Resources

Interfaith Involvement Opportunities

Gathering Space Student Advisory Board

Created in the Summer of 2022, the Gathering Space Student Advisory Board was formed to provide a forum for students from religious and belief organizations on campus to get to know each other, discuss issues impacting the Gathering Space, and create programs centering connection and dialogue. The hope of this Student Advisory Board is also to create spaces for connection and relationship, while providing a forum for religion and belief student organizations to discuss difficult issues as a community. This group will partner with Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion, & Belonging (i3b) staff and work parallel with the Religious Council to help uphold the vision of the Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being. Bi-weekly meetings are planned for the Fall 2022 Semester.

If you are interested in learning more or joining in the conversation, please reach out to Matt Hoffman, Assistant Director with Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion & Belonging and based in the Gathering Space. He can be reached at matt.hoffman@umbc.edu or in the Center for Well-Being, Room 105.

Religious Council

Recognizing the value of religion and spirituality as part of holistic well-being, UMBC is committed to welcoming students, staff, faculty, and community members from diverse religious, spiritual, and worldview backgrounds. As such, the UMBC Religious Council was created to partner with local religious and spiritual leaders (both ordained and lay, some volunteer and others supported by outside organizations) to help provide support, organization, and a forum to better serve students and the campus community at large. Representing various backgrounds and experiences, Religious Council members often provide secondary support to religion and belief student organizations, pastoral care and counseling, and spiritual guidance and model the value of relationships in promoting pluralism and cooperation. Collectively, the Religious Council strives to create and support a safe and inviting environment, where spiritual exploration is encouraged and spaces for dialogue and relationships are fostered. For additional details on how to become a Religious Council member, please click here (add a link to be directed to the application process).

For more information, please contact RC Chair Rabbi Jeremy Fierstien at jif@umbc.edu or Matt Hoffman, Assistant Director with i3b at matt.hoffman@umbc.edu.

Finding a Spiritual Advisor

Searching for answers or a place to just be? Seeking somewhere to tap into your spiritual side? Looking for spiritual counseling or someone to talk to about some of life’s big questions? Come stop by the Gathering Space!

You are welcome to drop by the Spiritual Advising Office in the Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being (CWB 109) or to reach out to Matt Hoffman, Assistant Director with i3b for the Gathering Space (matt.hoffman@umbc.edu), or to one of the members of the UMBC Religious Council listen below:

Names/Bio/Photos/Contact Email (To Be Added soon)

  • Rabbi Jeremy Fierstien, Hillel (Chair of the RC)
  • Nate Briggs, Agape Campus Christian Fellowship
  • Father Matthew Himes, Catholic Retrievers
  • Ellen Vallonga, Catholic Retrievers
  • Rabbi Dovid Reyder, Chabad
  • Charlie Klepadlo, Cru
  • Carlos Urtecho, Cru
  • Danielle Baron, Hillel
  • Aliza Silverman, Hillel
  • Nancy Parlette, International Students, Inc (Chrisitan)
  • Valerie Gladu, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
  • Pastor Laura Sinche, Lutheran-Episcopal Campus Ministry
  • Imam Yaseen Shaikh, Muslim Student Association
  • Rabbi Gavriel Horan, RAJE

UMBC Families and Community Members

Looking for ways to connect with Spiritual and Religious life for your Retriever? Please encourage them to connect with a Religious and Belief Student Organization of their choosing by logging on to myUMBC and searching under the “Religious and Belief” Student Organization tab to learn more information.

Still have questions, please reach out to Matt Hoffman, Assistant Director with i3b for the Gathering Space (matt.hoffman@umbc.edu).

Religious Council Application Link (use same link as above)