UMBC Faculty Senate

The Faculty Senate shall have the authority to formulate and recommend policies, subject to the advice of the other Senates, and to the policies and procedures established by the Board of Regents or the UMBC President, with regard to the following matters: (1) Principles governing faculty promotion, tenure, retention, and rules and regulations; (2) Requirements for awarding undergraduate and graduate degrees; (3) Approval of graduate programs; (4) Approval of undergraduate major, certificate, and minor programs; (5) Periodic reviews of academic departments and programs; and (6) Operation and administration of research, scholarship, and creative activity.

For the 2025-2026 Academic Year, the following constitute the Rosters of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee and the Faculty Senate:

Faculty Senate Executive Committee

President: Nancy Kusmaul

Vice President:Jennifer Mata-McMahon

At-Large Members: Mariajose Castellanos, Molly Jones-Lewis, Kevin Omland, Tanya Saunders

Members: Dawn Biehler (Chair of the Academic Planning and Budget (APB) Committee), Donald Snyder (Chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee),Gary Williams & Richard Sponaugle (Co-Chairs of the Undergraduate Council), Vacant (Liaison for the Graduate Council), and Susan McDonough (Immediate Past President of the Faculty Senate)

Senators AY2025 – 2026

Africana Studies: Angela Carter

American Studies: Nicole King

Ancient Studies: Molly Jones-Lewis

Biological Sciences: Kevin Omland

Chemical, Biochemical & Environmental Engineering: Mariajosé Castellanos

Chemistry and Biochemistry: Minjoung Kyoung

Computer Science & Electrical Engineering: Curtis Menyuk

Dance: Shaness D. Kemp

Economics: Maria Bernedo Del Carpio

Education: Shuling Yang

Emergency Health Services: Farah Nibbs

English: Elaine MacDougall

Erickson School of Aging Studies: Robin Majeski

Gender, Women’s +Sexuality Studies: Kathryn Kein

Geography & Environmental Systems: Colin Studds

History: Daniel Ritschel

Information Systems: Bill Ryan

Library: Beth Saunders

Language, Literacy & Culture: Tanya L. Saunders

Mathematics & Statistics: Muruhan Rathinam

Marine Biotechnology: Ten-Tsao Wong

Mechanical Engineering: Timmie Topoleski

Media & Communication Studies: Jason Loviglio

Modern Languages, Linguistics & Intercultural Communication: Zakaria Fatih

Music: Philip Mann

Philosophy: Lisa Cassell

Physics: Lili Cui

Political Science: Lisa Vetter

Psychology: Lira Yoon

Public Policy: Jane Lincove

Social Work: Tiffany Banks

Sociology & Anthropology: Andrea Kalfoglou

Theatre: Nate Sinnott

Visual Arts: Guenet Abraham