All posts by: Catalina Sofia Dansberger Duque

Magaly Lizama Hernandez ’26, a burgeoning public servant, receives the inaugural Bernard L. Berkowitz Memorial Award, honoring service to Baltimore City

Growing up in Bronx, New York, almost a century ago, Bernard “Bernie” L. Berkowitz, a first-generation son of Hungarian immigrants, may not have realized then that his life would take him beyond the bounds of New York City to Baltimore City and eventually to UMBC. In 1995, Berkowitz completed seven years of service to UMBC as the special assistant to the president for economic development efforts, which included planning for the bwtech@UMBC Research and Technology Park.

Thirty years later, Magaly Lizama Hernandez, a first-generation daughter of Salvadoran immigrants, is the recipient of the inaugural award bearing his name for her vision to develop a higher education pathway for Baltimore City students—a similar program to the one that led her to the psychology program at UMBC at the Universities at Shady Grove.

“Receiving the Bernard L. Berkowitz Memorial Award is not only an incredible and personal honor, but a reflection of a mission I’m deeply passionate about, making higher education more accessible for young people in Baltimore City,” said senior Lizama Hernandez at the awards ceremony this past May. “I’ve seen many talented and hardworking students feel that college was out of reach, not because of ability, but because they lacked access, support, and sometimes simply someone who believed in them. I know, because I was that student.”

As an alumna of the Achieving Collegiate Excellence and Success (ACES) program, a partnership between Montgomery County Public Schools, Montgomery College, and the Universities at Shady Grove, Lizama Hernandez knows firsthand the profound impact of mentorship. Beginning in her sophomore year at Gaithersburg High School in Montgomery County, Lizama Hernandez received one-on-one coaching to develop college-level skills and guidance on college and scholarship applications, which made her transition from high school to Montgomery College—and eventually to UMBC-Shady Grove—a success. Now, she wants to adapt the program for Baltimore City Public Schools.

The next generation of public servants

“The goal of the endowment is to inspire the next generation of committed Baltimore public servants,” said Rachel Edds, former deputy director of Baltimore City’s planning department, principal at Edds Consulting, and one of 10 founding donors. After Berkowitz passed in 2023, the group—composed of family, friends, and colleagues—established the award to commemorate his more than 40-year legacy of planning and economic development in Baltimore City.

Berkowitz began his service to Baltimore City in 1961 at the Baltimore City Department of Planning, becoming the director in 1968. He held various positions across the city, including on Mayor William Donald Schaefer’s economic development team (1974 – 1980), and more recently as the president of the Black/Jewish Forum of Baltimore (1997 – 1999) and as president of the Lexington Market Board (1990s – 2000s).

“We hope the example of Bernie Berkowitz’s exemplary public service in Baltimore will inspire the Fund’s recipients to work toward assuring a sound future for Baltimore and its economy,” said Edds. She was joined in the audience by three other founding members: David Berkowitz, his son, Chris Ryer, director of planning for Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott, and David Hash, senior director of facilities planning at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, who worked with Berkowitz for over 20 years.

A group of six scholarship donors stand with Lizama Hernandez, the scholarship recipient of the Bernard L. Berkowitz Memorial Award — (l-r): Eli Edds, Dave Hash, Rachel Edds, Lizama Hernandez, Erick Stokan, and Chris Ryer. (Image courtesy of Stokan)

“Bernie was a true professional whose work ethic was exemplary. He cared very much about serving the business community, calling upon companies who he thought might benefit from the numerous economic development programs available for their retention and expansion”, said David Hash, former executive vice president of the Baltimore Economic Development Corporation.

The fund marks the first student-centered endowment award administered by UMBC’s Center for Social Science Scholarship (CS3). Eric Stokan, director of CS3 and associate professor of political science, noted that Lizama Hernandez’s application stood out among the 16 submitted. “Magaly’s efforts to empower low-income students throughout their educational journey, providing them with tools, support, and confidence to thrive professionally and personally, align well with the spirit and purpose of the award,” said Stokan.

Stokan is grateful that the founding funders will ensure that CS3 can offer this award on an annual basis to students who embody the spirit of “Bernie” Berkowitz with a focus on local public service in the Baltimore area.

Investing in Baltimore City Public Schools

Impressed by Lizama Hernandez’s entrepreneurial spirit, the counseling staff at Gaithersburg High School hired her as a student worker to guide students like herself through the college application process. Thanks to the Bernard L. Berkowitz Memorial Fund Award, Lizama Hernandez can now apply the knowledge she acquired as an ACES student and staff member to begin the planning process for establishing the program in Baltimore City

“Bernie believed in transcending divisions—bringing together people of different social and economic backgrounds,” said Edds. “He is fondly remembered for his clear thinking, always with a sense of humor and kindness.”

His example has motivated Lizama Hernandez to take the next step in her academic and professional journey. “Through my studies in psychology and social work at UMBC and my work supporting students and families, I’ve seen firsthand the transformative power of education,” said Lizama Hernandez, who plans on earning a master’s in social work. “My goal as a future counselor is to help students know why their dreams are valid and achievable. Baltimore’s young people deserve every chance to thrive.”

Learn more about UMBC scholarship opportunities.

A beautiful day to be a Retriever

Ramping up to the end of the Retriever 2024 – 2025 academic year, UMBC’s Office of Student Engagement and Belonging gathered students, faculty, and staff to celebrate their accomplishments and invaluable contributions with the communities closest to them. Angelina Jenkins, assistant director of UMBC’s Mosaic Center, which provides the campus community with resources and community building, was at the helm of the three Cultural and Affinity Celebrations and Awards, with a cadre of co-chairs making the Asian, Lavender, and Black/Latine/x events a reality.

Thania Muñoz, associate professor of modern languages, linguistics, and intercultural communication, served as the co-chair for the 5th Black and Latine/x celebration. Priya Bhayana, project manager for UMBC’s Global Asias Initiative, served as the co-chair for the inaugural Asian Cultural Celebration and Awards gathering. Zoe Brown, program coordinator for the Women’s Center and current M.P.P. student, co-chaired the Lavender event with Darcie Adams, graduate assistant for UMBC’s Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being, who supported all three events.

“The Office of Student Engagement and Belonging strives to collaborate with a team of interdisciplinary partners across campus to create a true emphasis on our narrative that inclusive excellence and belonging are a reality for everyone at UMBC,” said Jenkins. “Your stories belong here. Our collective UMBC story and community are made better by them.”

Three people stand together in front of a blue and green balloon arch at an awards ceremony Retriever Asian Cultural Awards — (l-r): Jenkins (first on left)with **Mary Rose Khamfong** ’25, psychology, a McNair Scholars Program Teaching Fellow, and recipient of the Love Today and Tomorrow Award at the Asian Cultural Celebration and Awards. **Marilin Argueta-Osorio** ’25, media and communication studies, receives black and brown honor cords and a certificate of recognition at the Black and Latine/x Celebration and Awards. Director of the McNair Scholars Program, Reverand **Michael Hunt** ’06, computer science, and Ph.D. ’25, language, literacy, and culture (LLC), with his family. **Darcie Adams** ’23, gender, women’s, and sexuality studies (GWST), political science, and M.P.S. ‘25, receives the Legacy Award, which honors those who have made an unforgettable, lasting impact on the UMBC queer community.
(All images by **Tanzila Malik** ’26, GWST, except the Hunt family by Bradley Ziegler/UMBC)

A college student wearing graduation honor cords and regalia holds a certificate at an awards ceremony Retriever Latine/x Celebration Awards — (l-r): Jenkins (first on left)with **Mary Rose Khamfong** ’25, psychology, a McNair Scholars Program Teaching Fellow, and recipient of the Love Today and Tomorrow Award at the Asian Cultural Celebration and Awards. **Marilin Argueta-Osorio** ’25, media and communication studies, receives black and brown honor cords and a certificate of recognition at the Black and Latine/x Celebration and Awards. Director of the McNair Scholars Program, Reverand **Michael Hunt** ’06, computer science, and Ph.D. ’25, language, literacy, and culture (LLC), with his family. **Darcie Adams** ’23, gender, women’s, and sexuality studies (GWST), political science, and M.P.S. ‘25, receives the Legacy Award, which honors those who have made an unforgettable, lasting impact on the UMBC queer community.
(All images by **Tanzila Malik** ’26, GWST, except the Hunt family by Bradley Ziegler/UMBC)

Inaugural Asian Cultural Celebration and Awards

Gathering Retrievers from all corners of the world is something that Meghna Chandrasekaran ’25, political science and biological sciences, is skilled at as the president of the Student Government Association and vice president of undergraduate affairs on the University System Student Council. She hosts “Chai Chats with Meghna!” where she serves piping hot tea and fosters camaraderie throughout the year. “Because of my role as the associate director of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life, as well as my lived experience as both Chinese and Jamaican, I’m honored to have been asked to participate in this inaugural event to present the Another World Is Possible Award to Meghna Chandrasekaran,” said Ricky Blissett ’11, bioinformatics and computational biology. He was proud to add to Chandrasekaran’s long list of accomplishments include her workshops on intersectional leadership and Tamil-language teaching. “She doesn’t just imagine a better world—she builds it, step by step, with humility and resolve.”

An announcer stands at a podium, that is decorated with colorful balloons, giving a certificate to a college student at an Asian Cultural celebration — (l-r): Meghna Chandrasekaran with Ricky Blissett. (Bradley Ziegler/UMBC). Chandrasekaran receives her red honor cord. (Tanzila Malik)

A woman wearing a full length dress with a green and yellow patterned shawl stands as a graduation honor cord is placed over her head by a presenter wearing a long blue skirt and white blouse traditional — (l-r): Meghna Chandrasekaran with Ricky Blissett. (Bradley Ziegler/UMBC). Chandrasekaran receives her red honor cord. (Tanzila Malik)

“

In our Tamil literature, we have a book of universal truths, called the Tirukkuṟaḷ, and I am beyond proud to share this one with you in Tamil.rnஉள்ளத்தாற் பொய்யா தொழுகின் உலகத்தார் உள்ளத்து எல்லாம் உளன்rnIt says, “What is truth? It is speaking words that do not betray one’s inner self.” To me, this is the heart of authenticity. It’s not just about being honest with others; it’s about refusing to forget who you are, even when the world tries to define you otherwise.

Meghna Chandrasekaran ’25

political science and biological sciences

Three young Asian women sit close at a table and smile at the camera — Students and their families celebrate their accolades. Party time! (Top row by Bradley Ziegler/UMBC. Bottom row by Tanzila Malik)

Two women in colorful long dresses and a man in black clothing hold red and white graduation honor cords and stand in front of an arch of red, gold, and green balloons. Retriever Asian Cultural Awards — Students and their families celebrate their accolades. Party time! (Top row by Bradley Ziegler/UMBC. Bottom row by Tanzila Malik)

A speaker stands at a podium talking into a microphone

“UMBC was my first experience stepping out of India without anyone to look after me,” said graduate keynote speaker, Sairam Bokka, M.A. ’25, cybersecurity, a leader in UMBC’s Retriever Essentials addressing food insecurity on campus. “I arrived here unsure, quiet, and content with staying in the background. But thanks to the people I met, the support I received, and the opportunities I embraced, I’m walking away from UMBC more open, confident, and purpose-driven. May we all continue to grow, serve, and seek out new paths, even when we feel uncertain. That’s where the real magic happens.” (Bradley Ziegler/UMBC)

12th Annual Lavender Celebration and Awards

A college student receives an honor cord and recognition certificate from a presenter behind a table decorated with purple and blue bubble letters — (l-r): Master of ceremonies, **Jacob Leizear** ’16, geography and environmental systems; **Lorae Bonamy-Lohve**, the new assistant director of UMBC’s Pride Center; Darcie Adams; **Joseph Vann-Jones**, program coordinator for UMBC’s Gathering Space; and **Maya Jones** ’25, psychology. (Bradley Ziegler/UMBC)

As Lorae Bonamy-Lohve, the new assistant director of UMBC’s Pride Center, made the opening remarks for the Lavender Celebration and Awards, she had a clear message for her new Retriever community. “Lavender is a color long tied to liberation, strength, and the beauty of our community,” said Bonamy-Lohve. “Today’s ceremony is about how you made it easier for the next generation of students like you to imagine themselves here, thriving, loved, and affirmed. Let this celebration not only be a moment of joy, but also one of remembrance and responsibility, a reminder that liberation is collective, and that we carry many histories as we move forward.”

Love and history are two intrinsically intertwined concepts for Sanai Eaton-Martinez ’25, a political science pre-law track transfer student and Grit Guide. “My first words were ‘Te quiero mucho.’ [I love you] Love is what we give, but respect is what we’re owed. UMBC allowed me to keep my path forward, and it soon became my home,” said Eaton-Martinez, the Lavender Celebration and Awards undergraduate keynote speaker and founder of UMBC’s Sisterhood: A Women of Color Coalition. “We have raised thousands of dollars to better our community and now have 200 members. Sisterhood is a labor of love. It has taught me so much more than I could have imagined. Not only did I gain a community, but I gained a family.”

Four college friends are sitting at a table, having dinner at an awards ceremony. — (l-r): **Amariana Crawley**, a psychology sophomore, and award presenter; **Dasani Mia-Sheree Mann**, a media and communication studies sophomore; **Carrington Cline** ’25, media and communication studies; and Eaton-Martinez. (Tanzila Malik)

When Adams was designing the student art gallery for the Lavender Celebration and Awards, he reached out to Key Gallagher, an English junior, sophomores Jamar James, a computer engineering major, and Qaiyah Dawson, a biological sciences major with a photography minor, to display their crocheting, robotics, and photography skills, respectively. This is Dawson’s first photography exhibit, but James is an avid robotics competitor, and Gallagher’s whimsically crocheted stuffed and wearables sell quickly at campus events.

A college student sits next to a table displaying their crocheted designs — (l-r): Gallagher with his latest designs, James with the Retriever Robotics Team VEX Robot, and Qaiyah Dawson explains her first series of photographs exploring different phases of mental health. (Bradley Ziegler/UMBC)

A college student kneels down behind their robotics teams' competition robot that has aVEX UMBC licence plate — (l-r): Gallagher with his latest designs, James with the Retriever Robotics Team VEX Robot, and Qaiyah Dawson explains her first series of photographs exploring different phases of mental health. (Bradley Ziegler/UMBC)

“I’ve been crocheting for two years now. I have ADHD and need to work with my hands, or else I can’t focus. I finished this piece today. It is a piece of advice that my therapist gave me about not letting fear stop me from experiencing life. It’s a way to express myself,” said Gallagher, a critical disabilities minor, of his ‘Do It Scared’ banner, which took 16 hours and 7,500 stitches to make. “It is amazing when someone comes to my table and sees their flag. Their eyes light up. It’s a great way to connect with people and say, ‘I see you. You are safe here.’”

A presenter wearing a green cowboy hat, presents an award certificate to an community leader. In the background is a projector screen with a digital image of a purple cowboy hat with the word Lavender. Colorful balloons decorate the right side. — (l-r): Graduate student keynote speaker, Riley Donahue ’24, political science and current M.P.P. student, receiving the Lavender Activism and Inclusive Excellence Award. She serves on the America East Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SACC), as co-president of UMBC SAAC and Division I NCAA SAAC, and is a representative for the America East and the NCAA Mental Health Advisory Group. Candace Hill, head coach for the UMBC women’s basketball team. (Bradley Ziegler/UMBC)

“

Before coming to UMBC, there were times when I didn’t quite fit in. Being a Division I women’s basketball athlete was also another world where fitting into a certain mold often appears to be the only way to stay in the game. When I transferred to UMBC, I brought all of it with me. Here, I found something I never knew was missing. The ability to just be. Not just in class or on the court, but in ordinary moments, walking around campus, sitting in meetings, smiling at friends, all of me without apology. Let’s keep the door open for others. Let’s keep showing up, imperfectly, authentically, and powerfully.”

Riley Donahue ’24

political science, current M.P.P. student

15 college students and staff gather for a group photo displaying their Lavender honor cords — Sealed with Lavender honor cords and ready for the next adventure. (Tanzila Malik)

“I was here for the first Lavender Celebration back in 2014. I received the 2016 Student Leader of the Year Award,” said Leizear, a geography and information systems specialist for The Nature Conservancy. “I think it’s amazing that this is still happening. The people I met here became my friends and are now friends for life. It’s great to be back and see everything happening—bigger and better than ever.”

5th Annual Black and Latine/x Celebration and Awards

“This moment is a combination of dreams, both spoken and unspoken,” said Marian Saunder White ’87, information systems, a member of UMBC’s Alumni Association Awards Committee, at the 5th Annual Black & Latine/x Celebration and Awards. “It is the legacy of your ancestors who survived the unimaginable so that you can imagine freely.”

A woman with short grey hair, wearing a denim blouse and skirt with colorful circular print stands in between a podium and colorful balloons — (l-r): Saunders. Michael Hunt with his child receiving the black and brown honor cords from Maria Sanchez, director of the Engineering and Computing Education Program, interim director and director of education and outreach of the Individualized Study Program, and committee member for all three cultural and identity celebrations.

A dad holds his baby while being presented with a black and brown honor cord — (l-r): Saunders. Michael Hunt with his child receiving the black and brown honor cords from Maria Sanchez, director of the Engineering and Computing Education Program, interim director and director of education and outreach of the Individualized Study Program, and committee member for all three cultural and identity celebrations.

17 college students gather to take a picture at an award celebration with their brown and black honor codes — Black and Latine/x students stand tall and proud wearing their black and brown honor cords. (Tanzila Malik)

Legacy is something Janerra Allen, Ph.D. ’25, electrical engineering, (above second from the right), has had on her mind, as a first-generation college student, more so now that she will begin her postdoctoral research at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory this summer. “When I told my grandmother, she cried. She didn’t know what a postdoc was, but she knew her granddaughter had made it,” said Allen, the Graduate School keynote speaker. During her time at UMBC, she served as a graduate senator for the College of Engineering and Information Technology, secretary of the Graduate Student Association, and president of the Black Graduate Student Organization. “Wherever you go next, know this: You carry the power of every obstacle you’ve overcome and every hand that helped lift you. You are not alone. You are part of a legacy that is unshakable. So take pride. Take your rest. And take up space—because you deserve it.”

A college student wearing graduation regalia stretches her arm to receive honor cords — (l-r): Camila Chombo Sam ’25, computer science, receives her black and brown honor cord from Sanchez; Black/Latine/x Student Leader of the Year, T’ana Joseph ’25, mechanical engineering; and Scholar of the Year, Gabrielle Ware ’25, individualized study, with a friend. (Bradley Ziegler/UMBC)

A college student wearing a white dress jacket and pink suit holds her award plaque and recognition certificate by a corner window next to some colorful balloons. — (l-r): Camila Chombo Sam ’25, computer science, receives her black and brown honor cord from Sanchez; Black/Latine/x Student Leader of the Year, T’ana Joseph ’25, mechanical engineering; and Scholar of the Year, Gabrielle Ware ’25, individualized study, with a friend. (Bradley Ziegler/UMBC)

A speaker stands by a podium announcing the name of an award recipient who hides her face in shock when her name is called to

Hunt, the 2024 Black/Latine/x Excellence Award, was excited to surprise this year’s recipient. Bosola Jerry-Asooto ’25, biological sciences, (left) was shocked when he announced she is the recipient of the 2025 Black/Latine/x Excellence Award.”From student government to residence life, health advocacy to academic mentorship, they’ve consistently stepped up—not for recognition, but to ensure others are seen, heard, and supported,” said Hunt. (Bradley Ziegler/UMBC)

A speaker, waring black suit, stands behind a podium speaking into a microphone in a room with a large wall of windows — Lesley Hernandez ’25, biochemistry and molecular biology, the undergraduate keynote speaker. (Brad Ziegler/UMBC)

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When I was in fourth grade, I invited my mom to school for career day. My classmates asked her who her role model was, and she said herself. I was so embarrassed. Other parents were saying Nelson Mandela or Einstein. Now, I get it. I can also say my role model is myself. I know how hard I work. I know how much I’ve grown. I push myself to do the uncomfortable things because I believe growth lies on the other side of discomfort. Do not lose sight of your visions. Believe in yourself. Be your greatest motivator and be your own role model.

Lesley Hernandez ’25

biochemistry and molecular biology

As the curtains close on another year, the Office of Student Engagement and Belonging is already thinking ahead on how to top these years’ ceremonies. The Cultural and Affinity Celebrations and Awards ceremonies aren’t just about recognizing achievements. They are about praising the journey, the effort, the laughs, and speed bumps along the way, and the promise of what’s still to come.

Learn more about student engagement and belonging at UMBC.

Retrievers Behind the Scenes—Dave Anguish ’12, political science, M.P.P ’19, advocate for international students and immigrant communities

One way to describe Dave Anguish’s journey with UMBC is as a trip around the world and back again. Anguish came to UMBC in 2008 to study political science as well as modern languages, linguistics, and intercultural communication. After graduating in 2012, he hopped on a plane to Mexico City to conduct political science research thanks to a research grant from the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. He later returned to UMBC to earn an M.P.P. in public management in 2019 while working in UMBC’s International Education Services (IES)—an opportunity that allowed him to travel the world and inspired his first career in international education leadership. Now, it is leading to his second career as he prepares to graduate from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. Take it away, Dave!

Q: Tell us about your primary WHY, and how it led you to UMBC.

A: In 2008, I came to UMBC as an undergraduate student because it offered something different, something I didn’t see at other schools. I liked that it was “medium-sized” and that the buildings were arranged in a grid, almost like a small city. It was so easy to meet new people, whether they were classmates, staff, or faculty. Everyone was open to making connections. At the time, I was surprised that an undergraduate student had so much access to people of greater stature. I came to understand that reducing the power differential was a deliberate choice and part of the university’s culture. It’s something I’m so glad still lives on today.

Q: What’s one essential thing you’d want another Retriever to know about you?

A: After graduation, I moved abroad for a year and then came back to work at UMBC. When I returned, it took a few years to find my passion. An urgent need for an advisor in IES ended up being my big break. I discovered that it wasn’t simply getting to meet and work with people from all over the world that appealed to me; it was also learning and explaining to others the complexity of immigration law. That seed of an idea blossomed into the (eventual) decision to attend law school and become an immigration lawyer focused on deportation defense and justice for immigrant communities. I could never have foreseen how far a frontline advisor position in the “visa office” would take me, or how it would reveal my professional path.

Q: What do you love about working at the Center for Global Engagement (CGE)?

A: I’ve been part of CGE since it was called International Education Services. Back then, we were a small but mighty team of five or so people. Today, CGE has nearly thirty staff, and while our teams focus on different areas, we all seek to forge connections between UMBC and the world.

Dave Anguish with a large group of college staff and students stand together in front of a red brick building holding light blue paper lanterns — Anguish (last row, third from the left) with colleagues from UMBC’s Center for Global Engagement. (Image courtesy of Anguish)

I’m so inspired by the work CGE does. My team handles immigration services for the thousands of international students coming to UMBC to study, as well as those who have graduated and are working around the country in exciting fields, getting practical training.

My colleagues in Education Abroad enable students to break through the confines of campus and explore new lands, gaining crucial intercultural skills, learning languages, and learning more about themselves and their role in the world. Other CGE teams coordinate English language training and design special programs for groups to visit UMBC over the summer for intercultural experiences and training.

Dave Anguish stands with four international college students — Anguish (center) with UMBC alumni panelists at UMBC’s International Student Career Conference. (Image courtesy of Anguish)

Q: Tell us about someone in the community who has inspired you or supported you, and how they did it.

Adults, Dave Anguish and Michelle Massey, stand together inside a carpeted hallway with their arms behind one another smiling at the camera — Massey (l) with Anguish. (Image courtesy of Anguish)

A: For several years, I was on a two-person team serving all of UMBC’s international students. My co-worker, supervisor, and friend, Michelle Massey ’10, intercultural communications, taught me so much about how to be the best version of myself for those I serve. She is the reason why my emails are littered with happy exclamation points, and why I try to communicate in the most positive and friendly way with people who may not be as familiar with U.S. culture, and why I keep in mind that the work we do matters, because it has such an impact on every student’s life, career, and dreams. Michelle left UMBC to join the foreign service several years ago, but her example of servant leadership has stuck with me and set a standard that I try to live up to in my work.

Q: What’s the one thing you’d want someone who hasn’t joined the UMBC community to know about the support you find here?

A: It’s clichéd to say “it’s the people” that make UMBC what it is, but it’s true. I’ve had the pleasure of working with so many people who work hard every day to make the place run. Maybe it’s our relative youth as an institution, but there is a sense that even a university of our size can be nimble and adjust to new realities. We’re writing the story of UMBC every day. It’s been fascinating to see how much UMBC has changed since I was an undergraduate, but how the ethos has remained constant. We’ve had many changes in leadership over the past few years, and this new era at UMBC is an exciting one to watch and even more exciting to participate in.

Although I returned to UMBC shortly after I graduated, really, I’ve been all over the place: through my work at UMBC I’ve been able to travel the world, meet so many wonderful people, and learn new skills. Two graduate degrees later, my time at UMBC is coming to a close as I transition into an attorney role in another organization. But UMBC has been such a significant part of my life for so long that I know this isn’t truly the end.

* * * * *

UMBC’s greatest strength is its people. When people meet Retrievers and hear about the passion they bring, the relationships they create, the ways they support each other, and the commitment they have to inclusive excellence, they truly get a sense of our community. That’s what “Meet a Retriever” is all about. Learn more about UMBC’s Center for Global Engagement.

Awarding 100,000 dreams and counting—UMBC’s Class of 2025

Before Joy Gabrielle Ware walked off the Commencement stage, she stopped mid-stage to face her peers and shouted, “UM!” prompting a booming “BC!” response from the undergraduates and their families who packed the arena last week at UMBC’s 84th Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony. Ware, an individualized study major, was awarded the historic 100,000th degree since UMBC’s first Commencement class in 1970, which had 241 students—a stark contrast to the 1,528 undergraduate and over 700 graduate degrees awarded to the Class of 2025.

A college president stands at a podium on a stage during commencement UMBC Class of 2025 — (l) President Valerie Sheares Ashby addressing UMBC’s Class of 2025. (Brad Ziegler/UMBC) (r) **Diane Tichnell** ’70 (third from left) celebrates the publication of *This Belongs To Us* with fellow book editors Mimi Dietrich, Bob Dietrich, and Dale Gough. (Marlayna Demond ’11/UMBC).

Four senior citizens stand wearing black and gold shirts in front of a black and gold quilt with an embroidered heart — (l) President Valerie Sheares Ashby addressing UMBC’s Class of 2025. (Brad Ziegler/UMBC) (r) **Diane Tichnell** ’70 (third from left) celebrates the publication of *This Belongs To Us* with fellow book editors Mimi Dietrich, Bob Dietrich, and Dale Gough. (Marlayna Demond ’11/UMBC).

To celebrate this historic moment, President Valerie Sheares Ashby paid tribute to the alumni known as the Founding Four, who represented graduates of the first four undergraduate classes from 1970 to 1973.

Digital rendering of a mortar board surrounded with graduation data

“What a profound impact UMBC has had on the state of Maryland and the world,” said Sheares Ashby. “Each one of our alumni has made a difference in some way, many of them as leaders and pathbreakers—in the public and private sectors, in the arts, in education, in research, in public service, and in their communities.”

Gratitude

The Class of 2025 celebrated and cheered for each other. However, thunderous applause rippled across UMBC’s Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena every time a speaker asked the students to thank those who made their dreams come true. The stands were filled with roommates, classmates, mentors, and families who kept pointing the way when graduation seemed out of reach.

Two people wearing graduation regalia hug each other UMBC Class of 2025 — Celebrating graduation day! (Brad Ziegler/UMBC)

A college basketball team dressed in graduation regalia gather for a team photo UMBC class of 2025 — Celebrating graduation day! (Brad Ziegler/UMBC)

“You took risks when you chose to pursue this graduate degree. You stumbled and struggled and faced down your fears and insecurities,” said Graduate Student Association President Jessica Burstrem, Ph.D. ’25, language, literacy, and culture, in her address to her peers at the Graduate School Commencement ceremony.

A graduate from the UMBC Class of 2025 wearing graduation regalia speaks from a podium — (l) Jessica Burstrem addressing the Graduate School Class of 2025. (Brad Ziegler/UMBC)

A decorated mortar board with a lace trim and a quote in white beaded letters and — (l) Jessica Burstrem addressing the Graduate School Class of 2025. (Brad Ziegler/UMBC)

“That bravery is why you celebrate today. Those are the kinds of people the world always needs—people who do the right thing even if they are afraid. People of integrity and bravery. People who stand together,” said Burstrem.

An adult stands wearing red and black graduation regalia on a graduation stage with faculty and students in the background — (l) Sonja Brookins Santelises, chief executive officer of Baltimore City Public Schools, Thursday morning’s undergraduate commencement speaker and honorary degree recipient. (r) **Anwesha Day**, Ph.D. ’04, biochemistry and molecular biology, executive director in the Discovery Oncology Department of Genentech, spoke to Thursday afternoon’s graduates. (Brad Ziegler/UMBC)

A commemcement speaker stands at a podium — (l) Sonja Brookins Santelises, chief executive officer of Baltimore City Public Schools, Thursday morning’s undergraduate commencement speaker and honorary degree recipient. (r) **Anwesha Day**, Ph.D. ’04, biochemistry and molecular biology, executive director in the Discovery Oncology Department of Genentech, spoke to Thursday afternoon’s graduates. (Brad Ziegler/UMBC)

The path of service

College wasn’t Tina Garcia’s first path, even after becoming the first in her family to graduate from high school. She served nearly a decade in the United States Air Force, rising to the rank of staff sergeant, before continuing her service within the government. After serving her country, Garcia chose to honor her family once again—this time by becoming the first to earn a college degree. She drew on her experience as a veteran and her majors in social work and psychology to co-found and serve as vice president of UMBC’s Student Service Members, Veterans, and Families organization.

A valedictorian stands at a podium giving their speech — (l) Valedictorian Tina Garcia shares her journey to UMBC. (r) UMBC’s Color Guard opening the 2025 commencement ceremonies. (Brad Ziegler/UMBC)

University Color Guard faces the commencement audience — (l) Valedictorian Tina Garcia shares her journey to UMBC. (r) UMBC’s Color Guard opening the 2025 commencement ceremonies. (Brad Ziegler/UMBC)

“UMBC is where I found my community, and with it, a renewed sense of purpose to continue serving Veterans. I’m so grateful to everyone who continues this work, who shows up for veterans every day, and who refuses to let that momentum fade,” said Garcia, as one of two undergraduate valedictorians. “When we find belonging, we thrive. When we thrive, we create space for others to do the same. May you always find places where you belong and never let anyone convince you that you don’t.”

UMBC welcomes all

For international students, the meaning of community transcended physical boundaries, cultures, and languages, with graduate students representing 27 nations across five continents and Central America, and undergraduates representing 35 countries across six continents and the Caribbean, including Jamaican native, Akellia Bernard, a music performance major with a concentration in voice. Bernard, a member of UMBC’s Choir and Camerata, performed the national anthem for the three commencement ceremonies. This summer, Bernard plans to join the Choir and Camerata in Paris and Prague, where they have been invited to perform with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra.

A singer wearing graduation regalia stands on a stage holding a microphone — Akellia Bernard sings the Star-Spangled Banner at her undergraduate commencement ceremony. (Brad Ziegler/UMBC)

Praise Lasekan, a biological science major, whose family watched his valedictorian speech virtually back home in Ondo, Nigeria, was adamant about how the Retriever community became the vessel for his growth, acceptance, and joy.

A valedictorian stands behind a podium with faculty standing and clapping begin him — UMBC faculty and alumni give Praise Lasekan a standing ovation for his inspiring words. (Brad Ziegler/UMBC)

“The person you see standing in front of you today was once called a failure. People made fun of me. There were times I almost quit. But mentors, community, and the grace of God reminded me: Dreams don’t die, they just need to be stirred again,” said Lasekan. This fall, he will begin his Ph.D. at Brown University in the Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry. “UMBC showed me that community isn’t just who you’re around, it’s who holds you up when life feels heavy.” His journey resonated with the celebratory crowd and earned a standing ovation from the full house.

UMBC graduates stand while they turn their tassels in an arena at the UMBC commencement — And with the turn of the tassel, these students are officially UMBC Alumni. (Brad Ziegler/UMBC)

As Retrievers crossed their tassels from right to left, President Sheares Ashby reminded them that while the pursuit of their dreams might have had similar zig zags, they, “will be the ones who will listen to all the voices, fight for the needs of others, not just yourself, unite, not divide, bring calm to chaos, open doors, and see new ways forward.”

Listen to Akellia Bernard sing the Star-Spangled Banner, Governor Wes Moore’s message to the Class of 2025, and watch all three ceremonies at commencement.umbc.edu.

James Smalls’ efforts to restore Féral Benga’s place in 20th-century performing arts just might preserve his grave site as well

Art historian James Smalls, a professor of visual arts, researches the intersections of race, gender, and queer sexuality in both 19th-century art and the broader visual culture of the Black diaspora. Smalls is on a thrilling adventure to uncover the life and legacy of Senegalese performer known as Féral Benga and restore him to his rightful place in art history, and in a twist of timing fate, his research might also protect Benga’s final resting place. Smalls spent nine months in 2024 at the Getty Research Institute in California as part of their Getty Scholars Program, which gave him time to work on his next book, Féral Benga: African Muse of Modernism, and continue connecting the dots of Benga’s artistic impact.

Q: What led you to research Féral Benga?

A: I found a black and white photo of a sculpture by Richmond Barthé, an African American sculptor of the Harlem Renaissance. It’s a beautiful sculpture of a Black man holding aloft a kind of saber, doing this hypnotic dance. It was titled Féral Benga, and I thought, ‘Well, what’s that? Is that a type of dance that I’m looking at or something else?’ Eventually, I found out that this is the stage name of François Benga, who adopted the name when he began performing at the Folies Bergère [a famous cabaret music hall in Paris]. Benga was a very statuesque sort of dancer. His dance technique combined African dance with classical ballet and acrobatics. I wanted to learn more, which led to years of research trying to create an archive of his life and art.

A black and white photo of Senegalese dancer Féral Benga studied by Professor James Smalls — Féral Benga, La danse du sabre, c. 1934, by Lucien Waléry. (Courtesy Bibliothèque de France)

Q: How did Féral Benga‘s statue inspire the next step of your research journey?

A: I discovered that Benga became a muse for visual artists during the early part of the 20th century and that he had a very interesting personality.

He was a very magnetic sort of person and had many amorous affairs. Benga was gay and belonged to a gay circle of avant-garde artists. Jean Cocteau was one of those people and included him in his first avant-garde film, The Blood of a Poet, in 1932.

A postcard with four black and white photos of Féral Benga posing in a bathing suit. — Postcard of Féral Benga at the Folies-Bergère, about 1930, by Lucien Waléry. (Images courtesy of the Getty)

Q: What were some of Féral Benga’s contributions before and after World War II?

A: Before WWII, Benga owned a cabaret and a Senegalese restaurant in Paris where he performed. After WWII, he again established a nightclub, a cabaret called La Rose Rouge, where young African artists and students gathered and created works, leading to the beginning of the Négritude movement within the performing arts. [The Négritude movement was an anti-colonial cultural and political movement founded by a group of African and Caribbean students in Paris in the 1930s who sought to reclaim the value of blackness and African culture.]

I want to dispel the notion that women and people of color did not contribute to modernism and the avant-garde movement. They are sort of written out of art history. I’ve learned Benga contributed greatly to these two movements. Through my research, I want to bring that to the surface so that people are aware of that, that they’re just not on the side.

Q: Did your research bring any unexpected finds?

A: I put an alert out on eBay for any imagery of Féral Benga. For a while, I didn’t hear anything. Then, suddenly, something came up. A woman in France started selling photographs of him without knowing who he was. She had this huge box of images and wanted to sell them piecemeal to make money. Each time she sent me a photo, she added some candid shots of the dancer. One shows him smoking a cigarette at a party, and another in a park. Suddenly, Swiss art dealers bought the rest of the collection. They have agreed to let me use the photos for my book.

It turned out the woman’s father was an estate dealer. He found this box of photos in a house in Châteauroux, in central France, that I later discovered was Féral Benga’s house.

Q: Did you find additional traces of Benga’s life during your trip to France?

A: I went to the Saint-Denis cemetery in Châteauroux and found the family tomb where he is buried. I’m still researching the family, which is difficult because there are no records. It’s interesting work because I’m trying to piece together this life that was very popular and well-known at the time but then suddenly sort of disappeared from history.

The concession [rights to the plot of land] on the family tomb is set to run out in 2028—the French government will disinter the remains and put them in different ossuaries. I’m petitioning the French government to preserve Féral Benga’s grave because he is an important icon of Black diasporic modernism.

Q: Are there connections between this research and the research for your first book, The Homoerotic Photography of Carl Van Vechten: Public Face, Private Thoughts?

A: Carl Van Vechten was a great patron of the Harlem Renaissance, a writer, and a photographer. If you see old photographs of African Americans from the Harlem Renaissance, portraits of people in music, dance, theater, and cultural people, those images are by Carl Van Vechten. He was very well known during the period. He also did a lot of private erotic photography, which is what my book was about.

Two black and white photos set next to each other. One is of Senegalese dancer, Féral Benga, with a group of drummers and the other is of the same dancer standing with his arms stretched out above him — Benga with his troupe, La Magie Noire in Harlem, 1936. (Image courtesy of Smalls)

The connection to my new book is that Féral Benga arrived in New York City in 1937, and Carl Van Vechten invited Féral Benga over into his studio apartment and took many interesting photographs of him.

It’s been a great journey piecing all this research together. Now, I must finish the book.

Learn more about UMBC’s Department of Visual Arts.

Oyinlola Oluka ’25, political science and philosophy, sees no limits for herself

For Oyinlola Oluka, political science and philosophy, doing the right thing is not just a mantra but a career path. A law school hopeful since middle school, Oluka, a first-generation Nigerian American, has a keen interest in the efforts of African countries to move from political instability toward accountability for human rights violations. She knows that holding governments accountable is a lofty task, but fear is not in her vocabulary—justice is. At UMBC, she found a kindred spirit in Jeffrey Davis, a political science professor whose passion for human rights and politics began at 12 years old after joining Amnesty International. Oluka delved deeply into the complexities of international law in Davis’s classes, inspiring her to shift her ambitions toward becoming an international human rights judge—someone committed to upholding human rights at the highest level.

Q: What motivated you to come to UMBC?

A college student carries her sister in celebration of her graduating college — Oyinlola Oluka carrying her sister Atinuke Oluka at her graduation. (Image courtesy of Oluka)

A: My sister, Atinuke Oluka, is a Retriever. She graduated in 2022 with degrees in psychology and biological sciences. I saw how many opportunities UMBC gave her—how she felt like she belonged and how smoothly she transitioned from high school to college. I don’t see limits for myself either, so I decided to follow in her footsteps. The opportunities I’ve had at UMBC have changed the way I approach life.

Q: In what ways do you live out your ‘no limits’ philosophy?

A: I am a first-generation Nigerian American. My family inspires me. They experienced Nigeria’s instability, but did not let it limit their future. I knew I wanted to be a lawyer in middle school. So, once I came to UMBC, I took advantage of opportunities to help me learn more about being a lawyer and due process, such as civil rights, criminal justice, and international law classes. As part of UMBC’s Legal Internship Program, I worked at the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center under the mentorship of the Honorable Judge Nicole K. Barmore, an associate judge in Baltimore City’s Circuit Court.

I chose philosophy as my second major and completed a certificate in philosophy, law, and politics, another in French, a minor in law and justice, and participated in Philosophers Anonymous, which serves as a council of majors. My hard work earned me memberships in Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society, and Phi Beta Kappa Society, an academic honor society.

Oyinlola Oluka, a college student, stands holding a manila folder and completing a form in a room with people sitting at tables — Oyinlola Oluka assists with a client intake at UMBC’s first Expungement Clinic in partnership with Maryland Legal Aid. (Image courtesy of **Molly Timko**, UMBC’s pre-law academic advisor)

Giving back to UMBC is also important to me. I am a tutor at UMBC’s Writing Center and a teaching assistant for ENGL 393 Technical Communication. All of this while working as a certified pharmacy technician. UMBC’s Black Student Union, the African Student Association, and Philosophers Anonymous allowed me to help foster a sense of community on campus.

Simply put, I don’t limit myself—not to one field, skill, or experience. I always make sure that what I’m doing now aligns with my long-term goals. If I can see myself succeeding where I am, then I know I can succeed elsewhere, too. I will be the first person in my family to pursue a career in law.

Q: How did you choose to add a philosophy major?

A: When I applied to UMBC while I was at Towson High School, the application asked what other major I might consider, which I interpreted as a backup in case my first choice didn’t work out. I chose philosophy because of my passion for the law. It offered a safe, inquisitive space to explore and understand fundamental questions about the world around us. To my surprise, I was admitted as a dual major. I decided to keep it, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life.

In 2024, the Department of Philosophy nominated and voted to award me the Evelyn Barker Book Prize for superior academic performance by a senior. I am proud to receive this award because it demonstrates that my contributions to the department and the discipline, as a whole, made an impact. Even though picking this major was initially unintentional, it proved to be a discipline that fit perfectly with the person I strive to be. This award shows me that I am taking the necessary steps to actualize my dreams and aspirations. My experience in the department has been phenomenal, and I would absolutely make the same choice again.

Q: Is there someone who has served as a mentor for you?

A: My favorite classes were taught by Jeffrey Davis, professor of political science, because they deepened my interest in criminal justice and international human rights law. His teaching style left a lasting impression on me. He influenced my time at UMBC not only through what he taught, but also how he taught. He was always encouraging, never condescending, precise, yet never rigid.

“

Jeffrey Davis’s classroom was a space where ideas could be explored freely, and where every student’s voice was heard. He helped shape not only my academic path but also my sense of purpose as a future legal scholar and advocate. I will always be grateful for his mentorship.

Oyinlola Oluka ’25

political science and philosophy

Q: What excited you about being a student researcher for UMBC’s 2024 Battleground Exit Poll?

A: In the American voting behavior class, led by Ian Anson, the associate director of UMBC’s Institute of Politics, I learned how voting behavior reflects public opinion and policy. We gauged the attitudes of 1,119 Baltimore County voters who cast their ballots in person during early voting and on Election Day. The poll asked voters about their views on the presidential and congressional races, state constitutional amendments like “The Right to Reproductive Freedom,” and broader issues like the economy.

Oyinlola Oluka, a political science and philosophy, college students stands next to a research poster about voting behavior — Oyinlola Oluka at UMBC’s 14th annual Pi Sigma Alpha Research Conference. (Image courtesy of Oluka)

This hands-on project taught me so much about public opinion research, voter behavior, and the challenges of conducting fieldwork in real time. I used the information from this course to create a final paper, which I presented at UMBC’s 14th annual Pi Sigma Alpha Research Conference. I was honored with the award for best presentation and speech, a validating milestone in my academic journey.

Q: Where do you see yourself in a decade?

A: My ultimate goal is to become a judge because it is one of the most direct ways to improve the lives of people charged with a crime. A judge has the responsibility and the power to decide what happens next for that individual. My internship at the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center immersed me in the complexities of juvenile justice. I engaged in legal research, drafted memos on post-conviction issues and child welfare cases, and presented my findings directly to Judge Barmore. Through this experience, I developed my research, analytical, and oral communication skills, particularly in breaking down legal arguments clearly and persuasively. It also strengthened my professional network, as I interacted with judges, administrative staff, and law clerks.

By observing Judge Barmore, I also saw how a judge can be nurturing and compassionate toward defendants while also holding them accountable for their actions. She was efficient and effective in addressing the needs of the children in the system, their parents, and their unique family circumstances. These processes helped me understand how crucial it is for a judge to manage their emotions so they can remain clear, consistent, and fair under pressure.

This opportunity was especially valuable because I’m still exploring whether I want to practice law in government, at a firm, or within a nonprofit organization. With the help of UMBC’s Pre-Law Society, I met law school admissions counselors, reviewed mock applications, and connected with lawyers—all of which are helping me prepare for the Law School Admission Test and narrow down the law schools I want to apply to.

Q: Now that you are the second Retriever in your family, how do you reflect on your UMBC journey?

A: The classes at UMBC taught me how to think, how to ask the right questions, and how to engage with the world around me. Whether it was a lively debate in a politics class or a professor’s encouragement after a class, every moment shaped my understanding of what it truly means to learn. I carry that with me, not just the knowledge I’ve gained at UMBC, but also the curiosity and courage to keep learning wherever I go.

Read more Commencement 2025 stories.

Public law for public good

On a fall Saturday morning, Mohammad Arshad, an information systems senior, greeted clients arriving at the Erickson School of Aging Studies looking for a fresh start with the help of UMBC’s first Expungement Clinic. After completing the intake forms, Arshad passed the files to pro bono lawyers and staff from Maryland Legal Aid and pro bono lawyers from the Baltimore County Bar Association. They carefully reviewed each client’s criminal records to determine eligibility for clearing or sealing certain charges or offenses that can create barriers to jobs, housing, and education

When Jessica Cook, associate director of the Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar Program, noticed that Loyola University has this program, she connected with Molly Timko, UMBC’s pre-law academic advisor, and discussed bringing the program to UMBC. They established the clinic with funding from UMBC’s Center for Democracy and Civic Life. As soon as a call was made for 20 student volunteers, the response was overwhelming.

A group of nine pre law college students and one staff member working with Maryland Legal Aid stand in front a black and gold quilt that hangs on the wall of an office at an expungement clinic for pre law students — Expungement clinic volunteers (l-r): **Damilola Khadijat Yusuf**, a philosophy sophomore; **Oyinlola Oluka**, a political science and philosophy senior; **Desta’nae Nicole Wilson** ’24, psychology; **Jessica Cook,** associate director of the Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar Program. (center); **Jean Kim**, a global studies junior; **Thara Pillai**, a political science sophomore; **Samantha Kennedy** ’25, a social work senior; Cooper; **Garret Miller**, a financial economics sophomore; and Arshad. (Image courtesy of Timko)

Sometimes it’s hard to get internships as an undergraduate student, notes Timko. “The exposure to public interest law—doing law for the greater good—and to network with lawyers in various fields broadens students’ understanding of what being a lawyer can look like beyond arguing in a courtroom,” says Timko, a licensed attorney in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and New York. In her role at UMBC, Timko provides career pathway counseling and law school application support for UMBC students of all majors, as well as alumni.

“It was the first time I saw a law-related volunteer opportunity on campus,” said Arshad. He serves as the senate president of the Maryland Student Legislation (MSL), a model Maryland General Assembly. Currently, there are 15 college delegations, governed by the Council of States, a group of six college students elected by MSL members. Arshad serves as the lieutenant governor.

A screen shot of an Instagram reel of two men in business suits standing having a conversation in an office — Mohammad Arshad (l) with Maryland State Delegate, Christopher Michael Griffith. (Image courtesy of Arshad)

This experiential learning experience teaches students how to draft original legislation and debate bills, navigate parliamentary procedures, and understand the legislative process. At the end of the year, all of the legislation adopted by the students is shared with members of the Maryland General Assembly for their review. “As someone interested in the legal field, I saw the Expungement Clinic as a meaningful way to deepen my understanding of the legal process.”

A college student stands next to a seated client filling out forms — Oyinlola Oluka assists with a client intake at the Expungement Clinic. (Image courtesy of Timko)

The expungement clinic was streamlined to assist as many clients as possible. No appointment was needed. Lawyers arrived equipped with laptops and printers, prepared to complete and file paperwork. Angus Derbyshire, director for Pro Bono at Maryland Legal Aid, who spearheads expungement clinics across Maryland, reported that 14 clients were served at the UMBC Expungement Clinic, and 10 of them had cases that were deemed potentially eligible for expungement. “This resulted in the preparation of 24 expungement petitions, which is a meaningful outcome for both the clients and the community,” said Derbyshire.

As a first-generation college student, Arshad had never seen the legal process in action firsthand, let alone been part of it. What surprised him most was the collaboration and community focus. “I had always assumed legal work was mostly done behind the scenes. This clinic showed me how much personal interaction and empathy are involved,” said Arshad. He plans to practice intellectual property law defending the rights of inventors, entrepreneurs, and developers. “It also gave me a better understanding of expungement and how access to legal resources can significantly improve someone’s future opportunities.”

All majors to the legal field

Despite the overwhelming response from volunteers for the expungement clinic, Timko has noticed that many students still assume a political science major is required to pursue a career in law. Like Arshad, Timko is a first-generation law student with a major outside of political science. She majored in anthropology and art history, with a minor in Italian, but wasn’t sure if she wanted to pursue a Ph.D. in either field. “During my master’s program in higher education and student affairs administration, I studied abroad in South Africa and took a course on social reform in post-apartheid South Africa. It sparked my interest in education and advocacy law,” says Timko.

One of Timko’s bigger goals is to help students discover their spark. “It’s important for students to know you can major in anything. There are so many ways to be a lawyer. There’s the stereotypical trial lawyer, but there are also lawyers focused on research and writing that never set foot in a courtroom,” says Timko who is also the advisor for UMBC’s Pre-Law Society that helps student prepare for the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and network with area schools. “You don’t have to be super extroverted or argumentative to be a really good lawyer.” There is also no expiration date on when you can decide to pursue a legal career.

A group of over 20 students gather in front of the University of Baltimore Law School glass building. — Timko (right with gold jacket) and UMBC’s Pre-Law Society students visit nearby law schools. (Images courtesy of Timko)

Ten college students stand by a wood paneling wall with a gold letters that spell out the student commons. In front of them is woman with a gold dress coat in front of — Timko (right with gold jacket) and UMBC’s Pre-Law Society students visit nearby law schools. (Images courtesy of Timko)

This is why she was excited when Shannon Ziegler ’14, fine arts, and Alexander Langsam ’22, biology, reached out to her for guidance on applying to law school. Both had initially worked in their respective fields, which unexpectedly led them in new directions—Ziegler in the financial technology industry and Langsam in civil service, which then spurred in them an interest in law.

After completing the pre-med track at UMBC, Langsam dove into studying for the Medical College Admission Test and worked as a medical assistant. When he saw firsthand the challenges faced by providers and patients, he pivoted and decided to pursue a master’s in public health policy instead, while continuing to work in civil service. There, he spent time learning about the work of the general counsel, which confirmed for him the impact lawyers can have at the federal level.

“I had never considered law school before, so when I began to think of it as a possible career, I looked up UMBC pre-law advising and emailed Molly out of the blue. She guided me through the law school application process,” said Langsam. “If you can, expand your career options beyond your degree because there are so many things you can do in this world that may not be obvious in undergrad.” He will complete his masters in May and continue to the University of Baltimore Law School in the fall.

Ziegler is about to finish her first year of law school at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. In the decade before law school, she balanced being a business manager for Baltimore’s Center Stage by day and acting by night. She then checked off living in Chicago from her bucket list, where she worked at Venmo, launching a career at the crossroads of financial regulation and technology, the topic of her law school admissions essay.

Timko is on the Law School Admission Council directory as an undergraduate pre-law school advisor and receives an alert when an alum takes the LSAT. As soon as she was sent Ziegler’s results, she touched base with her. “It had been so long since I left UMBC that I didn’t think of reaching out. Molly gave me great advice on how to focus my application better and what to prioritize in my search,” said Ziegler. “She helped me slow down to think about what my goals are. I found that reframing really helpful.”

Making the LSAT accessible

A college student wearing her cap and gown and honors cords stands outside next to a statue of a Chesapeake Bay retriever. — Megumi Fukuzawa. (Image courtesy of Fukuzawa)

The mission of the pre-law advising programming is to create a supportive community. One where UMBC’s law school hopefuls can develop the skills, strategies, and confidence to navigate the various steps between studying for the LSAT and the first year of law school. This spring, Megumi Fukuzawa ’23, political science, who is currently studying for the LSAT, understands the need for support. Like many undergraduate students, Fukuzawa’s schedule was jam-packed. Whenever she carved out time to study for the LSAT, she felt lost and discouraged. “I needed help understanding the materials and advice about how to study effectively,” said Fukuzawa, a research assistant at the Howard County Historical Society’s Archives and Historical Center. “The only flyer I saw on campus was during my junior year, advertising a $1,000 introductory LSAT course. At that point, the LSAT felt like a massive wall I couldn’t break through.”

Thanks to a professional development grant from the American Studies Department, she was able to access study materials during her senior year. This spring, Fukuzawa asked Timko if she could lead an LSAT preparation information session. “I want to offer an LSAT prep information session, free tutoring, and an online study community for UMBC LSAT students. I hope this will make LSAT prep, and by extension, a legal education, more accessible to UMBC students and alumni,” said Fukuzawa. Arshad is also championing the need to help fund LSAT preparation materials for Fukuwaza, himself, and other pre-law students who can’t afford expensive study aids. Arshad is collaborating with peers and community members on a long-term solution to establish a UMBC partnership with an LSAT coaching provider to offset LSAT preparation costs.

Advocacy and fairness are Arshad’s core values. They have defined his student work as well as his career plans to practice intellectual property law. “My background in systems and data gives me a unique perspective on how legal services, like the Expungement Clinic, can be streamlined and made more accessible through innovation,” said Arshad. “Volunteering at the expungement clinic made me think about how I can apply my tech skills to create more efficient and equitable legal solutions.”

Learn more about UMBC’s Expungement Clinic and pre-law advising.

Julie Granruth ’25, financial economics—For the love of numbers

Math is Julie Granruth’s love language. It has bookmarked her life, starting as a student at Towson High School, where her master tutoring skills made what sometimes looked like a labyrinth of numbers accessible and fun for other students. This caught the attention of Donatella Spigarelli, a mom of one of the students—and a certified public accountant and an audit and accounting principal at Baltimore-based accounting firm Ellin & Tucker. Spigarelli was so impressed with Granruth that she encouraged her to apply to the firm’s college internship program. After three years and an accounting internship, Julie is graduating with a degree in financial economics, a 4.0 GPA, and a job as a tax and audit associate at Ellin & Tucker.

Q: What led you to study at UMBC?

A: My journey to UMBC, I would say, was a little bit different. When I was about 10 or 12, my middle brother was very interested in chess and played in many tournaments at UMBC. I came with him throughout middle school and high school, experiencing UMBC at a very young age. When I applied to colleges, I discovered that UMBC had a great financial economics program. Combined with my experience of UMBC’s community as a kid, it became one of my top picks.

Q: Is your love of math a family affair?

Julie Granruth with her brother and sister stand next to each other with a picture of a large historic sailing ship in the background — Granruth with her brother. (Image courtesy of Granruth)

A: Growing up, our parents always taught us to save all of our money and only buy what we needed. I took that to heart and became interested in math, especially in the global impact of the actions of individuals on the economy. There was a direct application to the real world.

I chose financial economics because the passion with which my economics professors taught and how they applied it to their research made me passionate about it, too. I enjoyed watching them express their enjoyment of economics. It helped me better understand my enjoyment of it as well.

Q: What’s an unexpected thing you love about your major?

A: I’m a very technical and analytical person. I now love working in Excel, especially for my accounting classes. In my first accounting class, I was assigned a group project to create a company and work out its financial statements. That’s when I learned the most about how to work in Excel. I developed the skills and cool tricks that made spreadsheets work fast and efficiently. Last semester, in advanced accounting, I analyzed the financial ratios of different companies and used the Excel skills I learned to compare their performance.

I visualized everything and organized things in a way that made sense to me and then explained it to someone else in a way that they understood it. That’s why, after graduation, I want to continue my education and become a Certified Public Accountant. I’ve always been interested in it, but I wasn’t always 100 percent sure until last summer during my accounting internship. Helping people save money on their company taxes or their personal taxes is something I’m really interested in doing.

Q: What advice do you have for students interested in financial economics or becoming a CPA but aren’t sure it’s for them?

A: I have frequently heard students say that a lack of confidence in math is the main reason they don’t pursue either of these paths. My advice is to take advantage of all the opportunities you have. Never be afraid to ask for help. The professors are very welcoming and kind and will be able to help you in any way they can. A big part of economics is relating it to the real world. If you’re interested in talking about theories and policies, which is why I chose economics, math is just one piece of the equation. I don’t think there’s a ceiling, even if numbers aren’t your best friend!

Q: Where did you find the most sense of community while at UMBC?

A: I have had a passion for economics since high school and was eager to join a group of people with similar passions. The Economics Council of Majors was a community that welcomed me during my freshman year. I came to love this community, and as treasurer and then as president, I helped shape and lead the future of this group I loved.

I also enjoyed the Student Events Board (seb). I was grateful to have so many amazing friends who inspired me to put myself out there and join this community. I became the vice president of internal programming; I had never taken on such a large role in my community—I was intimidated. However, once I realized the impact I could have, I never felt more comfortable surrounded by peers who shared my interests.

Julie Granruth with four other college students stand under a bright yellow events tent behind a table holding up glass jars filled with glass tea leaves — Granruth (second from right) with (seb) welcoming new students at the fall 2024 Retriever Fest. (Image courtesy of Granruth)

During events, when I spoke with attendees about our related hobbies, watched groups of strangers become friends over a shared interest, and collaborated with other campus organizations, I was inspired to pursue new passions. These experiences revealed something I hadn’t originally considered. While the events we created were intended to form the UMBC community that we wished to see, I have also felt the warmth of this community as those around me expressed their heartfelt enjoyment of my programs. I felt so welcomed by the leaders of seb in my freshman year, and I felt honored that I had a role in the way new and returning students experienced UMBC and its beautiful community.

A college student walks arm in arm with a college mascot of a dog — (l-r): Granruth with True Grit at the 2023 Homecoming puppy parade, serving pizza at the 2024 Pack the RAC event, and in Pittsburgh at the 2024 National Association for Campus Activities conference with UMBC (seb) members. (Images courtesy of Granruth)

A college student stands in a room with tables in front of a ceiling high stack of pizza boxes — (l-r): Granruth with True Grit at the 2023 Homecoming puppy parade, serving pizza at the 2024 Pack the RAC event, and in Pittsburgh at the 2024 National Association for Campus Activities conference with UMBC (seb) members. (Images courtesy of Granruth)

Q: How have you dealt with challenging moments at UMBC?

A: Despite new classes that seemed impossibly difficult, changes in my social sphere and goals, and my peers seeming farther ahead than I was, one thing that has never changed is my persistence and passion.

When I first faced defeat, I felt not only the fear of that defeat but also the fear of future defeats. However, through my persistence, defeat became somewhat of a friend, someone I turned to as I reclaimed my footing and approached the problem time and time again, unafraid to ask for help to do my best. I take my defeats as starting points for future growth. I now hold onto them as fond memories and stories of strength.

This is why, since the spring of my freshman year, I worked hard every semester as a teaching assistant. I understood how easy it was to let academic troubles envelop me and how it seemed easier to seal this envelope than to change the script and deliver a new message. Having gone through this myself, I became passionate about helping students bring out the best in themselves. I showed them that one defeat was not just a defeat. It was an opportunity for greater future success.

Q: Carry over the one. What place have numbers had in your community service?

A: One of the students I tutored at Catonsville Elementary School was very numbers-oriented. The first question she asked me when I met her was, ‘What’s six times six?’ Talking about our love of numbers opened a way for me to communicate with her during the mentoring process.

Since my freshman year, I have volunteered as a Shriver Living Learning Community mentor at Catonsville Elementary School. I acted as someone between a friend and an adult they could look up to, yet also relate to. I encouraged my students to take pride in who they were and reminded them that they only had one chance in life to be who they are, so they might as well own it.

As the student leader for this site, I supervised the registration, onboarding, evaluation, and weekly attendance of 20 UMBC student volunteers throughout the year. This meant staying organized—it always came back to spreadsheets!

The best part of my UMBC experience was the privilege of engaging with so many communities and giving back to them with my time. I believe that service to those beyond ourselves is part of what makes our lives so fulfilling, and I can not imagine a life without it.

Read more Commencement 2025 stories.

Gathering a humanities research tool kit to understand a fascinating world

Sean Silverman began his UMBC journey as a computer science major. After taking several programming classes in high school, he was ready to pursue a career in data science while also enrolling in history courses to foster his love of history. However, by his second semester, Silverman’s passion for history inspired him to switch majors during his sophomore year. It is a common misperception among incoming students that they must commit to one path, but UMBC is a place where students can explore careers across disciplines and have the support needed to shift gears and equip themselves with the tools to succeed academically.

Silverman’s initial interest in history was sparked by his older sister’s trips to Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries and then by the deep dive into that region’s intricate past. At UMBC, he found a mentor in Brian Van Wyck, assistant professor of history, who shared a similar academic trajectory. During the fall semester of his senior year, Silverman completed his 30-page history capstone research paper on the Tokyo War Crimes Trials of 1946 – 1948. As he looks forward to graduation, Silverman reflects on how he rose to meet the challenge of his successful capstone project with the support of Van Wyck.

A college professor walks between student desks as he lectures in a classroom with a yellow brick wall in the background — Brian Van Wyck’s fall 2024 senior capstone class on Nazi Germany. (Marlayna Demond ’11/UMBC)

Learning the skills as you go

Van Wyck, who has been at UMBC for nearly five years, shares Silverman’s enthusiasm for learning about places, events, and languages vastly different from his own experiences and history. Like Silverman, he did not travel abroad or become fluent in a second language during his undergraduate years. It wasn’t until after college, when Van Wyck worked and lived in Turkey, that he began learning Turkish and German. These skills flourished through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program in the Turkish immigrant community of Detmold, in northwestern Germany, and the support of the Turkish Critical Language Scholarship. Van Wyck’s willingness and curiosity to immerse himself in Detmold’s linguistic, cultural, and political crossroads shaped the trajectory of his research and influenced his teaching, including Silverman’s capstone course.

“I like the complexity and challenge of research, putting different kinds of sources in different languages in conversation with one another to find surprising answers to important questions relevant to understanding problems and injustices in our contemporary world,” says Van Wyck, who promoted opportunities for UMBC, faculty, and students to study and research in Germany as a 2023 – 2024 DAAD Research Ambassador.

(right)While conducting research at the Atatürk Library in Istanbul, Van Wyck consulted a 1966 news article from the Cumhuriyet, the oldest Turkish daily newspaper, about Turkish migrant workers’ attempt to organize religious services in West Germany. (Image courtesy of Van Wyck)

A diverse tool kit for humanities and social science research

Silverman’s capstone class first learned about the post-WWII Nuremberg Trial of 1945 – 1946 and the Tokyo War Crimes Trials of 1946 – 1948, then students chose an aspect of one of the trials for further research. With Silverman’s keen interest in Asian history, the Tokyo War Crimes Trials intrigued him. His passion and dedication helped him find elusive dates, names, references, and footnotes, which led to a domino effect of ideas about the 11 presiding judges representing 11 countries from North America, Europe, and Asia that shaped his thesis, “Presupposed Justice: How Orientalism Affected the Tokyo Trial.” An Orientalism framework analyzes how the West negatively perceives, stereotypes, and exerts power over the East, often through colonialism, racism, and the sexualization of Asian people.

For students with little experience researching international topics, Van Wyck’s expertise in international and multilingual research helped bridge that gap. He has spent over a decade studying migration from Turkey to West Germany, starting in the 1960s. His current research was spurred by a long-forgotten banned Turkish public school textbook, created by Germany, to teach Turkish students their language and culture without input from Turkey.

“There was little information, but I found some copies. I spent a great deal of time reading and coding the information and conducting a quantitative analysis of the topics according to geography, the authors in each section, and those cited,” says Van Wyck who also took advantage of UMBC’s interlibrary loan service to access law books in Dutch from the 1980s, original pamphlets in German from the 1970s, and Turkish-language memoirs written by imams and theology professors. “I used government documents and archives. Then, I tracked down the project’s administrators and authors and conducted in-depth interviews. By using humanities and social science research methods, I was able to tell the story of this unique and broad textbook project that was, in the end, canceled.”

Three humanities faculty stand next to each other with one holding a blue and white plaque. — Van Wyck(l) with faculty from Çankırı Karatekin University in Turkey where he was invited to present his latest research in 2023 as a National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellow. (Image courtesy of Van Wyck)

A poster written in Turkish about a a humanities research lecture at Çankırı Karatekin University — Van Wyck(l) with faculty from Çankırı Karatekin University in Turkey where he was invited to present his latest research in 2023 as a National Academy of Education/Spencer Postdoctoral Fellow. (Image courtesy of Van Wyck)

Silverman faced similar obstacles in his research throughout the semester. “The Tokyo Trials are not covered as well as the Nuremberg Trial and less so through an Orientalism framework,” says Silverman. To help students move beyond the general knowledge of the trials, Van Wyck noted databases and archives that were less familiar to students. He first pointed Silverman to the University of Virginia Law School International Military Tribunal for the Far East Digital Collection. Then, Silverman navigated the databases of the Library of Congress and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s War Crimes Documentation Initiative

“Professor Van Wyck suggested a document written in French that related heavily to the Tokyo Trials and Orientalism. He knows some French and helped me translate it.” Silverman also made the most of his budding Japanese skills to further his project. He was in search of the dissent by the only judge who wanted to acquit all the Japanese leaders charged with war crimes. “I couldn’t find much in English. My one semester of Japanese came to the rescue,” says Silverman. “I found the dissent by looking up his last name in Japanese, which ended up being in the title of a book.”

A humanities college student sits at a desk looking through a book in front of a computer screen open to a text document — Sean Silverman at UMBC’s Albin O. Kuhn Library and Gallery. (Marlayna Demond ’11/UMBC)

The trail didn’t end there. Silverman struck gold among the 690,000 physical books in the Albin O. Kuhn Library, where he found two books in the political science and international law sections that profoundly shaped his paper. The Tokyo Trial and Beyond: Reflections of a Peacemonger is a collection of interviews with one of the sitting judges and the Sugamo Prison, Tokyo: An Account of the Trial and Sentencing of Japanese War Criminals in 1948, by a U.S. Participant, describes life inside the American-guarded prison. With a wide array of resources, Silverman began to write.

Writing history

After the research is complete, students begin analyzing the facts. However, this part of the process shifts from a solitary task to a communal experience. Students read each other’s papers, ask questions, and suggest changes several times before Van Wyck gives feedback. Four to five drafts later, students turn in a final product—Silverman received an A. It’s a moment Silverman didn’t foresee when he started at UMBC.

“Switching to a history major two years into my college career, I felt a little behind for a while, especially with my research skills. Wanting to go to graduate school, I knew I needed to work on that and build the skills over the years,” says Silverman. “The extensive research and synthesizing writing skills have been the most valuable skills I’ve gained, not just in this class but from all my history classes at UMBC. They will serve me well as I continue further into my academic career in graduate school and make plans to travel to Asia.”

“I became a historian because the questions that interested me take place predominantly in the past,” says Van Wyck. He will return to Germany this summer as a visiting research fellow at the Leibniz Center for Contemporary History Potsdam and at the International Youth Library. “I think it’s important for historians and undergraduate history majors to gain access to a broad and diverse toolkit.”

In fall 2025, Van Wyck will teach HIST 372: Nazi Germany, HIST 210: Migration in World History, a new course he developed.

Learn more about the UMBC History Department‘s degree programs, faculty research, and events.

UMBC’s Virtual Tandem Conversation project with German universities is changing the way students see Germany and the U.S.

During a recent trip to Normandy, France, UMBC student Rebecca Smith hopped over to Lüneburg, a historic town in northern Germany, to visit Gertrud Krause-Traudes, her partner in UMBC’s Virtual Tandem Conversation project. After three semesters of virtual conversations in German and English, Smith was more than happy to go the extra kilometer (plus a few hundred more) to meet her in person. Krause-Traudes, a professional tour guide, was excited to show Smith Lüneburg’s historic sites.

A woman wearing a long black winter coat and a white scarf stands in an ornate historic room. Virtual Tandem Conversation Project — Gertrud Krause-Traudes giving Smith a tour of Lüneburg’s historic town hall. (Image courtesy of Sutton)

The Virtual Tandem Conversation project was created by Susanne Sutton, a teaching professor of German, and Talke Macfarland, a visiting lecturer of German in UMBC’s Department of Modern Languages, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication. They established the program during COVID-19 to help UMBC students learning German and German students learning English socialize while continuing to improve their language skills.

“I asked the director of the International Center at Leuphana University Lüneburg to post a call for participants on their listserv,” says Sutton, who, while visiting her hometown, had met the director in nearby Lüneburg to discuss UMBC study abroad credit equivalencies. “That generated 35 applicants! It just grew from there,” Sutton says. Now, Sutton is managing partnerships and recruiting collaborators from two additional institutions: University of Kassel and BBS-1 Wirtschaftsgymnasium, a business vocational high school.

Smith, who is a professional harpist, enrolled in UMBC’s Golden ID Program at the beginning of the pandemic to continue taking classes with Macfarland, whom she first met at Anne Arundel Community College. “To my delight, faculty and students warmly welcomed me into their German classes,” says Smith, who was returning to take classes and rekindle her love of German after raising her family and pursuing her music career. “In 2023, I became involved with the tandem program, where my German counterpart, Gertrud, and I instantly developed a friendship through our mutual love of music and foreign languages.”

“How fortunate and privileged I feel to be part of this vibrant international community at UMBC, who seek not only to advance their students’ language abilities, but even more importantly, to build bridges between the two countries, one person at a time—diplomacy at its best!” says Smith.

Getting to know you

Macfarland and Sutton grew up in the state of Lower Saxony in northern Germany. Their joy for teaching their heritage language is a key reason the program has grown from one semester to a sequence of three semesters, each with increasing difficulty and 35 – 40 tandem participants per year.

A group of 16 people including teachers and students stand in front of a building holding a banner with German words. Virtual Tandem Conversation Project — Sutton (front left) visits Rudolph Gawor (front right), team lead in English at BBS-1, and BBS-1 students, teachers, and American guests in Lüneburg, Germany. (Image courtesy of Sutton)

The tandem project is now a required component of the German course sequence to increase proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening, emphasizing intercultural communication and global awareness. However, the actual tandem meetings are entirely student-driven and take place outside of the classroom—each tandem pair arranges virtual meetings according to their schedule. UMBC students keep a weekly diary, where they document their conversations. During the first three weeks, partners learn about each other, exploring their respective cities and universities.

“I provide questions that relate to what we currently do in class,” says Macfarland. “For instance, when we read about an exhibit by German visual artist Gerhart Richter, I asked partners to discuss art: Do you visit museums? What interests you? What’s nearby? Are you artistic? What art or work resonates with you and why?” The journal also allows instructors to monitor and give feedback on students’ weekly meetings. Some of these conversations have led to more personal exchanges, such as discussing video games they play or playing together, sharing the latest music, or exchanging photos.

“My students take what their tandem partners say seriously, and it sticks better than when we just cover the grammar in class. I think it is because they really get to experience the language in action and receive feedback from someone their age who can confirm (or deny) what they have learned in class,” says Dawn Nichols, a tandem faculty partner and lecturer of English at the University of Kassel in central Germany, an official UMBC exchange partner. “Their partners also add a little bit of context and experience to specific language choices and give them 1:1 attention, which is not always easy to do in every lesson.”

Overcoming linguistic and cultural barriers

Two women wearing winter coats stand side by side inside a historic tower overlooking a city. Virtual Tandem Conversation Project — Grosko, left, and Heinrich met in Munich, Germany, while Grosko was in Europe to visit family in Italy. (Image courtesy of Grosko)

The Tandem Conversation Program has evolved to be a vehicle for dismantling stereotypes and misconceptions about the United States and Germany. Liana Grosko, a geography and environmental systems junior with a German minor, was apprehensive about participating in the project. “German was halting for me, and no matter how much I prepared for it, there was always a learning curve when interacting with a native German speaker,” says Grosko. “My German fluency has much improved since we started talking, as well as my knowledge and appreciation of my culture’s place in the world and, of course, my friendship with Malin Heinrich, my tandem partner. I ended up getting to meet her in person in Munich early last year.”

Nichols attests to the improvement in fluency and accuracy, but also more unexpected benefits like a decrease in anxiety some German students experience when speaking English. She continues to be excited each time she hears students learn day-to-day language that is sometimes left out of textbooks and knowledge that helps them better understand American culture and critique their system.

Two women in an airport lean into each other for a photo while holding a large pretzel — Smith (r) with classmate and former German teacher Doris Hoelscher-Stanley at the airport in Hamburg, Germany. (Image courtesy of Smith)

The program continues to have far-reaching effects. Smith has taken four classes with Macfarland and six with Sutton to date. She plans to visit Vienna this summer, where she hopes to connect for a second time with classmate and former German teacher Doris Hoelscher-Stanley, an MMLIC senior currently living in Hamburg, Germany. She first visited Hoelscher-Stanley in Hamburg on her trip to meet Krause-Traudes. Smith is not the only tandem participant to go beyond the virtual classroom. Last summer, Sutton and Macfarland had their own exchange in Leipzig, Germany, four hours from Lüneburg, where they attended a workshop on teaching German as a foreign language in the U.S.

a woman stands outside with an umbrella in a German Christmas market with a red mug — Gebhard at the Weihnachtsmarkt in Wiesbaden, Germany. (Image courtesy of Gebhard)

The tandem program inspired Emma Gebhard ’23, a psychology major with a German minor, to apply to the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals program to study and work in Germany. She was one of 74 Americans chosen as a 2024 – 2025 fellow. Desire Hayes ’24, an English major with a German minor, put her skills to work studying abroad at Leuphana University Lüneburg, where she met Nele-Sophie Bauer, her German 202 tandem partner.

Other partners are making more plans to meet. “Now that the project has concluded for me, I can confidently say that it was a success. I have learned a great deal about American culture, and I feel much more confident in my English abilities. I no longer hesitate to start speaking English in everyday situations without any prior preparation,” says Heinrich, who was paired with UMBC student Liana Grosko. “The greatest success has been forming a friendship with Liana. We still communicate weekly, and I eagerly look forward to meeting her again in person this spring.”

“This tandem has put Baltimore on the map for some of my students, who generally only know something about California, Florida, and New York,” says Nichols at the University of Kassel. “Putting a very human and relatable face to the abstract concept of the United States—it’s normal to have some (mis)conceptions about people we don’t know. One part of this exchange that cannot be overvalued is how it helps our students see each other as real people and not just some image they see or read somewhere.”

Learn more about UMBC’s Modern Language, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication German track options.

New scholarship offers Japanese high school students an admissions pathway to UMBC and increases Japanese opportunities on campus

As Sister States, Maryland and Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, (south of Tokyo) have collaborated in various initiatives in business, education, healthcare, and culture exchange programs since 1981, including ongoing partnerships at UMBC. For the past six years, UMBC has proudly partnered with the Kanagawa Association of Private Junior/Senior Schools, welcoming their teachers and students for UMBC’s spring break and summer Intensive English Program and TESOL certificate programs. Likewise, UMBC students who are learning Japanese have participated in the Teach Abroad: Kanagawa Internship, an internship program with schools in Kanagawa Prefecture.

Following the great success of their education exchanges, UMBC’s Center for Global Engagement (CGE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kanagawa Association of Private Junior/ Senior Schools to establish the annual Global Achievement Scholarship. This new partnership creates an undergraduate admissions pathway for up to 10 high school students from Kanagawa Prefecture beginning in fall 2026.

Career opportunities in Japan

A middle-high school in Kanagawa Japan scholarship — Kumon Kokusai Middle-High School where William worked. (Image courtesy of Mo)

For students like William Mo, a senior majoring in modern languages, linguistics, and intercultural communication with a concentration in Japanese, opportunities to immerse in the Japanese language and culture help build an invaluable professional and social network in preparation for the international job market. Mo, whose goal is to live and work in Japan, had the opportunity to participate in the Teach Abroad: Kanagawa Internship, which offered him three months of teaching middle school students while living in a student dorm.

This was Mo’s first internship and real work experience beyond his part-time job as a peer advisor in UMBC’s Education Abroad Office. “I participated in this internship to help make a stronger case for myself when I apply to JET [Japanese Exchange and Teaching Program], to satisfy my own desire to sightsee in Japan, and experience what it is like to teach English,” says Mo. He had to balance work and online classes as well as co-lead activities like English conversation cafes, where Japanese students practiced their conversational English. “All my skills related to communicating and interacting in Japanese strengthened greatly since I regularly talked to the office staff, students, and anyone I needed to talk to.”

A Japanese lunch with five multi-colored rice balls and miso soup — (l-r): Rice ball and miso soup lunch, Mo at the Minato Mirai entertainment district, and the life-sized Unicorn Gundam Statue in Tokyo. (Images courtesy of Mo)

A college student studying Japanese sits on a neon green bench with a large heart sculpture and sky scrapers in the background. — (l-r): Rice ball and miso soup lunch, Mo at the Minato Mirai entertainment district, and the life-sized Unicorn Gundam Statue in Tokyo. (Images courtesy of Mo)

Keeping Japanese language skills sharp

Upon returning to UMBC, Mo found new ways to maintain his new level of proficiency. Last summer, when nearly 60 high school students and teachers from Kanagawa Prefecture arrived for the Intensive English Program and TESOL certificate programs, he volunteered in Japanese conversation cafes with the visiting students while playing board games. He also served as a guide and chaperone for the students’ trips to Washington, D.C., Baltimore City, and Annapolis.

A large group of Japanese high school students hold up a large mask of an oriole mascot at a baseball game scholarship — High school students and teachers from Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, at an Orioles game. (Image courtesy of CGE)

Similar to Mo’s experience in Japan, some of the participants shared that the summer programs gave them important insights into what it would be like to live and work in the United States and study at UMBC. As the Global Achievement Scholarship gets underway in 2026, UMBC will be home to more Japanese students who will join the nearly 2,000 international students and those from the United States, who have entrusted UMBC with their desire to create extraordinary possibilities for themselves and their communities.

Learn more about UMBC’s Center for Global Engagement international exchange programs.

For more information about UMBC’s Teach Abroad: Kanagawa Internship contact Tomoko Hoogenboom, teaching professor of Japanese language and culture, at tmkhgnbm@umbc.edu.

UMBC and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services partner to create pathways for a more diverse and inclusive workforce

UMBC and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) establishing a strategic partnership to increase public service career awareness and diversify workforce opportunities. This collaboration can include internships, mentorships, shadowing experiences for UMBC students, and joint outreach events to boost awareness of HHS as an employer of choice.

“We work very hard to make sure that we do not just have a culture that is great, but we also have representation in places where students can see themselves and imagine who they can be and what they can contribute,” said Cheryl R. Campbell, the assistant secretary for administration for HHS.

HHS’s mission is to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans by providing effective health and human services and fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services. This MOU will enhance recruitment efforts, support career development programs, and share resources to broaden federal employment pathways for UMBC students, particularly in public health, research, and engineering.

Ten people stand behind two people seated at a table who are holding up an MOU between UMBC and Health and Human Services — (l-r): Cheryl R. Campbell, the assistant secretary for administration for HHS, and UMBC President Dr. Valerie Sheares Ashby. (Marlayna Demond ’11/UMBC)

“When you talk about how do we change the conversation, how do we change and improve the health disparities? Well, you have to have people at the table that come from those environments,” said Campbell. “That’s why it’s critically important that we sign these memorandums of understanding to bring the next generation of Black and brown professionals into government service. Because if you want to affect change, you have to have a seat at the table to impact policy.”

This news is inspiring for Michael Ack. He joined UMBC as a Meyerhoff Scholar and earned a John H., Sr. and Althea Griner Scholarship for outstanding first-year undergraduate students committed to the advancement of minorities in the sciences and who intend to pursue biological sciences as a major. Ack is now a junior and in his second year at the National Institutes of Health Undergraduate Scholars Program (UGSP), which is part of HHS. Ack notes how these programs provided him access to invaluable financial support, mentorship, and a strong community of peers, faculty, and alumni. Last summer, Ack shadowed researchers working on understanding the development and continued survival of cancer cells. After graduation, Ack will complete his UGSP service obligation by working as a full-time NIH employee in an NIH Intramural Research Laboratory.

A college student wearing a black suit and gold tie stands at a podium speaking into a microphone about Health and Human Services. — Michael Ack. (Marlayna Demond ’11/UMBC)

“This MOU will serve as a pathway for UMBC students to pursue meaningful careers in public service and make meaningful contributions to our society,” said Ack. “And through the various opportunities that this partnership promises, more UMBC students will be able to see the benefits of working for HHS, such as I have, and will empower more of us to dream big.”

For more internship and career information visit UMBC’s Career Center and listen to their UMBC Careers Unleashed podcast.