The Bulletin – July 15, 2026

Also in Today's Issue

Art Therapy Graduate Student, Natalia Bautista Bonilla was awarded the Maryland State Delegate Scholarship for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year

What truly distinguishes Natalia is her commitment to supporting vulnerable populations through both academic and professional work. In her role as a 988 Lifeline Crisis Hotline Specialist, she provides compassionate support to individuals experiencing acute emotional distress and suicidal crisis. She approaches this work with remarkable steadiness, offering callers a calming presence while guiding them toward safety and resources. Her contributions in this role reflect a profound commitment to public service and community wellbeing.

In her graduate clinical training, Natalia completed an internship providing art therapy services to adults with severe developmental disabilities, where she designed and facilitated therapeutic art groups and collaborated closely with interdisciplinary support teams. Her work in this setting demonstrates both creativity and compassion, as she carefully adapts therapeutic interventions to meet the complex needs of her clients. She approaches clinical work with a thoughtful balance of structure, flexibility, and genuine care.

Congratulations, Natalia!

School of Nursing Hosts Aspiring Nursing Students for Camp

The School of Nursing (SON) hosted 49 high school students for the Summer Nursing Academy Caring Connections Camp (SNACCC), interested in pursuing healthcare careers, including nursing. The campers enjoyed a variety of activities in the state-of-the-art Center for Technology, taught by our fabulous faculty.

Our Beginner SNACC Camp participants enjoyed learning about infection control, assessment, and basic skills such as medication administration and dressing changes. The Beginner camp ended with a simulated baby delivery and emergency response for a manikin patient.

Our Advanced SNACC Camp participants enjoyed building on previous skills practicing injections and infusion therapy. Campers enjoyed more learning about complex assessment skills and interventions and participating in simulated patient "episodes of care," where they were able to "care for" manikin patients. A self-care session, geared toward students and future nurses, was offered.

Our SON faculty are already planning for Summer 2027. Rising 9th through 12th grade students are invited to attend SNACCC 2027. Registration will open in February.

Professor in School of Education Interview as Expert in AI

Dr. Ryan Schaaf, professor of educational technology at Notre Dame of Maryland University, recently served as a subject-matter expert for a New York Focus story examining a rural New York school district’s plan to introduce a humanoid, AI-powered teaching assistant. Schaaf discussed the potential educational value of the initiative while emphasizing that successful implementation requires thoughtful planning and active teacher supervision. He also cautioned that excluding AI from schools may leave students unprepared for a future in which these technologies will be increasingly prevalent. Schaaf advocated for a balanced approach that combines responsible AI-assisted learning with traditional instruction and meaningful human interaction.

Pharmaceutical Sciences Professor Shares Success with Top Article

Dr. Ahmed Ali’s co-authored article in the Journal of Chromatography B has been recognized as one of the Top Downloaded Articles for the period 2022–2024. The article, “Validated LC-MS/MS Method for Determination of Antiviral Prodrug Molnupiravir in Human Plasma and its Application for a Pharmacokinetic Modeling Study in Health Egyptian Volunteers,” was recognized for making a significant impact and reaching researchers around the world. Dr. Ali notes, “This achievement reflects the collaborative efforts of an outstanding team of researchers, and I am grateful to all my co-authors for their dedication and contributions.”