Jonathan A. Peters, associate professor of Africana studies, has taught African, African-American and Caribbean literature as well as black folklore, poetry and literature into film at UMBC for over 30 years. Combining his training in and passion for African literature and black folklore, as well as his knowledge of Sierra Leonean history, Peters has written three plays that are set in and honor his country of birth.

Peters' first play, "Gentleman," is set in 1941. Sengbe Pieh (better known as Jose Cinque, the leader of the successful revolt on board the Amistad) is on board the Gentleman, on his return voyage back home to unsuccessfully unite his countrymen. It was this failure, according to myth/theory proposed by Peters, that facilitated the division of Sub-Saharan Africa by European nations. His second play, "Pis Pis Pis," begins in 1999 on the eve of the rebel incursion into Freetown, but actually addresses the history of Sierra Leone from the beginning of the Siaka Stevens era in 1968 up to the January 6, 1999 rebellion. The third play tells the story of two lovers that, despite all that happens to separate them, find happiness and each other once again.

Together, Peters calls his three plays the "Diamond Trilogy." The character Sengbe Pieh is like a diamond in the sense that he is a "gem," while the second play introduces us to the "blood diamond." The diamond is operating as the country's curse instead of being part of the cure of the country's ills. In Peters' third play, he uses the couple's love as an allegory for Sierra's Leone's history and the diamond symbolizes the hope that Peters projects for his country.

Diamonds are not Sierra Leone's only source of wealth. Sierra Leone also has oil, iron ore and bauxite deposits, and is rich in fisheries and timber. "After 43 years of independence, Sierra Leone is by the UN's Human Development Index considered the poorest country in the world. This is a country of irony and the plays are built on the irony," Peters says. "My hope is that Sierra Leoneans will get together to exploit their country's wealth for the country."

"Gentleman" was produced in Freetown, Sierra Leone from July 11-13, 2002. Although putting the production together was difficult and challenging, Peters describes seeing his play come alive as a most rewarding and refreshing experience. Peters looks forward to the productions of the last two plays, which he hopes will happen by January 2005.

On March 17, Dr. Peters will discuss his plays and the history of Sierra Leone during the Faculty/Staff Social Hour in the Fireside Lounge of The Commons. The social hour runs from 4 to 6 p.m.; Dr. Peters talk begins during the first half hour of the event.

-Blenda Perez

By Jack Prostko, Director, Faculty Development Center

For most of us, the university is more than a familiar environment--it's the community and context in which we've learned, worked and prospered for years if not decades. The operations of much of this particular setting take place like clockwork, and even the occasional bumps in the routine are expected or welcomed from time to time. Overall, the workings of the academy make some kind of general sense that we accept or celebrate, depending perhaps upon the season or the department's budget.

Our comfort as experienced academics allows us to forget that students, especially new students, need to be acclimated to this environment if they too are to prosper and succeed--and by 'this environment' I mean not only UMBC in particular, but the purposes and values of institutions of higher education. We assume that some of this learning takes place outside of the classroom, as students study, establish routines, and negotiate whatever processes are necessary to attend class or live on campus. But clearly a great deal of the understanding of how a university operates also develops in the classroom itself, as students learn not just the content of our courses, but also the workings and expectations of the academic community. Yet when you have a thorough knowledge of the landscape, as professional academics do, it's hard to remember how frequently novices need maps and guides.

To motivate students and help them succeed, it's important to articulate our assumptions about their participation in academic life, and make explicit what we too often leave implicit in our courses. Sketching in the bigger picture may take only several minutes each class session--time spent in class that can help faculty and students avoid problems later in the semester. For example:

*Announce and revisit the purposes and goals of our course (not just on the syllabus but regularly, in different ways); this helps students connect the details of what they are doing with the larger questions of why it's important. If possible, use examples from recent events to emphasize the meaning of what is being examined in class.

*Remind students what they need to do in order to succeed in a course, and how to set goals for themselves and measure their progress; provide short-term goals even in long-range projects. Managing time and setting priorities are essential (and often content-specific) skills.

*Provide frequent feedback on students' work so that they can assess their learning and their progress; not all feedback needs to be in the form of a grade. Highlight skills upon which academic achievement in a discipline is based, and provide suggestions about improving (or getting help in improving) these skills.

*Structure courses so that students can make informed decisions about their standing in a course; remind them of deadlines. April 6 is the next major deadline that may have escaped the notice of many freshmen. But it's the last day to change from audit or pass/fail to a regular grade (and from regular grading to pass/fail); it's also the last day to drop a class. Do your students know this? Might it affect them in your class on in another of their classes?

*Know about academic resources at UMBC and encourage students to take advantage of them. From tutorial services, to advising, to library resources, there are networks of help available that can get perplexed students back on track in their studies. When specific students could benefit from such help, tap them on the shoulder, listen to their concerns and let them know where to look for assistance. This is where individual attention can make a tremendous difference in an undergraduate's life.

*Talk about integrity issues. Not to belabor the point, but integrity means wholeness, completeness, something undivided. It seems ironic, then, to think of academic integrity as something we mention in a syllabus and ignore, under the assumption that everyone knows what's meant by general prohibitions. Instead of conceiving of academic integrity as something external to or added onto our course topics, we might connect it to the development and validation of knowledge in our disciplines.

This last suggestion also raises a larger issue of keeping our disciplinary culture in mind--and the advantages of letting students see how the classroom and their own studies operate in a larger global and historical sphere. Professor Kriste Lindenmeyer recently brought to my attention a scholarly discussion carried on in the Journal of American History about ethics, honesty, and plagiarism in the study of history. Such analyses have taken place in other disciplines as well, and are useful to share with students because they illustrate much about how research and scholarly work have firm foundations in a public world where accountability does matter.

If we assume that someone else will keep students aware of issues like academic deadlines and resources, the skills needed to succeed in our fields, or how academic integrity is part of the fabric of our work, then we are severely limiting the impact and significance of the information we struggle to impart. Indeed, mostly it remains information unless on his or her own the student can turn it into knowledge. On the other hand, if we guide students to learn how to take responsibility for acquiring and using the information we examine, then we have, we hope, given them the habit of learning well and using knowledge wisely.

For suggestions for motivating students to learn well:

Coffman, Sara Jane. "Ten Strategies for Getting Students to Take Responsibility for Their Learning." College Teaching. 51.1, Winter 2003. (Available at the Faculty Development Center.)

The Journal of American History, Vol. 90, no. 4. (March 2004).Davis, Barbara Gross. "Motivating Students," in Tools for Teaching. (San Francisco, Jossey-Bass, 2000).
teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/motivate

Cashin, William E. "Motivating Students." IDEA Paper #1.
www.idea.ksu.edu/resources/index.html

Our colleague, teacher and friend, Richard (Dick) Neville, died on March 1. The following tributes from members of the campus and USM communities testify to Dr. Neville's extraordinary contributions to UMBC and USM.

---

Dick brought me to UMBC in January of 1986 to head the mathematics department and we worked closely together until he stepped down as dean of arts and sciences after his first heart attack. Dick was, without doubt, the best boss I have ever had and one of the most forward looking academic leaders I had the pleasure of working with. He was also a wonderful friend and mentor.

We kept in close contact over the intervening years and had talked several times in the last 18 months since I've been in London--Kristen and I had been trying to get he and Florence to come over and visit.

Both I and my wife, Kristen M. Larson (BA History '78, BS IFSM '85 and MS Applied Mathematics '88) will really miss him.

James M. Greenberg
Former Chair, Department of Mathematics, UMBC

---

Dean Neville was indeed a special man. My father, Tom Howie, worked with Dick on educational research and always spoke highly of him. After three years in college at Emory University pursuing a career in business, I came to the realization that I wanted to change career direction and pursue a career in medicine. My change in course would add years to my schooling and involve a transfer to a more moderately priced, in-state school. I wanted to find a school that would prepare me well for therigors of medical school while allowing me to continue to grow as a student.

My father urged me to go look at UMBC and speak with Dean Neville. Dick agreed to see me and I was struck by my immediate comfort with him. After listening to my academic history and seeing my sincere desire to become a physician, he, with unwavering certainty, stated that UMBC would provide an excellent foundation for pursuing a career in medicine. At the end of the meeting, I was convinced as well that UMBC would afford me the best opportunity to pursue my dream. I never had the opportunity to thank him in person, but that meeting was instrumental in helping me establish my new direction academically. I have to believe that there are many other stories similar to mine. My condolences to his family and my sincere gratitude for his wise counsel.

Dr. Matthew Howie '93
York Hospital Community Health Center
York, PA

---

Dick Neville was a wonderful man who gave UMBC the full measure not just of his extraordinary energy and enthusiasm but of his heart and soul. The sense of collegiality and common cause that has marked the campus owes much to Dick's sunny personality, his fundamental decency, the trust he inspired, and his ability to bring people together. My own keenest personal memory is how he did not just know who I was when I was a relatively junior faculty member but what I was doing in my scholarship and other duties, and how unfailingly interested and encouraging he was. That was characteristic of Dick--tirelessly and selflessly immersed in every aspect of his job, devoted to UMBC's people, who he knew were the key to UMBC's success, and motivating, indeed uplifting, others by the very example of his own hard work, humanity, and commitment to the university. He played an absolutely vital role in the growth and development of UMBC.

John W. Jeffries
Professor and Chair, Department of History, UMBC

---

In the beginning of the fall semester of 1982, my daughter came home in tears after finding out that the classes she wanted were all closed. She got early acceptance, but the registrar lost her information, so she had to register for classes when the semester started.

I got the phone book out and called the office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences. Dean Neville answered the phone himself. I explained the problem to him. He responded that the principal problem was that the University did not have enough faculty to offer all the desired sections of courses. I thanked him, and stated that I understood that situation.

I then called the mathematics and computer science department and asked them if they needed any help. They responded, "Send us your resume." I did so and was called in for in interview with Dr. Roberts. He offered me a part-time position teaching CMSC 195 starting in January 1983. I continued teaching part time until August 1997, when I became a full-time lecturer in the Department of Computer Science and I am still here.

I owe that opportunity to be here to the comments that Dean Neville madeto me as a father of a UMBC freshman student.

Henry Katz
Lecturer, Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, UMBC

---

Richard Neville had seven children and 21 grandchildren. Watching them file into the church and place a single red rose on Dick Neville's casket was an experience moving beyond words I can summon.

But in an important sense UMBC was his family too. That meant everyone here--students, staff, faculty and administrators. Deans can not satisfy every demand and they must make hard decisions. Over the years when I was director of policy sciences and he was my dean, we agreed and disagreed about things that mattered. With Dean Neville it was never about personal power or horse trading. Instead, it was about his vision of what was best for the community he cared so much about--UMBC. He loved not just the people in his daily contact on the campus, but he was concerned about their children and their families as well. His ready smile and spiritual heart encompassed us all. Maybe it is a little late to say it but, "Hey Dick, we loved you too."

George La Noue
Professor, Department of Public Policy, UMBC

---

I was acquainted with Dr. Neville during his years at UMBI. He was my supervisor in the early 90's. A man with high morale and ethical standards, he had boundless energy and enthusiasm for his work. A devoted family man, he took great pride in all of his children and their accomplishments.

Since I live in the Colesville area, I often ran into him at the Colesville Giant. I was always so happy to see his smiling face. I am very saddened to hear of his death. He touched so many lives.

Pauline Robinson
Staff Assistant to the Provost, Office of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, UMCP
Former Administrative Assistant, UMBI

---

Although I never had the opportunity to meet Dr. Neville, he touched my life in a profound way. I was a recipient of one of the Roselyn Neville Scholarships during my senior year at UMBC. As I am poised to receive my Master of Social Work degree from UMB this May, I reflect upon how much that scholarship meant to me and how instrumental it was in furthering my education, helping to fulfill my dreams of helping others. The scholarship was a tremendous help to me as an older, returning student who just happens to be a single mom as well. I cannot fully express my gratitude--thank you Dr. Neville.

Tamara Simmons '02

---

It's hard to imagine UMBC without Dr. Dick Neville. I thought that at his retirement gathering some years back, and it struck the very heart of me when I learned of his death. Dr. Hrabowski is so right when he said we have lost one of our pillars. It occurs to me, though, that it is because of the work and example of Dr. Neville and his fellow pillars that we have an incredibly strong foundation and will continue to build a university outstanding enough to be linked to such an individual. I feel an emptiness that I am sure is shared by many at UMBC. Time moves too quickly and it seems we have recently suffered too many losses. Perhaps we must hold tightly to the consolation that these incredible individuals honored us with their contributions.

Lori J. Smith-Watson
Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions, UMBC

---

I am deeply saddened by the death of Dr. Neville. I had the great pleasure of knowing Dr. Neville since 1969 when I started my undergraduate education here at UMBC. He was one of the first faculty members I met. Interestingly enough, he was never a professor of mine but someone with whom I became acquainted with while working on campus. He was a supporter and mentor, always available to those who were his students and those who were not. In recent years, I have only run into him occasionally at university functions but was never greeted with any less affection than when we saw each other more frequently. He was proud of my accomplishments and I was proud to be his friend. He was a very gracious and gentle man whose loss will be felt deeply in my life and in the lives of many at UMBC.

Clolita M. Williams
Assistant Vice President for Administrative Services, UMBC

---

Richard Francis Neville dedicated his life to people and to ideas. For UMBC, he was the center of a small core of faculty and administrators who led the institution through the troubling years of low enrollments and threats of closing. But his legacy is far more than that. He believed in the power of education and the worth of the individual. He was defined by his devotion to family, his commitment to the educational process, and his personal relationship with his God. Stories of his long work hours, his sometimes-rambling defense of the academic world, and his untiring loyalty to UMBC are legendary. What he meant to us who worked with him directly was simply that he was the rock upon which we built our academic careers. He was a man you could trust. He was a man you could count upon. He was a man who always sought a way to solve a problem. To Dick, life was precious and a joy. He got, as much out of his daily 24 hours as anyone I have ever known. He was, in the best sense of the word, an Educator. He taught and he learned and most of all, he loved the process.

Charles "Tot" Woolston
Vice Provost, Retired, UMBC

Photo credit: Tim Ford

Michele Wolff, Shriver Center, in Compact Current
"Inspired by the Power and Value of Service-Learning", an article by Michele Wolff, Interim Director of The Shriver Center, appeared in the Fall 2003 issue of Compact Current. Compact Current is the newsletter for the organization Campus Contact, a national coalition of more than 900 college presidents committed to civic purposes of higher education.

Tom Schaller, Political Science, in the Baltimore Sun
Tom Schaller, assistant professor of political science, was quoted in "Power of the Bored," which ran in the Baltimore Sun on March 14. The article discusses the importance of appealing to undecided voters for presidential candidates.

Study by Public Policy Graduate Students in the Daily Record
A study on affordable housing in metropolitan Maryland conducted by a group of students in UMBC's graduate program in public policy was featured in a March 4 story in the Daily Record. CUERE research assistant and public policy doctoral student, Thomas Vicino was quoted in the article. The article is available to subscribers only.

Tom Vicino also discussed the report and its findings during the morning show on public radio station WEAA (88.9 FM) on March 10.

Tom Schaller, Political Science, in the News
Tom Schaller, assistant professor of political science, quoted in the March 6 Washington Post article, "Kerry Seeks to Relax GOP Hold on South."

On March 9, Schaller was quoted in the USA Today story "Senate Democrats Not Ready to Give Up on South."

Quotes from Schaller also appeared in an article in the March 11 edition of The Times of London that discusses the role of swing states in the upcoming presidential election.

Robert Deluty, Psychology, in the Psychiatric Times
Robert Deluty, presidential teaching professor and associate professor of psychology, was cited in the February 2004 issue of the Psychiatric Times in an article discussing potential benefits of using poetry in psychiatric therapy.

USM Chancelor Kirwan on MPT's "Direct Connection" 3/8
USM Chancellor William E. Kirwan will be a guest on Maryland Public Television's "Direct Connection" March 8.

Tom Schaller, Political Science, in the News
Assistant Professor of Political Science Tom Schaller was quoted in the Financial Times article "Democratic party weighs up Georgia as a can-win state" on February 27. The article is available to subscribers only.

He was quoted in a March 3 Fox News online story on how the height and other body language of presidential candidates may influence the election outcome.

Also on March 3, Schaller's work with the National Journal on ideas for a Democratic running mate strategy was mentioned in Chuck Todd's "On the Trail" column.

On March 4, he was quoted in the Baltimore Sun story "Kerry dominates in Maryland with widespread appeal."

Don Norris, Public Policy, MIPAR, in the Baltimore Sun
Don Norris, professor of public policy and director of MIPAR, was quoted in a February 28 Baltimore Sun story on Vice President Cheney's appearance at a fund-raiser for U.S. Rep. Roscoe Bartlett.

UMBC Mini-Baja in the Baltimore Sun
A profile of UMBC's Mini-Baja team, who will be the only team from Maryland the Society of Automotive Engineers' "Mini Baja" Midwest regional competition, appeared in the Baltimore Sun on February 29.Robert Carpenter, Economics, in the Baltimore Sun
Economics professor Robert Carpenter was quoted in the March 5 Baltimore Sun article, "Inner Harbor glitters as Md. gambling prize."

CAVC's "Paradise Now" Exhibition in City Paper, Lifetimes
This week, the Center for Art and Visual Culture's current exhibition, "Paradise Now," was featured in City Paper and Lifetimes, an arts and entertainment supplement to Patuxent Publishing's weekly newspapers.

Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery's "Havana" Exhibition in Lifetimes
The Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery's current exhibition, "Havana: The Revolutionary Moment," was featured in Lifetimes, an arts and entertainment supplement to Patuxent Publishing's weekly newspapers.

Christoph Irmscher, English, in The Globe and Mail
Christoph Irmscher, professor of English, is mentioned and quoted in the February 29 edition of The Globe and Mail, Canada's largest and most important daily newspaper. The context is a review by T.F. Rigelhof of the new Cambridge Companion to Canadian Literature (Cambridge University Press, 2004).

Govind Rao, Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Issued Patent
Govind Rao, professor of chemical and biochemical engineering, was issued a patent entitled "Method Using Luminescent Transition Metal-ligand Complex for Detecting Polar Solvents", patent number US 6,699,717 B1, on March 2. This invention is a novel transition metal-ligand complex that is useful as a sensor for detecting and measuring a physical and/or chemical characteristic of a sample, such as monovalent or divalent cation concentration, anion concentration, oxygen concentration, pH, viscosity and polarity. The patent can be viewed in its entirety on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Web site. If you would like more information about patents, trademarks or copyrights, please call the Office of Technology Development at ext. 5-1414 or visit their new location, ECS 329.

Weidong Zhu, Mechanical Engineering, Receives Grant from NSF
Weidong Zhu, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, was awarded a career grant from the National Science Foundation to continue his work developing new methodologies to analyze the vibration and stability of distributed structures and their applications in industry. For the education portion of this grant, Zhu will be working with The Shriver Center to develop a summer engineering program for underserved high school youth.

David Hoffman, Student Life, Presents at Conference
David Hoffman, coordinator of leadership and engagement initiatives in the Office of Student Life, presented at "Public Work in Higher Education: Theory and Practice of Civic Engagement," a conference held March 17-19 at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. Hoffman presented at a panel called "Organizing in Higher Education," in which he provided insights from the field of community organizing that can help colleges and universities increase students' civic engagement.

Fow-Sen Choa, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, Issued Patent
Fow-Sen Choa, professor of computer science and electrical engineering, was issued a patent entitled "System and Method of Optically Testing Multiple Edge-emitting Semiconductor Lasers Residing on a Common Wafer", patent number U.S. 6,668,000 B2, on December 23, 2003. This invention provides a system and method of testing multiple edge-emitting lasers on a common fabrication wafer. The patent can be viewed it its entirety on the US Patent and Trademark Office's web site. If you would like more information about patents, trademarks, or copyrights, please call the Office of Technology Development at extension 5-1414 or visit them in their new location, ECS 329.

CWIT Drafts Bill for Maryland General Assembly
The Center for Women and Information Technology, with assistance from Joan Kennedy, director of community and government relations, and Shirley Bigley, general counsel, drafted and is supporting Senate Bill 917, Task Force on the Status of Women and Information Technology, which was heard on March 18th in the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee. Claudia Morrell, director of CWIT, and two members of CWIT's External Advisory Board, Linda Wilbanks, CIO at the NASA-Goddard Space Center, and Sheila Heinze, president and CEO of SM Consulting, were among those who testified before the committee in support of the bill.

Takahiro Hayakawa, Emergency Health Services, Receives Award
Takahiro Hayakawa received the 2004 Paramedic of the Year Award from the Knights of Columbus, St. Agnes Council. Hayakawa, a senior majoring in emergency health services, is a lieutenant with Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department.

Pat Muston, Men's Lacrosse, Named America East Player of the Week
UMBC senior face-off specialist Pat Muston was named America East Conference Player of the Week for games played through March 14. Muston has been a dominant player over three games, winning 46 of 60 face-offs and garnering 20 ground balls. He won 17 of 22 draws at Duke, captured 15 of 19 vs. Ohio State, and took 14 of 19 in Saturday's league win over Hartford. He tied a career high with 10 ground balls vs. the Buckeyes. Muston is currently ranked second in the nation in face-off percentage (76.7%,) and is tied for fifth in ground balls per contest (6.67).

Drew Westervelt, Men's Lacrosse, Named America East Rookie of the Week
Freshman Drew Westervelt was named Rookie of the Week in the America East Conference for games played through March 14. Westervelt has pumped in six goals and added three assists over his first three collegiate outings. He amassed 4 points (2g, 2a) vs. Ohio State and then posted a season best three goals in the win over Hartford on Saturday. Westervelt owns UMBC's top shooting percentage at 60.0% and has a pair of extra-man scores to date.

Theatre Dept. Production of Buried Invited to Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (4/12-13)
The Department of Theatre's recent production of Buried, conceived and directed by Colette Searls, is one of just six productions nationwide to be invited to the annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Buried will be performed on April 12 and 13 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale through the Kennedy Center Box Office on Sunday, March 14. If you would like to purchase tickets ($5), you may do so through Instant Charge, 800-444-1324, 202-467-4600 or on the Web at www.kennedy-center.org. There are no reserved seats, and children under 12 will not be admitted.

The KCACTF is dedicated to encouraging, recognizing and celebrating the finest and most diverse work produced in college and university theatre programs. Selected participants from 74 productions at eight regional festivals held earlier this year are invited to showcase their talents at the nation's center for the performing arts, to be considered for scholarships and to participate in master classes with some of the best artists in their field.

Jason Roth was chosen out of 300 nominees as a finalist for the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship.

More information about Buried at the KCACTF will be forthcoming in Insights.

Steve Bradley, Visual Arts, Exhibits in New York
A work by Steve Bradley, associate professor of visual arts, is being exhibited at the Wave Hill Glyndor Gallery in the Bronx, New York, from March 6 through May 31. The group exhibition, entitled "Reduce/Reuse/Reexamine," engages artists who use conceptual methods to explore issues of consumption, waste generation and removal, and who reinvigorate discarded materials. Devalue/Revalue is Bradley's investigation of patterns of discarding solid waste. In December he began a series of trash-collecting walks with 9th grade students from theJohn F. Kennedy High School in the Bronx, NY. Their cataloged findings will be incorporated into a large installation. A public reception will be held on April 25. For more information visit the gallery's Web site.

Visual Arts Faculty and Students Among Finalists at Rosebud Festival
UMBC faculty and students figure prominently in this year's Rosebud Film andVideo Festival, held annually to promote the rich and diverse independent film and video community in the Washington/Baltimore region. Among the twenty finalists whose work will be showcased during the festival, held this year on March 27 and 28 at the Rosslyn Spectrum Theatre are: Alan Price, associate professor of Visual Arts, Jill Johnston-Price, adjunct assistant professor of Visual Arts and IMDA graduate students Jo Israelson and Renee Shaw. Israelson was also last year's first place winner. More information about the Rosebud Festival is available online.

Public Policy Graduate Students Present Study Before Governor's Commission
A study on the availability of affordable housing in metropolitan Maryland conducted by graduate students in UMBC's public policy program was presented to the Governor's Commission on Housing on March 2. The study found that about 28 percent of Marylanders living in the metropolitan counties paid more than the 30 percent of monthly household income recommended by federal guidelines to cover housing and utility costs. The researchers also found that all of the counties they studied grossly underestimated the need for affordable housing when formulating policy.

Cartography Students Win National Award
Undergraduate students Elaine Chaney, Lisa Fraley, Lauren Olszewski, Justin Rix, Frank Serio, Brandy Zimmerman, Michael Panichello, Nicole Bedford, Vickie Buisset, Brian Martinez and Karen West represented UMBC in the recent American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (ACSM) map contest. Their entry, "Digital Atlas of Maryland Agriculture," received Best of Show, as well as the National Geographic Society Award for Best Student Map Design in the Electronic category in the 2004 ACSM Map Design Competition. Faculty member Tom Rabenhorst, who taught the cartography class in which the project was completed, guided the project. Complete results of the 2004 ACSM Map Competition are available online.

Eight Retrievers Selected to NFHCA National Academic Squad
UMBC Field Hockey is pleased to announce that seniors Bernadette Cullen and Alycia Downs, junior Jennifer Rowe, sophomores Tiffany Deinzer and Amanda Heinz, and freshmen Rebekah Krolus, Catelyn Smith and Kristi Troster were named to the 2003 National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division I National Academic Squad.

"I am particularly pleased that student-athletes did not let the challenges related to our conference change affect their commitment to their academics,” said UMBC Head Coach Kristy Hartman. "It was a longer season, mentally more difficult and required more travel, but yet the players' determination is what kept their grades the priority.”

To qualify for the honor, student-athletes must maintain a 3.30 cumulative GPA through the fall 2003 semester. This year, the Retrievers have eight honorees -- up from last year's previous record of six. Both seniors Cullen and Downs have been named to this honor in each of their four seasons at UMBC.

Giuliano Celenza '03 Named MVP of the MISL All Star Game
Baltimore Blast's Giuliano Celenza '03 scored three goals and was named most valuable player of the MISL's All Star Game. Celenza's achievement was featured in the March 1 Baltimore Sun.

Graduating Senior Marco Angelini a Territorial Selection of Baltimore Blast
The Baltimore Blast chose Retriever soccer forward Marco Angelini in the territorial round of the Major Indoor Soccer League's 2004 amateur draft. The graduating senior was featured in a February 28 Baltimore Sun article on the draft.

UMBC Athletics Fall 2003 Highlights
Congratulations to our outstanding Retriever student-athletes.

27 athletes earned a 4.0 GPA.

87 (20%) earned a 3.5 or higher semester GPA

203 (47% - best semester mark ever) earned a 3.0 or above semester GPA

7 teams earned 3.0 or higher semester GPAs

The combined team GPA was 2.86.

Men's tennis led with a team GPA of 3.29. Following tennis are women's basketball (3.19), women's cross country (3.17), women's swimming (3.15), women's track (3.06), volleyball (3.03) and pep band (3.0).

Techcenter@UMBC Tenant Fluorometrix Corp. Receives $50,000 Grant
Fluorometrix Corp. will receive $50,000 from the Maryland Technology Transfer Fund. The company will use its grant to complete their first product, HTBR-1, a pre-calibrated, disposable bioreactor that could enable companies to test cell-based drugs quickly and less expensively.

Fluorometrix designs, manufactures and markets advanced bioreactor systems. The Fluorometrix family of products is designed to significantly offset the cost oflabor and materials of the highly labor-intensive fermentation and cell culture processes that are the heart of biotech and pharmaceutical research and development. Govind Rao UMBC professor and department chair of Chemical Biochemical Engineering, is Fluorometrix's president.

Tim Finin, Computer Science, Member of Team Recognized by the World Wide Web Consortium
Computer Science professor Tim Finin was part of a team that developed the Web Ontology Language (OWL) which helps computer users share the same information even if they don't share the same software. OWL has been recognized by the World Wide Web Consortium, the global authority on web standards, so UMBC is now part of the new international standard for the IT industry and the greater online community.

Richard (Dick) Neville, Ph.D., a founding UMBC faculty member, died on Monday at Washington Adventist Hospital in Takoma Park. He was 72 and lived in Colesville with his wife, Florence.

"We have lost one of UMBC's pillars," said UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski in a message to the campus community. "Dick showed us by example how to make a difference in the world. He inspired us through his passion for education and his strong values. In fact, he helped shape the character of this University through his emphasis on excellence and his compassion for others. He will always be our dean."

Dick Neville was born on September 6, 1931 in Brooklyn, New York. He received his Ph.D. in Educational Curriculum and Supervision from the University of Connecticut in 1963. He was awarded an M.A. in Educational Administration from Columbia University in 1957, and in 1955 earned a B.S. in Elementary Education from Central Connecticut State College.

On a visit to Yellowstone National Park after college, he met Roselyn Bryson of Salt Lake City, Utah. They were married in 1956 and raised seven children, living first in Connecticut and moving to Maryland in 1964, when Dr. Neville joined the University of Maryland College Park.

As one of the campus' founding faculty members, Neville played a critical role in UMBC's development. He first joined the UMBC faculty in 1969 as professor and chair of the Department of Education. During his 27-year career at UMBC, he also served as dean of education and dean of arts and sciences, and as senior advisor to the president and provost.

He served as acting provost at University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute from 1991 to 1994. In recognition of his outstanding academic leadership and service, he was named dean emeritus at UMBC after he retired in 1995.

"Dick Neville's laugh is still with those of us at UMBC who knew and worked with him," said Larry Lasher, associate director of the UMBC Honors College. "The laughter was the expression of the joy he took in people and the pleasure he derived from making his modest piece of the world a better place for all those who came into contact with it. He was a superb man who embodied the highest values arising from the human adventure."

Following the death of his first wife, Dr. Neville married Florence Toro, a former classmate at Central Connecticut State College. In recent years they divided time between their homes in Maryland and Florida.

Viewing services will be held at the Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home, 11800 New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring on Thursday, March 4 from 2 to 4 p.m and from 6 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Friday, March 5 at 10 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, 12319 New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring, where Dr. Neville was a parishioner for four decades.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Richard and Roselyn Neville Memorial Scholarship Fund at UMBC. Please make checks payable to the UM Foundation and send to UMBC, attn: Kim Robinson, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Administration Building, Room 905, Baltimore, MD 21250.

Condolences may be sent to Florence Neville, 13319 Tamworth Lane, Silver Spring, MD 20904.

In addition to his wife, survivors include five daughters, Shannon Fritz of Ellicott City, Elizabeth Regan of Gaithersburg, Mary Hanlon of Trinity, FL, Heather DaVia of Westminster, and Barbara Cicmanec of Jefferson; two sons, Richard Neville of Vienna, VA and John Neville of Salt Lake City; a brother, Charles Neville of Plant City, FL; a sister, Patricia Kemp of Long Island, NY; and twenty-one grandchildren.

Members of the UMBC community who wish to share their memories and reflections for a tribute in Insights should e-mail them to insights@umbc.edu by Monday, March 8.

UMBC's Department of Music has been awarded Third Prize in the distinguished Adventurous Programming Awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). The award recognizes UMBC's national contribution as a presenter of contemporary music written since 1980.

The ASCAP Adventurous Programming Awards, which were presented at Chamber Music America's Annual Conference held January 15-18, 2004 in New York City, were conceived seventeen years ago to encourage ensembles, festivals and presenters to program new works. First place in the category for 2003 was awarded to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and second place was awarded to the Cornish Music Series.

ASCAP's Vice President of Concert Music, Frances Richard, who presented the awards, commented: "This is the seventeenth year of ASCAP's collaboration with Chamber Music America to present Adventurous Programming Awards. These awards are made on behalf of the members of ASCAP, in appreciation for the Ensembles, Presenters and Festivals, which feature performances of the music of our time for audiences throughout the United States. With special emphasis upon works written since 1980, we celebrate the exciting and vibrant Chamber Music tradition through adventurous programming.”

Linda Dusman, the chair of UMBC's Department of Music, stated: "We are honored to have received this award, and especially to be the only university so recognized. UMBC prides itself on being at the cutting edge of research and creative work; in music this translates into our valuing that our students and community have access to and an understanding of the music of their own times.”

During the 2002-2003 season, for which the award was presented, the Department of Music's concert series included performances by the Bugallo-Williams Piano Duo, composer Thomas Lehn, pianist Marc Ponthus, pianist Kazuko Tanosaki, the ensemble NOISE, composer Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf, cellist Franklin Cox, the ensemble Interface, flutist Lisa Cella, bassist Michael Cameron, percussionist Jonas Larsson, composer Paul Koonce, and a duo concert by saxophonist Anjan Shah and pianist Rachel Franklin. The Department also sponsored a major festival, Music of Japan Today 2003, which featured performances by Ruckus (the professional chamber music ensemble in residence at UMBC) and others, and events with featured composers Joji Yuasa, Akira Nishimura, Tokuhide Niimi and Toshi Ichiyanagi.

The 2002-2003 season featured works by many living composers, including compositions by Makiko Asaoka, Curtis Bahn, J. Fredric Bergström, Luciano Berio, Pierre Boulez, Matthew Burtner, Elliott Carter, Frankin Cox, Thomas DeLio, Franco Donatoni, Dominic Dousa, Linda Dusman, Morton Feldman, Mamoru Fujieda, Keiko Fujiie, Hans Werner Henze, Asako Hirabayashi, Colin Holter, Toshi Ichiyanagi, Yukiko Ito, Nagako Konishi, Paul Koonce, György Kurtág, Anne La Berge, Thomas Lehn, Thomas Liljeholm, Erik Lund, Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf, Nicholas Maw, Ronaldo Miranda, Akira Miyoshi, Junko Mori, Robert Muczynski, Isaac Nagao, Shigenobu Nakamura, Conlon Nancarrow, Tokuhide Niimi, Akira Nishimura, Mark Osborn, Fredrik Österling, Takayuki Rai, Kaija Saariaho, Stuart Sankey, Giacinto Scelsi, Stuart Saunders Smith, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Steven Kazuo Takasugi, Toru Takemitsu, Karen Tanaka, Jukka Tiensuu, Yoichi Togawa, Dan Trueman, David Ward-Steinman, Amy Williams, Iannis Xenakis, Joji Yuasa and Akira Yuyama.

The UMBC Department of Music's calendar of upcoming events is available at www.umbc.edu/arts.

Last fall, UMBC was one of only 15 universities out of an initial pool of 100 selected by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation to compete for a small number of $5-million challenge grants. About 100 UMBC faculty, students, alumni and staff became involved in the proposal process, creating a plan to support programs that would make entrepreneurship education a common and accessible experience for all students.

The Kauffman Foundation did not choose to fund UMBC's proposal, instead selecting eight universities with both established higher levels of faculty engagement and matching dollars that far exceeded UMBC's. However, Kauffman was impressed enough to express interest in working with UMBC on entrepreneurship programs, and also invited the University to participate in two "invitation-only" academic consortiums on entrepreneurship: one in life sciences and one in liberal arts. The University also was heartened when Constellation Energy, which had pledged $1 million for the Kauffman proposal, committed to going ahead with their contribution to support entrepreneurship-related activities at UMBC.

With Kauffman's proposed support and the momentum from the process still building, Vice President for Institutional Advancement Sheldon Caplis says UMBC will continue to bring entrepreneurship into the campus culture and support existing programs. "We will find ways to continue to build initiatives with faculty, finding private and public resources to help them do what we talked about," says Caplis. "We're keeping the light on."

"UMBC's approach to the challenge was unique in that it took seriously the directive from Kauffman to infuse entrepreneurship throughout the campus - from ancient studies to engineering," says Teri Rueb, associate professor of visual arts. "We were absolutely sincere in reaching every discipline. I was delighted to see that embraced. It's a conceptual challenge to see the connections, but the support is still there to further explore and realize the ideas we came up with. It's a great opportunity for the arts to be visible in an exciting campus initiative."

But how does a young university without a business school create a campus wide initiative in entrepreneurship? How can those in disciplines not commonly linked to the world of business see entrepreneurship as a field of research or a discipline? It depends on how you define the term.

Today, entrepreneurship goes beyond the common concept of developing individual wealth, to the exclusion of other values. "Entrepreneurship is not just about starting a company," says Caplis. "It's about pursuing an idea, a dream, a vision. Look at what faculty have done for this campus. They are entrepreneurs. Starting a dance company is entrepreneurship. And there's also social entrepreneurship."

It's a natural progression for UMBC as an institution connected to the region, especially with the development of the Alex. Brown Center, techcenter@UMBC, bwtech@UMBC, the Imaging Research Center, CWIT, the Shriver Center and other programs--as well as a wide range of existing faculty and student research and programs across campus. "It plays to our strengths," says Vivian Armor, acting director of the Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship. "In time, it can become a model for other universities." But it was UMBC's way of looking beyond traditional conceptions that excited many of the faculty, especially those in the arts and humanities.

Largely as a result of the Kauffman proposal, the Alex. Brown Center broadened its focus from science and tech entrepreneurship to entrepreneurship across all disciplines. The faculty team that worked on the Kauffman proposal is now the Center's internal advisory board. In addition, the Center's speaker series will include artists and other entrepreneurs outside the expected areas. On March 15, alumna Keri Burneston will describe her path from visual and performing arts major to entrepreneur, performance artist and community activist (1 p.m., University Center, room 310). There are changes on the academic side as well; for example, mathematics now offers a class in consulting class and the music department has considered creating a company to help promote its many ensembles.

"It's clear that the economy has reached a point where students will go out and have many different careers," says Rueb. "It serves them to think about ways to be empowered to start their own businesses, non-profits or some other practical application, and to believe in their ideas and grow them to sustainability. We also encourage faculty and students to find out more about how their work intersects with this initiative."

Like Rueb, William LaCourse, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, uses the word "empowerment" when describing entrepreneurship, and believes the opportunities have always existed, but just needed more promotion to the faculty. "It's a natural tendency for scientists to be entrepreneurs," he says. LaCourse, who chaired the faculty subcommittee for the proposal, explains, "The process was a firsthand glimpse at the opportunities waiting for us. Most scientists may not even realize they are entrepreneurs. A professor is given money and a space to work, ideas are vetted and their success or failure depends on how well that process goes. The students are like apprentices."

LaCourse adds that he sees changes in his department and across campus, including his own initiative to build a analytical services company. "Vivian Armor and Ellen Hemmerly (executive director of UMBC's research park) have been phenomenal in their willingness to help."

In the months ahead, UMBC will be working with Kauffman, area contacts and, most importantly, the campus community, to think strategically about how to realize some of the innovative ideas that came out of the proposal development process. "The Kauffman process brought together faculty from across the disciplines to discuss a new field of study and heightened their awareness of the great interest our students have in this area," says Provost Arthur T. Johnson. "Many more faculty are now aware of how other research universities are bringing material on entrepreneurship into their courses and understand the potential for UMBC and its students."

For more information or to get involved, contact Vivian Armor at armor@umbc.edu.

Sites of Interest

Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship
bwtech@umbc
Center for Women and Information Technology
Imaging Research Center
Shriver Center
techcenter@umbc
TechPort
UMBC Idea Lab

By Maria Roxanne Reyes '01, Assistant Director, Athletic Communications

For Head Coach Chad Cradock and his men's and women's swimming and diving teams, it doesn't get much better than this.

After dominating the ECAC and Northeast Conference (NEC) for the past several years, the UMBC men's and women's swimming and diving teams recently extended their dominance into their new home in the America East Conference, as the teams ended their seasons with a school-best 12-1 record on both sides.

To top it all off, the Retriever men, who previously claimed six consecutive ECAC titles, captured UMBC's first America East Conference crown, easily winning the league championship by amassing a meet record 901 points to second-place Binghamton's 574. The women, who won four NEC titles in the last five years, placed second overall with 606.5 points, behind first-place and five-time defending champion Northeastern (765).

Senior co-captain Brad Green, who took home five gold medals and two silvers, was named the Men's Most Outstanding Swimmer, while freshman Agnes Stanislawska, who won three individual gold medals of her own, was named the Women's Most Outstanding Swimmer. In addition, Chad Cradock and Assistant Coach Tom Himes were named the Men's Swimming Coaching Staff of the Year.

During the three-day meet, Green set new conference championship marks in both the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle events, and anchored four relay teams. His time of 44.82 in the 100-yard free broke host Maine's pool record, as well as UMBC's 12-year school record, previously set at 45.11 from 1992.

Stanislawska, who captured first in the 200-yard free, also set records in 200-yard individual medley, and in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 52.37.

Other first place finishers for the UMBC women included senior Astrid Sperling in the 200-yard backstroke, senior co-captain Amanda Otis in the 1,650-yard freestyle and junior Lindsey Prather in the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke.

For the men, the Retrievers' depth and talent dominated the league, as senior Carlos Canepa, who took gold in the 500-yard freestyle, also won the 1,650-yard freestyle with a time of 16:02.94. Freshmen Ryan Karrer (16:10.69) and Evan Swann (16:22.73) were second and third, respectively.

Other individual winners included junior Jakub Scroczynski in the 200-yard freestyle and 200-yard backstroke, and senior Josh Farley in the 400-yard individual medley.

"It's great to have our teams be the one people fear," said Head Coach Chad Cradock. "When we come into meets, other teams look at us as the team to beat. It shows that we have gained the respect of the swimming world."

During his three years as head coach at UMBC, Cradock has posted an incredible 62-15 combined record, good for a .805 winning percentage.

This year, the women's only loss came at the hands of East Carolina, while the Retriever men's lone defeat came from a heartbreaking one point loss to state rival Navy. Entering the final event with a 117-109 lead, UMBC generated just four points in the 400 freestyle relay, while the Midshipmen claimed 13 points, and the Retrievers saw themselves on the short end of a 122-121 decision. "I'm upset about the loss to Navy, but that loss helped our men focus and be more competitive," said Cradock. "As we went into the rest of the season, that one loss pushed us to win others."

One point short of a perfect season, Cradock nonetheless is basking in the glow of his teams' accomplishments. "I am so proud to be working with such dedicated and loyal athletes," said Cradock. "It was great for both teams to set numerous records, as they definitely deserved every victory they got this year."

Click here to watch the an America East video feature on UMBC's move to the conference.