.

What I liked most about my position was Cisco's welcoming culture and the opportunity to work in a collaborative, hybrid environment. The Career Center's guidance and resources helped me prepare and confidently navigate the application and interview process.

We will be hosting Ingenuity's faculty at UMBC with the support of the Dean's Office. In actuality, we will have many K12 teachers from different Baltimore City schools on campus.