Director – Academic Engagement & Transition Programs (AETP)
Division of Undergraduate Academic Affairs (UAA)
342 Sherman Hall
410-455-3737
lailams@umbc.edu
Dr. Laila M. Shishineh joined UMBC in 2010 to support First-Year Experience programs in the Office of Academic Engagement & Transition Programs (AETP). In her current role as Director, Laila oversees all programs under the AETP umbrella intended to help first-year students, second-year students, and new transfer students as they transition to campus and through their first few semesters and beyond. Laila came to UMBC from the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP). During her time at UMCP, she received her B.A. in Criminal Justice & Criminology (2006) as well as her M.A. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies with a focus on Higher Education (2009) while she worked full-time with Orientation and New Student Programs. Laila then earned her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Frostburg State University, where she conducted her doctoral research on UMBC’s Summer Bridge Program. Her extensive background working with students in transition, along with her research background, guide the work that she does on campus to support all students to find success.
Programs under Laila’s oversight include:
- American Sign Language (ASL)
- Academic Transition Courses (UNIV)
- First-Year Seminars (FYS)
- First-Year Experience Programs
- Second-Year Experience Programs
- Transfer Experience Programs
- Summer & Winter Bridge Programs
- Living-Learning Communities