Student/Faculty/Staff Updates
School of Arts, Sciences and Business
Advancing Access to Microbiome Education
A new publication co-authored by Dr. Jennifer E. Kerr, Galotto ’64 Endowed Chair in the Biological Sciences and Chair of the Biology departmant, highlights the growing importance of microbiome education in undergraduate science programs—particularly at under-resourced institutions.
Published in the Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education, the paper examines how emerging microbiome science can be more effectively integrated into curricula despite structural and resource challenges.
The authors emphasize that microbiome research is a rapidly expanding field with major implications for public health, medicine, environmental science, and industry. However, they identify persistent barriers—such as limited funding, access to technology, and faculty training—that can restrict opportunities for students at smaller or under-resourced colleges and universities.
To address these gaps, the paper outlines practical strategies for expanding access, including collaborative teaching models, shared resources, and curriculum innovation aimed at increasing student participation in cutting-edge biological research.
Kerr and her collaborators argue that improving access to microbiome education is essential for broadening participation in STEM fields and preparing a more diverse scientific workforce equipped to tackle complex biological and health challenges.
Citation: Ayalew M, Hoffman AM, Fuller K, Kerr J, Lee A, Lee J, Martinez ES, Ulbricht K, Xie X.0.Microbiome education at under-resourced institutions: current status, barriers, and approaches to successful implementation. J Microbiol Biol Educ.0:e00288-25.https://doi.org/10.1128/jmbe.00288-25
School of Education
LEARN-AI Program Featured in Baltimore Sun Article
Dr. Ryan Schaaf, associate professor of educational technology, was recently interviewed by The Baltimore Sun about the growing impact of artificial intelligence on the field of education. During the interview, Dr. Schaaf and several of his students highlighted Notre Dame of Maryland University’s new LEARN-AI program, a post-baccalaureate certificate designed to help educators, school leaders, and learning professionals use AI in ethical, responsible, and human-centered ways.
The program prepares educators to thoughtfully leverage AI to support teaching, learning, productivity, leadership, and innovation while keeping human judgment, equity, and learner well-being at the center of educational practice. You can read the story here.
Doctoral Student Presented Her Dissertation
Dr. Stephanie Savick’s PhD advisee, Dr. Gina Davenport, presented her dissertation research at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting in Los Angeles on April 9, 2026. Her presentation, titled “School Leaders’ Perspectives on Student Voice as a Culturally Responsive Practice,” was included as part of the “Learning and Teaching in Educational Leadership” paper session.
The session drew significant interest, reaching standing-room-only capacity, with additional attendees seated on the floor. Dr. Davenport and Dr. Savick currently have a manuscript under review that further explores student voice as a culturally responsive practice.
NDMU Graduate Education Internship Students Participate in Baltimore Spring Cleanup
Graduate student in the School of Education's Graduate Education Internship (GEI) program recently participated in and organized a Spring Cleanup event hosted by the City of Baltimore during Earth Month. The GEI program is a teacher preparation program that combines graduate coursework with school-based internships, aiming to prepare educators with both practical experience and a global perspective. Most of the participating students are international graduate students from China who joined NDMU last year through an international partnership program.
The students registered as a group under the and invited families and children to take part in the community service. The group was assigned to a neighborhood in southwest Baltimore, where they worked together to clean streets and public spaces, contributing to a visible improvement in the local environment. Beyond the cleanup itself, the experience reflected the students’ efforts to connect educational ideas with real-world action. By engaging directly with the community, they demonstrated a commitment to thinking globally and acting locally, contributing to meaningful environmental and social change.
One participating student shared that she was especially happy to involve children in the experience, noting that it was both a meaningful learning opportunity and a rewarding day for everyone involved. The activity was initiated by Minglan Kuo, a graduate student in the GEI program, who hopes to continue organizing similar initiatives that promote environmental awareness and community engagement.
Professors in School of Education Complete Year-long Professional Development Initiative
Drs. Chelsea McClure and Ryan Schaaf recently completed a year-long professional development initiative: the Pop-Up Virtual PD Series, sponsored by the School of Education at Notre Dame of Maryland University, hosted by E-STREAM Learning Labs, and funded through a grant from the Maryland Center for Computing Education.
Across six pop-up PD sessions, the series engaged more than 150 in-service educators, pre-service teachers, faculty, and community participants. Topics included blended learning strategies, digital game-based learning, AI tools for education, AI-supported course design, and accessibility.
We are proud to support educators as they explore innovative, practical, and ethical approaches to teaching and learning. The School of Education loves supporting the field of education as we work together to transform the world through learning.
Library Updates:
LNDL Wins 2026 MLA Excellence in Marketing Award
The Loyola Notre Dame Library (LNDL) has received the Maryland Library Association’s (MLA) 2026 Excellence in Marketing Award (Academic Libraries) for its 2025–2026 “do it for the plot” campaign.
The award honors outstanding marketing efforts by Maryland libraries. The MLA Awards Committee praised LNDL’s campaign for its “thoughtful strategy, creativity, and measurable impact,” noting it “exemplifies excellence in advancing library services and strengthening community connections.”
Jack Owen, Outreach & Community Engagement Librarian and Chair of the Marketing Committee, accepted the award at the MLA/DLA Annual Conference in Cambridge, MD, on May 8, 2026. Congratulations to LNDL on this achievement!
Call for Partners: LNDL Fall Fest 2026
LNDL is excited to announce our fourth annual Fall Fest will take place on Thursday, September 3, from 4-7pm! We are so excited to be back for another year of crafts, prizes, food, and fun here at LNDL. This year’s theme, “Never Too Late,” highlights that it’s always possible to learn something new and build meaningful community connections.
Ready to get involved? We are looking for 25 campus offices and departments, student organizations, and local community groups to table at Fall Fest 2026. Please fill out our Call for Partners Form by June 1, 2026. We will begin reaching out to selected partners in early June about participation.