Director of Undergraduate Research
Thirty Years of Grit, Grunge, and Groundbreaking Research
Welcome to URCAD 30! On April 22, 2026 we celebrate thirty years of grit, grunge, and groundbreaking research and creative work of UMBC undergraduate students.
URCAD not only provides an opportunity for students to hone their research and writing skills, practice public speaking and networking in a professional conference-style environment, and strengthen relationships with their peers and mentors, but it showcases the work of UMBC’s talented undergraduate students with the campus community and beyond. Over one third of students who graduate from UMBC engage in mentored research, making UMBC a leader in national undergraduate research. In a time when there has been so much discouraging news surrounding research support on the national and local levels, URCAD continues to be a joyous and inspirational event, proving that critical thinking and creativity through research and the arts are a vital part of our democracy.
In the last thirty years, URCAD has evolved from an idea conceived by Dean Diane Lee in what was the Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE) with a handful of student presenters in the library, to today’s event, with over 400 presenters and thousands of guests. I have been honored to guide the event over the last ten years, from its second location in the University Center, through three years of being online during the pandemic, and now to our new venue in the RAC. My predecessor, Janet McGlynn, made the transition effortless and ensured that the rigor and spirit of the original URCAD is preserved.
It is with enormous gratitude that I acknowledge all the people who help make URCAD the excellent event that it is. URCAD would not be possible without the support of Dean Jensen, the UAA family, the Office of Institutional Advancement, and U-RISE. Special thanks to our colleagues in the Honors College, and Administrative Assistants Devon Fick, Lisa Whittle, and Rosie Bacon. For technical support, Dhaval Gandhi, Michael Mower, and Simon Reilly. The URCAD Committee, chaired by Stephen Miller, and Timothy Phin and Pamela Rakhshan Rouhakhtar help prepare the presenters. A shout out to all the volunteers, and the excellent student designers, especially Ari Cordoza in Commonvision for making the 90s theme come alive, and to our inspirational keynote speaker, Karena Ingram. Our moderators keep us on track and the mentors are the foundation of the student research experience. Of course, it is the hardworking student presenters who continue to inspire me year after year.
Enjoy all of the oral and poster presentations, films, artwork, performances, video games, and keynote speaker at URCAD 30, and stop by the graffiti and selfie booth as we throw back to 1997, where it all began!
April Householder, Ph.D.
Director of Undergraduate Research and Prestigious Scholarships
Please note: UMBC is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive environment for all students, staff, and visitors. If you have difficulties accessing any of the materials on our site, please contact us so that we can provide an alternative format and remedy any accessibility challenges.