My name is Matt Poland and I majored in English. I was the Creative Non-Fiction editor for Bartleby, UMBC's
creative arts journal, and co-edited the UMBC Review,
our journal of undergraduate research. My main academic interests are British
and Irish poetry and fiction from the late 19th century to today. After graduation I went on to York University (UK) for a MA. I hope
to pursue a career in academia or
publishing.
I have gained many valuable experiences as a Humanities Scholar, but two have
been especially important. The first is intellectual: the program, especially
through the freshman seminars and the Humanities Forum lectures, has opened my
eyes to the interconnectedness of all the humanities. In studying literature,
one cannot ignore even a short poem's historical and cultural contexts. I remember
being surprised by how much a lecture on medieval culture illuminated a 20th
century literary work. The Humanities Scholars program has also enabled me to
meet fascinating, passionate people, professors and students alike. Our professors
for the freshman seminars included a linguist specializing in medieval French
and a Polish poet who studies the literature of the early 20th century. My fellow
Humanities Scholars never cease to amaze me either - their passions range from
religion to Faulkner to Caribbean history to Woody Allen films, and everything
in between. The people I have met through the Humanities Scholars program have
been the best experience of all.
Another incredible opportunity I've been afforded is to study abroad, a requirement
of the Humanities Scholars program that no one complains about. I spent the fall of 2006 at Queen's University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, studying
medieval Icelandic Sagas, and W.B. Yeats.
Matt Poland
KAYLEIGH SOMERS
I'm Kayleigh Somers and I double majored in English Literature and Environmental
Science. It's really exciting to be connecting the humanities with the scientific
community and combining these areas of study has encouraged me to consider
a broad range of possibilities. Right
now I am pursuing my Ph.D. in Environmental Studies at Duke. I want to make
environmental issues accessible and provide ways for people to respond to
them in individual ways. I don't think I ever would have considered how to
connect these two areas if I weren't a Humanities Scholar.
I studied abroad in New Zealand where I saw many active policies in place that
have further inspired me to accomplish my goals. I definitely would never
have studied in this country without the support of the Humanities
Scholars Program—both from the guidance of the Center and the ever-present
encouragement of my fellow scholars. I'm proud to be a part of such a dynamic
community on the UMBC campus.
Kayleigh Somers
CHRISTIANNA STAVROUDIS
My name is Christianna Stavroudis and I graduated with a degree in Applied Linguistics
(major) and a minor in Religious Studies.
One of the highlights of the Humanities Scholars Program for me has been the
seminar class freshman scholars are required to take both semesters of their
freshman year. The seminar topics for my humanities seminars included, “The Medieval
Era: A Journey from East to West,” in which our class studied the cultural exchanges
between the empires of the Middle Ages, and “Epics and Echoes,” in which our
class read Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey in the first half
of the semester and then critically read modern “echoes” of the epics, including
Joyce’s Ulysses and Walcott’s Omeros, in the latter part of
the semester. It was through these classes that I gained an understanding of
what can be studied and discussed in the humanities and also established solid
friendships with my fellow Humanities Scholars.
The freshman seminars make up only one of the many exciting facets of the Humanities
Scholars Program at UMBC. This program, with its overwhelming conscientiousness,
has been a blessing for me and is one that I would encourage all to investigate.
Christianna Stavroudis
JACK MULLEE
Hi, my name is Jack Mullee and I was a double major in American Studies and Sociology with
a minor in Spanish. After graduation I received a Fulbright Grant to study subway
workers in Buenos Aires, Argentina where I also studied abroad.
For me, the Humanities Program offered two invaluable things: people and places.
I don't think I could possibly overstate the advantage this program, and UMBC,
in general, gives you in terms of access to professors and other UMBC administration
folks. All you have to do is mumble aloud, "I've been thinking of maybe
doing . . ." and you've got five different friendly, helpful people encouraging
you and helping you on your way to wherever it is you're trying to go. The professors
in my primary major, American Studies, have been both fascinating in the classroom
and attentive outside of it; Dr. Osherow, Dr. Field, and various others affiliated
with the program itself have always made a point of keeping tabs on me and offering
help whenever requested. The intellectual world being opened up for you here
is enormously rich.
As for places with the backing
of the program, I've learned Spanish, I've literally climbed mountains, leaned
over waterfalls and seen life from a point of view I never had before. Additionally,
they truck you all around Baltimore, D.C., and Maryland in general, offering
sometimes interesting cultural excursions and sometimes just goofy fun things
to do with the other students in your program. The opportunities here really
are something else, something my friends at other schools don't seem to have.
I honestly can't say enough
Jack Mullee
DOROTHY KENNY
My name is Dorothy Kenny and I dobule majored in History and Biology. I had
a blast at UMBC. There is so much to get into
here. Volunteer work is the best way to get away from the crazy college schedule.
I went weekly to help Multiple Sclerosis patients do water aerobic exercises.
(If you get a chance, check out MS swim at the Shriver Center website.)
Another important part of my time at UMBC was my research projects. I completed
research in both history and biology. I started research on the role
of science in public health policy following the 1952 London "Killer Fog." I
studied abroad l in London so that I could visit all of the vegan Chinese
food buffets in the city, and also to make regular trips to the National Archives
and photograph all the 1950s government documents related to legislation passed
after the Fog. The whole experience was wonderful! I was able to see amazing
places and do amazing things! I used the research I did in England to
write a senior honors thesis and have presented my work at professional conferences..
I have also worked as a lab technician for the Omland
Lab, an ornithology/evolutionary biology lab on campus. I started
an independent project testing out the process of DNA barcoding, in which DNA
is being used to identify species of animal. This project is jumping into a pretty
big scientific controversy over how much authority we should give our DNA and
how we should define living things. The best part about both of these projects
is that UMBC is paid for them! The Office of Undergraduate Education funds
undergraduate research in all fields with their Undergraduate Research Award
(URA). I have received two $1500 dollar awards for
these projects (which is pretty useful considering the cost of London
transportation and DNA sequences). Another great thing about research at
UMBC is that there are professors who really want to work with you. I have had
the best conversations (and debates) with my mentors in both fields. This makes
what seems at first to be a scary graduate project into something that's a lot
of fun. UMBC is a great place to have fun exploring your interests.
Dorothy Kenny
CHERYL JAWORSKI
Hello! My name is Cheryl Jaworski, and I was a Humanities Scholar
class of 2008. I majored in Interdisciplinary Studies ("Evolution
and Literary Theory"), taking minors in English Literature and Spanish,
and earned a certificate in the Human Context of Science and Technology
program. I have been a UMBC Ambassador, a member of the crew team, an Opinion
writer for the campus newspaper, and a staff member and Poetry Editor of
the campus creative arts journal Bartleby. I've also worked as a tutor through
the Shriver Center. I'm interested in Victorian and modern British literature,
Australian literature, and evolutionary theory. I am attending graduate school.
As an entering freshman, I was interested in many areas of the Humanities (English,
Philosophy, History, languages), so the required introductory seminars were a
perfect fit for me. But don't be fooled by the word "required"-our
other mandatory "requirements" turned out to be both enjoyable and
enriching. As Humanities Scholars, we interconnect socially, of course, but also
intellectually by getting to know each other's interests and intended fields,
and experientially by participating in the same learning experiences-something
I don't think many other UMBC students have the chance to do. We have been invited
to attend talks on campus given by (and have actually met) famous writers, social
commentators, scholars, and leaders. We've explored the main attractions of the
nation's capital. We've shared our study abroad experiences. I completed a spring trimester at the University of Salamanca, Spain, thanks
to the Humanities Scholars program. Not only has the inter- and cross-disciplinary
nature of the program given me intellectual enrichment, but the lasting friendships
and acquaintances I have formed have enriched me personally in more ways than
I can say.
Although my studies are more focused now, I couldn't imagine better accommodation
and encouragement for my interests than the Humanities Scholars program.
Cheryl Jaworski
ALEX PACZYNSKI
Hello! My name is Alex Paczynski and I'm a senior Humanities Scholar and Philosophy
major. Three things attracted me to the Humanities Scholar Program at UMBC.
First, I was interested in studying philosophy, a Humanities major. Second,
I definitely wanted to be involved in a program where I lived with other
students pursuing related areas of academic interest. Third, it offered me
the possibility of meeting and talking to exceptional writers, linguists,
and other people currently working and researching in a humanities-related
field. Even if nothing else had appealed to me, this would have been enough
for me to choose the Humanities Scholar Program. The best part, is there's
more. Through the program I have taken numerous trips to history museums,
theatre productions, and even graveyards, but I have yet to make what I believe
will be my most significant trip as a Humanities Scholar. I happily anticipate
my opportunity to study in a foreign nation during my junior year at UMBC.
My plans for where to study are tentative, but I have thought very much about
traveling to Rome.
