UMBC Meyerhoff Scholars Program

Alumni

Dr. Hrabowski in the New York Times

Posted on December 6, 2010 1:08 PM |Permalink

In an editorial focusing on successes in the area of minority student success in the sciences, New York Times writer Brent Staples cites UMBC as the leader among universities. UMBC president Freeman Hrabowski recently chaired the committee that produced “Expanding Underrepresented Minority Participation,” an eye-opening study issued by the National Academies, the country’s leading science advisory group.

Read the full New York Times editorial here.

Dr. Hrabowski in Baltimore Sun, on Andrea Mitchell Reports

Posted on October 4, 2010 1:56 PM |Permalink

From the Baltimore Sun, October 2, 2010:

The federal government and the nation's universities should invest $150 million annually to double the number of minorities pursuing science and engineering degrees, says a report released from the National Academies.
The report came from a committee chaired by Freeman A. Hrabowski III, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. In his 18 years at UMBC, Hrabowski has garnered a national reputation for mentoring minority scientists.

- Read the full story in the Baltimore Sun

- Watch Dr. Hrabowski on Andrea Mitchell Reports

Nkenge Wheatland (M16) Presenting Paper for the Symposium for Computer Animation

Posted on June 8, 2010 1:51 PM |Permalink

Nkenge Wheatland (M16), '09, computer science, will be presenting a paper entitled Performance Capture with Physical Interaction at a conference hosted by the Symposium for Computer Animation.

The conference will be held in early July in Madrid, Spain.

Nkenge is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in computer science at the University of California, Riverside.

For more information about the paper, click here.

Mela Johnson Ph.D. (M13) Earns Degree from Georgia Institute of Technology

Posted on February 17, 2010 3:04 PM |Permalink

Dr. Mela Johnson (M13) '05, mechanical engineering, successfully defended her dissertation in December 2009, and earned a Ph.D. in bioengineering from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Nefertiti Durant M.D. (M4) Published in the Journal of School Health

Posted on February 17, 2010 2:53 PM |Permalink

Dr. Nefertiti (Harmon) Durant (M4) '96, interdisciplinary studies, authored three papers related to childhood obesity in 2009. One of these is: "Relation of school environment and policy to adolescent physical activity," published in the Journal of School Health.

Regina Macatangay M.D. (M8) Completes Residency

Posted on February 17, 2010 2:44 PM |Permalink

Dr. Regina Macatangay (M8) '00, biological science, completed a pediatrics residency at the University of Maryland Hospital for Children in June 2009.

Dr. Macatangay is currently completing her chief resident year and in July 2010 will start a fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York City.

Maryann Salib (M15) Published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry

Posted on February 17, 2010 2:39 PM |Permalink

Maryann Salib (M15), biochemistry and molecular biology, was published as the 2nd author on a paper in the Journal of Biological Chemistry entitled "Hyperglycemia regulates RUNX2 activiation and cellular wound healing through the aldose reductase polyol pathway."

Kevin Beck Ph.D. (M10) Earns Degree from the University of California, Irvine

Posted on February 17, 2010 2:02 PM |Permalink

Dr. Kevin Beck (M10) '02, biological science, successfully defended his dissertation at UC Irvine and earned a Ph.D. in biological sciences with a concentration in anatomy and neurobiology

He co-authored the paper, "Quantitative analysis of cellular inflammation after tramautic spinal cord injury: evidence for a multiphasic inflammatory response in the acute to chronic environment," recently published in Brain: A Journal of Neurology .

Dr. Beck was awarded a fellowship from the NIH sponsored IRCADA (Institutional Research and Career Development Award) Program which aims to promote diversity in STEM disciplines and in April, will begin a post-doc at UC San Diego.

Lekelia Jenkins Ph.D. (M5) Among 12 Scholars Selected to Attend Workshop

Posted on February 17, 2010 1:50 PM |Permalink

Dr. Lekelia "Kiki" Jenkins (M5) '97, biological science, was recently selected as one of only twelve scholars worldwide to attend a workshop entitled "Workshop for the Next Generation of Science and Technology Policy Leaders."

This workshop is part of the Rightful Place of Science Conference hosted by the Consortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes (CSPO) and is scheduled for May 2010 at Arizona State University.

For more information about the conference, click here.

Camelia Owens Ph.D. (M7) featured in Women in Science Publication

Posted on December 3, 2009 3:35 PM |Permalink

Dr. Camelia Owens (M7), '99, chemical engineering, was recently profiled in the National Institute of Health Women in Science publication.

Dr. Owens graduated from the University of Delaware in 2004 with a Ph.D. in chemical engineering.

Read more by clicking on the link below (pg 5):

Women in Science at the NIH

Up Close with Omolola Eniola-Adefeso Ph.D. (M8) In NIGMS Online Magazine Findings

Posted on October 22, 2009 2:16 PM |Permalink

Dr. Omolola (Lola) Eniola-Adefeso (M8), '99, chemical engineering, was recently profiled in the National Institute of General Medical Sciences online magazine Findings.

The article highlights Dr. Eniola-Adefeso's research on developing new medicine for heart disease.

Learn more about her research by clicking on the link below:

Up Close with Lola Eniola-Adefeso

Lauren (Battle) Wills Ph.D. (M10) Begins Post-Doc at the Medical University of South Carolina

Posted on October 12, 2009 2:33 PM |Permalink

Dr. Lauren Wills (M10) '02, biological sciences, began her post-doc at the Medical University of South Carolina in the College of Pharmacy this past July.

Dr. Wills is the recipient of a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Service Award. The title of the training grant is "Training in Cancer Therapeutics." This training grant supports her research in the lab of Dr. Rick Schnellmann in the College of Pharmacy at the Medical University of South Carolina. Her research focuses on identifying compounds that can be used as pharmaceuticals to aid in recovery after acute kidney injury.

Dr. Wills earned her Ph.D. at Duke University in 2008 with a degree in Environmental Science and Toxicology.

Meyerhoff Scholars Program, Freeman Hrabowski in Inside Higher Ed

Posted on September 9, 2009 4:25 PM |Permalink

Read "(Not) Crossing the Finish Line," published in Inside Higher Ed on September 9, 2009.

W. Lawrence Neeley, Jr., Ph.D. (M5), in Washington Post

Posted on July 27, 2009 8:54 AM |Permalink

W. Lawrence Neeley, Jr., Ph.D. (M5), was quoted in a July 26 Washington Post article about the arrest of Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates Jr.

Read the full article.

Neeley graduated from UMBC in 1998 with a degree in mechanical engineering, and earned his Ph.D. from Stanford in 2007.