UMBI's Office of Education, Professional Advancement, and Training (EPAT) oversees and supports the programs and services that affect the academic life of the university as well as the greater Maryland learning community.

Functions of the Office

The four primary functional areas include:

1) Oversight, ombudsman, USM representation for EPAT, quality assurance for unit, direction and vision for activities, and President's designee for VPAA

2) Faculty Affairs with a focus on 'internal' workforce development by facilitating and supporting all aspects of faculty professional life

• facilitate appointment, promotion and tenure procedures
• foster an academic environment that supports translational research resulting in commercial applications
• respond to the professional needs of our researchers and postdocs
• develop and implement faculty and academic affairs policies
• support shared governance
• ethics compliance

3) Education, Outreach and Workforce Development

• continue to develop and disseminate K-12 education to students and teachers
• revitalize SciTech, create virtual knowledge communities for teachers and students and virtual laboratory platform for K-12
• design 'external' Workforce Development activities (GWIB, BRAC)
• develop Continuing Education programs for science teachers
• provide grant-writing support for researchers on NSF submissions

4) Students and Professional Advancement Services

• develop and implement activities that foster a robust UMBI identity for graduate students and postdocs
• coordinate and host research retreats, workshops, lecture series, etc.
• create and oversee centralized administration of high school and undergraduate internships
• collect, analyze, and prepare institutional research for all external reporting, such as Managing for Results and Dashboard Indicators
• develop web and print communications for the unit and ensure the timely dissemination of information in and out of EPAT
• oversee processes for internal and external recognition awards for faculty, staff, postdocs, and students

5) Serves as liaison to external entities such as:

• the USM Board of Regents Committee on Education Policy,
• the USM Academic Affairs Advisory Council,
• the USM Minority Achievement Committee,
• the Maryland State Department of Education,
• the Governor's Workforce Investment Board and
• other community partners.

The Education, Professional Advancement, and Training office suite is located on the first floor of the Columbus Center, across from the security desk.

The EPAT organizational chart can be found here.

In response to the findings and recommendations of the UMBI External Review and with thorough consideration to the needs, interests, and concerns of the UMBI community, the former offices of Academic Affairs and Education & Outreach have been integrated into the single functional unit of Education, Professional Advancement, and Training (EPAT).

With a strong commitment to UMBI's mission of providing an exceptional environment for research and specialized training in biotechnology, EPAT strives to move UMBI ahead in achieving the goals of our Strategic Plan, further capitalizing on UMBI's dynamic research environment to train scientists, educate the workforce and inform the public.

Dr. Candice Rettie, Vice President, has structured this newly formed unit to best utilize existing staff and resources, and she will lead EPAT in enhancing and expanding the functions of the two former offices. Dr. Rettie has a doctorate in Instructional Design and brings a wealth of expertise in education, training, career development, academic performance, and certification program management to UMBI. She has more than twenty years of experience in academic medicine, both as a faculty member and an administrator.

Candice Rettie, PhD, Vice President, EPAT
410.385.6311

John Trant, PhD, Associate Vice President, Faculty Affairs
410. 385.6323

Mary Stapleton, PhD, Director, Education, Outreach and Workforce Development
410.385.6318

Henry Jackson, Laboratory Assistant
410.576.5784

Monique Doyle, Education and Outreach Assistant
410.576.5784

Nichole Kellerman, Education and Outreach Coordinator
410.576.5784

Alicia Shaw, Coordinator, NSF MSP2 Grant