Center for Religion, Spirituality, and Pluralism

• List of Religious & Belief Student Organizations
• Prayer, Meditation, and Reflection Spaces
• UMBC Holiday Schedule

Interfaith Involvement Opportunities

UMBC Interfaith Fellows

The UMBC Interfaith Fellows Program is a year-long fellowship sponsored by Student Belonging and the Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being. The Fellows Program will center curricular (non-credit) and co-curricular experiences to develop student leaders committed to engaging across religious and spiritual traditions. Through a series of weekly meetings and campus-focused projects, students will gain practical and theoretical experience to develop communities committed to dialogue, dedicated to lifting up diverse identities and energetic pluralism. Students need not be religious to apply!

If you are interested in learning more or applying, please reach out to Joseph Vann-Jones (jvannjo1@umbc.edu), program coordinator for The Gathering Space.

Bridge Builders Cohort

Bridge Builders is a semester-long, dialogue series sponsored by Student Belonging and the Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being. Participants will commit to a semester of engagement, developing relationships and skills for dialogue before engaging in a small group conversation focused on contemporary issues connected to religion and spirituality. This dialogue program will engage in the work of restorative practices to help participants learn how to respond and engage after harm has been done.

If you are interested in learning more or applying, please reach out to Matt Hoffman (matt.hoffman@umbc.edu), director of the Center for Religion, Spirituality, and Pluralism.

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 more information, please contact Matt Hoffman, director of the Center for Religion, Spirituality, and Pluralism, 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 (CWB 109) or to reach out to Matt Hoffman, director of the Center for Religion, Spirituality, and Pluralism (matt.hoffman@umbc.edu), or to one of the members of the UMBC Religious Council listed below:

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

• Father Matthew Himes, Catholic Retrievers
• Rabbi Dovid and Chani Reyder, UMBC Chabad
• Charlie Klepadlo, Cru
• Danielle Baron, UMBC Hillel
• Aliza Silverman, UMBC Hillel
• Lisa Huberman, UMBC Hillel
• Nancy Parlette, International Students, Inc (Christian)
• Valerie Gladu, Graduate Christian Fellowship
• Pastor Kelsey Green, Lutheran-Episcopal Campus Ministry (The Table)
• Imam Yaseen Shaikh, Muslim Chaplain Affiliate
• Kiran Sankhla, Hindu Chaplain Affiliate
• Fr. Joshua Burnett, Orthodox Christian Chaplain Affiliate
• Pr. Trip Beans, Reformed University Fellowship
• Joy Beans, Reformed University Fellowship
• Pr. Alicia Hudnall, Kingdom Christian Fellowship

UMBC Families and Community Members

Looking for ways to connect your Retriever with spiritual and religious life on campus? 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, director of the Center for Religion, Spirituality, and Pluralism, (matt.hoffman@umbc.edu) or Joseph Vann-Jones, program coordinator for The Gathering Space (jvannjo1@umbc.edu).

Yes, this space is for you, and we want you to feel welcome! The Gathering Space is designed for students and UMBC community members of all religious, spiritual, and non-religious worldviews to find a place for community. In addition to providing space for students who identify with specific religious traditions, the Gathering Space is committed to providing programming that allows an opportunity for everyone to connect to spirituality and mindfulness (check out our Mindfulness Monday and Gathering with Gratitude programs). Also, your voice would be most welcome on the Gathering Space Student Advisory Board. Radical love and belonging is a central tenet of The Gathering Space.

Yes, we know that space can be tight on campus, so stop by the front desk to see who uses the various spaces within the Center for Well-Being. If everything is full, check out our other prayer and meditation spaces located across campus! Our Linktree will always house our most up-to-date map.