Byanca Morales Cabrera Linehan Artist Scholar class of 2024 was awarded the Imagining America Joy of Giving Fellowship for the 2021-2022 academic year. Byanca is a Visual Arts major in graphic design, photography, and print media and creates artworks with a focus on diversity and the representation of communities of color; she tackles cultural taboos specifically within the LatinX community. Her past work employs portraiture, cultural textile pattern designs, mark-making, and in the near future, she will expand her artistic practice into public art and mixed-media installations.
The Imagining America JOG Fellowship provides a $2000 tuition scholarship, mentorship guidance along with financial support for a community project. As a JOG Fellow, Byanca will receive registration and travel award to participate in the National Gathering that will take place Fall 2022. UMBC is an active member of Imagining America and in 2015, was the co-host of the National Conference that took place on campus and downtown Baltimore City in cooperation with MICA, Morgan State University, and Towson University.
The Linehan Artist Scholars Program is a four-year scholarship and mentorship program for students who enter UMBC as freshmen with a major in the arts. Linehan Artist Scholars:
- Explore ideas about contemporary concepts in the arts in a first-year seminar
- Live on campus in a Living Learning Community with artists who share your passion
- Attend performances and visit museums in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
- Receive summer research support to study with professional artists across the globe