UBalt Students Drive Lactation Room Upgrades
September 27, 2022
Contact: Office of Advancement and External Relations
Phone: 410.837.5739
Many students in The University of Baltimore community are parents juggling school and work, especially those who are nursing. After giving birth to her son in 2019, Tiffaney Parkman, who directs the B.A. in Human Services Administration program in UBalt's College of Public Affairs, saw an opportunity to help.
UBalt has two lactation rooms—one in the William H. Thumel Sr. Business Center, Room 315, and the other in the John and Frances Angelos Law Center, Room 032—that provide safe, quiet and comfortable spaces for students, faculty and staff to nurse. However, not everyone knows about these spaces and the amenities they provide.
"We have these wonderful resources for our campus community, but no one even knew they existed," says Parkman. "I wanted to do something about that and create a space for students, staff and faculty that would bring them joy. That's what we do as human services professionals."
As part of her senior seminar class this summer, Parkman tasked three of her students with making UBalt's lactation rooms more welcoming and accessible.
"The students saw a need, researched and planned what improvements needed to be made, and worked with UBalt staff to implement them," she says. "Everything about this project is what we do in our program."
Twanna France, B.A. '22, put her hands to work and her creativity to the test. In a few short weeks, she transformed the lactation room in the Thumel Business Center to a space that looks and feels like home.
"I was able to raise funds to furnish, paint and make the room look and feel comfortable for students and staff to breastfeed their child," says France.
The room now features vibrant wall art, cheery home décor, adjustable lamps and a comfortable sofa with throw pillows.
"This project took me back to when I had a day care, and I had to decorate the building and make it inviting and comfortable for the children and parents," she says. "I appreciate Prof. Parkman and everyone who believed in my vision because I could not have done this without them."
While renovations were underway, Oluwaseun Akinnagbe, B.A. '22, and Marisa Moschelle, B.A. '22, focused on building awareness.
"While we initially thought that our project would have more of a focus on cosmetic updates, the true need for equitable access became apparent," said Moschelle.
They recognized an opportunity to better communicate some of the University's resources for pregnant and nursing students and helped find ways to make that information more accessible on the University's website.
A ribbon cutting ceremony for the Business Center lactation room, located in Room 315, will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 4:30 p.m. The ceremony will highlight the center's lactation room improvements and celebrate the hard work of Parkman's students. All members of the UBalt community are welcome to attend.
"I'm just so proud of our students and everything they are doing in the community, especially when it comes to UBalt," says Parkman.
Learn more about UBalt's Human Services Administration undergraduate program. View resources available to pregnant students.