Undergraduate Program Directors

Undergraduate Program Directors (UPDs) administer undergraduate academic programs (majors and minors) on behalf of their respective departments. The UPDs are convened as a group by the Dean and Vice Provost of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. They meet several times a year for the purposes of improving undergraduate education at UMBC. The primary objective of meetings is to disseminate relevant news from university leadership to the academic programs and vice versa. This objective involves sharing concerns, identifying common challenges, and providing department level input about programs and practices in development.

Africana Studies: Gloria Chuku
American Studies: Mike Casiano
Ancient Studies: Melissa Kutner
Anthropology: Nick Welcome
Asian Studies: Fan Yang
Biochemistry: Allison Tracy
Bioinformatics: Daniel Lobo
Biological Sciences & Biology Education: David Eisenmann
Business Technology: Ravi Kuber
Chemical Biochemical and Environmental Engineering: Mariajose Castellanos
Chemistry: Lisa Kelly
Computer Engineering: Seung Jun Kim
Computer Science: Adam Bargteil and Jeanette Kartchner
Dance: Elizabeth Johnson
Economics: Doug Lamdin
Education: Vickie Williams
Engineering & Computer Education Program: Mark Berczynski
Emergency Health Services: Kyle Bates and Gary Williams
English: Tanya Olsen and Jody Shipka
English Language Institute: Ryan Sheldon
Gender + Women’s, + Sexuality Studies: Alexandra Novitskaya
Geography and Environmental Studies: Dena Aufseeser
Global Studies Program: Felipe Filomeno
History: Christie Chapin
History, Shady Grove: Andrew Nolan
Humanities Scholars: Tim Phin
Individualized Study Program: Carrie Sauter
Information Systems: Richard Sponaugle and Zhiyuan Chen
Judaic Studies: Aharona Gazit-Rosenthal
Management of Aging Services: Louise Murray
Math/Statistics: Justin Webster
Mechanical Engineering: TseHuai Wu
Mechanical Engineering (USG): Charles Eggleton
Media and Communications: Kristen Anchor
Modern Languages, Linguistics and Intercultural Communication: Susanne Sutton
Music: Joseph Siu
Philosophy: Jim Thomas
Physics: Eric Anderson
Political Science: Devin Hagerty
Political Science (USG): Sunil Dasgupta
Psychology: Angela Katenkamp
Psychology, Shady Grove: Laura Rose
Public Health: Katie Birger
Social Work: Katherine Morris
Sociology (SAPH): Brian Soller and Arielle Kuperberg
Theatre: Eric Abele and Eve Muson
Translational Life Sciences (USG): Elizabeth Friar
Visual Arts: Kelley Yang


Academic and Pre-professional Advising: Kenneth Baron
Academic Success Center: Amanda Knapp
Academic Transition Programs: Laila Shisheneh
Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation: Adriana Mason
Career Services: Christine Routzahn
Enrollment Management: Yvette Mozie-Ross
Honors College: Jodi Kelber-Kaye
Information Technology, Department of : John Fritz and Mariann Hawken
Institutional Research, Analysis and Decision Support, Office of : Connie Pierson
Meyerhoff Scholars Program: Keith Harmon
Registrar’s Office: Pam Hawley
Sherman STEM Teacher Scholar Program: Corey Carter
Student Affairs, Division of : Reinque Kersh and James Devita
Undergraduate Academic Affairs: Carlos Jensen and Diana Benoit
Undergraduate Research and Prestigious Scholarships: April Householder
University Innovation Alliance Fellow: Ronita Walker
Women’s Center: Lauren Allen

Next UPD meetings:

October 28, 2025
10 – 11:30 a.m.
or
October 29, 2025
2:30 – 4 a.m.

March 24, 2026
10 – 11:30 a.m.
or
March 25, 2026
2:30 – 4 a.m.

All meetings are held on WebEx

If you have any items you would like to suggest for a UPD agenda, please email Diana Benoit at:
dianabenoit@umbc.edu.

UPD Minutes

Please send list corrections to Diana Benoit, 410-455-6805 or dianabenoit@umbc.edu.