DRUM - Digital Repository at the University of Maryland

DRUM collects, preserves, and provides public access to the scholarly output of the university. Faculty and researchers can upload research products for rapid dissemination, global visibility and impact, and long-term preservation.

Submit to DRUM

Submit to DRUM

To submit an item to DRUM, login using your UMD credentials. Then select the "Submit Item to DRUM" link in the navigation bar. View DRUM policies and submission guidelines.
Equitable Access Policy

Equitable Access Policy

The University of Maryland Equitable Access Policy provides equitable, open access to the University's research and scholarship. Faculty can learn more about what is covered by the policy and how to deposit on the policy website.
Theses and Dissertations

Theses and Dissertations

DRUM includes all UMD theses and dissertations from 2003 forward.

List of Communities

Collections Organized by Department

UM Community-managed Collections

Recent Submissions

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    Building Community Through College Park Parkrun
    (Partnership for Action Learning Sustainability (PALS), 2026/05) Levine, Samantha; Sellers, Ann; Sinobad, Marco; Velthuis, Adrian; Walker, John; Walls, Samuel; Stillwell, James
    This report presents the findings and recommendations of a semester-long community engagement project conducted through the PALS program in partnership with College Park Parkrun. The project explored how participation in community-based initiatives can foster connection, belonging, and meaning. Drawing on course frameworks and insights from The Power of Meaning by Emily Smith, our group examined how Parkrun contributes to four key pillars of meaning: belonging, purpose, storytelling, and transcendence. These pillars provided a lens for understanding how individuals experience community engagement beyond surface-level participation. Through observational visits, participant engagement, and reflection, our group found that Parkrun successfully fosters belonging and shared purpose among regular participants. Overall, this project demonstrates that intentional community engagement can create lasting social impact by fostering deeper human connection and meaning. To expand its impact, we recommend increasing outreach and strengthening community partnerships.
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    Supporting Family and Small Farms in Prince George’s County: Tools for Sustainability and Growth
    (Partnership for Action Learning Sustainability (PALS), 2026/05) Abdullah, Asiya; Bird, Max; Goldscher, Haley; Kolade, Ardo; Mostafa, Abrar; Stalnaker, Izabell; Taubenblatt, Brielle; Boules, Caroline
    In recent years, Prince George’s County, Maryland has experienced a significant loss of farmland resulting in widespread, negative impacts across the environmental, economic, and social sectors. Our project, Supporting Family and Small Farms in Prince George’s County: Tools for Sustainability and Growth, set out to identify the challenges that family-owned and small farmers face in Prince George’s County and to create a resource toolkit to support these farmers. Reducing the barriers that family-owned and small farms face in Prince George’s County is crucial to improving food access, environmental health, and agricultural economic opportunities. Our team completed a thorough literature review, attended farm visits, and conducted expert interviews with both farmers and stakeholders to research the topic. We identified the major barriers to family-owned and small farming to be rising input and production costs, decreasing revenue, urbanization, and changes to federal policies. Despite these barriers, there are many local, state, and federal programs that provide financial, educational, and technical support that are outlined in our resource toolkit. Going forward, we propose eight recommendations: centralize financial opportunities online, provide regulatory support staff, connect farmers with local students interested in social media, advocate for improvements in agricultural zoning and permitting regulations, create additional farm incubator spaces, serve marginalized farmers, create an infrastructure grant program, and develop an online volunteer portal. We believe that through these actions, Prince George’s County can strengthen its investment in family-owned and small farms, thus having a long-lasting impact on the environmental, societal, and economic development of the county.
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    Built Environment In Prince George’s County: The Asian American Context
    (Partnership for Action Learning Sustainability (PALS), 2026/05) Kittles, Aniya; Lee, Megan; Leibowitz,Michelle; Llanto, Sacha; Edward, Shannon; Low, Felicia
    The Asian American community in Prince George’s County remains understudied, especially in relation to culture, the built environment, and public health. This lack of study has resulted in a shortage of culturally relevant data needed to guide effective planning and health programs for this community. Our findings highlight that Asian-owned businesses and community spaces serve as important landmarks for cultural preservation and social support. However, the community faces challenges such as language barriers, limited access to culturally appropriate healthcare, the rising rate of chronic disease risks, and lack of shared cultural spaces. To explore these issues, our consulting team conducted qualitative research through semi-structured interviews with students, residents, and establishment owners recruited through online and in-person outreach at community locations, including the Unity Gala at the University of Maryland. This report recommends preserving culturally significant sites, improving access to culturally and language-appropriate healthcare, and involving community members in planning decisions in Prince George’s County.
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    Development in Prince George’s County: Desired Outcomes vs. Current Realities: Lessons from the Zoning Ordinance Transition Period (2022–2025)
    (Partnership for Action Learning Sustainability (PALS), 2026/05) Aghili, Homayoon; Amanguah, Ebenezer; Arias, Angelica; Ateffi, Shahrzad; Atree, Menaka; Batsuli, Ignace; Danaczko, Lisa; Fan, Caleb; Gallagher, Brandon; Greenberg, Julianna; Haley, Brendan; Harbaugh, Derek; Hayes, Kerik; Hernandez, Felix; Hopkins, Maya; Ko, Kyungpyo; McDaniel, Thomas; Meggitt, Finn; Mirkovich, Christopher Mark; Mitimingi, Vicent; Pawar, Siddhi; Proctor, Dominic; Pusey, Baydon; Rubiano, Eduardo; Sheikh, Insha; Sotelo, Sydney; Sutton, Fayla; Throckmorton, Melissa; Tukenmez, Arda; Jourdan, Dawn; Saginor, Jesse
    Prince George’s County’s transition to a new Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations represented one of the most significant land use policy changes in the County’s recent history. During the transition period, applicants retained the ability to pursue development applications under either the prior zoning framework or the newly adopted ordinance, creating a unique opportunity to examine how developers, landowners, attorneys, and planning professionals responded to changing regulatory conditions. This report analyzes approximately 100 development applications reviewed between April 1, 2022 and April 1, 2025 to better understand the factors influencing applicant decisions regarding ordinance selection and the implications of those decisions for County planning goals, implementation, and future policy refinement. Drawing upon application materials, planning staff analyses, public records, student case analyses, and stakeholder engagement, the study identifies patterns in applicant behavior, implementation barriers, and opportunities to improve development review processes. Several key themes emerged from the analysis. First, applicants frequently prioritized regulatory certainty and predictability when selecting between the prior and new ordinances. In many cases, applicants elected to proceed under the prior ordinance to minimize uncertainty associated with new procedural requirements, interpretation concerns, or evolving implementation practices. Grandfathering provisions and timing considerations frequently influenced these decisions, particularly for projects already in the development pipeline. Second, the findings suggest that ordinance selection often reflected a broader strategic assessment of risk, timing, and flexibility rather than a simple preference for one regulatory framework over another. While some applicants may have embraced the opportunities created by the new ordinance, including updated development standards and streamlined alignment with County planning priorities, others may have viewed the transition period as introducing uncertainty into entitlement and approval processes. Third, the analysis identified important areas where development outcomes aligned with County planning goals and where implementation challenges created friction. Several cases demonstrated strong alignment with transit-oriented development objectives, mixed-use goals, housing diversification, and redevelopment priorities. However, other cases revealed instances where procedural complexity, ambiguity in interpretation, or administrative bottlenecks may have constrained intended outcomes or encouraged reliance on legacy regulatory pathways. Based on these findings, the report recommends a combination of short-term administrative improvements, medium-term ordinance refinements, and long-term monitoring strategies. Immediate recommendations include improving guidance materials, strengthening applicant communication during ordinance transitions, and increasing consistency in implementation. Medium-term recommendations focus on ordinance calibration and process improvements informed by recurring implementation challenges. Long-term recommendations emphasize data tracking, performance measurement, and periodic ordinance evaluation to ensure continued alignment between County planning goals and development outcomes. Ultimately, the transition period provides Prince George’s County with an important opportunity to evaluate not only how applicants responded to new land use regulations, but also how future ordinance transitions and implementation strategies can be strengthened. The findings suggest that effective implementation depends not only on the content of planning regulations but also on predictability, clarity, administrative capacity, and stakeholder confidence in the development review process.
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    Crafting Edmonston: A Comprehensive Design for a Safer, Healthier, Resilient and More Sustainable Community
    (Partnership for Action Learning Sustainability (PALS), 2025/12) Austin, Lillian; Craig, Spencer; Garlow, Cailtin; Hernandez, Felix; Kremer, Erin; Rasmussen, Kelly; Sweeney, Laura; Whalen, Evan; Ruggeri, Deni
    This studio, led by faculty and students from the University of Maryland’s Department of Landscape Architecture and supported by the Partnership for Action Learning in Sustainability (PALS), partnered with the Town of Edmonston to explore opportunities for transformative change. The project examined the town’s landscape and human infrastructure to identify strategies that advance resilience, livability, and equity. Community engagement was central to the process. Through participatory listening and co-creation activities, students worked closely with residents to inform both strategic recommendations and site-specific designs. The first phase produced a compendium documenting community assets, challenges, and aspirations. The second phase developed design proposals for key sites—including a new park, pocket parks, streetscapes, and green/blue infrastructure corridors—each evaluated for impacts on stormwater management, climate adaptation, energy efficiency, economic vitality, and environmental justice, in alignment with Edmonston’s sustainability goals.