Below are testimonials from last year's RISE recipients. Feel free to browse them for inspiration when making your professional development decision.
Each professional development opportunity is linked to its webpage for more details.
Jessica Sadler, CMNS - Mathematics (AMSC Program)
I attended the eduWeb Summit conference in Philadelphia from July 9-11th along with the masterclass they offered about AI. In general, the conference was about marketing and social media use for higher education, especially as it intersects with AI use. It was a well-organized, informative conference. I learned new things about using social media for advertising and how to create my own GPT in ChatGPT.
Jessica Sadler, CMNS - Mathematics (AMSC Program)
I attended the Digital Summit conference in Alexandria, VA, July 2024. The focus of the conference was on marketing and AI. I was a great conference with superb keynote speakers as guest speakers.
I learned a lot about AI which is the future. AI will be used widely. Also, I learned a lot about marketing, which is important to my job when recruiting prospective students and raising awareness of the AMSC program.
Reuven Goren, ARHU - The Clarice - Production
This year's conference dealt with topics such as machine shop and maker-space safety, and accessibility and inclusion. How do you make a shop more open to students from other departments? How do you maintain a culture of safety to prevent injury in an active and dangerous environment?
But it also had a different approach to diversity: cultural competency, as a way to be more open towards thoughts of different cultures. Using the host university in Hawaii, they dealt with issues like "how do you mesh the ideas of current technology and safety standards of fabrication with cultural and traditional ways of making something?", and "how does one's background affect problem-solving and communication?"
All of it combines to add insights for ways of making a more diverse and welcoming environment for my shop, and I can also share the lessons learned with other shops in our University of Maryland system."
It is a fantastic opportunity to meet with other managers and supervisors of student shop spaces across the country (and even internationally) to compare ideas and problem-solving for our work environments. It deals with important topics. Safety is no joke, and the formation of the organization came about after the death of a student in a machine shop accident. All of our shops are always looking for ways to be a safe place to work, but also to be an inviting place for students of all departments and walks of life.
Emily Shallbetter, ARHU - Guest Experience, The Clarice
I attended the LEAD Conference organized by the Kennedy Center. This was my second year attending, and it was somehow even more informational and enriching this time around. I came away from the experience with lots of notes and ideas about how to enrich our accessibility practices at The Clarice.
I would recommend this opportunity to any and all of my colleagues, particularly those in arts-adjacent roles. Accessibility policy relates to everyone's work and there were many sessions to choose from; the experience was very customizable.
Eric Malcom, CMNS - Entomology
I had the pleasure to attend the Eastern Apicultural Society's annual conference during the week of August 4, 2024, which was held in Ellicott City, MD this year. This event was entirely organized and hosted by Maryland beekeepers and they did a remarkable job. The daily keynotes and many supplemental presentations were given by accomplished professors, researchers, and extension professionals, that presented a lot of networking and developmental ideas. Attending the presentations gave me the opportunity to learn about current issues, developments in the industry, and assess needs of the beekeeping community. Prior to EAS, I was invited to present an apiary demonstration, sit on a regional beekeeping panel and was able to bring awareness to UMD Bee Labs efforts to support local beekeepers. I helped emcee their Bee Olympics, which was also a learning experience in coordinating 25 adults participating in a set of physical activities that were both fun and entertaining for all involved. While at the conference, I had the opportunity to meet with many beekeepers from both within Maryland and from surrounding states to discuss the needs of their association members and left with plans to develop programming to fill needs around understanding colony health inspections and improved record keeping practices. While I met with these beekeepers, I scheduled 5 presentations to local county clubs and two in neighboring states to speak to these challenges. I was also invited to give two presentations at the American Beekeeping Federation conference, a national conference being held in January 2025. I deeply appreciate the opportunity that the RISE Grant has provided in enabling me to go to this conference and others to come. Thank you for your support and for providing staff the opportunity to focus on professional development through this program.
The RISE Grant has provided funding to help develop and further expand my skills and knowledge as a beekeeper and extension professional. In the previous year, all funds to register, travel, and attend some of the biggest annual educational beekeeping conferences had to come out of pocket, due to budget restraints. RISE made it possible to attend these conferences as part of my position at UMD.
Antoinette Lancaster, ARHU - Dean's Office
I attended the CUPA-HR conference in Orlando, and it was truly worthwhile. The conference brought together diverse perspectives on HR practices and issues in higher-ed, making everything feel relevant and relatable. One of the highlights for me was connecting with other HR professionals and discussing the shared challenges of transitioning to a new system (Workday).The sessions provided valuable tools and useful ideas that left me feeling motivated. It was also encouraging to see Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) being prioritized throughout the conference. Overall, CUPA-HR was an inspiring experience.
I’d recommend this opportunity to a colleague! The CUPA-HR conference offers valuable information and is a great place to connect with other professionals. It encourages collaboration and idea-sharing. The sessions are packed with strategies we can actually apply to our work, making it a truly satisfying experience.
Katherine Brandt, ARHU - Arts for All/Dean's Office
In October, I had the privilege of attending The International Academic Forum (IAFOR) Conference on Arts and the Media in Kyoto, Japan, sponsored by Kyoto University. This five-day event, which drew over 300 attendees from more than 40 countries, offered a unique opportunity to engage with global scholars and professionals in the field of arts and media. As one of only 22 Americans present, I was honored to serve as both a representative of the University of Maryland and of the United States in such a diverse and intellectually stimulating environment.
During the conference, I was chosen to present my work to an audience of approximately 100 different people. My presentation focused on the "Arts for All" initiative, a groundbreaking project at UMD that leverages the arts as a medium for addressing contemporary challenges in art, technology, and social justice. I was pleased to find that my session was well received, well attended, and sparked thoughtful discussions on the intersection of creativity and social impact.
In addition to presenting my own work, I was able to learn from a broad spectrum of research conducted by others in the field. This global exchange of ideas was invaluable in expanding my perspective and deepening my understanding of how the arts are evolving across cultures and academic disciplines. The relationships I formed with fellow academics have already begun to yield collaborative opportunities, and I left the conference feeling both inspired and deeply motivated.
The experience was particularly transformative in shaping my future academic trajectory. As a result of the discussions I participated in and the insights I gained, I became deeply interested in exploring the quantitative measures of success in the arts and humanities within higher education (an area that has traditionally been measured using more qualitative metrics). Inspired by the innovative work I encountered, I have already taken steps toward applying for a Ph.D. program (in the school of Education here at UMD!), furthering my commitment to advancing research that bridges the gap between art, technology, and social justice.
On a personal level, attending this conference in Japan was a life changing experience. It not only helped to dissipate my imposter syndrome as an academic speaking at a conference but also inspired me to pursue a more robust career in academia. Hearing from scholars and educators who are shaping the future of higher education made me realize the potential impact that research and teaching can have on both students and society.
As a proud UMD alum (I earned my master’s degree in 2014), this experience was particularly meaningful, as I was able to represent my alma mater on an international stage. The opportunity to connect with scholars from around the world and share the work we are doing at UMD was an honor, and I am eager to bring back the knowledge and inspiration I gained to contribute to our community here at Maryland!
The conference was extremely well run, thoughtfully laid out, and organized so that participants could be flexible with their personal schedules. As a coordinator here at UMD, it gave me several ideas of how to be successful with a conference - and I am currently planning an Art & AI Symposium for January 2025 to be hosted at UMD. Additionally, the cultural experience of visiting Kyoto, Japan is one that was honestly life changing for me personally. I highly recommend this conference.
Fredo Oliveira, UGST - Honors Global Challenges & Solutions
From August 6 to August 13, 2024, I participated in a Study Abroad Program Site Visit to Panama, an invaluable professional development opportunity. This visit provided firsthand insight into the country’s rich culture and allowed me to establish direct partnerships with organizations such as the World Food Programme (UN), the Emberá Indian Village, and Fundación PROBIDSIDA, which focuses on safe sex and HIV/AIDS prevention education. By independently organizing the visit, I ensured that the upcoming March 2025 program, involving 18 students, will be both affordable and meaningful. This experience strengthened my skills in program planning, cross-cultural communication, and partnership development while creating impactful educational opportunities for students.
It provides an excellent way to gain firsthand knowledge of the culture and logistics, ensuring better preparation for the students who will be participating in the program.
