Jen BadieCourtney Jones Carney, DPA, MBA, has a sticker on her computer that reads: “You belong at UMB.”
It’s a fitting message for Jones Carney, program director and assistant professor, University of Maryland School of Graduate Studies (UMSGS), and assistant vice president of student success, leadership, and engagement in the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s (UMB) Division of Student Affairs. From students to employees, she has spent much of her 15 years at UMB ensuring that everyone feels as if they belong at the University.
“That message captures the core of my work — contributing to the creation of an institution where everyone knows they belong,” Jones Carney said of the sticker that was distributed during the 2024 Student Experience Survey. “The idea of student success is often closely tied to a sense of both professional and personal belonging. The sticker serves as a daily reminder for me to center the work of belonging in everything I do.”
Her work has included launching UMSGS’ Intercultural Leadership Certificate, which later helped lay the foundation for the Master of Science in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Leadership (MS-DEIL). On Jones Carney’s desk is a small pin that reads “Change Maker.” The pin was distributed to the MS-DEIL inaugural cohort, and many of the students wore it during their graduation ceremony in 2024.
While that program is being sunset, Jones Carney continues to shape leaders who are committed to equity- and person-centered leadership.
“One of the highlights of my time at UMB has been the opportunity to help create and launch academic programs within the School of Graduate Studies,” she said. “This academic year, we launched the Master of Science in Leadership for Organizational Change and the Leading Across Difference post-baccalaureate certificate. I am grateful for the opportunity to steward this work and teach students who are passionate about creating sustainable and meaningful organizational change.”
She said she is excited about continuing the development of the Leadership for Organizational Change program and the Leading Across Difference certificate.
“Many professionals are formally and informally tasked with leading initiatives related to organizational culture and change, often without having had formal opportunities to study how to do that work effectively,” she said.
She said she plans to distribute the Change Maker pin to this year’s DEIL and Leadership for Organizational Change graduates “as a symbol of their commitment to creating positive and sustained change within organizations.”
Jones Carney also keeps an unusual item on her desk that reminds her to face her fears as she works as a change maker: a taxidermy squirrel given to her by a former UMSGS colleague.
“The squirrel was gifted to me in fall 2018 while I was developing the Intercultural Leadership post-baccalaureate certificate,” she said. “I am, admittedly, quite afraid of squirrels. The squirrel was given as a slightly devious but thoughtful gift, accompanied by a note encouraging me not to let fear get in the way of accomplishing the goals in front of me at that time: launching the certificate program and completing my doctoral degree.”
Student Pantry
In her role with UMB Student Affairs, Jones Carney provides leadership, strategic vision, general oversight, and support of the leaders who oversee the Student Success Center, Student Pantry, student and community engagement, student organization leadership development, civic involvement, and student programming.
Jones Carney played an instrumental role in launching UMB’s Student Pantry in fall 2021.
“Ensuring that students have access to food is foundational to their ability to succeed academically and personally,” she said. “When students are worried about where their next meal will come from, it becomes much harder to focus on coursework, clinical placements, research, and other responsibilities that come with graduate and professional education.”
During this academic year through Feb. 28, the Student Pantry has received 982 student food requests.
“That number reflects both the importance of the resource and the trust students have placed in it,” Jones Carney said.
Since the Student Pantry was launched, the percentage of students reporting that they could not afford to eat balanced meals has decreased from 33 percent to 21 percent, while the percentage of those who worried that food would run out before they got money to buy more has decreased from 29 percent to 23 percent.
UMB also offers monthly pop-up food distributions, food awards for students experiencing financial hardship, and bimonthly produce pop-ups that provide fresh fruits and vegetables. These initiatives help ensure that students have multiple opportunities to access nutritious food in ways that are convenient and responsive to their needs.
“At the same time, rising living costs continue to place pressure on many members of our campus community,” Jones Carney said. “The Student Pantry helps ensure that students have reliable access to food and other essentials, allowing them to focus on their education and well-being.”
Employee Experiences
Jones Carney has recently turned her attention to the employee experience. For example, during fall 2025, she helped launch an Employee Pantry in response to the federal government shutdown and rising costs. Now she is conducting a six-month study to explore food access of higher education employees, which has been the subject of little research. In fact, Jones Carney said she could identify only one publication exploring a Canadian institution and none based in the United States.
“I am excited and honored to advance scholarly research that explores food access among university staff, faculty, and postdoctoral scholars,” she said. “This work will focus on understanding their experiences, identifying the facilitators and barriers to using an on-campus pantry, and developing recommendations at the institutional, local, regional, and national levels for supporting university employees.”
The ultimate reason behind all of her efforts is displayed on her desk: baby pictures of her two sons, who are 9 and 4 years old.
“They are my constant ‘why,’ ” she said. “My boys continue to inspire me to help create spaces where everyone can thrive and where they know they belong.”
