There are interest spaces for all employees (non-exempt, exempt, CC1, graduate student staff, DSA employees, and non-DSA employees) to strengthen the relationships within our Terrapin community. Interest spaces provide informal ways for staff to connect with others based on common interests and/or experiences.
Each space defines how they want to be in community with one another and can connect members through meet-ups, lunches, networking, dialogues, information sharing, and/or events. If you would like to participate in a group, please reach out directly to the facilitator. If you would like to start a group, please reach out to Nicole Mehta or Yvette Lerma Jones.
Staff Community-Building Spaces
Men of Color
Facilitator: Earl Cabellon
Email samoc@umd.edu if you are interested in joining this group.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to support and empower men of color by creating a safe and inclusive community where we can come together to share our experiences, discuss important issues, and work towards positive change. We strive to be a positive force for social justice and equality, and to provide a supportive network for men of color as they navigate the unique challenges they face. By fostering a sense of belonging and purpose, we aim to help men of color reach their full potential and make meaningful contributions to the Division of Student Affairs and UMD communities.
Queer Christians
Facilitator: Lorae Bonamy
Email Lorae if you are interested in joining this group.
LGBTQIA+
Facilitator: Tyler Huddleston
Email Tyler if you are interested in joining this group.
Mission Statement
The LGBTQIA+ Affinity Space at the University of Maryland was established to create a safe and inclusive community for LGBTQIA+ staff and faculty. The purpose of this space is to provide opportunities for community engagement and networking and to serve as a space for shared resistance and reflection with other members of the queer community.
We are committed to creating an environment that fosters understanding and celebration of LGBTQIA+ identities within the workplace and higher education, and we welcome all who share a vision to join us in creating a more inclusive campus environment.
Disability
Co-facilitator: vacant
Email ylerma@umd.edu if you are interested.
Women in Higher Education
Facilitator: Laura Tan
Email Laura if you are interested in joining this group.
Working Moms
- Facilitator: Laura Hood
- Listserv: Working Moms List - email Laura Hood to gain access
- Group Email: saworkingmoms@umd.edu
- Join the Working Moms Facebook group (new since COVID-19):
Email Laura if you are interested in joining this group.
Mission Statement
Welcome to the Working Moms affinity group at UMD! Our goal is to share resources, parent event information, provide a space to ask questions about UMD policies, organize play dates, share babysitters and caretaker information, and most importantly we provide parental support!
We provide a welcoming environment for those mothers on campus that are looking for a space of support, friendship, and care.
Black Men in Higher Education
Facilitator: Brandon Harris
Please complete the Black Men in Higher Education interest form if you are interested in joining.
Mission Statement
A welcoming space for University of Maryland employees who identify as Black men. This will be an intentional diverse space for individuals to be seen and heard.
This specific affinity group will have facilitation around empowering one another to take action, creating spaces to openly vent and express themselves without societal pressures. This space welcomes all to be their authentic selves without fear of judgment. This space can also be a collaborative space to share
programming and initiatives to promote within UMD and the field of Higher Education.
UMD APIDA
Facilitator: Donna Lim
Email Donna if you are interested in joining this group.
Mission Statement
The University of Maryland Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Affinity Space is a safe and inclusive space for any person self-identifying as APIDA. The purpose of this group is to provide a supportive network for APIDA individuals to share in dialogue about issues and topics that foster greater sense of belonging and community around APIDA’s identity and experience on the College Park campus. Our hope is to bring greater connection within the APIDA community at UMD.
- Dialogue. To foster education and learning from diverse perspectives.
- Community. To build a safe and supportive network.
- Empowerment. To celebrate and discover pride in the APIDA identity.
UMD Womxn of Color
Facilitators: Mel. Coles, Kenisha Rhone, & Teniqua Coates-Singh
If interested, please fill out the UMD Womxn of Color (WoC) interest form to be connected.
Mission Statement
The UMD Womxn of Color (WoC) Affinity Group at the University of Maryland-College Park was established in August 2019 as part of the Division of Student Affairs Work-Life Initiative. We seek to center (and hold space) for the identities and experiences of womxn of color students, staff, and faculty at the University of Maryland, regardless of gender, race, class, sexuality, nation, ability, ethnicity, and religion.
We are committed to providing womxn of color across campus opportunities for community engagement, networking, and professional development. Together, we strive to create and sustain tangible spaces on campus whereby members can engage in fellowship with reassurance, support, and the care it takes to sustain our multiple positionalities across campus. It is our hope and goal that members of this group support each other in the face of adversity and hardship, be a sounding board in moments of reflection and uncertainty, and a beacon of hope to those of us within the group who need strength, kindness, and good cheer.
Latinas in Higher Education
Facilitator: Nicole Garcia Diaz
Email Nicole if you are interested in joining this group.
Mission Statement
The Latinas in Higher Education Affinity group is a welcoming community for Latinas/x/es staff at UMD that focuses on connection, well-being, authenticity, and support. The goal of this multi-generational group is to provide a space for members to find community, resources, and encouragement.
This diverse group adapts to meet the unique needs of those who are part of it- ranging from informal gatherings and catch up sessions, restorative circles, happy hours, museum visits, walks around campus, or potlucks. This community has explored topics including professional development, setting boundaries, Latinx traditions, systems of oppression, intersectionality, connection to resources, food/ recipes, and sharing information about Latinx businesses in the area.
Above all, this group uplifts its community and supports member wellness in all aspects of their lives.
Interest Spaces
Coaching Collective Interest Group
Facilitators: Earl Cabellon, Shayna Hodges, and Jennifer Lindstrom
E-mail the facilitators if you are interested in joining this group.
Mission Statement
The University of Maryland’s Coaching Collective Interest Group is a venue for connections to be made and continuous learning to occur among trained/certified coaches, aspiring coaches, or anyone who is interested in learning more about coaching.
Meeting topics will include:
- Sharing best practices
- Enhancing coaching skills (listening, empathy, non-judgment, empowering relationships, etc)
- Creating coaching awareness among others
- How to use coaching as a professional development tool
Student Affairs Early Career
Facilitators: Natalie Wilkinson, Kelsey Diggs, & Montrell Cade
E-mail the facilitators if you are interested in joining this group.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Student Affairs Early Career group is to provide a space for connection and community among early career staff (1-7 years) within the Division of Student Affairs at the University of Maryland.