We are thrilled to host the 34th Annual UMBC McNair & Undergraduate Research National Conference, September 16th-19th, 2026, at the Lord Baltimore Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland.
Registration for all open on April 1st.
If you want to remain updated about the registration process, please complete our Conference Interest Form.
NOTE: Sponsors will be able to participate starting Sept 16th, while the General Grad Reps setup is only on Sept 19th.
Why do the conference dates overlap with another national event this year?
Our conference dates were confirmed after checking with partner organizations about their schedules, and no conflicts were identified. We later learned that another event had prior contractual dates that differed from those communicated during planning, resulting in an unexpected overlap. Because our dates are secured through multi-year hotel agreements, we are moving forward as scheduled while exploring collaborative options to ensure staff and partners can benefit from both experiences.
Conference Details
- Dates: September 16th – September 19th, 2026
- Location: Lord Baltimore Hotel, 20 W Baltimore St, Baltimore, MD 21201
- Theme: “Flourishing in the Academy: Reflexive Practices for Scholarly Growth”
- Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jameka C. Wiggins, Advisor, TRIO Upward Bound, Columbus State Community College, and Alum from University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) McNair Scholars Program
Events:
- Pre-Conference Cultural Visit (Sept. 16th): A tour of Baltimore, the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum, and a Maryland crab experience (additional costs apply).
- 3-Day Conference (Sept. 16th – 19th): Includes the Hill-Robinson McNair Lecture, Hispanic Heritage Celebration at Orioles Park, Camden Yards (Includes a ticket to the baseball game and an all-you-can-eat meal ticket for the first 275 student, staff, and sponsor registrants), poster and oral presentations, and a graduate school fair with over 60 institutions anticipated.
Note:
This event may be recorded, photographed, or live-streamed. By registering for and attending this conference, you voluntarily consent to the recording, use, and distribution of your image, voice, name, and likeness in any audio, video, or photographic materials captured during the event.
You grant permission to UMBC to use these recordings for educational, promotional, archival, and reporting purposes in print, digital, and other media formats, without compensation.
If you do not wish to be recorded, please notify us via the Conference Assistance Form before the event so that we can discuss reasonable accommodations.
Links (Available by April 1st)
- Grad Reps & Institutional Sponsors Registration Information
- List of Registered Graduate Schools/Programs
- Conference Registration
- 2026 Pre-Conference Cultural Excursions
- Accommodations(Hotel and Meals)
- Schedule At A Glance
- Student Attendee Profile
- Presentation Guidelines
- Keynote Speaker
- Hill-Robinson McNair Lecture
- Corris PA Davis Attendee Scholarships [may be available for a limited number of student attendees only]