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Stories From The Class of 2005: Graduate Students
Ronita Lee Marple During her UMBC career, Ronita Lee Marple has developed enhanced methods for the detection of explosives in forensic and environmental samples. The procedures she developed will improve the health and safety of humans and animals, with applications in counterterrorism and contaminated-site assessment. Her research has been published in seven publications and one book chapter, and she has been awarded four provisional patent applications. “I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to continue my education at UMBC with its growing reputation as a leader in analytical research. Working in Professor William LaCourse’s laboratory has especially enhanced my graduate school experience, allowing me to collaborate with industry professionals and gain the vital skills and knowledge necessary for my career. I am proud to be among the prestigious list of graduates to carry the legacy of UMBC with me to all my future endeavors.”
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Jennifer Thwing Recently honored with the RTKL award, which recognizes exemplary research by an MFA student, Jennifer Thwing has presented her work on women, performance and technology in public venues and at conferences locally and nationally. Thwing’s work has been on exhibit at the Cork Factory and School 33 Art Center in Baltimore; the Banff Centre for the Arts in Alberta, California; and at the Institute for Contemporary Art in Philadelphia. Thwing served as a gallery assistant and Web designer for UMBC’s Center for Art and Visual Culture since 2002 and taught an undergraduate class on Art and the Internet. After receiving her MFA, Thwing will set up a studio in Philadelphia; she plans to continue to exhibit her work and teach. "UMBC is very supportive of the arts, and has been a huge stepping stone for me. One factor in the success of the University’s M.F.A. program is the expansive studio space at the Raleigh Industrial Building in Southwest Baltimore. It is both a good communal space for the graduate students and a great place to build and exhibit work. Because UMBC provided this space, I feel bonded to the other graduate students.”
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Christopher Kenneth
Burke A former Naval flight officer, Christopher Kenneth Burke is now developing research and treatment programs for substance abuse. He is a member of the Johns Hopkins’ Addiction Treatment Services research team and is also involved in three additional Hopkins substance abuse studies. Burke, who received his M.A. in human services psychology from UMBC in 1999, has been project manager of the ManKind Project Research Team, led by UMBC psychology professor Kenneth Maton. The team has studied a community based men’s support organization since 1996. Burke also assisted Professor Maton with several research projects focused on minority education. “My experiences at UMBC have been pivotal in my development as a research psychologist and practioner. I was exposed to, and trained by, top-notch researchers and I received a sound scholarly foundation of current research in psychology. The collegial atmosphere among the students, professors and support staff made UMBC a positive learning environment. UMBC felt like home, and will always have a place in my heart.”
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Eleanor Boyle Chlan Eleanor Boyle Chlan arrived at UMBC with a significant professional career at Johns Hopkins University. While completing her Ph.D. and conducting research in computer visualization, Eleanor Boyle Chlan has been a full-time mom and a part-time instructor at the Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering, where she has taught for 20 years. She was previously a full-time staff mathematician at the Hopkins Applied Physics Lab. Chlan’s research has been published in the Proceedings of the Eurographics Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ (IEEE) Technical Committee on Visualization and Graphics Symposium. After receiving her Ph.D. from UMBC, Chlan will become the first full-time faculty member in the Whiting School’s Engineering Programs for Professionals. But first, she’ll celebrate another significant achievement: Chlan will watch her youngest son graduate from high school in June. “With two children to raise and a professional part-time job to keep, working on my Ph.D. part time was the only option I had. When things got tough and it became hard to see how I would ever finish, UMBC came through for me. My department actively encouraged me to continue and found financial support for me through the Center for Women and Information Technology, which offered me a grant from the AT&T Foundation. I honestly believe that at another school, I would probably not have finished.”
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Manoj Sivakumar In addition to receiving his master’s degree and beginning a new job at Microsoft, Manoj Sivakumar will travel to Seoul, Korea later this year to present his research at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers International Conference on Communications. Sivakumar’s work focuses on large optical fiber networks, and his goal is to help pave the way for cheaper connectivity over large distances. Sivakumar conducted his research as a research assistant at the DAWN Networks Research Lab, headed by computer science professor Krishna Sivalingam, whose mission is to make significant contributions to wireless, optical and gigabit networks. “When I arrived at UMBC, the first thing that stood out was its small community of highly talented and motivated people. These small numbers proved really advantageous, as I was able to get individual attention from the entire faculty. As a widely recognized school in the industry, UMBC helped me to become part of a company like Microsoft, and the services provided by the Career Development Center were instrumental in me getting this exciting career option. On the whole, my study here was a truly rewarding experience and I look forward to continuing my relationship with UMBC as a successful alumnus.”
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