Under the GSPD umbrella and building on a legacy of more than 20 years, PROMISE events ⓟ are organized with minoritized scholars in mind – with input from students from historically excluded populations in content and design, PROMISE events build academic skills, social supports, and career networks. While there is intention in ensuring PROMISE events meet the unique needs of scholars from populations disproportionately underrepresented in the professoriate, they are open to all graduate students and postdocs and PROMISE whole-heartedly welcomes participants from all backgrounds and disciplines. PROMISE at UMBC is a part of a PROMISE network across the University System of Maryland and beyond. We hope to provide a community of learning and support from the day you arrive on campus to the proud day you depart for your next career stage.
In your time here, we hope you come to rely on PROMISE to be a “third space” where you feel safe, supported, and championed. We hope you join us for coffees and games, seminars on preparing for a career as a faculty member, building teaching and public speaking skills, enhancing your writing and writing productivity, and learning to network to build a community of peers and mentors effectively. You can learn about the latest offerings and workshops on our myUMBC page. We frequently partner with the Graduate Student Association, the Black Graduate Student Organization, the Latinx & Hispanic Graduate Student Association, and the Nigerian Graduate Student Organization, to mention a few.
Flagship Events
All events are open to all graduate students and postdocs! Some of the PROMISE’s flagship events include:
- Dissertation House: A multi-day intensive writing workshop with one-on-one coaching to help you make significant progress on your proposal, thesis, or dissertation
- Fall Harvest Dinner: A community-building event that brings graduate students together for a warm meal and sharing of stories.
- Summer Success Institute (SSI): A professional development conference hosted by PROMISE program volunteers from across the University System of Maryland that serves as a platform to highlight researchers from a variety of backgrounds and facilitate networking opportunities for current graduate students, postdocs, and early career faculty across the State to propel their scholarship and careers forward.
PROMISE has a long history not just here but through the University System of Maryland. PROMISE was initially developed as part of a state-wide alliance through an NSF Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) grant.
Championing our Diverse Student Body
GSPD and PROMISE support all students. We view the rich diversity of our graduate student population as an essential part of creating the best, most effective academic community to push this country forward through outstanding teaching and excellent research, creative scholarship, fieldwork and contributions to society through professional work.
When we can, we connect graduate students to:
- Fellowship Programs such as the NSF GRFP, GEM fellowship, G-RISE (formerly Meyerhoff Grad Program), and LSAMP Bridge to Doctorate programs.
- Professional Organizations for scholars from all kinds of demographic groups and backgrounds
- Graduate Student Organizations for based on discipline, demographic connection, or geographical origin
- Other UMBC Groups of Interest
