he phrase “the new normal” has been thrown around since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and as America struggles to define—and design—what that is exactly, colleges are paving the way for what it might look like.

After the chaos and uncertainty of 2020, colleges and universities throughout the Baltimore region began to find their groove as they moved into the 2021-2022 school year. Coronavirus safety committees had been erected, new mandates put in place, safety protocols implemented—everything from vaccine requirements to temperature checks to quarantine procedures and wastewater testing that can pinpoint a COVID infection before anyone is symptomatic.

By some counts, colleges may very well be the safest places to live and work.

“Just following simple rules of wearing face masks and social distancing, using wastewater management and testing when we need to, we have, in many ways, been able to return to normal life,” says Goucher College President Kent Devereaux. “Full athletics, student clubs, dining in the dining hall, use of the library—everything that you’d normally have, we’ve been able to return to.”

Despite the challenges and anxieties faced by students, staff, and faculty alike, some unexpected silver linings have emerged.

“It’s just incredible to watch how it’s grown into the vision that we, as a group of students, had.”

The widespread adoption of technology across college campuses has proven to provide more flexibility, efficiency, and innovation—and even accessibility, in some cases. Counseling sessions, for example, began to be conducted remotely during the pandemic and many students found that they preferred it to in-person sessions. Students who cannot, for whatever reason, make it to an in-person class can now study from anywhere.

Challenging times, combined with advances in technology and the general acceptance of it, have also brought more cooperation and collaboration among schools. It’s becoming more common, for example, for schools that offer complementary programs to partner with one another to offer students an educational pathway to continue studies in their chosen areas. That may mean a discounted tuition rate, a transfer of class credits, or an internship through a partner school.

Maybe most importantly though, schools, at their best, foster an environment where students are supported, expand who they are, and connect with like-minded people. At a time when gathering together is not always safe, being in a community has become even more precious, and students have found new ways to connect.

OCA Mocha, a coffeehouse in Arbutus founded by University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) students, is one example of how effective a gathering place can be at a time when people are craving human connection. What started as a class assignment—to design a community center of some sort—has become a gathering place not just for UMBC students and alumni, but the Arbutus community at large.

“We’ve heard a lot of stories from people who are extremely grateful to have this space,” says Michael Berardi, UMBC class of 2019 and co-founder and general manager of OCA Mocha, which stands for Opportunities for Community Alliances. The coffee shop includes a stage, a community room, and an art gallery, employs UMBC students and alumni, and provides internship opportunities for current UMBC students.

“We have local groups and organizations that meet regularly in our community space and are grateful to not have to meet in someone’s living room or church basement,” says Berardi. “We see a lot of connections being made. It’s just incredible to watch how it’s grown into the vision that we, as a group of students, had.”

We checked in with colleges and universities throughout the region to find out what’s new and what campus life and classes look like, two years into the pandemic.

COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY
A historically Black institution founded in 1900, Coppin State University is situated in the heart of Baltimore City in the Mondawmin neighborhood. Part of the University System of Maryland in Baltimore, the school offers 32 undergraduate and 11 graduate degrees, along with nine certificate programs and one doctorate degree. It’s been rated No. 4 Best HBCU in the Nation (College Consensus), the Top 5 Best Value Online Program (Online School Center), and No. 17 Best Value in the Nation (College Consensus).

In the summer of 2021, CSU announced its Student Debt Relief Initiative, which clears roughly $1 million in student balances and provided a $1,200 credit to every student enrolled in the fall 2021 semester. CSU also created the Freddie Gray Student Success Scholarship, which is available to graduates of Carver Vocational-Technical High School, where Gray was a student.

Coppin also takes esports (competitive video gaming) seriously. In the fall of 2021, Coppin became the first HBCU to open a building on campus exclusively devoted to esports. The Premier Esports Lab opened in September with a guest appearance from Grammy-nominated artist Cordae.

• SIZE OF STUDENT BODY: 2,383 undergraduates, 341 graduates
• STUDENT TO FACULTY RATIO: 13:1
• ANNUAL TUITION: $6,809 in-state, $13,334 out-of-state
• ACCEPTANCE RATE: 40%
• POPULAR AREAS OF STUDY: Nursing, Business, Biology, Education, and Criminal Justice, Rehabilitation Counseling

DICKINSON COLLEGE
Founded in 1783, Dickinson College is a liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, with a suburban campus that spans 144 acres. The school offers 41 undergraduate degrees within 17 fields of study.

It’s been rated as one of the best schools in the country for its sustainability efforts, which include an 80-acre, USDA-certified organic farm. Princeton Review rated it No. 2 in the Top 50 Green Colleges, and it was rated No. 2 in Overall Top Performers among baccalaureate institutions in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s “Sustainable Campus Index” in 2019 and 2020.

• SIZE OF STUDENT BODY: 2,345
• STUDENT TO FACULTY RATIO: 9:1
• ANNUAL TUITION: $58,708
• ACCEPTANCE RATE: 52%
• POPULAR AREAS OF STUDY: International Business, Economics, Political Science & Government, International Relations & National Security, General Psychology

GETTYSBURG COLLEGE
Gettysburg College, a private, liberal arts school, sits on 225 acres adjacent to the historical Gettysburg Battlefield in Pennsylvania. Many of the buildings on campus are historically significant, so it’s no wonder that it draws students interested in studying history.

The school offers 65 academic programs, more than 120 campus clubs and organizations, and 800 events on campus each year, plus more than 100 study-abroad opportunities open to students.

Its Majestic Theater serves as a venue for the greater Gettysburg community, hosting national acts as well as performances by the school’s Sunderman Conservatory of Music students.

It’s ranked No. 12 for “students who study the most” by the Princeton Review, which also ranked Gettysburg College’s dining hall No. 9 in the country for best campus food.

• SIZE OF STUDENT BODY: 2,600
• STUDENT TO FACULTY RATIO: 10:1
• ANNUAL TUITION: $59,960
• ACCEPTANCE RATE: 56%
• POPULAR AREAS OF STUDY: Political Science, Economics, Health Sciences, Organization and Management Studies, History, Psychology

GOUCHER COLLEGE
A private, liberal arts college in Towson, Goucher College prides itself on its close-knit community.

Goucher was extremely proactive when it came to COVID-19 precautions, being the first in the state to implement wastewater testing, which is able to isolate COVID infections by dorm.

Also of note: The college recently opened two new residence halls as part of the school’s First-Year Village. One hundred percent of Goucher students study abroad, and the school is committed to sustainability.

Most recently, Goucher has begun exciting partnerships with other schools, such as Johns Hopkins University, Loyola University, and more to come, to provide a pathway for students to continue their education beyond Goucher. For instance, their 4+1 MBA Program allows students to earn an advanced business degree through Loyola via a “Fast Track” admission process, and at a 15% discount on tuition.

SIZE OF STUDENT BODY: 1,100
STUDENT TO FACULTY RATIO: 9:1
ANNUAL TUITION: $48,000
ACCEPTANCE RATE: 79%
POPULAR AREAS OF STUDY: Psychology, International Relations, Economics, Political Science, Business Administration

JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
Johns Hopkins University (JHU) offers nine academic divisions and hundreds of courses of study, with campuses spread throughout Baltimore, including the Peabody Institute, a music and dance conservatory in Mount Vernon. Its main Homewood campus is located on North Charles Street.

The prestigious, world-renowned university has a strong reputation for its public health and medical studies and has been compared to Ivy League schools.

One of its points of pride is its financial aid program, which covers 100% of calculated need for every admitted student, without loans. This means JHU works with families to calculate what they can afford to contribute toward the total cost of attendance—including meals, books, travel, and other expenses—and JHU covers the rest with grants that don’t need to be repaid.

This school year, JHU added two new minors: Latin American Studies and Writing Seminars.

It also announced new efforts this year to move toward a broader, more flexible undergraduate educational experience that will include a required first-year seminar and the streamlining of major requirements to allow for greater intellectual exploration.

• SIZE OF STUDENT BODY: 6,333 undergraduates, 22,559 graduates
• STUDENT TO FACULTY RATIO: 6:1
• ANNUAL TUITION: $56,313 for Peabody Institute, $58,720 for the School of Engineering and the School of Arts and Sciences
• ACCEPTANCE RATE: 9%
• POPULAR AREAS OF STUDY: Computer Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Neuroscience, Economics, Public Health Studies, International Studies

LOYOLA UNIVERSITY
This private, Jesuit institution offers undergraduate and graduate programs on a beautiful urban campus in northern Baltimore City. Education at Loyola is based in the Jesuit tradition of scholarship cura personalis, or care for the whole person. Loyola is known for its academic rigor while helping students lead purposeful lives. Seventy percent of students study abroad. It currently ranks fourth in best universities in the North region according to U.S. News & World Report.

• SIZE OF STUDENT BODY: 3,787 undergraduates, 1,353 graduates
• STUDENT TO FACULTY RATIO: 12:1
• ANNUAL TUITION: $53,430
• ACCEPTANCE RATE: 80%
• POPULAR AREAS OF STUDY: Business, Management, Marketing, Journalism, Social Sciences, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Psychology, English Language and Literature, Engineering and Education.

McDANIEL COLLEGE
McDaniel College sits in a bucolic setting near Westminster in Carroll County. The private, four-year liberal arts college offers more than 70 undergraduate programs of study and more than 20 graduate programs. McDaniel’s most recent addition to its curriculum is a National Security Fellows Program that provides students with knowledge, skills, and experience in national security as well as the ability to specialize in an area of interest, such as interstate conflict, intrastate political violence, cybersecurity, ethics, and human rights.

Also new this year, McDaniel appointed an inaugural associate provost for equity and belonging who provides vision and leadership to the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and works in collaboration with the provost to co-lead the college’s diversity, equity, and inclusion administrative committee, and guides the Bias Education Response Support Team.

The school also launched a new STEM Center to serve as a physical hub to support students studying the sciences. It hosts workshops and other events while also supplying online and hybrid support.

• SIZE OF STUDENT BODY: 1,757 undergraduates, 1,324 graduates
• STUDENT TO FACULTY RATIO: 13:1
• ANNUAL TUITION: $46,336
• ACCEPTANCE RATE: 81%
• POPULAR AREAS OF STUDY: Kinesiology, Business Administration, Psychology, Biology, Political Science, International Studies

MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
The largest of Maryland’s HBCU’s (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), Morgan is a public institution founded in 1867. It is situated in northeast Baltimore. As a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution, Morgan provides instruction to a multiethnic, multiracial, multinational student body and offers more than 140 academic programs at undergraduate and graduate levels. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan fulfills its mission to address the needs and challenges of the modern urban environment through intense community level study and pioneering solutions.

• SIZE OF STUDENT BODY: 6,270 undergraduates, 1,364 graduates
• STUDENT TO FACULTY RATIO: 15:1
• ANNUAL TUITION: $8,008 for in-state and $18,480 for out-of-state
• ACCEPTANCE RATE: 73%
• POPULAR AREAS OF STUDY: Civil Engineering, Communications Engineering, Business Administration and Management, Social Work, Biology/Biological Sciences, Architecture, Finance, Psychology, Sociology

NOTRE DAME OF MARYLAND UNIVERSITY
A private, Catholic liberal arts university in northern Baltimore, Notre Dame of Maryland University offers programs from undergraduate through PhD, as well as Maryland’s only women’s college. It recently launched the first master’s of art degree in Art Therapy program in the state.
The beautiful, wooded campus is just steps from the bustling downtown Baltimore culture. With values rooted in Catholicism, the school focuses on service to others and social responsibility.

• SIZE OF STUDENT BODY: 783
• STUDENT TO FACULTY RATIO: 7:1
• ANNUAL TUITION: $39,675
• ACCEPTANCE RATE: 88%
• POPULAR AREAS OF STUDY: Nursing, Education, Biology, Art Therapy, Pharmacy

TOWSON UNIVERSITY
One of the largest public universities in the state, Towson University offers more than 60 undergraduate majors and continues to draw students from other states, though it remains part of the University System of Maryland.

Its campus continues to expand, with a huge new dining hall, a 23,000-foot recreation and fitness facility with an indoor swimming pool, and its 5,200-seat arena for sporting events and concerts. In 2021, it opened its new Science Complex, the largest academic building on campus at 320,000 square feet.

In September, Towson opened its StarTUp at the Armory, a space for startups and new businesses to engage with the broader community and larger businesses. It serves as a home to Towson’s entrepreneurship programs, as well as student competitions and events.

While Towson remains the largest supplier of medical professionals and educators in the state, the university has also built a strong reputation for its College of Fine Arts and Communication, as well as its Asian Arts & Culture Center, both of which bring students into the wider community and the Baltimore community to Towson for enriching performing arts, music, and visual art programs.

• SIZE OF STUDENT BODY: 17,907 undergraduates, 2,949 graduates
• STUDENT TO FACULTY RATIO: 16:1
• ANNUAL TUITION: $7,100 in-state, $22,152 out-of-state
• POPULAR AREAS OF STUDY: Business Administration, Education, Nursing, Exercise Science, Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology, Biology, Computer Science, Information Technology

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE
University of Maryland, Baltimore is Maryland’s only public health, law, and human services university. Located in downtown Baltimore, it offers 86 degree and certificate programs through its six nationally ranked professional schools—dentistry, law, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and social work—and an interdisciplinary graduate school.

The school’s 14-acre BioPark is Baltimore’s biggest biotechnology cluster, employing 1,000 people, and remains on the cutting edge of new drugs, treatments, and medical devices.

• SIZE OF STUDENT BODY: 7,244
• ANNUAL TUITION: Varies by school
• POPULAR AREAS OF STUDY: Medicine, Law, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, Social Work

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE COUNTY
University of Maryland, Baltimore County educates a campus of more than 10,000 students in programs spanning the arts, engineering, information technology, humanities, sciences, preprofessional studies, and social sciences. Located on the edge of Baltimore County, it allows easy access into the city and all the conveniences of suburban life and housing. It also offers plenty of opportunities for study abroad.

In the fall of 2021, UMBC opened the Center for Well-Being, a new two-story complex that houses Retriever Integrated Health, Student Conduct and Community Standards, and i3b’s Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being. UMBC’s already significant NASA partnerships have continued to grow. In October, NASA announced a major award of $72 million over three years for the new Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research II center. UMBC is leading the national consortium and will receive over $38 million. The GESTAR II consortium will support over 120 researchers, creating extensive opportunities for breakthroughs in Earth and atmospheric science research, and providing major opportunities for students to conduct research and be mentored by NASA scientists and engineers.

• SIZE OF STUDENT BODY: 13,638
• STUDENT TO FACULTY RATIO: 17:1
• ANNUAL TUITION: $12,280 in-state, $28,470 out-of-state
• ACCEPTANCE RATE: 81%
• POPULAR AREAS OF STUDY: Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Social Sciences, Psychology, Visual and Performing Arts

Cited tuition costs exclude room and board and books.

ingle mom Megan Kelly, who lives in Ruxton, wanted something more than “just a daycare program” for her daughter Emerson, now four years old. “I wanted an engaging and stimulating preschool experience,” she explains, “something educational that would take advantage of Emerson’s sponge-like ability to learn and grow as a young child.”

A nurse at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital, Kelly understood the importance of the preschool years. “The brain develops so much in the first years of life,” Kelly says.

“These years matter.”

A product of a Montessori preschool herself, Kelly knew that she wanted Emerson to attend a program based on the teachings of Maria Montessori, an Italian physician and educator in the early 20th century. “I loved learning and gravitated to the Montessori environment, where I could follow my curiosity and learn at my own pace,” Kelly says. “I knew Emerson would thrive in a place like that, too.”

In particular, Kelly liked the mixed-age classrooms offered at Montessori schools. Educating the whole child, instead of focusing only on academic goals like learning letters and numbers, was another appealing feature.

“As crazy as it sounds for a young child, I wanted Emerson to start learning how to be a helpful, empathetic member of society,” Kelly says, “and to be socialized with children from diverse nationalities and cultures.”

“Young children are capable of more than we give them credit for,” says Katie Rooney, director of early childhood education at Irvine Nature Center, which runs The Nature Preschool. “In our program, students spend the bulk of time in nature and learn to be stewards of the environment.” They even go home and nudge their families to do things like cut down on waste and live a greener lifestyle, Rooney says.

Aside from a well-rounded curriculum, other factors mattered to Kelly as she searched for a fit—cost, location, hours, safety measures, and even outdoor play space.

As a healthcare provider, Kelly cares a lot about safety. Although she enrolled Emerson before the coronavirus pandemic started, she trusted the school’s approach to safety from the beginning. Others attest to the importance of trusting your child’s early learning provider.

“First and foremost, parents need to feel comfortable with the health and well-being of their child,” says Ameka Smith, executive director of early childhood at the Y of Central Maryland, which operates five preschools in and around Baltimore. But comfort doesn’t come easily when parents can no longer tour programs in-person or drop by to observe.

“Before COVID, parents could go into a center and see firsthand how children engage with teachers,” Smith says. “That’s not possible with virtual tours.”

Smith advises parents to spend time during or after a virtual tour talking to the director and teachers. “Get a sense of who they are as people and how they run their program and classroom,” she says. Ask how they communicate with parents—and how often. “Open, ongoing communication is crucial because it eases the anxiety families feel from not being able to pop in the classroom,” Smith explains. “It also helps parents support and extend their child’s learning at home.”

Make sure the curriculum is both age-appropriate and designed to foster skills like creativity and problem-solving, she says. “Some parents want to see step-by-step crafts like the perfect-looking reindeer or bunny,” Smith shares. “More meaningful art projects are thought-provoking and less teacher-directed.”

Natasha Morton, preschool director of the Y Preschool at Weinberg, advises parents to look for programs that value hands-on learning and movement.

“Preschoolers really should not be sitting down for more than 10 to 15 minutes straight for any kind of learning activity,” Morton says. “They need to be playing and interacting with their environment.”

Morton says parents sometimes misinterpret what it means for preschoolers to play. “Children learn all kinds of things through play,” she says, from social-emotional skills like sharing and taking turns to academic skills like naming colors and learning to count.

With countless preschools and childcare options in the Baltimore area, parents face a difficult decision and “ultimately need to figure out which one best fits your family,” says Morton, who has taught in or directed preschools for 29 years.

“Research has told us for a long time now that children learn best through play,” says Rooney of Irvine Nature Center. “Yet in our rushed lifestyles and inundation of information about what our kids should be doing—music lessons, art lessons, sports teams— unstructured play can get left out.”

The solution, Rooney says, is for teachers and parents to slow down and give kids time and space for unstructured, or free, play. “When we toss out our agendas and see the world through kids’ eyes, that’s when the deep learning, the magical stuff, happens.”

Starting Your Early Education Search

Here’s a list of selected schools and day care centers in the Baltimore area.

◆ Apple Ridge Montessori School
200 Ingleside Ave., Catonsville, MD 21228.
410-818-2000. appleridgemontessori.org.

◆ The Baltimore Montessori
Canton: 1001 S. Potomac St., Baltimore, MD 21224.
Locust Point: 1530 E. Fort Ave., Baltimore, MD 21230.
410-980-7449. thebaltimoremontessori.com.

◆ Beth El at Federal Hill
1530 Battery Ave., Baltimore, MD 21230.
410-528-6001. bethelbalto.com/beth-el-federal-hill.

◆ Beth Tfiolh
3300 Old Court Rd., Baltimore, MD. 21208.
410-486-1905. bethtfiloh.com/preschool.

◆ Bolton Hill Nursery School
204 W. Lanvale St., Baltimore, MD 21217.
410-728-0003. boltonhillnursery.org.

◆ Bright Horizons at Harbor Point
1201 Wills St., Baltimore, MD 21231.
877-624-4532. child-care-preschool.brighthorizons.com/md/baltimore/harborpoint.

◆ Calvert School
105 Tuscany Rd., Baltimore MD 21210.
410-243-6054. calvertschoolmd.org.

◆ Celebree Schools
1306 Bellona Ave., Lutherville, MD 21093 and other locations.
410-515-8650. celebree.com.

◆ Chapelgate Christian Academy
2600 Marriottsville Rd., Marriottsville, MD 21104.
410-442-5888. chapelgateacademy.org.

◆ A Child’s Place, Notre Dame of Maryland University
4701 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21210.
410-532-5399. ndm.edu/childs-place.

◆ Children’s Magnet and Children’s Manor Montessori Schools
7105 Dogwood Rd., Windsor Mill, MD 21244 and other locations.
childrensmagnet.com.

◆ Columbia Academy
Multiple locations.
410-312-5233. columbiaacademy.com.

◆ Downtown Baltimore Child Care
237 Arch St., Baltimore, MD 21201.
410-659-0515. dbcckids.org.

◆ Dulaney Day Preschool
6915 York Rd., Baltimore, MD 21212.
410-377-2702. dulaneydayschool.com.

◆ Emmanuel Methodist Preschool
10755 Scaggsville Rd., Laurel, MD 20723.
301-725-6600. emmanuelpreschool.com.

◆ Garrison Forest School
300 Garrison Forest Rd., Owings Mills, MD 21117.
410-363-1500. gfs.org.

◆ Gilman School
5407 Roland Ave., Baltimore, MD 21210.
410-323-3800. gilman.edu.

◆ The Goddard School (Canton)
1000 S. Highland Ave., Baltimore, MD 21224.
443-842-5300. goddardschool.com.

◆ Goldsmith Early Childhood Center of Chizuk Amuno Congregation
8100 Stevenson Rd., Baltimore, MD 21208.
410-486-8642. chizukamuno.org.

◆ Govans Presbyterian Preschool
5826 York Rd., Baltimore, MD 21212.
410-435-8189. govanspres.org.

◆ Grace Preschool
5407 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21210.
410-532-2235. gracepreschoolbaltimore.com.

◆ Greenspring Montessori School
10807 Tony Dr., Lutherville-Timonium,
MD 21093. 410-321-8555. greenspringmontessori.org.

◆ Harford Day School
715 Moores Mill Rd., Bel Air, MD 21014.
410-838-4848. harfordday.org.

◆ JCC Early Learning Center
3506 Gwynnbrook Ave., Owings Mills 21117.
410-559-3589. jcc.org.

◆ Kiddie Academy of Locust Point
1215 East Fort Ave., Baltimore, MD 21230.
667-930-3677. kiddieacademy.com/academies/locust-point/

◆ La Petite Academy of Baltimore
2434A W. Belvedere Ave., Baltimore, MD 21215.
888-330-2878. lapetite.com.

◆ The Park School of Baltimore
2425 Old Court Rd., Baltimore, MD 21208.
410-339-7070. parkschool.net.

◆ Peabody Preparatory
21 E. Mount Vernon Place, Baltimore, MD 21202.
667-208-6640. peabody.jhu.edu/preparatory/ways-to-study/departments/earlychildhood

◆ Redeemer Parish Day School
5603 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21210.
410-435-9510. redeemerpds.org.

◆ St. Paul’s Schools
11152 Falls Rd., Brooklandville, MD 21093.
410-825-4400. stpaulsmd.org.

◆ Step By Step Children’s Learning Center
47 Loveton Cir., Sparks, MD 21152.
410-771-4151. stepbystepclc.com.

◆ Stoler Early Learning Center of the JCC of Greater Baltimore
3506 Gwynnbrook Ave., Owings Mills, MD 21117.
410-559-3554. jcc.org/elc.

◆ Towson Presbyterian Preschool
400 W. Chesapeake Ave., Towson, MD 21204.
410-337-2762. towsonprespreschool.org.

◆ Waldorf School
4801 Tamarind Rd., Baltimore, MD 21209.
410-367-6808. waldorfschoolofbaltimore.org.

◆ Woodbrook Early Education Center
25 Stevenson Ln., Baltimore, MD 21212.
410-377-8919. weecenter.net.

◆ Y of Central Maryland
Catonsville: 850 South Rolling Rd., Catonsville, MD 21228.
Towson: 301 W. Chesapeake Ave., Towson, MD 21204.
UMBC: 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250.
Weinberg: 900 East 33rd St., Baltimore, MD 21218.
Y Chipmunks Preschool: 2102 Old Westminster Pike, Finksburg, MD 21048.
ymaryland.org.

Putting the destruction of the Notre Dame Cathedral into proper perspective is, for all intents and purposes, almost a fool’s errand. Few buildings in the entire world are as recognizable to a Parisian as they are an Australian. For a structure that dates back to the 1100s, that has survived and endured wars and strife and internal and external struggle, this type of reverence comes with the territory.

“Notre Dame has meant so many different things to so many different people in so many different historic epics,” says Dr. Anne Henderson, a history professor at Notre Dame University of Maryland. “When I look at it, I see all that layered into it. I see the aspirations of medieval popes who wanted it to symbolize the power of the [Catholic] Church and the aspirations of monarchs who wanted to use it to win the obedience of their people. I’m not seeing one thing. I’m seeing the power of humans to create symbols and to invest them with meaning.”

On Monday, the roof of the cathedral burned down completely and its spire collapsed in a fire that officials are still trying to determine the cause of. Firefighters were eventually able to extinguish the blaze, but not before the cathedral suffered extensive damage. Buildings, perhaps more so than anything else in the world, can take different shapes depending on a person’s worldview, perspective, and global exposure. These ideas are formulated and passed down to us over decades and centuries. France has a rich and storied history, one that is woven into the civic pride of the nation and its citizens. Henderson says there isn’t really an American marker—or for that matter, save possibly for monuments in Greece, a global marker—that could put to scale this type of destruction. Part of this has to do simply with time. France has existed for long enough that the lore and significance of its landmarks has had more time to percolate. The cathedral—an integral part of this history that hosts seminal artworks and relics of vital religious significance—stands alone in its uniqueness.

“It symbolizes the deep continuity in the French nation, which they are immensely proud of,” Henderson says. “It’s profoundly important for the people of France to celebrate this, because for them, an incredibly important part of French identity is this idea of historical continuity and this very, very long and rich history.”

Henderson has been a student of history for her entire life—both her parents were also professors of European history, and she grew up tagging along with them on trips to Europe. She recalls, at 4 years old, being awestruck upon first seeing the cathedral, understanding even then its stance as a towering symbol for France. When she heard the news of the fire, she had a sense of melancholy around how destruction to this extent is often not an isolated incident.

“It reminded me simultaneously of millennia of history of civilizational monuments being destroyed,” Henderson says. “This is something that seems to happen to the works of man. They fall prey to natural disaster or to manmade disaster. There are so many icons that have been vandalized, wonders of the world that have been vandalized and destroyed over the years.”

And the Notre Dame Cathedral will be restored. Henderson notes that the cathedral has gone renovations and been refurbished before, though the circumstances surrounding what will now be a massive project are obviously extremely unfortunate in this case.

Some of the richest families and people in France have already pledged hundreds of millions of dollars for reconstruction efforts. NDMU focuses its philanthropic efforts towards less developed nations than France, but sends along a statement of support to Baltimore: “The School Sisters of Notre Dame express sympathy with Catholics around the world for the damage to this beautiful, historical, and religious icon.”

In short, the building is too essential a symbol for the world, and more importantly, for the people of France past, present, and future.

“Whether it’s religious or secular,” Henderson says, “whether it’s in the service of democracy or empire, [the Notre Dame Cathedral] has always been France.”

A small group of art therapy students at Notre Dame of Maryland University crowds around a table to make their own inkblots—dabbing paint onto paper and then folding and unfolding the sheets. They turn the pages in all directions and squint to see what the inkblots reveal to them, foregoing deep interpretation for now. With plenty of good-natured laughter, the group shares the free associations they see: a flower, a couple dancing, a chicken confronting an evil bunny.

This exercise is art therapy—a therapeutic process through which an individual uses art to express feelings that might not come to the surface with words alone—at its finest. This fall, NDMU started the first run of classes for the school’s MA in Art Therapy, the only program of its kind in Maryland. “It can help to externalize trauma with art,” says instructor Julia Andersen to her History and Theory of Art Therapy class. “Art holds the memory so that you don’t have to.”

Unlike most states, Maryland distinguishes art therapy as a separate clinical profession instead of packaging it within a degree or license in counseling. And yet, up until now, there wasn’t a graduate-level art therapy program here. Students who earned a bachelor’s degree in art therapy from NDMU had to go out of state to continue their studies if they wanted to become licensed art therapists. NDMU’s brand-new master’s program was about two years in the making, and practicing art therapists teach all of the program’s courses. “We’re art therapists, artists, and teachers all at the same time,” says Cathy Goucher, director of the NDMU program.

The program’s five students study form, aesthetics, and medium, but also dive into the universal symbolism in Carl Jung’s The Red Book and the theories of art therapy pioneer Edith Kramer. Upon graduation from the program, students receive a graduate license and can apply to become a Licensed Clinical Professional Art Therapist (LCPAT) after 3,000 hours of supervised experience.

The students grapple with questions such as, “How important is the finished product? Is it more important than the process?” In Andersen’s History and Theory of Art Therapy, debates ensue as students hold up drawings in their sketchbooks and share how they’ve processed their recent experiences through art. And because the art is instinctive and cathartic, it’s not always pretty. “I’m a professional designer—and look at this!” jokes one of the students, Melanie Sanderson, holding up her sketchbook. “I could never show my clients this. But it felt good to do.”

Last Saturday, Notre Dame of Maryland University hosted the second iteration of the Women of the World (WOW) Festival, a one-day event that featured a full schedule of panels, performances, workshops, and activities addressing the challenges and accomplishments of women and girls today. As a panelist, I had the opportunity to attend the event, hear from incredible activists, and reflect on the conversations and sessions throughout the day.

Since its launch in 2010 by Southbank Centre artist director Jude Kelly, the WOW Festival has become a visionary movement fighting for gender equality across the globe. It has reached nearly two million people in countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, India, and Pakistan, to name a few. And while it’s only been two years since the festival was first held in Baltimore, it’s been a huge success, bringing in famed speakers and attracting large crowds.

Maricka Oglesby, WOW Baltimore curator and producer, explains that Kelly thought the university was the perfect place to host the event, especially as the last standing all-women’s college in Maryland. “We have similar missions of transforming the world, and this is how it comes about—through sharing ideas, concepts, and experiences,” Oglesby says.

The festival kicked things off on Saturday morning with just that. In the opening keynote speech, Tarana Burke, the founder of the #MeToo movement, touched on topics like the misconceptions surrounding the campaign and the importance of listening to sexual assault survivors’ stories. But what was most inspiring—and necessary—is how the movement has created a space for women of color to come forward and share their own stories of abuse. “People from different identities have to take ownership of this movement and stand up,” Burke explains. “That’s how we grow.”

In fact, this theme of inclusivity and intersectionality was evident throughout the entire festival. The program was refreshingly diverse, offering sessions led by or involving minority women.

One such was called “Self-Care for Women of Color,” a workshop that focused on the barriers preventing women of color from utilizing self-care practices. In a small mock café space, a large group of minority women of all ages shared their thoughts on what self-care looks like—from getting mani-pedis to taking mental breaks—and what prohibits them from successfully integrating these practices in their daily lives—from generational stress to the exhaustion of navigating through a predominantly white workplace. Across the room, a young woman raised her hand and boldly chimed in the conversation, summing up the experience that many women of color go through. “We assume we’re good, but that doesn’t always mean we are,” she says. “There’s a lot of expectation for us to work 10 times harder to prove ourselves to the rest of society.”

In another session, the conversation about intersectionality materialized into a board game. Natalie Gillard, assistant vice president of Multicultural Experience at Stevenson University, facilitated a 90-minute crash course about structural inequality through Factuality, a board game she created. Participants played a Monopoly-style game where each person selected a character with intersecting identities such as race, gender, sexual orientation, and class. The players moved across the board with a series of fact-based advantages and limitations based on these intersections.

“The groups were clearly affected by the statistics and directives,” Gillard reflects. “I saw people who were playing on the more privileged side—like those who played rich, white, male, heterosexual characters—act more jovial, while those on the opposite side felt increasingly frustrated.”

Structural inequalities were not only discussed on a domestic level, but also an international one. In the panel “Activism Beyond Borders,” I joined three women activists who used their privilege and knowledge to assist women oppressed in their societies through the lack of education and proper healthcare.

Several sessions also offered safe spaces to talk about topics like sex and transgender identities. In the Sex Café, attendees debunked myths about sex, love, and relationships with Vanessa Geffrard, founder of VagEsteem. Meanwhile, in “Transgender Activism: On Our Own Terms,” Monica Stevens, founding member of the Baltimore Transgender Alliance, explored how transgender and non-binary people interact with societal definitions of womanhood.

“The festival was engaging,” describes Chinwendu Nwokeabia, a junior Notre Dame student. “I had the chance to talk about aspects of womanhood that I don’t get talk about often. I appreciate the inclusivity and diversity, and some of these individuals have left a lasting impression on me.”

At the end of the day, attendees shuffled back to the main auditorium to hear Roxane Gay, acclaimed writer and cultural critic, discuss timely topics with Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom. The relaxed conversation covered matters including the pressures on black and brown creators, Bill Cosby’s conviction, and even Kanye West’s tweets. The two brought everything full circle, reiterating the power of women’s voices, the existence of oppression, and the importance of supporting and mentoring other marginalized people.

As a young woman of color, I left the event empowered and inspired to continue the conversation about gender equality. I realized that representation does matter. Seeing and hearing from courageous minority activists made me believe that I, too, can make a difference in this fight for solidarity.