Organization

LSC's Steering Committee develops LSC's mission and goals. It consists of 6 elected faculty members, 2 members of the Graduate Student Board (see below), and up to 4 additional appointed members. 

• Director: Yi Ting Huang (HESP)
• Shenika Hankerson (TLPL, elected 2023)
• Jared Novick (HESP, elected 2023)
• Rachel Romeo (HDQM, elected 2022)
• Bob Slevc (PSYC, elected 2022)
• Jeff Lidz (LING, former EC member)
• Jordan Boyd-Graber (CS, former EC member)
• Katherine Howitt (LING, grad representative elected 2022)
• Zhiyi Wu (SLA, grad representative elected 2022)
• DJ Bolger (HDQM, Director of MILE, appointed 2022)
• Brook Hefright (ARLIS, appointed 2022)
• Colin Phillips (LING/LSC, appointed 2023)
• Shevaun Lewis (MLSC, non-voting member)
• Caitlin Eaves (MLSC, non-voting member) 

Student leadership is key to the success of the UMD language science community. The Graduate Student Board is comprised of four graduate students, elected by their fellow graduate students for staggered two-year terms. At least three departments must be represented on the Board at all times. 

• Gavkhar Abdurokhmonova (HDQM, elected 2023)
• Kristin Hoch (NACS/HESP, elected 2024)
• Mine Muezzinoglu (NACS/HESP/PSYC, elected 2024)
• Utku Turk (LING, elected 2023)

The Graduate Student Board typically meets once every 1-2 months. Its mission and goals include:

• Help identify and communicate the priorities and concerns of graduate students in the language science community
• Communicate formally and informally with students and committees, and meet about once per month to discuss the needs and interests of the broader student community
• Work directly with the LSC management team to plan activities and initiatives to serve graduate students.
• Two of the four board members will serve as members of the Steering Committee and play a direct role in decisions about LSC priorities, activities, and budget.

The goal of the Research Committee is to provide useful research training not offered in the conventional graduate training of individual departments, as well as to foster a community environment of rich interdisciplinary collaboration, generating increased opportunities for interdisciplinary discussion and project development.

2018-2019 Chair: Zoe Ovans (NACS/HESP)

The Professional Development Committee aims to support language science students in designing and achieving their career goals and developing "soft" skills. The committee organizes events and resources to promote communication skills, collaboration, and career planning, including the weekly Language Science Lunch Talks.

2018-2019 Chair: Allie Johnson (HESP)

The goal of the Outreach Committee is to inform the public about what language science is and why it’s important. To this end, the committee organizes campus visits from nearby high schools, participates in STEM career fairs, and staffs a language science booth at Maryland Day, among other activities.

2018-2019 Chair: Tyler Knowlton (LING)

Faculty advisor: Jeff Lidz (LING)

The goal of the Policy & Advocacy Committee is to increase the visibility and impact of language science research on policy at the university, local, and national levels. The committee works to engage UMD language scientists in discussions and outreach on relevant issues, and develop students' skills in communicating with policy makers and the public. 

2018-2019 Chairs: Carolin Arnold (CS) & Zach Maher (NACS/HESP)