The quiet floor of the Social Sciences Building that is home to UMBC's Center for Health Program Development and Management (CHPDM) is an unassuming location for research that affects the healthcare of many poor and disabled Marylanders. But as they prepare to celebrate their tenth anniversary at UMBC, the expert researchers at CHPDM continue to impact healthcare policy at all levels of government.

Founded in 1994 as a partnership with Maryland Medicaid, CHPDM provides non-partisan healthcare analysis to county, state and federal agencies, as well as to private foundations. The Center's research, supported entirely by client grants and contracts, allows them to provide objective information about people's healthcare. Consequently, the results of CHPDM's research enable policymakers to make informed decisions about programs such as Medicaid, mental health and AIDS. Their work also directly affects policy decisions and determines certain institutional standards, such as the rates for HealthChoice, Maryland's statewide mandatory managed care program, which oversees the contracting of Medicaid providers.

"Our ultimate mission is to ensure better care for patients,? says Charles Milligan, executive director of CHPDM. "This [center's work] is an ongoing expression of a personal message; namely that the faculty and staff here are truly dedicated to the well-being of the community within which we live and work.?

Among CHPDM's biggest achievements of the decade are contributing to the design and implementation of HealthChoice, the development of healthcare policies to streamline access to community-based services for seniors, ongoing evaluation of the quality of HMO's and the transformation to a managed care system from a previously fragmented fee-for-service system. In addition, the Center has worked to secure children's health insurance for the working poor, maintained a relationship with the AIDS Administration, collaborated with the Maryland Department of Aging in assessing the needs of the elderly and created a STD awareness program for women in Carroll County.

Owing to CHPDM's unique relationship with UMBC, their presence on campus "gives support to the public health and social service system through an independent non-partisan research organization,? explains Milligan. Also of note is the Center's ongoing academic partnership with students and faculty interested in healthcare policy issues, which includes making their extensive database systems available to certain Ph.D. students. "We enjoy being citizens of UMBC and working with the students,? says Milligan.

And the students enjoy working at the Center, too. There are currently four graduate students as well as three undergraduates working at CHPDM (there are also eight UMBC alumni). Amanda Otis ('03), a graduate student in economic policy analysis says, "Working at CHPDM has been a good opportunity for me to learn about how healthcare issues have such a huge effect on so many areas in government policy.? Another graduate student in economic policy analysis, Anna Perfilyeva, recognizes the Center's contribution to the improvement of quality health care: "CHPDM works with other agencies and institutions to develop programs that share this common goal and allows individuals like me to be part of the changing process.?

So what's on the horizon for CHPDM in the next 10 years? According to Milligan, ongoing dedication to long-term care that will adapt to the needs of the aging population, as well as an anticipated diversification of the kind of work the Center deals in, especially mental health. The number of faculty and staff, currently at 45, will grow to 49 in 2005, an indication of the Center's continuing growth.

Revealing CHPDM's conscientious approach to the services they provide, Milligan affirms, "We consider ourselves to be part of the fabric of the State.? UMBC recognizes CHPDM's continuing achievements and is fortunate to consider the Center as part of the fabric of the University.

The UMBC community is invited to join CHPDM for its 10th anniversary celebration on Thursday, October 28 with a presentation and discussion led by Alan Weil, executive director of the National Academy of State Health Policy on "Translating Health Services and Policy Research into Action?. The presentation begins at 1:45 p.m. in the University Center, Room 312.

For more information on CHPDM, visit www.umbc.edu/chpdm.

-Steffany Magid

By Mark Terranova, Associate Director, The Shriver Center

One of the new initiatives designed to support faculty through The Shriver Center is our Grants Development in Service-Learning Project. The Shriver Center provides support to faculty in the preparation of grants in accordance with various funding agency requirements to provide an education component to their project.

We look to partner with faculty to help support the administration, implementation and evaluation of the education component to meet NSF's and other federal funding agencies' new broader impact guidelines.

The Center is currently supporting three projects through this initiative:

1. National Science Foundation - Teaching Enhancement Partnership Project (TEPP):
$1.3 million from the National Science Foundation to administer TEPP, a collaborative effort of the Department of Biological Sciences, The Shriver Center, College of Engineering and five Baltimore area middle schools designed to enhance math, science, engineering and technology education. The Shriver Center helped to identify middle school partners and oversees day-to-day program implementation. [PI: Dr. Phillip G. Sokolove, Biological Sciences, Co-PI: Dr. Charles Eggleton, Mechanical Engineering, Co-PI: Dr. John Martello, The Shriver Center.]

2. National Science Foundation - Enhancing Science & Technology Education & Exploration Mentoring: A $868,776 grant from NSF to UMBC to implement after school and summer programming to teach technology to middle school students. [PI: Dr. Anita Komlodi, Information Systems, and Co-PI: Claudia Morrell, Center for Women in Technology, Co-PI: Mark Terranova, The Shriver Center.]

3. Future Engineers in Dynamic Systems (FEDS) Academy: As part of a National Science Foundation CAREER Grant, The Shriver Center partnered with Dr. Weidong Zhu to plan a summer program for 10 high school juniors or seniors that includes 6 modules on dynamic systems, vibrations and controls. The Center was responsible for helping design and disseminate information on the program and recruit program participants. [PI: Dr. Weidong Zhu, Mechanical Engineering.]

We look forward to continue to partner with faculty from all disciplines. We hope our experience in civic engagement, K-16 partnerships, and community-based service can support the important research here at UMBC.

Please feel free to stop by the Shriver Center or call us at 410-455-2493, or e-mail me at terranov@umbc.edu if you would like to find out more information about our current projects, or to find out how we could support your research through a new partnership.

The UMBC men's and women's cross country teams swept both meets to take home first place at the Maryland State Cross Country Championships held at Hagerstown Community College. Cara Wettlaufer captured first place in the women's 3.3 mile meet and Izudin Mehmedovic took first place in the men's 8K run as all-five Retrievers scores on the women's and men's side placed in the top-10 overall.

The women's team recorded a team score of 23 as the Retrievers topped six other programs and Wettlaufer, with a time of 19:59, topped the entire field that was 46-athletes deep. Teammate Stefanie Thomas captured the silver with a second place time of 20:02. U'Tonna Sherrod finished in sixth in 21:02 while Kathleen Galan, who returned for the first time from injury, placed ninth in 21:05 followed by Morgan Little in 10th in 21:06.

Mehmedovic paced the Retriever men to a team score of 17 as he out ran 58 men's participants to lead the Retriever to a first place finish over six other programs. Shawn Shockry captured second in 25:16 and J.J. Wetzel took fourth in 25:42 to place three Retrievers' in the top-five. Freshman Blake Davis finished in 26:00 for seventh followed two second behind by teammate Aaron Smith in eighth place at 26:02.

Loyola finished second in the men's meet with 44 points and Towson took second in the women's competition with 35 points. The Retrievers team score is for Division-I only. The Retrievers also captured the overall titles for men and women with a men's score of 20 points and a women's of 28.

The subject of bias in our media is one that gets many people's hearts racing right around election time. And that is just what Patricia La Noue, director of interdisciplinary studies, had in mind when choosing this year's topic for the annual Mosaic Roundtable Forum. The panel will be comprised of four distinguished UMBC faculty: Thomas Schaller (political science), Christopher Corbett (English), Jason Loviglio (American studies) and Susan Dwyer (philosophy), who will serve as moderator. Terry Eastland, publisher of the Weekly Standard, will also be attending as a guest participant.

"What we hope students will come away with after this forum is the ability to look at media with a critical eye,? says La Noue.The media--that is to say, television, radio, magazines, the Internet, etc.--is constantly inundating us with information that is sometimes difficult to decode. "Few of us have direct access to information about what the government is doing, what is going on in Iraq, etc.,? says Dwyer. "This raises interesting questions about what ethical responsibilities editors, news corporations and television producers might have to help facilitate the development of citizens' critical engagement with the media.?

Related to the question of media bias is the fierce debate amongst liberals and conservatives as to what kind of bias we should expect to encounter in the media. "The notion of a liberal media is largely a myth,? claims Schaller. "There is a liberal tilt to university faculty, some print reporters and the Internet blogging community. But most everywhere else--among think tanks, on network and especially cable television, among print editors and publishers, and certainly on talk radio--the bias is decidedly and often unabashedly conservative.?

Possibly the most elusive problem is that often we do not recognize the bias in the media, either because we have not been educated on ways to identify and analyze it or because we are simply not paying attention at all. According to David T.Z. Mindich's book Tuned Out: Why Americans Under 40 Don't Follow the News, fewer than 28 percent of Americans in their mid-30's, compared with 74 percent in 1972, say they read a newspaper everyday, while the average viewer age at CNN is currently about 60 years old. "Americans live in a free society--and they are free to choose,? says Corbett. "They have chosen not to be well informed.?

However, as Loviglio suggests, people's weariness of the media and consequent cynicism is perhaps one reason why we are not "tuned in.? "The news media's role in the circulation of the attacks [between the presidential candidates] has become highly controversial,? he says. "More and more, Americans are becoming turned off and distrustful of media bias in political coverage.?

Regardless of people's attitudes towards media bias, the consensus is that we will always have to consider it. "Media biases no doubt exist, and I've been both a critic of theses biases and, I suppose, a participant myself,? admits Schaller. "Still, it's hard to imagine what an unbiased media would even look like.? This is due to the fact that we have never known such a media. "The original debate over broadcasting in "the public interest' began in the 1920's with radio,? explains Loviglio. "In many ways, we are still fighting the same battle.?

One way the forum intends to educate us on the subject of media bias is to direct our attention to the fact that the panel, just as our understanding of media information should be, is very diverse and allows us to consider events from several perspectives. Ultimately, it is up to us to actively consider the information that is being sent our way, in order to become more responsible citizens. "No form of media is an entirely neutral conduit for information,? says Dwyer. "Thus people who care about the truth and who care about understanding the world must learn to be intelligent consumers of media products.?

UMBC's 2004 Interdisciplinary Studies Mosaic Roundtable, "Bias in the American Media?, will be held Wednesday, October 27, from 1 to 3 p.m. on the 7th floor of the Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery. Members of the UMBC community and the general public are welcome.

-Steffany Magid

By Jack Prostko, Director, Faculty Development Center

The semester is not yet half over, though for many faculty the hectic pace may make it feel as if the end of the semester is rushing forward to meet us at breakneck speed. It's easy, in the midst of research, teaching and committee demands to push ahead valiantly, hoping that a minimal number of details fall through the cracks. Time to pause and reflect on what's happening seems scarce and perhaps nonexistent. But in truth, this is the perfect time to take time to stop to review what's happening, check in with students and track our progress on professional and teaching goals.

Most professors spend a considerable amount of time and energy on producing a thoughtful, comprehensive syllabus that not only orients students to the goals and requirements of a course, but also explains how students can be successful in learning the material to be covered. Yet once this syllabus has been handed out and perhaps reviewed on the first day of class, most teachers only mention it again in so far as it sets out upcoming assignments, papers, or exams. Students inevitably regard it as a calendar and as a result the document loses its full pedagogical usefulness.

Take a few minutes in class to remind students of the larger course goals. Explain to them how the evaluation methods you are using--tests or quizzes, papers or projects--are intended to illustrate their ability to develop the skills and acquire the knowledge essential to the course. If students' grades on assignments are not what you would like, ask them to examine how much time and effort they are putting into your course each week (perhaps ask them to keep a log). Review the study processes (e.g. outside group study teams or methods of taking notes) and the resources (such as tutoring services) that could improve their performance.

Some assessment techniques are available to help students evaluate their own participation in and commitment to learning (see especially the rubric for student participation, the assessment of effective study time, or assessment of group work for simple examples). If students aren't keeping up, don't assume they will suddenly realize the error of their ways. Begin teaching using strategies that force them to come to class prepared--for example, give more quizzes or ask them to post responses to readings on a discussion board before class. Students always benefit from more (and more frequent) feedback.

This is also a perfect time to remind students about academic integrity and how important it is to you. I have written before in Insights about academic integrity and ways to help students understand what it means and how to avoid it. The best defense against problems occurring, though, is to teach in ways that minimize (if not eliminate) the possibility of students cheating or plagiarizing. Barbara Gross Davis's book Tools for Teaching has a very useful chapter on preventing academic dishonesty. And the UMBC Integrity Web site lists resources for faculty that are helpful, not only in detecting and reporting academic misconduct, but also in thinking of ways of preventing it.

At this point in the semester it's also useful to consider getting feedback on your teaching. Many resources are available to help you get such feedback, including colleagues in your department or friends from other departments. Or you might consider getting fast feedback by, for example, passing out an informal anonymous questionnaire to your students, simply asking them what is working for them (what is helping them learn and be successful) and what suggestions they have for improving the course. In a previous Insights article I outlined other methods of evaluation you might find useful, especially the services the Faculty Development Center provides, such as having your class videotaped, having me observe your teaching, or having me meet with your students to get their feedback.

I also am available as a resource for your questions or concerns about teaching. If you have specific teaching practices you would like more information on, I have a library of materials and will gladly find books or articles that provide practical suggestions and advice. The FDC Web site has a variety of resources, such as a listing of other teaching and faculty development centers (many of which are rich in resources) and a link to the National Teaching and Learning Forum, to which UMBC subscribes (you must therefore access it from a UMBC account).

And finally, this is the perfect time to re-evaluate your time management strategies. If things seem out of kilter at this point in the semester, what do you need to do to regain the balance you desire? Life should be more than just rushing from one obligation to the next, with little time for reflection. Indeed successful professional development requires careful thought about priorities, one of which may be the significance of balancing our personal and professional lives. Like our students, we can not expect to perfect a skill if we don't take the time to examine our successes and failures at employing it.

Please note: Some newspapers may require registration before viewing articles

Dennis Coates, Economics, in the Washington Times
On October 27, the Washington Times ran a story based on new research by Professor of Economics Dennis Coates and Brad Humphreys (former UMBC, now at U. of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.) The new Cato Insititute report by the duo, "Caught Stealing: Debunking the Economic Case for D.C. Baseball," argues that the move of a major league baseball franchise to Washington DC will have little economic impact on the district.

Mark Croatti, Political Science, in the Washington Times
Mark Croatti, political science instructor, compiled stories about the presence of ghosts in the commercial district of Savage Mill (Howard County) for the Ghost Walk sponsored by the Tourism Council.

Donald Norris, Public Policy, MIPAR, in the L.A. Times
Donald Norris, professor of public policy and director of MIPAR, was quoted in the October 26 Los Angeles Times story "Bearing Down on a Problem: Other means of limiting Maryland's ursine population failed, so the state gives hunters their first shot in 51 years. Day One is a big success.?

Erricos Pavlis, Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology, in the Washington Post
Erricos Pavlis, research associate professor at UMBC's Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology, was featured in the October 22 Washington Post article "Theory of Relativity Evidence Found.?

Pavlis' contribution to the discovery of "frame dragging? was also mentioned in Environment News Service, ScienceBlog.com, Universe Today, YubaNet, RedNova.com, huntsville.about.com, Space Ref, NASA, Science Daily and the BBC.

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the News
As the election draws near, Associate Professor of Political Science Thomas Schaller will make a number of appearances on Baltimore television and radio:

Friday, October 29
5 p.m., featured guest on the Ron Smith Show, WBAL Radio (1090 AM)

7:30 p.m. MPT's "State Circle"

Tuesday, November 2
Approx. 7:05 a.m., guest on "Daybreak" with Anthony McCarthy, <WEAA (88.9 FM)

TBA, guest on WJZ TV

TBA (after 10 p.m.) guest on the Rob Douglas Show, WBAL Radio

Wednesday, November 3
12-1 p.m., guest on the Mark Steiner Show, WYPR (88.1 FM)

Schaller was also quoted in the London Guardian and in the Baltimore Sun

Warren Cohen, History, in the Los Angeles Times
"Rays of Light on Asia's Darkest Cloud? by Distinguished University Professor Warren Cohen appeared in the Los Angeles Times Book Review on October 17. (Registration required.)

IRC on MPT "Artworks?
If you missed the recent Maryland Public Television "Artworks? story on UMBC's Imaging Research Center, you can watch the video online.

UMBC's Model United Nations Team in theBaltimore Chronicle
An October 18 Baltimore Chronicle story, "UMBC's Model UN To Debate International Community's Role in Preventing Genocide,? announces the simulation of an international debate on the prevention of genocide to take place at UMBC on Saturday, October 23 to recognize United Nations Week and UMBC's Homecoming festivities.

Charles Milligan, CHPDM, in the Business Gazette
Charles Milligan, director of UMBC's Center for Health Program Development and Management, was chosen to sit on a committee to advise the Montgomery County Council to look for ways of providing less expensive prescription drugs from Canada.

Erricos Pavlis, Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology, in Scientific American
Erricos Pavlis, a geodesist with UMBC's Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology, is mentioned in "Experiments Claim to See Einstein's "Frame Dragging" in the current issue of Scientific American. Pavlis confirms with other scientists observation of "frame dragging?, an effect predicted by Einstein's theory of relativity.

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the News
Assistant Professor of Political Science Thomas Schaller was quoted in an October 19 Philadelphia Daily News story, "Could vote not be College material... again?? about the possibility of a presidential candidate winning the election with the electoral, and not the popular, vote. (Registration required.)

He was quoted in an October 14 Columbia Flier story, "Cummings rides the campaign trail across diverse 7th District? about Rep. Cumming's 7th Congressional District re-election campaign in Howard County.

Louis Cantori, Political Science, in the News
Louis Cantori, professor of political science at UMBC and an expert on Iraq and the Middle East, was quoted in the October 10 Philadelphia Inquirer for a story on U.S. plans to speed training of Iraqi troops.

Cantori was also quoted in the October 8 Monterey County Herald (California) article "Iraqi officials say it will take years to secure country.?

Thomas Blass, Psychology, in the News
Reviews of Professor of Psychology Thomas Blass' book on Stanley Milgram appeared in the Jerusalem Post and London Times. (Registration required.)

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the News
Assistant Professor of Political Science Thomas Schaller was quoted in the Baltimore Sun story, "Droves of new voters sign up? about the record increase in voter registration around the country.

Schaller was also interviewed for the article"Bush in recovery mode for second bout with Kerry? in the October 8 Register-Guard (Oregon).

UMBC @ Shady Grove in the Gazette
UMBC's Information Systems Program at Shady Grove was featured in the October 8 Gazette article "State Seeks Affordable Tuition Options.?

Dennis Coates, Economics, in the Fort Worth Star Telegram
Dennis Coates, professor of economics, was quoted in an October 10 Fort Worth Star Telegram story "Two sports stadiums can be better than one? about the potential economic benefits of bringing a new sports stadium into town.

IRC on MPT "Artworks?
Maryland Public Television's "ArtWorks? will feature UMBC's Imaging Research Center (IRC) on next week's program, which airs at at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 13; 6 a.m. on Thursday, October 14; and 9 a.m. on Saturday, October 16. ArtWorks can be viewed on any MPT station: Channel 22 in Annapolis/Crownsville, Channel 67 in Owings Mills/Baltimore, Channel 28 in Salisbury, Channel 62 in Frederick, Channel 31 in Hagerstown and Channel 36 in Oakland.

Tom Schaller, Political Science, in the News
Tom Schaller, assistant professor of political science, was quoted in a October 2 Baltimore Sun story on Kerry's performance in the recent presidential debate.

In advance of Tuesday's Vice Presidential debate, Schaller was quoted in the October 5 Detroit News for an article profiling Dick Cheney.

Schaller was one of three post-debate analysts in a TomPaine.com forum.

He was also quoted in the October 7 Baltimore Sun story "Spirited Debates.?

Schaller was quoted in a October 8 Los Angeles Times article on the second presidential debate. (Registration required. Those registered with the Baltimore Sun should be able to access the article.)

Mark Croatti, Political Science, in the Baltimore Sun
Political science professor Mark Croatti was interviewed for the October 4 Baltimore Sun story "Using the Supernatural to Sell Howard County.?

Donald Norris, Political Science, in the Baltimore Sun
Professor of Public Policy and MIPAR Director Donald Norris is quoted in an October 3 Baltimore Sun story, "Liberals seeking sway in state," about the struggle for Democrats to create a clear message and gain voter support for Maryland's 2006 gubernatorial elections.

President Hrabowski, UMBC Students on Public Television's College Track Series
UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski and Meyerhoff Scholars working in Dr. Michael Summers' HHMI Lab continue to be part of ongoing broadcasts of "The College Track." The public TV series explores America's commitment to equal access to higher education and will be broadcast in 37 states across the U.S.

The next broadcast of the series in our region begins Saturday, Oct. 9 at 1 a.m. on Delaware public TV station WHYY Channel 12. To view online video excerpts from the series involving Dr. Hrabowski & UMBC, visit the program's Web site.

techcenter@UMBC in the Baltimore Sun
An article on techcenter@UMBC, "UMBC helps to get startups off groundIncubator: Technology center serves as resource for emerging businesses and offers hands-on experience for students,? was featured in the Baltimore Sun on September 27.

David Fink, Venable Entrepreneur in Residence at techcenter@UMBC, in the Daily Record
David Fink, Venable Entrepreneur-in-Residence at techcenter@UMBC, brought his three decades of experience working with biotech startup companies to a roundtable discussion in the September 27 Daily Record. *Daily Record subscription required for full story.

Fink's career in biotechnology and biomedical product development spans over 30 years as a researcher, research manager, consultant, entrepreneur and officer of several start-up biotech companies; expertise that he brings to incubator companies at UMBC.

Colin Garvie, Chemistry and Biochemistry, in Chemical & Engineering News
Colin Garvie, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, was quoted in the September 20 Chemical & Engineering News story, "Ph.Ds Trained in Other Fields are Landing Jobs in Chemistry Departments.? Garvie completed his graduate and post-doc work in biophysics departments at the University of Leeds and Johns Hopkins University, respectively.

Dennis Coates, Economics, in the Baltimore Sun
Professor of Economics Dennis Coates, an expert on sports economics, is quoted in a September 30 Baltimore Sun story on the economic impact for Baltimore as Washington, D.C. announces the move of major league baseball's Montreal Expos to the nation's capital.

UMBC Receives IBM Shared University Research (SUR) AwardUMBC was one of 27 universities selected world-wide by IBM to receive a Shared University Research award, granted to institutions that are doing innovative research to bridge the gap between academia and industry.

The distribution of the SUR awards was also mentioned in Market Wire.

UMBC's Mini Baja Team Takes Third at West Virginia Invitational
The UMBC Mini Baja team placed third (with on a one-lap separation of second place) at the West Virginia Invitational Race on October 2. Many of the top schools, including Virginia Tech, Akron and West Virginia, were in attendance. The team is in the design phase of its new vehicle, and is planning to enter two vehicles in the upcoming competition this spring in Ohio.

Tom Beck, Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery, Reappointed to Advisory Board
Tom Beck, chief curator and director of the Center for Biological Sciences Archives, Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery, has been reappointed by Governor Erlich to the Maryland Advisory Board of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. He was originally appointed to the board by former Governor Glendening.

Warren Belasco, American Studies, Senior Editor of Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America
Warren Belasco, professor of American studies, is senior editor of the just-released Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America. To celebrate the launch of this two-volume compendium of food scholarship, Belasco moderated a panel discussion of "What's American about American Food?" at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. Belasco is also the editor-in-chief of a new academic journal, Food, Culture and Society, whose first issue appeared this past summer. UMBC visual arts professor Guenet Abraham designed the issue. More information about the journal is available online.

Christopher Corbett, English, to Speak at The Smithsonian (11/6)
Christopher Corbett, English instructor and faculty advisor to the Retriever Weekly, will discuss his book, Orphans Preferred: The Twisted Truth and Lasting Legend of the Pony Express, at the Smithsonian Institution's National Postal Museum. The reading and book signing will be held Saturday, November 6 from 1 to 2 p.m. (2 Massachusetts Ave., N.E. in Washington, D.C.) More information is online or call (202) 633-5555.

Corbett's book, originally published in September 2003 by Broadway Books, is now available in paperback. It is available at the UMBC Bookstore.

UMBC Faculty in Link
The ninth issue of Link: A Critical Journal on the Arts includes articles by Mark Alice Durant, visual arts, and Linda Dusman, music, as well as poetry by Piotr Gwiazda, English. Associate Dean of Arts & Sciences Kathy O'Dell is a Link founding editor and current president of its Board of Directors, while Durant and Cindy Rehm, visual and performing arts, are on the Editorial Board. Link 9: Musae, which explores music, museums and muses, includes an audio CD of Baltimore-based music and is available at the UMBC Bookstore. For more information, visit www.baltolink.org/.

Morris Faierstein, Judaic Studies, Contributes Articles to YIVO Encyclopedia
Rabbi Morris Faierstein, who has taught classes on Jewish mysticism in the Judaic studies program, will contribute articles on Hasidic figures and schools of thought to the YIVO Encyclopedia, to be produced by the Institute for Jewish Research in 2008. Faierstein, author of All is in the Hands of Heaven: The Teachings of Rabbi Mordecai Joseph Leiner of Izbica, serves as a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force.

Jim Mathias Re-elected Mayor of Ocean City, Maryland
Jim Mathias "74 was re-elected mayor of Ocean City, Maryland for his fifth term on October 19.

Joan Rosenfield, GEST, Named a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society
Joan Rosenfield, senior research scientist in UMBC's Goddard Earth Sciences and Technology Center (GEST), has been elected a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society. As noted with GEST's previously announced Fellow, the American Meteorological Society is widely respected as the leading professional society in the Atmospheric Sciences. Rosenfield's election as an AMS Fellow recognizes her significant record of research directed to understanding the current and future state of the Earth's stratospheric ozone layer.

Ellen Handler Spitz, Honors College/Visual Arts, is a Panelist at New York's Jewish Museum (11/4)
Honors Professor of Visual Arts Ellen Handler Spitz is a panelist on "Relentless Re-Invention: Friedl Dicker-Brandeis, Bauhaus Artist and Terezin Teacher? at The Jewish Museum in New York City. The panel, presented in conjunction with the Museum's exhibition of Dicker-Brandeis' work, will be held at 6:30 p.m. on November 4. For more information, visit www.thejewishmuseum.org.

Alumnus Bradford Engel Named Maryland Teacher of the Year
A social studies teacher at Kent Island High School in Queen Anne's County and UMBC alumnus, Engel '89 was awarded Maryland's Teacher of the Year award and qualifies for the national competition. Watch Insights and the UMBC homepage for more information.

Robert Schiffer, GEST, Elected Fellow of American Meteorological Society
Robert Schiffer, chief scientist of UMBC's Goddard Earth Sciences and Technology Center (GEST), has been elected a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society. The American Meteorological Society is widely respected as the leading professional society in the Atmospheric Sciences. The Society promotes the development and dissemination of information and education on the atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic sciences. Schiffer's election as an AMS Fellow recognizes his significant record of international leadership in the atmospheric and hydrologic sciences.

UMBC Cross Country Teams Sweep First Place at Maryland State Cross Country Championships
The UMBC men's and women's cross country teams swept both meets to take home first place at the Maryland State Cross Country Championships held at Hagerstown Community College. Cara Wettlaufer captured first place in the women's 3.3 mile meet and Izudin Mehmedovic took first place in the men's 8K run as all-five Retrievers scores on the women's and men's side placed in the top 10 overall.Read more about the championships in Insights Online.

Bruce Walz, Emergency Health Services, Elected Treasurer of Advocates for EMS
Bruce J. Walz, associate professor and chair, Department of Emergency Health Services, has been elected treasurer of Advocates for EMS. Walz is currently a member of the Advocates' board representing the National Association of EMS Educators.

Advocates for EMS was founded as a not-for-profit organization by the National Association of EMS Physicians and the National Association of State EMS Directors to promote emergency medical services (EMS), educate elected and appointed officials and the public on issues of importance to EMS, monitor and influence EMS legislation and regulatory activity, and raise awareness among decision-makers on issues of importance to EMS.

UMBC Police Department received the 2004 Chief's Challenge Award
The UMBC Police Department received the 2004 Chief's Challenge Award, presented by the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association, Maryland Committee for Safety Belt Use, Inc. and the Maryland State Highway Safety Office. The award is presented to an agency from one of three groups for their new, continued, or expanded programs to promote the use of safety belt and child safety seats. There were three award groups representing law enforcement throughout the State. UMBC received the award for the Federal, State and University Police Agencies category. The other groups were the Maryland State Police and Municipal police and Sheriffs' Departments.

The award was presented at the annual Chief's Challenge luncheon on September 27, at the Inner Harbor Marriott Hotel in Baltimore. Maryland is one of the states leading the nation in the use of occupant restraints with an 89 percent compliance rate. UMBC students, faculty and staff had a combined compliance rate of 96 percent when driving on campus. The UMBC Police extends their thanks to the UMBC community for their cooperation with campus traffic safety.