Inclusive Excellence in Action: Retriever Essentials
Written by: Deborah Dada | Graduate Student, Management of Aging Services | Graduate Assistant, Office of Community and Culture, Division of Institutional Equity, UMBC
“A student who is well-fed and a student who is hungry may sit in the same classroom, take the same test, but their starting points are not the same” – Michael Berardi
Academic success, then, cannot simply be about performance. It must also be about access—access to the basic needs. I had a conversation with Michael Berardi, Assistant Director, and Michael Falkus, Graduate Assistant, to better understand the inclusive excellence work of Retrieval Essentials.
Retriever Essentials started as an idea co-created by students, staff, and faculty. It shows what’s possible when passionate people come together to problem-solve on campus. The initiative can be traced back to 2015, from a classroom project, the trunk of a car, a cabinet in an office, and a professor’s coat closet. Since then, it has evolved into a structured campus-wide initiative. Today, Retriever Essentials has distributed over 200,000 pounds of food. Last year, the essential space served over 3,000 individuals—nearly one in five students on campus.
While the numbers are significant, it is the human stories that define the impact. Michael Falkus shared the story of a student who said, “Retriever Essentials became a lifeline” during one of the most financially difficult periods of their life.
“Knowing that you could at least go to a place and get something to eat and not worry about that… one of your biggest stressors is gone.”- Michael Falkus
Another story highlights a parenting student who visits the pantry for essentials like diapers, formula, and groceries. During the holidays, they returned to give thanks.
Their message was simple: the program had supported not just a student, but an entire family.
Retriever Essentials operates on a simple but powerful principle: “Anyone who self-identifies with need is welcome.” – Michael Berardi. Including faculty, staff, and students.
While food insecurity is the main focus, Retriever Essentials goes far beyond food distribution and has expanded into a comprehensive basic needs initiative. Resources now include a free on-campus grocery space, meal recovery programs, free farmers markets, Clothing and coat closets, Hygiene and household essentials, Emergency support and resource referrals, and 24-hour access through mini pantries and a vending machine.
One of the most powerful efforts within the Retriever Essentials is the Global Pantry Initiative. Through this effort, students are actively engaged in shaping what is stocked, ensuring that the pantry reflects the cultural diversity of the campus community. This effort transforms the experience from one of necessity to one of inclusion and belonging.
“We shouldn’t be limited to one palate. If this is a global campus, the pantry should reflect that.”- Michael Falkus
At its core, Retriever Essentials represents what equity in action looks like. By addressing food insecurity and basic needs, the initiative ensures that the campus community is not disadvantaged by circumstances beyond its control. It reframes inclusive excellence from an abstract concept into a tangible practice. And sometimes, it starts with something as simple as a basic need.
Share Your Inclusive Excellence Practice
Across UMBC, meaningful work is happening every day to advance equity, inclusion, access, and belonging, often in ways that may not always be visible. Through the Inclusive Excellence Storytelling series, we aim to highlight these efforts and create opportunities for shared learning across our community. We invite students, faculty, and staff to share initiatives, programs, or practices that reflect a commitment to Inclusive Excellence. This may include work in curricular innovation, inclusive pedagogy, community engagement, student support, policy development, or other efforts that foster connection, equity, and belonging. Your story can help inspire others and contribute to building a more inclusive and connected UMBC community.
To share your story, please email Culture@umbc.edu with a brief description of your initiative and your contact information. A member of our team will follow up with next steps.