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A UMBC Legacy
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By Bonnie Moller
English '93
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Taken on her own, Maureen McCormick, English '91,
is by any measure an active and vital member of the UMBC community. She came to UMBC as a nontraditional student, worked for 11
years in admissions and enrollment management and is now the coordinator of student and
academic programs for the Honors College. In 1999, Maureen was named the UMBC Alumni
Association Volunteer of the Year, and among the many groups that she is associated with,
serves on the Alumni Board of Directors. Expand the view, however, and a far richer legacy
is revealed. All of Maureen's four children, Kenneth McCormick,
emergency health services '91, Kathryn McCormick Stillman,
health science and policy '96, Kelly McCormick Riley,
visual and performing arts '87 and Kerrin McCormick Kowach, who did
Ph.D. work in policy sciences in '93 and '94, have attended UMBC as well as one in-law,
Britt Coffin McCormick, history '91.
Kenneth and his wife Britt attended UMBC as varsity swimmers. "The biggest thing
I took away from UMBC was a strong work ethic that began with the swim team and has continued
into my career," says Ken. He also feels fortunate to have taken advantage of UMBC's
then-unique EHS program and is now a project director in the information services division
at St. Agnes Healthcare. Britt, a sales representative for Aventis Pharmaceuticals, is also
proud to be an alumna of UMBC. "As the years have gone by, UMBC has continued to become more
prestigious," says Britt. "I received a great education, great friends, four years of varsity
swimming, great memories and a great husband."
Yet another varsity swimmer, Kathryn is a project coordinator for ABT Associates in
Washington, D.C., and works on international public health programs. She recently
returned from Jordan, where she worked on a primary health care program. Kathryn found
that the comprehensive nature of her UMBC degree allowed her to individualize her
graduate degree. "I had access to internships through the health sciences and policy
(HESP) program, the Shriver Center and the English department, all of which provided
me with practical knowledge and skills," says Kathryn. "Although I did not fully realize
the value of UMBC's offerings while I was a student, it quickly became apparent once I
departed. The name change to 'An Honors University in Maryland', the expansions on campus
and the increasing opportunities in public service through the Shriver Center all reflect
the university's commitment to academic excellence and the community."
For the McCormicks, there can be no doubt that the link to UMBC remains vital.
Maureen sums it up best. "UMBC is not simply a place to obtain a great education,"
she says. "It is a community of caring people who go beyond the expected. UMBC is the
swim team coach who, 10 years after graduation, still has a meaningful relationship with
my son. It is the English instructor who became a mentor and then a friend to my daughter.
It is demonstrated by the gifts of faculty artwork which are displayed in another daughter's
home. UMBC is people--people who make a difference in the lives of students."
Bonnie Moller is a freelance writer living in Linthicum, Md.
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