Celebrating Jess Myers, Women's Center Director

Dear UMBC Community,

It is with mixed emotions that we share that our colleague, Jess Myers, Women’s Center Director, will step down from her position on February 25.  We will miss her, yet are appreciative of the dedication Jess has shown to UMBC and her commitment to supporting our community.

During Jess’ 11 years at UMBC, she has been remarkably effective in reaching and supporting students from all backgrounds and working collaboratively with faculty, staff and students to advance the work of the Women’s Center.  In addition to continuing projects hosted by the Women’s Center such as Take Back the Night and Rebuilding Manhood, Jess also oversaw the creation and implementation of some of their key programs including the Critical Social Justice and the Returning Women Student Scholars + Affiliates program for adult learners at UMBC.

Jess has served on numerous workgroups, committees and affinity groups including the Provost’s Faculty Caregiver’s Advisory Workgroup, Relationship Violence Awareness and Prevention Program, President’s Commission for Women, GWST Coordinating Committee, and the LGBTQ Faculty + Staff Association. Her outstanding work during the unexpected closure of the YMCA Preschool and her support of impacted caregivers and campus leadership is widely acknowledged by the campus community.  She has worked diligently with Retriever Courage by serving on the Implementation Team, co-facilitating University wide training on supporting survivors and cultivating a survivor-responsive campus and, most importantly, personally supporting survivors during a critical and sensitive time.

In recognition of her outstanding work and contributions, Jess has been honored by many awards during her tenure at UMBC She received the University System of Maryland Board of Regents Staff Award for Inclusion, Multiculturalism, and Social Justice in 2019, UMBC’s Jakubik Family Endowment Staff Award in 2018, the National Women’s Studies Association’s Women’s Center Committee Outstanding Achievement Award in 2015, and UMBC’s Outstanding Faculty/Staff Ally of the Year award in 2015.

We are pleased to announce that Amelia Meman, Assistant Director of the Women’s Center, will assume interim responsibilities as Director of the Women’s Center.

We thank Jess for her commitment and dedication to UMBC and the wider community and we are grateful for her impressive legacy.

Please join us in wishing Jess the best as we celebrate with open hours at the Women’s Center on February 23 and 24 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. 

Katharine Cole, Dean and Vice Provost, Undergraduate Academic Affairs

Philip Rous, Provost and Senior Vice President