Research and Creative Achievement Council

The UMBC Research and Creative Achievement Council (RCAC)  is described in the Plan of Organization for the Senates of UMBC and includes representation from several of UMBC’s senates and other groups, as detailed in the roster below. The Council reviews and recommends policies that promote and enhance research, scholarship, and creative activity at UMBC. It also “serves as a forum for discussion of research issues or systematic problems in need of amelioration.” In addition, the UMBC Research and Creative Achievement Council is charged with:

  1. carrying out periodic reviews of UMBC Centers and Institutes to ensure the academic quality and value to the University;
  2. receiving reports from UMBC administration and research committees including issues of University compliance with Federal and State regulations; and
  3. voicing faculty concerns to the campus administration on matters involving administrative or academic affairs affecting the quality of research.
Research and Creative Achievement Council Meetings:  
All meetings are 11am-1pm and virtual. For the WebEx link, please email the RCAC chair (see roster below).
  • September 8, 2023
  • October 13, 2023
  • November 10, 2023
  • December 8, 2023
  • January 12, 2024
  • February 9, 2024
  • March 8, 2024
  • April 12, 2024
  • May 10, 2024

If you would like to bring a potential initiative, concern or suggestion to the Research and Creative Achievement Council’s attention, please contact the Council through any or all of the individuals below.

We look forward to hearing from and working with you!


Research and Creative Achievement Council – Members
Representing Name Department/Unit Email Term
Faculty Senate Gary Carter Computer Science and Electrical Engineering carter@umbc.edu AY22-AY24
Faculty Senate Erle Ellis Geography and Environmental Systems ece@umbc.edu AY13-AY25
Faculty Senate James Foulds Information Systems jfoulds@umbc.edu AY24-AY26
Faculty Senate Erin Green (chair)
Biological Sciences
egreen@umbc.edu AY22-AY24
Faculty Senate Eileen Meyer Physics meyer@umbc.edu AY24-AY26
Faculty Senate Thania Munoz Davaslioglu Modern Languages, Linguistics & Intercultural Communication munozt@umbc.edu AY23-AY25
Faculty Senate Tanya Saunders Language Literacy & Culture tanyasau@umbc.edu AY24-AY26
Faculty Senate Jianwu Wang Information Systems jianwu@umbc.edu AY21-AY24
Faculty Senate Semhar Yohannes Library semhar@umbc.edu AY22-AY24
Non-Exempt Staff Desiree Stonesifer Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences sdesiree@umbc.edu AY24
Prof. Staff Senate
Ally Hepp
Division of Information Technology ahepp@umbc.edu AY24
Prof. Staff Senate Roy Prouty Division of Information Technology roy.prouty@umbc.edu AY24
Grad. Student Assoc. Kara Seidel LLC seidelk1@umbc.edu AY24
Research Centers Christine Mallinson Center for Social Science Scholarship  (CS3) mallinson@umbc.edu AY24
Research Centers Sergio De Souza-Machad JCET sergio@umbc.edu AY24
Sr. Research Admin. Grp. Dean Drake ORCA ddrake@umbc.edu AY24
Ex-Officio Members of the Council (non-voting)
  • Provost (or designee)
  • Vice President for Administration and Finance (or designee)
  • Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer (or designee)
  • Vice President for Research & Creative Achievement (or designee)
  • Dean of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (or designee)
  • Dean of Engineering and Information Technology (or designee)
  • Dean of Natural and Mathematical Sciences (or designee)
  • Vice Provost and Dean of the Graduate School (or designee)
  • Dean of the Erickson School (or designee)
  • Director of the Library (or designee)
  • Director of Undergraduate Research and Prestigious Scholarships