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September 22, 1999

CONTEMPORARY DOCUMENTS PRESENTED BY THE ALBIN O. KUHN LIBRARY GALLERY

UMBC's Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery is proud to present Contemporary Documents, an exhibition exploring the state of documentary photography today through the work of four image makers: Kristin Capp of New York City and Jack Radcliffe, Jana Kopelentova Rehak, and Frank Rehak of Baltimore.

Baltimore, MD -- UMBC's Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery is proud to present Contemporary Documents, an exhibition exploring the state of documentary photography today through the work of four image makers: Kristin Capp of New York City and Jack Radcliffe, Jana Kopelentova Rehak, and Frank Rehak of Baltimore.

Using black and white photography, the tradition of social documentation is explored by these artists in diverse ways. Kristin Capp's recent images of Hutterite colonies in eastern Washington State and Canada depict close-knit communities of individuals seemingly lifted from another era. Similarly, Jack Radcliffe's series "Beppi, Steven and family" offers the complex relation to time we experience only with still photography. Taken over a period of six years, Radcliffe's images of one young family reveal subtle shifts in their dynamic through simple everyday interaction.

In contrast, Jana Kopelentova Rehak physically removes her subjects from their surroundings, allowing individual's expressions, dress and poses to tell complex stories. Portraits of Czech refugees from Chernobyl and residence of Hampden, Baltimore could never be mistaken one for the other. Conversely, the different worlds of Baltimore and Prague inspire Frank Rehak to find the aesthetic similarities between disparate worlds through design, tone, and light.

This exhibition is organized by Chief Curator Tom Beck and Curator Cynthia Wayne of the Library Gallery. An accompanying illustrated catalog with artists' biographies and checklist will be available on site (publication design by Professor Franc Nunoo-Quarcoo). A public program is scheduled for Thursday, September 30th at 4 p.m. with the four artists involved in the exhibition. A reception will follow the presentations at 5 p.m.

Contemporary Documents is supported in part by a program grant from the Maryland State Arts Council and by the Friends of the Library and Gallery. G allery programs are free and open to the public. The Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery is located on the first floor of the Library, 1000 Hilltop Circle, and is open Monday through Friday 12 to 4:30 p.m., Thursday until 8 p.m., and Saturday 1 -5 p.m. For further information, please call (410) 455-2270.

Posted by dwinds1 at 12:00 AM

September 21, 1999

RWD TECHNOLOGIES TO BECOME FIRST TENANT OF UMBC RESEARCH PARK

Baltimore - RWD Technologies has signed a letter of intent to establish its new Applied Technology Laboratory at the UMBC Research Park. A new division and facility of RWD, the laboratory will focus on e-commerce and e-business, Web development, and interface-design for related applications.

Pending approval by the Maryland Board of Public Works, construction of a two-story, 40,000 square-foot facility for RWD will begin in early 2000 and is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2001. Within three years of its completion, the company expects the laboratory to be staffed with about 200 RWD employees.

One of these employees is David Yager, professor of visual arts and founder of UMBC's nationally acclaimed Imaging Research Center. Effective September 1, Yager became corporate vice president of RWD Technologies and director of RWD's new laboratory, which will be housed in UMBC's Technology Center until the new Research Park facility is completed. Yager will continue to be affiliated with UMBC, serving as distinguished professor of art, teaching, mentoring and supervising graduate students.

[Draft] "Locating the ATL at UMBC will help us stay abreast of the rapid advances in information technology research to meet our clients' needs," says Robert W. Deutsch, founder and CEO of RWD, and a member of UMBC's Board of Visitors. "It will also help the university attract top faculty and students to work on practical problems managing IT research and development. In this rapidly changing industry, we clearly need each other."

Creation of the Applied Technology Laboratory builds both on the university's long-standing relationship with RWD and professor Yager's ties with the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation, which began with a major research grant two years ago. The foundation also funds scholarships in computer science and information systems at UMBC to help attract and retain the best faculty and students in these high-demand areas.

[Draft] "It's a wonderful collaboration for RWD and UMBC," says Yager, who will also draw on UMBC students and faculty for internships and collaborative research in RWD's new laboratory. "In addition to conducting cutting-edge research on technology and user interface design, we will also be able to develop training opportunities for corporations in these technology-related areas."

In addition to announcing its first tenant, the UMBC Research Park Development Corporation has agreed with Grosvenor International (USA), Inc. for construction of the entire Research Park. Based on a memorandum of understanding, plans include a 75,000-square-foot, three-story, multi-tenant building at the UMBC site. Terms of the agreement call for local construction, design and real estate firms to be included in the development team.

"This is great economic news for UMBC, Baltimore County and the state of Maryland," says Ellen Wiggins, executive director of the UMBC Research Park Corporation. "The research park will build on the university's strength in high tech fields like engineering, computer science and biology and the success of our technology center to create hundreds of job opportunities in the community."

The vision of an on-campus research park providing collaborations with UMBC faculty, students and industry began with the late Michael Hooker, former UMBC and UNC-Chapel Hill President. The project was jump-started in 1996 with the acquisition of the former Lockheed Martin Laboratories building. The facility, just minutes from the main UMBC campus, BWI Airport and I-95, was then converted into the multi-tenant UMBC Technology Center with the help of a $5,000,000 down payment from the state of Maryland. The center was fully leased within one year and today houses 25 high-tech incubator and emerging companies with the Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO) overseeing a long term operating lease with UMBC. The UMBC Research Park infrastructure was completed earlier this year, with the help of Baltimore County, the state of Maryland and a grant from the Economic Development Authority.

[Draft Hrabowski/Hannon/other quote?] "UMBC, the state and Baltimore County have been strong partners in developing the region's economic development," says UMBC President Freeman Hrabowksi. "RWD's decision is not only a vote of confidence in our approach, but is also a critical first step toward achieving the broad range of facilities we've all envisioned for several years."

Based in Columbia, Maryland, RWD is an information technology consulting firm with 1150 employees, about half of whom live in Maryland. In 1998, RWD was listed among Forbes' "200 Best Small Companies" and ComputerWorld's "Best IT Places to Work." In 1999, Business Week cited RWD in its list of "100 Hot Small Cap Companies." The company counts over 40 of the top 100 companies in the United States as clients, and provides services to over 20 industries worldwide. The company's 1998 revenues were $115 million. Website: http://www.rwd.com

Established in 1966, UMBC now produces nearly 40 percent of Maryland's bachelor degree recipients in computer science and information systems, and leads all public research universities nationally in the production of bachelor's degrees in these fields. Website: http://www.umbc.edu.

Grosvenor International (USA), Inc. is a private company associated with the Grosvenor Estate of Great Britain, which comprises holdings of the Duke of Westminster and others. Grovsvenor has developed buildings in the UK including a similar university-related research park for the University of Edinburgh. The company's development portfolio is worth approximately $1.76 billion and includes a variety of real estate projects in the United States, Canada and Australia. Website: http:/ / www.geh.co.uk/

Posted by dwinds1 at 12:00 AM

RWD TECHNOLOGIES TO BE FIRST TENANT IN UMBC RESEARCH PARK

Baltimore - RWD Technologies has agreed to establish its new Applied Technology Laboratory at the UMBC Research Park. Construction of a two-story, 40,000 square foot facility will begin in early 2000 and is scheduled for completion in the second quarter of 2001. Within three years of its completion, RWD expects the laboratory to be staffed with about 200 RWD employees. One of these employees is David Yager, professor and chair of UMBC's Visual Arts Department since 1986 and director of UMBC's highly-regarded Imaging Research Center; he became Corporate Vice President of RWD Technologies and Director of RWD's new laboratory, effective September 1, 1999. He will continue to be affiliated with UMBC, serving as both (1) Distinguished Professor of Art, teaching, mentoring, and supervising graduate students, and (2) Director of UMBC's Fine Arts Gallery, until an appropriate transition can be made. [Draft Yager quote:] According to Yager, the Applied Technology Laboratory is a new division and facility of RWD focusing on e-commerce and e-business, Web development, and interface-design for related applications. "It's a wonderful collaboration for RWD and UMBC," says Yager, who will draw on UMBC faculty and students to launch the laboratory. "In addition to conducting cutting-edge research on technology and user interface design, we will also be able to develop training opportunities for corporations in these technology-related areas." Creation of the RWD Applied Technology Laboratory-located initially in UMBC's Technology Center-builds both on the university's long-standing relationship with RWD and Professor Yager's ties with the RWD Foundation, which began with a major research grant two years ago. [Draft Deutsch quote:] "Locating the ATL at UMBC will help us stay abreast of the rapid advances in information technology research to meet our clients' needs," says Robert Deutsch, founder and CEO of RWD and a member of UMBC's Board of Visitors. "It will also help the university attract top faculty and students to work on practical problems managing IT research and development. In this rapidly changing industry, we clearly need each other." With headquarters in Columbia, Maryland, RWD currently has 1150 employees, about half of whom live in Maryland. The company also maintains offices in Great Britain and Germany. In 1998, RWD was listed among Forbes' "200 Best Small Companies" and ComputerWorld's "Best IT Places to Work." In 1999, Business Week cited RWD in its list of "100 Hot Small Cap Companies." The company counts over 40 of the top 100 companies in the United States as clients, and provides services to over 20 industries worldwide. The company's 1998 revenues were $115 million. In addition to announcing its first tenant, the UMBC Research Park Development Corporation has also agreed on development terms with the Maryland division of Grosvenor International (Atlantic) Ltd. (GIAL). for the first building of the on-campus research park. UMBC Research Park representatives and GIAL have agreed on a memorandum of understanding detailing construction plans for a 75,000-square-foot, three-story, multi-tenant building at the UMBC site. Terms of the agreement call for local construction, design and real estate firms to be included in the development team. The UMBC Research Park will offer state of the art laboratory and office space for high technology companies including biotech, information technology, pharmaceutical and engineering firms. The infrastructure of the site, located off Interstate 95 within minutes of BWI airport, is now complete. "This is great economic news for UMBC, Baltimore County and the state of Maryland," says Ellen Wiggins, Executive Director of the UMBC Research Park Corporation. "The UMBC Research Park will build on the University's strength in high tech fields like engineering, computer science and biology and the success of our Technology Center to create hundreds of job opportunities in the community," said Wiggins. GIAL is a subsidiary of real estate investment, development and asset management group Grosvenor International Holdings Limited (GIHL). GIHL is a private company associated with the Grosvenor Estate of Great Britain, which comprises holdings of the Duke of Westminster and others. Vancouver-based GIHL has developed buildings in the UK including a similar university-related research park for the University of Edinburgh. The company's development portfolio is worth approximately $ 1.76 billion and includes a variety of real estate projects in the United States, Canada and Australia. [Whiting Turner bit?] UMBC already operates a 130,000 square-foot Technology Center, home to 25 incubator and emerging high-tech companies. In addition to the close relationship between UMBC and RWD, the Maryland and Baltimore County economic development agencies have been extremely supportive in working with the company to locate its new division at UMBC. [Draft Freeman quote:] "UMBC has long been a growing catalyst for regional economic development, as we produce nearly 40 percent of Maryland's information technology workforce" says UMBC President Freeman Hrabowksi. "RWD's decision is not only a vote of confidence in our approach, but is also a critical first step toward achieving the broad range of facilities we've envisioned for several years."

Posted by dwinds1 at 12:00 AM

September 17, 1999

NEWS SITE IS READY TO GO

The news site is up and running.

Baltimore - The news site is done.

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Posted by dwinds1 at 12:00 AM

September 08, 1999

BACK TO SCHOOL MEDIA TIPSHEET

The English department's emphasis on "tech literacy," tutoring top students and advice for parents of first-year students can all be found in this tipsheet.

English Department Stresses Technology Literacy
The English department at UMBC is using its required freshman English class to ensure that each student on campus is not only literate, but technology literate. This year marks the introduction of what will be a major shift in philosophy for UMBC, a two-semester freshman writing course which stresses the use of technology. During the fall semester, six of the 40 sections of the required English 100 composition class will require students to perform online research, analyze web sites and participate in class listserves. Students in these six sections must then follow up with English 101 in the spring, which will build upon the writing and technological skills developed in English 100. Jim McKusick, English department chair, believes that the course will "alert students to the close relationship between writing and technology, not only for academic success, but professional success." This requirement will ultimately set UMBC apart from the rest of the pack for its dedication to technology as a literacy skill comparable to writing.

Top Students Reap the Benefits of Tutoring
One usually thinks of a tutor as a person who helps students in academic "hot water" get back on track, but not at UMBC. Tutors here can expect to see the same names on their schedules that are already on the Dean's List. The chemistry tutorial lab, for example, has a reputation on campus for being the place where A students go to earn higher As. The 35 chem. lab tutors work in small groups to tutor a total of 600-700 students each week -- and there's a waiting list. The lab has created an environment where students are excited to learn and tutors are treated as legends. Photos of past tutors and descriptions of what they've gone on to do line the walls. Tutoring is serious business at UMBC and the top students are making the most of it.

Advice for Parents of First-year Students
Let the parental hand-wringing begin. With thousands of students now deposited at various institutions of higher learning across the nation, parents are left at home to worry. Vice Provost Charles "Tot" Woolston has spent 31-years at UMBC providing helpful tips to parents on how to cope and help their children cope with university life. Woolston's main concern is parental involvement, and how it can help make the transition more pleasant. He encourages parents to follow the "four-week" rule. Woolston explains, "this is the time when the euphoria of being away from home wears off, the first round of exams is looming, and the bloom of some early relationships begins to fade. You may be surprised at how much you are missed at this point."

Posted by dwinds1 at 12:00 AM

The Database is Working!

UMBC announces that its News database is up and running...thanks to Snae!

Baltimore -- asldkjfasdlfjalsdfjaldskfjlasdjf adslfkjadslfjaldsf alsdfkjadlskfjad

Posted by dwinds1 at 12:00 AM

September 07, 1999

UMBC Assistant Professor Preminda Jacob Honored with Getty Grant Program Postdoctural Fellowship

Dr. Preminda Jacob of UMBC's Visual Arts Department has been awarded a prestigious J. Paul Getty Postdoctoral Fellowship in the History of Art and the Humanities for 1999-2000. Fifteen scholars who received their doctorates within the past six years were each awarded a stipend of $35,000 for one years research. The awards have been accepted by scholars in eight countries and will be used to conduct research worldwide.

Baltimore, MD -- Dr. Preminda Jacob of UMBC's Visual Arts Department has been awarded a prestigious J. Paul Getty Postdoctoral Fellowship in the History of Art and the Humanities for 1999-2000. Fifteen scholars who received their doctorates within the past six years were each awarded a stipend of $35,000 for one years research. The awards have been accepted by scholars in eight countries and will be used to conduct research worldwide.

Dr. Jacob, who earned her Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1994, will expand on the research conducted for her dissertation. She will examine the "aural dimensions of public images in the spaces of the city of Chennai" in South India, a region that offers complex evidence of a culture heavily influenced by politics, the film industry, and mythology.

Dr. Jacob's manuscript Celluloid Deities: The Nexus of Visual Art, Media and Politics in South India will be accompanied by a CD-ROM to be produced in collaboration with UMBC's Imaging Research Center and assistant professor of visual arts Colin Ives. Both Ives and Dr. Jacob will visit South India in December 1999 to gather images and complete field work to be used in the examination of culture in Chennai and Mumbai.

The purpose of the Getty Fellowships is to release scholars from academic and administrative responsibilities at a critical point early in their careers when much is expected of them professionally. Dr. Jacob will be in residence at UMBC for the academic year, and will resume teaching in the fall of 2000.

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Posted by dwinds1 at 12:00 AM

Listserve Test, Take Two

Snae and Charlie test the News Site database listserve, will it work?

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Posted by dwinds1 at 12:00 AM