Wednesday, July 29, 2026
#UMDSOCIAL
Save the Date
Get ready for another year of #UMDsocial: The University of Maryland Social Media Conference! The event will take place at Edward St. John Teaching and Learning Center on Wednesday, July 29, 2026 and provide opportunities to learn, network and share social media best practices with your Maryland colleagues.
The conference is co-hosted by the Office of Marketing and Communications and the Division of Student Affairs. For questions, please email social@umd.edu.
Registration will open soon
Missed last year’s conference? Catch up on last year’s keynote speaker and explore the presentation materials and resources shared during the event.
2025 Keynote
Karen Vidangos
Senior Manager of Social Media
Known online as "Latina in Museums," Vidangos uses digital platforms to elevate and explore underrepresented perspectives in the arts. She is the founder of the Latinx Art Collective, the first nationwide directory dedicated exclusively to Latinx artists across the United States. As a social media specialist, Vidangos has led high-profile initiatives including the National Portrait Gallery’s Obama Portraits Tour and the 2019 American Portrait Gala, and was selected to launch the Smithsonian’s institution-wide initiative Our Shared Future: Reckoning with Our Racial Past. She has also led a UNESCO x Guggenheim project highlighting the museum’s sustainability efforts and strategized the social media presence for the 2025 Met Gala. Vidangos holds a B.A. in Art History from UMD and an M.A. in Museum Studies from GW.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
2025 Conference Presentations
Review presentation materials from this year’s #UMDsocial Conference
Danielle Tarr
Director of Social Media
Office of Marketing and Communications
Sydney Walker
Communications Specialist, Content Creation
Office of Marketing and Communications
State of Social Insights: Evolving Algorithms, AI and Accessibility
Tomisin Akinrinade
Digital Marketing Specialist
Office of Marketing and Communications
Myriam Fuentes
Email Marketing Manager
Office of Marketing and Communications
Lauren Knapp
Director of Video Production
Office of Marketing and Communications
Italia Peretti
Communications Manager
Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics,
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
A recap of standout social media content featured in this year's showcase.
Join the conversation
Conference Accessibility Information
ADA-accessible Parking
Accessible parking is expected to be available in ADA parking spaces to the east of Edward St. John (ESJ), facing Symons Hall (building 076). Additional spaces are available on Regents Drive outside Main Admin or inside lot L. Guests with a state-issued license plate or hangtag can park in any marked space, with or without DOTS registration. The University of Maryland does not issue ADA hang tags.
Path of Travel
Use the UMD campus map to find the latest accessible walking and wheelchair routes on campus.
Due to the Purple Line construction, some traditional routes may become unavailable. In these instances, UMD makes every effort to make navigating the terrain easier. Navigating certain pathways like McKeldin Mall and Campus Drive, which are on an incline, may pose challenges. Paved entry points all around the mall may make navigation easier.
Shuttle Service
Shuttle-UM buses are wheelchair-accessible and can help transport passengers to and from ESJ.
Accessibility Within ESJ
The event space includes ramps for front of the room access. The first two rows of ESJ 1224 are fully accessible, featuring tables with detachable seats on wheels. Find further info on accessible entrances, restrooms and more on the ESJ website.
Information Technology Resources
- All ESJ classrooms are equipped with assisted listening systems. Find further information on Communication Access Services on campus.
- Assisted listening devices may be checked out from Communication Access Services.
Dietary Restrictions
For the conference lunch and ice cream social, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan and dairy-free options will be available. Attendees may also bring their own food to enjoy. Keep a refillable water bottle handy to stay hydrated throughout the day; filling stations are available inside ESJ.
Request an Accommodation
Please contact our event organizers at social@umd.edu at least one week prior to the event to request disability accommodations. In all situations, a good faith effort (up until the time of the event) will be made to provide accommodations.
For more information about ADA access around campus, please visit our accessibility website.