May 26, 2005

Mary Ann Mears
Sculptor and Chairperson, Arts in Education in Maryland Schools Alliance

Dr. Hrabowski, members of the Board of Regents, faculty, staff, graduates, parents and guests, it is a great honor for me to receive this Honorary Doctorate from UMBC and it is an especially great honor to be invited to address you on this glorious occasion.

I am an artist who creates public art. The first thing I do when I am given a commission is to immerse myself in the site. I try to understand the spirit of the place.

So when asked a year ago to speak today, I approached this as I approach creating art--by learning more about UMBC and, in particular, this wonderful class of 2005. I have been richly rewarded by doing so.

What I have seen is a youthful, highly creative institution, one that is constantly growing and innovating. At UMBC faculty and students have the courage to take risks and speak the truth, and, through working collaboratively, redefine what it is to be a true collegial learning community. Intellectual pursuits, engagement with the larger world, and concerns about social equity are broadly construed, and are seen as interconnected.

I have spoken with students who seek to connect disparate intellectual fields--for example, one who worked in physics, mathematics and music discovering an esthetic continuum from science to the arts.

I have met students committed to creating opportunities for urban youth in Baltimore’s public schools. I listened as one of you described the joy of gaining new insights into her discipline through distilling her understandings so that she could convey them to children.

Recently I spoke with a graduate student about her work, which links chaos theory, digital technology and elegant visual forms interacting with viewers in time and space. This student is as excited about how Einstein imagined quantum mechanics as she is about creating beautiful visual images.

But you are all here and you know what a great university UMBC is and the high accolades earned by students and faculty alike across all departments and spheres of activity. From Chess championships, the Commissioner’s Cup in the NCAA Northeast Conference and numerous academic honors won by students--to prestigious awards to faculty such as Fulbright, Guggenheim, National Endowment for the Humanities, and Presidential Fellowships and Awards, UMBC achieves excellence!

I particularly want to salute the arts at UMBC.

First a personal reflection--I am passionate about the arts. About sharing them through the work I do creating public art and through expanding the opportunities for young people to learn in and through the arts--I believe that the joy of art belongs to all of us and has a place in the context of our daily lives. I believe the arts refresh our spirits, help us see ourselves and each other in new ways and make us more alive.

An intense pleasure for me is to see people moving around my sculpture in the Inner Harbor in Baltimore or to have a young man comment that my sculpture in the DC Metro makes him feel like he’s at Mardi Gras on his way to work every day or to have a student in North Carolina come up with an eloquent title for my sculpture at her school that reflects beautifully what I want the sculpture to express.

The arts at UMBC are vital to the campus and to a much larger community--This university has sought to stimulate new thinking about art on campus and beyond.

The work of art by Joseph Beuys--a grove of trees and boulders--offers a meditation on time and change, and reflects on the ecology of the campus and the urban landscape of Baltimore where it is also sited. Science, art and social consciousness are continuous and intertwined in such an undertaking.

UMBC has faculty and students doing outstanding work in the arts, which puts the most cutting edge technology at the service of the human imagination. While at the same time, that imagination develops the next generation of technology. What a wonderful symbiosis.

The notion of the arts as threaded through other pursuits is well understood at UMBC. The arts are not an isolated corner of our lives; they are embedded throughout. Our nature is to crave dwelling in beauty not only in the architecture of our physical spaces but also in the architecture of our minds. Scientists speak of elegant proofs, and the elegant Universe. We organize thoughts and ideas in esthetically pleasing arrays--not only to aid retention but also, to satisfy deep yearnings for an ultimate beauty and significance for our existence.

UMBC recognizes, challenges and celebrates the artist in each of its students. Graduates: our highest aspirations will flourish through your imaginations.

It is customary on such occasions to offer some wisdom to the graduates heading out into the world. Last week I watched one of my daughters and her classmates graduate just as you are doing today and I know from that experience as well as from memories from my own graduation that it can feel like being on a precipice leaping off into the unknown. I remember feeling quite insecure because I didn’t have a cogent game plan for the rest of my life and I felt that my decisions about somehow putting one foot in front of the other to keep going forward were small and insignificant.

What I know is this: You are to be congratulated for being admitted to and completing your course of study at UMBC. Today is the culmination of tremendous efforts for each of you marking your preparation for this moment of commencement, of beginning.

What I have learned about you is that you are part of a wonderful community aspiring to true insight and excellence in all endeavors. You will take this with you wherever you go. Members of this community are and will continue to be mentors and touchstones in your lives. I share some of them with you as touchstones in my life.

Let me speak for a moment about one of our shared touchstones, Freeman Hrabowski, whose phenomenal energy, enthusiasm and intellect challenge and embrace us all. I have known many amazing people and can tell you that we are so very fortunate to have Freeman as part of our lives. There is no better mentor to follow. Like Freeman, go at life with high enthusiasm, strive for excellence in whatever you attempt, choose something outside of yourself to devote your energy to, care deeply about others and you will make a difference in this world.

Because of Freeman and these other wonderful people in your lives--in the words of Emily Dickinson--you dwell in possibility.

And something else I’ve learned about UMBC, Freeman and the other faculty and staff want to share in your lives going forward. They are so delighted when they get a call or an e-mail from one of their graduates.

What can I share as life lessons? That most achievements are incremental--they happen in small steps building on what goes before. Whether meeting professional goals or being a parent. And that to know yourself is sometimes to look at the sum of those small decisions and see the pattern and the overarching themes.

And that embracing change, taking risks and trying to do something beyond what you ever thought you could is important--don’t define yourself or let others define you as smaller than your largest dreams--don’t limit yourself or your understanding of others to simple categories or boxes. For me it was a break through moment when, I realized that my work in the arts for the community was not a distraction from my focus on making art but rather complementary. I am an artist and I am committed to civic engagement.

Something else about what I do is that it takes chutzpah and at the same time can be very humbling. A lesson I’ve learned about taking risks is that swinging for the fences can be terrifying and keenly exhilarating. It’s a good idea to do it periodically--it feels great to surprise yourself!

And, how you look at things is huge--relish challenges as opportunities particularly if they are unavoidable. And find your own mantra-the phrase that gets you through when you’re wiped out--you may already have one—since you’ve made it this far ... I got my favorite from one of my daughters just a few years ago--when in a tough spot I tell myself to just “suck it up and deal”!

In conclusion, a thought for the parents here today--this is a big day for you--you’ve made it possible for your sons and daughters to be here and I know from my own experience that it is a celebratory time and that you are grasping today in this culminating moment a clearer picture than at any other time of the growth of your child over these past few years and the wealth of experience garnered in the special community that is UMBC. Like me you are also, perhaps feeling some concerns about how the world beyond your home and the UMBC campus will treat our children--It’s time now for us to encourage them to pursue their truest passions boldly with all the joy, enthusiasm, wonderful energy and creativity we know they have--then we must step back and watch: this class of 2005 will dazzle us all.

Thank you!

University of Maryland Graduate School, Baltimore
May 25, 2005

William H. Foege
Emeritus Distinguished Professor of International Health
Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University

Graduates, and every one who is here because you are precious to them. Your parents and friends, the faculty, the workers who make this institution run effectively, your incredible president and the administration. They are here because you graduates represent their dreams, their hopes, you are a part of their contribution to a better society, one of their sources of immortality.

I was cooking dinner with my grandson who was 6. I spilled bacon grease on the floor and he immediately jumped down from his chair saying, “I’m going to tell grandma.” I asked why he would do that since it would only get her excited and he said, “OK but I am at least going to tell mommy.” But why would you do that? He answered, “Because she needs some excitement in her life.”

Today you have some excitement in your lives. We are here to celebrate one of your absolutely great moments.

It’s better than the lottery. Win the lottery and the next day you are the same person except with money in your bank account. But you are leaving today having won a lottery of the mind. Be absolutely grateful.

Whether you make the rest of your life about yourself or others--I will, of course, give you some advice. Why? Because the passion to teach far surpasses the passion to learn. That is why we have commencement addresses. I have compiled some of the lessons I have learned 278 of them! I will share but 12.

LESSON #1: BOSSES

I was at my wife’s four-year-old class in white coat, showing them how to use a stethoscope, an otoscope, a reflex hammer etc., talking about how to stay healthy, when a four-year-old girl asked, “Do doctors have bosses?” That is not an accidental question and I would like to follow her career. I told her their patients are their bosses. Some weeks later I used the example at a UNICEF seminar and asked who their bosses were. They said, “All the children of the world.” But then we concluded, if they were to do their job correctly they must see their bosses as all of the children of the world plus every child who will ever be born in the future!

You will all have bosses to do annual performance ratings. But in a very real sense--every person who will ever live in the future is your boss. Because you are preparing for them the world they will live in.

Abraham Lincoln has no biological DNA in our gene pool. And yet we are aware daily of how important it is that he lived. His importance is that he left the social equivalent of DNA and his social DNA will go on forever. The same is true for each one of you. Your social DNA will go on to influence the world for as long as there are people.

LESSON #2: THE USES AND LIMITATIONS OF SCIENCE

Those outside of science are often overwhelmed by the sense of certainty that they think scientists have but certainty, as the great physicist Richard Feynmann taught, is the Achilles Heel of science, religion, medicine and politics. He said even physics facts are certain only within some margin of error and we are always trying to prove them wrong.

How to use science? One problem was elucidated 700 years by Roger Bacon when the Pope asked him for a summary on science. He gave a summary, including the observation that science lacks a moral compass. The great challenge to us is to use our science for the benefit of all. We have yet to learn that lesson. I say to students that they should love science, absolutely love it, but don’t worship it. There is something better than science, and that is science with a moral compass, science that contributes to social equity, science in the service of humanity.

LESSON #3: THIS IS A CAUSE AND EFFECT WORLD

Stephen Hawking said that the history of science is the gradual realization that things do not happen in an arbitrary fashion. Jonas Salk reminded us, evolution will be what we want it to be because this is not a fatalistic world. You would not be here if you were fatalists. You got an education because you actually think you can change the future--AND YOU CAN. Of course we are all a mixture of fatalism and non-fatalism. I often say that I’m most fatalistic when I get into a taxicab because I’ve lost control. One night in Philadelphia I got into a taxicab heading from the airport to the downtown. It is not far, but suddenly I realized I was smelling alcohol. So I engaged the driver in conversation to see how great my risk was. I said, “You should know I’m a high-risk passenger.” He asked what that meant and I told him that I have been in five taxi accidents in my life. He said, “That’s nothing. I’ve been in a lot more than that.”

LESSON #4: BE A GLOBALIST

The bumper sticker “Think globally, act locally” is catchy but it’s totally inadequate. What the bumper should say, and then it wouldn’t make a good bumper sticker, is “Think and act both locally and globally.” Einstein said nationalism is an infantile disease; he called it the measles of mankind.

LESSON #5: KEEP YOUR BALANCE

Try to be a Generalist and Specialist simultaneously. Be curious and keep learning about the world. Curious about everything, because then you understand where your specialty, your gifts, your talents fit in.

LESSON #6: FRIENDSHIP

Samuel Johnson said that we cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses there is at last one which makes the heart run over.

Many of you found friendships here. Maintain those friendships because they are worth the trouble.

LESSON #7: DO NO HARM

Every profession has this as rule #1. Yet they often think of the errors of commission. We hurt far more people through the errors of omission. The things we don’t do. When I left for Africa 40 years ago, my supervisor said, “By the way. You will never forget the people you kill.” I finally understood you do forget them because you don’t know them. They are the ones hurt by the things we didn’t do. The vaccines not given, the science not shared, the orphans not cared for, the refugees ignored.

LESSON #8: TENACITY

Tenacity won’t always bring success. But it is the only thing that will. In the 1968 Olympics, John Stephen Akhwari, running the marathon, fell and injured his knee. He continued on, falling further and further behind. Long after every one else had finished he came limping into the arena and received a standing ovation. When asked by a reporter why he continued when he had no chance of winning a medal, and it was almost embarrassing, he said, “My country did not send me 7000 miles to start the race. They sent me 7000 miles to finish the race.”

Mae West once described a suitor as so tenacious he was the kind of man a woman would have to marry to get rid of. Learn tenacity.

LESSON #9: THE MEASUREMENT OF CIVILIZATION

Historians have tried all kinds of measurements: Knowledge, technology, control of one’s environment. None of them work. Even happiness doesn’t work. As Will Durant pointed out, if it was the criterion then three year olds would be more civilized than their parents.

But there is a measure. The measure of civilization is finally how people treat each other. It measures a nation, a political party, a society, a university, a teacher, a graduate. How you treat people will be the measure of you as a person.

LESSON #10: THE NEED FOR OPTIMISM

The trouble with being an optimist, of course, is that people think you don’t know what’s going on. But it is the way to live. I tell students there is a place for cynicism and a place for pessimism and whenever you need it, contract for it but don’t get those people on your payroll. They will ruin your day.

LESSON #11: CLOSE THE GAP

Now that you are part of this blessed and educated group, CLOSE THE GAP so that everyone has the opportunities you have had.

Don’t for a moment think you did it on your own. You have had a president and faculty who have made this the objective of their lives. Society and families invested in you and you can now leave here to use that investment for yourself or you can leave here so grateful, so thankful, that you decide you want everyone to have that chance. You can promote the idea that the place of birth, the color of skin, the finances of parents, will no longer be the factors that determine whether a newborn baby gets to have the same chance that you had. You can leave here so grateful that social justice becomes your song. Your ambition. Your identification.

Gandhi reminded us that people often become what they believe themselves to be, and if you now see yourself as the person who lifts people out of poverty that is what you will become.

LESSON #12: WE CAN NEVER REST

It was at the battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863 when Col. Thomas S. Allen of the 5th Wisconsin rallied the troops with words that the survivors remembered for the rest of their lives. “When the signal forward is given, you will start at double quick and you will not stop until you get the order to halt.” And then he added, “And you will never get the order to halt.”

Improving the world for our future bosses, our neighbors even though they won’t be born for hundreds of years, is worth your efforts--learn the lessons well, for we will never get the order to halt.

Mary Oliver, in her poem “When death comes,” writes:

“When it's over, I don't want to wonder if I have made of my life something particular, and real.
I don't want to find myself sighing and frightened,
or full of argument.
I don't want to end up simply having visited this world.”

I wish you a good life, a life of participation, not just having visited this world. A life where you shape the world, where the future labels you a good ancestor. Churchill said, “History will be good to me. I know because I intend to write it.” Get up every morning knowing you are writing history. Get up every morning thanking your family, this faculty, this president--for teaching you how to do that.

And thanks for letting me be part of this moment.

Thank you.

Alumnus William Campbell Appointed Area Director of Capgemini
Alumnus William Campbell, economics ‘88, was recently appointed southern region director of Capgemini, one of the world's leaders in consulting, technology and outsourcing services. Campbell will be based in Dallas and will oversee the consulting services and technology services sales and delivery across 12 states in the southeast and southwest.

Devin Hagerty, Political Science, Co-Authors Book
Devin Hagerty, associate professor of political science, recently co-authored Fearful Symmetry: India-Pakistan Crises in the Shadow of Nuclear Weapons (Oxford University Press India and University of Washington Press), about the tension between the two countries and how the presence of nuclear weapons has ultimately prevented a major war from breaking out. Fearful Symmetry was reviewed in a special news feature on rediff.com.

Amy Froide, History, Publishes Book
Amy Froide, assistant professor of history, recently published her latest book, Never Married: Singlewomen in Early Modern England (Oxford University Press). This is the first book to focus on the one third of adult women who were never married in 17th and 18th century England. It investigates the differences between single women and widows as well as how women without husbands lived and supported themselves. Froide also examines the economic and civic contributions that single women made to the towns of early modern England as well as the origins of the “spinster” and “old maid” stereotypes.

Donald Norris, Public Policy, To Speak at International Conference
Donald Norris, professor of public policy and director of Maryland Institute for Policy Analysis and Research, will speak at the 11th Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) e-Government Forum in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on May 24. The title of his lecture is “The Evolution of Local e-Government in the US: From Brochure-ware to Transactional Capability.” The conference will highlight how nations are preparing their communities, businesses and management systems using e-government.

Kristie Pickeral and Brendan Mundorf Named Most Outstanding Athletes
Softball senior third baseman Kristie Pickeral and junior lacrosse attackman Brendan Mundorf were named UMBC'S Most Outstanding Athletes for the 2004-05 seasons. Pickeral holds UMBC records for games played (244), hits (263), home runs (40) and runs batted in (179). Mundorf became the 21st player in school history to reach the 100-point plateau and is the tenth UMBC Division I player to accomplish the feat. He is now a two-time America East Conference First Team selection and was just named the 2005 America East Conference Player of the Year.

Effie Shockley Wins First Jessica Soto-Perez Memorial Award
Effie Shockley, a Ph.D. candidate in public policy, won the first Jessica Soto-Perez Memorial Award, established to honor the late Jessica, an outstanding graduate student in biology who dedicated her life to making UMBC a better place. The award honors a graduate student who strives to aid fellow students in academic and professional pursuits during their time at UMBC. The award carries a $500 cash award, a plaque and a nameplate in the showcase on the third floor of The Commons.

Thomas Vicino Elected Graduate Student Association President
After the Graduate Student Association (GSA) elections on May 2, Thomas Vicino, a Ph.D. candidate in public policy, was elected president of the Graduate Student Body for the 2005-06 academic year. Other newly elected officers include Naresh Sunkara (Ph.D., chemistry) as internal vice president; Tom Armstrong (Ph.D., computer science) as external vice president; and Ajay Vyas (Ph.D., applied developmental psychology) as treasurer.

Stephen Braude, Philosophy, On Tour
Stephen Braude, professor and chair of philosophy, has completed the first of two spring European lecture tours. On April 7 he presented the Gwen Tate Memorial Lecture at the Society for Psychical Research in London, “Survival Research: Is Real Progress Possible?” On April 16, he delivered a talk at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands on “The Case of the Gold Leaf Lady.” On April 18 at the University of Leiden, he presented “Postmortem Survival and Personal Identity.” On April 20 and 22 Braude gave two lectures, “Postmortem Survival: The State of the Debate,” and “The Case of the Gold Leaf Lady” at the Institut für Grenzgebiete der Psychologie und Psychohygiene (IGPP) in Freiburg, Germany. Finally, on April 21, he delivered the first lecture in a new interdisciplinary lecture series on spirituality, religion and science at the University of Freiburg, “Multiple Personality and the Concept of a Person.” At the end of May, Braude will travel to Stockholm and Oslo.

Graduate Student Yi-Ou Li Receives ICASSP Best Paper Award
Yi-Ou Li, a Ph.D. candidate in electrical engineering, recently won a “Best Paper” award at the 2005 Student Paper Contest sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) during the International Conference on Acoustic, Speech and Signal Processing (ICASSP). The paper, “Feature-selective ICA and its Convergence Properties,” co-authored by Professor Tulay Adali and alumnus Vince Calhoun, was selected as the winner in the "Machine Learning for Signal Processing" category. ICASSP is the IEEE Signal Processing Society's flagship conference and is the world's largest and most comprehensive technical meeting in the field.

Nancy Miller, Public Policy, Receives UR Great Award
Nancy Miller, associate professor of public policy, won UMBC’s UR Great Award, an annual honor given to an outstanding professor who has demonstrated a commitment to teaching, scholarship and mentoring at the graduate level. The prestigious award carries a $500 cash award, a plaque and a name plate in the showcase on the third floor of The Commons.

Public Policy Students Organize Economics Panel at National Conference
Thomas Vicino and Bernadette Hanlon, doctoral students in public policy, recently organized a panel entitled “New Socioeconomic Patterns in Metropolitan American” at the Urban Affairs Association’s 35th Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City. During the panel, two students from St. Louis University presented research on economic segregation; Vicino and Hanlon presented their work on inner-ring suburbs; and John Short, professor and chair of geography at UMBC, presented his work on megalopolis. Donald Norris, professor of public policy and director of MIPAR, moderated the panel.

Anne Spence, Mechanical Engineering, Speaks at U.S. Capitol
Anne Spence, lecturer in mechanical engineering, presented a statement before the House Science, State, Justice and Commerce Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations in Washington on May 4. Speaking on behalf of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education Coalition, Spence addressed issues regarding the FY 2006 budget request for the National Science Foundation in K-12 STEM education programs and the Education and Human Resources Directorate.

Public Policy Students Qualify for EPA Competition
Bernadette Hanlon, Thomas Vicino and Steven Sharkey, Ph.D. candidates in public policy, were chosen to compete as finalists in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s First Annual P3 Award Competition in Washington, D.C. The event, which takes place on the National Mall on May 16 and 17, will feature 65 of the best student scientific designs for environmental sustainability. Hanlon, Vicino and Sharkey will present their policy research, “Reducing the Impact of Impervious Surface Coverage on Water Quality.” Claire Welty, professor and director of the Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education (CUERE), is the group advisor.

Please note: Some publications require registration in order to view articles.

President Freeman Hrabowski, in the New York Times
President Freeman Hrabowski was quoted in a May 26 New York Times story, “School Law Spurs Efforts to End Minority Gap,” about the measures schools around the country are taking to comply with President Bush’s No Child Left Behind law.

The story was also covered by the Contra Costa Times, the Wilmington (N.C) Morning Star, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and The Ledger (Lakeland, Fla.).

Robert Provine, Psychology, in Glamour
Robert Provine, professor of psychology, was quoted in the June issue of Glamour magazine in a health feature about some of the possible sociophysiological reasons for yawning.

Provine was also quoted in a May 31 Lynchburg News and Advance story, “Ha Ha, Very Funny,” about the roots of human laughter and whether it makes us healthier.

Alumnus Christopher Yetter, in the Howard County Times
Alumnus Christopher Yetter, psychology ‘04, was mentioned in a Howard County Times story about the recipients of the Bob Davidson Scholarship for outstanding achievement in athletics and academics.

The story also ran in the Columbia Flier.

Alumna Lisa Dickerson, in the Baltimore Sun
Alumna Lisa Dickerson, political science ‘78, was the subject of a May 13 Baltimore Sun story about Dickerson’s appointment as head administrator for the MTA.

Alumnus Ronald Dillon, in the Baltimore Sun
Alumnus Ronald Dillon, economics ‘97, was mentioned in a May 15 Baltimore Sun feature announcing the newly elected officials of Anne Arundel County’s Council. Dillon was elected council chairman to represent Pasadena and northeast Anne Arundel County.

Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery, in the Chronicle of Higher Education
The Chronicle of Higher Education ran a May 20 story, “Glimpses of Humanity Photographs by Arthur Leipzig,” in its “End Paper” section about current exhibit at the gallery.

Donald Norris, Public Policy, in New York Newsday
Donald Norris, professor of public policy and director of MIPAR, was quoted in a May 17 New York Newsday story, “Affair with Staffer a Mistake, Mfume Says,” about the U.S. Senate candidate’s admission of a workplace romance and its consequences for voter approval.

The story was also covered by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the Baltimore Sun.

Norris was also quoted in a May 15 Washington Post story, “Md. Sniper Trial Could Spotlight Politicians,” about the opportunity for two of Montgomery County’s most ambitious politicians to make national names for themselves during the trial of John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo.

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the Washington Post
Thomas Schaller, associate professor of political science, was quoted in a May 18 Washington Post story, “Dean Wants Md. Democrats Unified,” about Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean’s plea to Maryland Democrats to unite under a single solid front.

Alumna Stacey Teague, in the Baltimore Sun
Alumna Stacey Teague, theatre ‘02, was the subject of a May 18 Baltimore Sun story, “Wardrobe Ringmaster,” about her job as head of costume design for Cirque du Soleil’s largest touring show, Varekai.

UMBC, in the Washington Post
Measures taken by UMBC to prepare its future teachers for work in underprivileged neighborhoods was the subject of a May 17 Washington Post story, “New Focus for Teachers in Training.”

Alumnus Greg Cantori, in the Baltimore Sun
Alumnus Greg Cantori, son of Political Science Professor Louis Cantori, was featured in a Baltimore Sun story, “Human-Powered Commute: Wheeling to Work,” chronicling the experiences of many on Baltimore’s annual Bike to Work Day.

Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education, in the Baltimore Sun
The Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education (CUERE) researchers, graduate students Bernadette Hanlon and Thomas Vicino, were featured in a May 12 Baltimore Sun story, “Baltimore’s ‘Inner Suburbs’ Showing Their Age,” about Hanlon and Vicino’s study: “The State of the Inner Suburbs: An Examination of Suburban Baltimore, 1980 to 2000.”

Alumnus Bradford Engel, in the Baltimore Sun
Bradford Engel, American studies '89, was the focus of a May 6 Baltimore Sun story, “Internet Gold Stars for Class Acts,” about a Web site he developed for teachers.

Darryl Getter, Economics, in the Catonsville Times
Darryl Getter, instructor in economics, discussed his view on the Catonsville housing market in a May 4 Catonsville Times story, “Real Estate Appreciation Still Robust.”

The story was also featured in the Arbutus Times.

President Freeman Hrabowski, Associate Dean Janet Rutledge and Vice Provost Lynn Zimmerman in Inside Higher Ed
President Freeman Hrabowski; Janet Rutledge, associate dean of the Graduate School; and Lynn Zimmerman, vice provost for academic initiatives, were quoted in a May 10 Inside Higher Ed story, “Critical Mass,” about the support available to minorities, women, faculty and students at UMBC.

Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery, in the Baltimore Sun
The newest exhibit at the Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery, “On Assignment,” was the subject of a May 12 Baltimore Sun story, “Leipzig’s Photos Elevate the Lives of Ordinary People.”

Dave Marcotte, Public Policy, in U.S. News & World Report
Dave Marcotte, associate professor of public policy, was quoted in the May 16 issue of U.S. News & World Report in “Medication and Melancholy,” a story about antidepressant prescription drugs and teen suicide.

Donald Norris, Public Policy, in the Baltimore Sun
Donald Norris, professor of public policy and Maryland Institute for Policy Analysis and Research director, was quoted in a May 6 Baltimore Sun story, “Mayor Says Survival of Md. Racing Tied to Slots,” about Mayor O’Malley’s claim that the viability of racetracks depends on slot machines.

Kathy O’Dell, Arts and Sciences, in the Catonsville Times
Kathy O’Dell, associate dean of arts and sciences, was quoted in a May 5 Catonsville Times story, “Coyotes Sighted in Catonsville? Naturalists Unsurprised,” about recent reports of coyote sightings in Catonsville and the dangers of their presence in suburban communities.

The story was also covered in the Arbutus Times and on WMAR-TV2 and WBAL.com.

Kevin Omland, Biological Sciences, and Eugene Parker, geography and Environmental Systems, in the Baltimore Sun
Kevin Omland, assistant professor of biology, and Eugene Parker, associate professor of geography and environmental systems, were quoted in a May 8 Baltimore Sun story, “An Environmental Resurrection,” about the recent sighting of an ivory-billed woodpecker in Arkansas.

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the Baltimore Sun
Thomas Schaller, associate professor of political science, was quoted in a May 10 Baltimore Sun story, “Analysts Assess Mfume Damage,” about the effects of charges of sexual harassment and favoritism by Mfume.

Anne Spence, Mechanical Engineering, in ResearchResearch (UK)
Anne Spence, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, was quoted in a May 10 ResearchResearch story, “Mechanical Engineers Call on Congress to Support Science Education,” about the STEM Education Coalition presentation to Congress urging the allocation of more funds to the NSF Math and Science Partnership.

UMBC, in the Baltimore Sun
A May 12 Baltimore Sun story, “UMBC Names Building in Sondheims’ Honor” chronicled the unveiling of the Sondheim sculpture on campus and the renaming of the social sciences building in honor of the Baltimore legend and his wife.

The Baltimore Sun also previewed the event in a May 11 feature.

UMBC Dance in the Catonsville Times
A recent UMBC dance production featuring UMBC students, the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange and residents of the Charlestown Retirement Community was the subject of a May 4 Catonsville Times story, “Retirees Put on Dancing Shoes.”

The story was also covered by the Arbutus Times.

Lee Boot, Imaging Research Center, in the City Paper
Lee Boot, visiting research faculty in the Imaging Reseach Center (IRC), was interviewed about his film Euphoria for a story in the City Paper’s special issue on the 7th annual Maryland Film Festival.

Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery, in the Catonsville Times
On April 27 the Catonsville Times ran “Leapin’ Leipzig,” a review of the newest exhibit at the Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery, “On Assignment: Photographs by Arthur Leipzig.”

The photo exhibit was also a "See It" feature in Baltimore Magazine.>

Patricia LaNoue, Interdisciplinary Studies, in the Baltimore Sun
Patricia LaNoue, director of interdisciplinary studies, discussed her ideas about the ideal picnic in a May 1 Baltimore Sun story, “Fresh-air Feast.”

Charles Milligan, CHPDM, in the Commonwealth Fund
In a new Commonwealth Fund issue brief, Charles Milligan, director of the Center for Health Program Development and Management, discussed the findings of his study, “Impact of the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit on Home- and Community-Based Services Waiver Programs.” In the brief, Milligan points out the dangers involved in the end-of-2005 transfer of prescription drug coverage from Medicaid to Medicare that could put low-income, elderly and disabled Americans in jeopardy.

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the Washington Times
Thomas Schaller, associate professor of political science, was quoted in an April 28 Washington Times story, “Rising GOP Star Steele Struggles to Pick Race to Run,” about Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele’s decision whether to campaign for senator or as Gov. Ehrlich’s running mate.

By Charles Rose

UMBC's Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education (CUERE) has released "The State of the Inner Suburbs: An Examination of Suburban Baltimore, 1980 to 2000."

Like so many American cities, many of Baltimore's older suburbs are mimicking the problems of the central city: household income is declining; the population is shrinking and aging; and the infrastructure is weakening - yet housing costs are skyrocketing. The prospects for stable neighborhoods and affordable housing are not encouraging, unless action is taken in certain key neighborhoods.

Metropolitan Baltimore is unique in that there is essentially one government-Baltimore County-rather than dozens or even hundreds of municipalities as surround other cities, such as Cleveland, Philadelphia and Chicago. Opportunities, already becoming recognized, include the possibilities for growth in the inner suburbs close to the Interstate and close to the water.

The report, available as a PDF file at www.umbc.edu/cuere/inner_ring, is co-authored by Bernadette Hanlon and Thomas Vicino, both of whom are Ph.D. candidates in UMBC's Department of Public Policy.

Hanlon and Vicino's research suggests that the state of Greater Baltimore's inner suburbs raises important and worrying public policy issues just as they also have the potential for easing housing strains and providing opportunities for growth.

Commencement season began early for UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski as he was among five honorary degree recipients at Duke University’s ceremony on May 15 and addressed the College of Wooster’s Class of 2005 on May 16.

Along with Hrabowski, Duke also awarded honorary degrees to President of Chile Ricardo Lagos; environmental advocate and co-founder of the Natural Resources Defense Council John H. Adams; Nobel laureate chemist Roald Hoffmann; and United Nations high commissioner for human rights and former President of Ireland Mary Robinson.

In remarks before conferring on Hrabowski the degree of Doctor of Letters, Duke President Richard Brodhead praised UMBC’s Meyerhoff Scholars Program as “a hallmark of Dr. Hrabowski’s presidency. As a result, UMBC is among the nation’s leaders in the number of undergraduate degrees awarded to African-American students in the life sciences and in computer and information science.” Brodhead added, “Nearly all Meyerhoff students have gone on from UMBC to graduate school or medical school at the nation’s most prestigious research universities -- including Duke.”

“It was both humbling and inspiring to be among such a distinguished group,” Hrabowski said of the ceremony held at the Durham, NC campus.

On May 16, Hrabowski traveled to Wooster, Ohio to address the College of Wooster’s Class of 2005 and a crowd of 3,500. The College of Wooster is an independent liberal arts college, founded in 1866 and nationally recognized for an innovative curriculum that emphasizes independent learning.

In his address on “The Value of a Liberal Arts Education in the 21st Century,” Hrabowski said, “To be educated doesn't mean you know everything. It simply means you know how to learn - that you have a thirst for knowledge, and that you continue to ask questions, continue to seek the truth, and continue to build character."

Hrabowski also holds honorary degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Gallaudet University, the Medical University of South Carolina, and Binghamton University, among others.

Congratulations to the members of UMBC’s staff who will graduate this May.

Beverly Bickel, director of the English Language Center, will receive her Ph.D. from the Language, Literacy and Culture program.

“I am blessed to be part of the UMBC community where cultural diversity, interdisciplinary research and the life of the mind are the context of my days. The LLC program has made it possible for me and other students to engage with an international community of scholars whose expertise, worldliness and commitment to research create the intellectual terrain for our work.”

Patricia Noel, administrative assistant in International Education Services (IES), will receive a B.A. in social work and plans to pursue her Master’s degree at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

“My experience working and studying at UMBC has been very enriching. The flexibility and support of IES have allowed me to accomplish my goal of completing my undergraduate degree. Studying at UMBC also makes it easier to relate to the student population that I work with and understand their need for support.”

Angela Sanford, a contracts and grants associate in the Office of Sponsored Programs, will also receive her bachelor’s degree in social work.

“I began working at the Shriver Center and was inspired by its dedication to making a difference in education. I started taking courses in social work and then moved on to the Office of Institutional Advancement, where I was able to connect with UMBC alumni. In my current position, I enjoy playing a role in the University’s cutting-edge research. All of my experiences at UMBC have contributed to my education.”

Amy Schneider, business specialist in JCET/GEST, graduated magna cum laude in December 2004 with a B.A. in economics.

If we have missed any members of UMBC's staff who would like to be included on this list, please contact Steffany Magid in the Office of Institutional Advancement at steffmag@hotmail.com.

Please note: Some publications require registration in order to view articles.

Alumna Lisa Dickerson, in the Baltimore Sun

Alumna Lisa Dickerson, political science ‘78, was the subject of a May 13 Baltimore Sun story about Dickerson’s appointment as head administrator for the MTA.

Alumnus Ronald Dillon, in the Baltimore Sun

Alumnus Ronald Dillon, economics ‘97, was mentioned in a May 15 Baltimore Sun feature announcing the newly elected officials of Anne Arundel County’s Council. Dillon was elected council chairman to represent Pasadena and northeast Anne Arundel County.

Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery, in the Chronicle of Higher Education

The Chronicle of Higher Education ran a May 20 story, “Glimpses of Humanity Photographs by Arthur Leipzig,” in its “End Paper” section about current exhibit at the gallery.

Donald Norris, Public Policy, in New York Newsday

Donald Norris, professor of public policy and director of MIPAR, was quoted in a May 17 New York Newsday story, “Affair with Staffer a Mistake, Mfume Says,” about the U.S. Senate candidate’s admission of a workplace romance and its consequences for voter approval.

The story was also covered by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the Baltimore Sun.

Norris was also quoted in a May 15 Washington Post story, “Md. Sniper Trial Could Spotlight Politicians,” about the opportunity for two of Montgomery County’s most ambitious politicians to make national names for themselves during the trial of John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo.

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the Washington Post

Thomas Schaller, associate professor of political science, was quoted in a May 18 Washington Post story, “Dean Wants Md. Democrats Unified,” about Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean’s plea to Maryland Democrats to unite under a single solid front.

Alumna Stacey Teague, in the Baltimore Sun

Alumna Stacey Teague, theatre ‘02, was the subject of a May 18 Baltimore Sun story, “Wardrobe Ringmaster,” about her job as head of costume design for Cirque du Soleil’s largest touring show, Varekai.

UMBC, in the Washington Post

Measures taken by UMBC to prepare its future teachers for work in underprivileged neighborhoods was the subject of a May 17 Washington Post story, “New Focus for Teachers in Training.”

Alumnus Greg Cantori, in the Baltimore Sun

Alumnus Greg Cantori, son of Political Science Professor Louis Cantori, was featured in a Baltimore Sun story, “Human-Powered Commute: Wheeling to Work,” chronicling the experiences of many on Baltimore’s annual Bike to Work Day.

Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education, in the Baltimore Sun

The Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education (CUERE) researchers, graduate students Bernadette Hanlon and Thomas Vicino, were featured in a May 12 Baltimore Sun story, “Baltimore’s ‘Inner Suburbs’ Showing Their Age,” about Hanlon and Vicino’s study: “The State of the Inner Suburbs: An Examination of Suburban Baltimore, 1980 to 2000.”

Alumnus Bradford Engel, in the Baltimore Sun

Bradford Engel, American studies '89, was the focus of a May 6 Baltimore Sun story, “Internet Gold Stars for Class Acts,” about a Web site he developed for teachers.

Darryl Getter, Economics, in the Catonsville Times

Darryl Getter, instructor in economics, discussed his view on the Catonsville housing market in a May 4 Catonsville Times story, “Real Estate Appreciation Still Robust.”

The story was also featured in the Arbutus Times.

President Freeman Hrabowski, Associate Dean Janet Rutledge and Vice Provost Lynn Zimmerman in Inside Higher Ed

President Freeman Hrabowski; Janet Rutledge, associate dean of the Graduate School; and Lynn Zimmerman, vice provost for academic initiatives, were quoted in a May 10 Inside Higher Ed story, “Critical Mass,” about the support available to minorities, women, faculty and students at UMBC.

Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery, in the Baltimore Sun

The newest exhibit at the Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery, “On Assignment,” was the subject of a May 12 Baltimore Sun story, “Leipzig’s Photos Elevate the Lives of Ordinary People.”

Dave Marcotte, Public Policy, in U.S. News & World Report

Dave Marcotte, associate professor of public policy, was quoted in the May 16 issue of U.S. News & World Report in “Medication and Melancholy,” a story about antidepressant prescription drugs and teen suicide.

Donald Norris, Public Policy, in the Baltimore Sun

Donald Norris, professor of public policy and Maryland Institute for Policy Analysis and Research director, was quoted in a May 6 Baltimore Sun story, “Mayor Says Survival of Md. Racing Tied to Slots,” about Mayor O’Malley’s claim that the viability of racetracks depends on slot machines.

Kathy O’Dell, Arts and Sciences, in the Catonsville Times

Kathy O’Dell, associate dean of arts and sciences, was quoted in a May 5 Catonsville Times story, “Coyotes Sighted in Catonsville? Naturalists Unsurprised,” about recent reports of coyote sightings in Catonsville and the dangers of their presence in suburban communities.

The story was also covered in the Arbutus Times and on WMAR-TV2 and WBAL.com.

Kevin Omland, Biological Sciences, and Eugene Parker, geography and Environmental Systems, in the Baltimore Sun

Kevin Omland, assistant professor of biology, and Eugene Parker, associate professor of geography and environmental systems, were quoted in a May 8 Baltimore Sun story, “An Environmental Resurrection,” about the recent sighting of an ivory-billed woodpecker in Arkansas.

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the Baltimore Sun

Thomas Schaller, associate professor of political science, was quoted in a May 10 Baltimore Sun story, “Analysts Assess Mfume Damage,” about the effects of charges of sexual harassment and favoritism by Mfume.

Anne Spence, Mechanical Engineering, in ResearchResearch (UK)

Anne Spence, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, was quoted in a May 10 ResearchResearch story, “Mechanical Engineers Call on Congress to Support Science Education,” about the STEM Education Coalition presentation to Congress urging the allocation of more funds to the NSF Math and Science Partnership.

UMBC, in the Baltimore Sun

A May 12 Baltimore Sun story, “UMBC Names Building in Sondheims’ Honor” chronicled the unveiling of the Sondheim sculpture on campus and the renaming of the social sciences building in honor of the Baltimore legend and his wife.

The Baltimore Sun also previewed the event in a May 11 feature.

UMBC Dance in the Catonsville Times

A recent UMBC dance production featuring UMBC students, the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange and residents of the Charlestown Retirement Community was the subject of a May 4 Catonsville Times story, “Retirees Put on Dancing Shoes.”

The story was also covered by the Arbutus Times.

Lee Boot, Imaging Research Center, in the City Paper
Lee Boot, visiting research faculty in the Imaging Reseach Center (IRC), was interviewed about his film Euphoria for a story in the City Paper’s special issue on the 7th annual Maryland Film Festival.

Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery, in the Catonsville Times
On April 27 the Catonsville Times ran “Leapin’ Leipzig,” a review of the newest exhibit at the Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery, “On Assignment: Photographs by Arthur Leipzig.”

The photo exhibit was also a "See It" feature in Baltimore Magazine.

Patricia LaNoue, Interdisciplinary Studies, in the Baltimore Sun
Patricia LaNoue, director of interdisciplinary studies, discussed her ideas about the ideal picnic in a May 1 Baltimore Sun story, “Fresh-air Feast.”

Charles Milligan, CHPDM, in the Commonwealth Fund
In a new Commonwealth Fund issue brief, Charles Milligan, director of the Center for Health Program Development and Management, discussed the findings of his study, “Impact of the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit on Home- and Community-Based Services Waiver Programs.” In the brief, Milligan points out the dangers involved in the end-of-2005 transfer of prescription drug coverage from Medicaid to Medicare that could put low-income, elderly and disabled Americans in jeopardy.

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the Washington Times
Thomas Schaller, associate professor of political science, was quoted in an April 28 Washington Times story, “Rising GOP Star Steele Struggles to Pick Race to Run,” about Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele’s decision whether to campaign for senator or as Gov. Ehrlich’s running mate.

Amy Froide, History, Publishes Book

Amy Froide, assistant professor of history, recently published her latest book, Never Married: Singlewomen in Early Modern England (Oxford University Press). This is the first book to focus on the one third of adult women who were never married in 17th and 18th century England. It investigates the differences between single women and widows as well as how women without husbands lived and supported themselves. Froide also examines the economic and civic contributions that single women made to the towns of early modern England as well as the origins of the “spinster” and “old maid” stereotypes.

Donald Norris, Public Policy, To Speak at International Conference

Donald Norris, professor of public policy and director of Maryland Institute for Policy Analysis and Research, will speak at the 11th Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) e-Government Forum in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on May 24. The title of his lecture is “The Evolution of Local e-Government in the US: From Brochure-ware to Transactional Capability.” The conference will highlight how nations are preparing their communities, businesses and management systems using e-government.

Kristie Pickeral and Brendan Mundorf Named Most Outstanding Athletes

Softball senior third baseman Kristie Pickeral and junior lacrosse attackman Brendan Mundorf were named UMBC'S Most Outstanding Athletes for the 2004-05 seasons. Pickeral holds UMBC records for games played (244), hits (263), home runs (40) and runs batted in (179). Mundorf became the 21st player in school history to reach the 100-point plateau and is the tenth UMBC Division I player to accomplish the feat. He is now a two-time America East Conference First Team selection and was just named the 2005 America East Conference Player of the Year.

Effie Shockley Wins First Jessica Soto-Perez Memorial Award

Effie Shockley, a Ph.D. candidate in public policy, won the first Jessica Soto-Perez Memorial Award, established to honor the late Jessica, an outstanding graduate student in biology who dedicated her life to making UMBC a better place. The award honors a graduate student who strives to aid fellow students in academic and professional pursuits during their time at UMBC. The award carries a $500 cash award, a plaque and a nameplate in the showcase on the third floor of The Commons.

Thomas Vicino Elected Graduate Student Association President

After the Graduate Student Association (GSA) elections on May 2, Thomas Vicino, a Ph.D. candidate in public policy, was elected president of the Graduate Student Body for the 2005-06 academic year. Other newly elected officers include Naresh Sunkara (Ph.D., chemistry) as internal vice president; Tom Armstrong (Ph.D., computer science) as external vice president; and Ajay Vyas (Ph.D., applied developmental psychology) as treasurer.

Stephen Braude, Philosophy, On Tour

Stephen Braude, professor and chair of philosophy, has completed the first of two spring European lecture tours. On April 7 he presented the Gwen Tate Memorial Lecture at the Society for Psychical Research in London, “Survival Research: Is Real Progress Possible?” On April 16, he delivered a talk at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands on “The Case of the Gold Leaf Lady.” On April 18 at the University of Leiden, he presented “Postmortem Survival and Personal Identity.” On April 20 and 22 Braude gave two lectures, “Postmortem Survival: The State of the Debate,” and “The Case of the Gold Leaf Lady” at the Institut für Grenzgebiete der Psychologie und Psychohygiene (IGPP) in Freiburg, Germany. Finally, on April 21, he delivered the first lecture in a new interdisciplinary lecture series on spirituality, religion and science at the University of Freiburg, “Multiple Personality and the Concept of a Person.” At the end of May, Braude will travel to Stockholm and Oslo.

Graduate Student Yi-Ou Li Receives ICASSP Best Paper Award

Yi-Ou Li, a Ph.D. candidate in electrical engineering, recently won a “Best Paper” award at the 2005 Student Paper Contest sponsored by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) during the International Conference on Acoustic, Speech and Signal Processing (ICASSP). The paper, “Feature-selective ICA and its Convergence Properties,” co-authored by Professor Tulay Adali and alumnus Vince Calhoun, was selected as the winner in the "Machine Learning for Signal Processing" category. ICASSP is the IEEE Signal Processing Society's flagship conference and is the world's largest and most comprehensive technical meeting in the field.

Nancy Miller, Public Policy, Receives UR Great Award

Nancy Miller, associate professor of public policy, won UMBC’s UR Great Award, an annual honor given to an outstanding professor who has demonstrated a commitment to teaching, scholarship and mentoring at the graduate level. The prestigious award carries a $500 cash award, a plaque and a name plate in the showcase on the third floor of the Commons.

Public Policy Students Organize Economics Panel at National Conference

Thomas Vicino and Bernadette Hanlon, doctoral students in public policy, recently organized a panel entitled “New Socioeconomic Patterns in Metropolitan American” at the Urban Affairs Association’s 35th Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City. During the panel, two students from St. Louis University presented research on economic segregation; Vicino and Hanlon presented their work on inner-ring suburbs; and John Short, professor and chair of geography at UMBC, presented his work on megalopolis. Donald Norris, professor of public policy and director of MIPAR, moderated the panel.

Anne Spence, Mechanical Engineering, Speaks at U.S. Capitol

Anne Spence, lecturer in mechanical engineering, presented a statement before the House Science, State, Justice and Commerce Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations in Washington on May 4. Speaking on behalf of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education Coalition, Spence addressed issues regarding the FY 2006 budget request for the National Science Foundation in K-12 STEM education programs and the Education and Human Resources Directorate.

Public Policy Students Qualify for EPA Competition

Bernadette Hanlon, Thomas Vicino and Steven Sharkey, Ph.D. candidates in public policy, were chosen to compete as finalists in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s First Annual P3 Award Competition in Washington, D.C. The event, which takes place on the National Mall on May 16 and 17, will feature 65 of the best student scientific designs for environmental sustainability. Hanlon, Vicino and Sharkey will present their policy research, “Reducing the Impact of Impervious Surface Coverage on Water Quality.” Claire Welty, professor and director of the Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education (CUERE), is the group advisor.

By Charles Rose

UMBC honors Walter Sondheim, Jr., a pivotal leader of school desegregation and economic revitalization in Baltimore, for his achievements in community service, social justice and diversity on May 11 with the dedication of the University's first named academic building, Janet and Walter Sondheim Hall, and an accompanying sculpture.

The event caps off a successful $6 million campaign to endow the Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program at UMBC and rename the former Social Sciences building in honor of Sondheim and his late wife, Janet. The statue dedication and building ribbon cutting will be preceded by a public conversation with Sondheim on Baltimore's social and economic progress, moderated by WYPR 88.1 FM's Marc Steiner.

"Walter Sondheim embodies the values that the UMBC community treasures most," said UMBC President Freeman A. Hrabowski, III. "He is a visionary leader who cares deeply about children, families and education in Baltimore. The statue and building we dedicate in his honor will stand for a long time. But a more fitting and lasting tribute will be the Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars who bear his name as they serve the public and make a difference to generations to come."

Founded in 1999, the Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program supports talented undergraduate students who want to become effective leaders in government, non-profits, corporations and the community. Through an interdisciplinary approach combining service learning, internships and intensive advising/mentoring, over 40 Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars have graduated from the program or are currently receiving training for careers in law, social work, public administration, business, education, environmental policy, politics and other fields.

Sondheim is perhaps best known for leading the desegregation of Baltimore City Public Schools as chair of the City School Board and for guiding the "Baltimore Renaissance" of downtown and the Inner Harbor in the 1970s and 1980s as chairman of Charles Center-Inner Harbor Management, Inc. (View an online documentary on Sondheim's career.

The campaign to endow the Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program at UMBC attracted leadership support from The France-Merrick Foundation, The Abell Foundation, The Jacob and Hilda Blaustein Foundation and The Annie E. Casey Foundation, along with gifts from more than 20 other individual and foundation donors.

While Sondheim has received many honors over his career, the UMBC hall is the first entire structure named in his honor and the statue, sculpted from cast bronze by Maryland artist Antonio Tobias Mendez, is the first life-size rendition. Three granite benches for public seating anchoring the bluestone plaza outside the renamed building are inscribed with quotes from Sondheim reflecting his insights and values. A life-sized likeness of Sondheim stands and invites the viewer to sit on a bench and take part in the community, symbolizing his civic spirit and humble generosity.

"Like Mr. Sondheim, this statue is inspiring and educational," said Mendez. "In the future, students who view it will understand his character and dedication to community service."

Sondheim Hall and Statue Dedication Event Details:
May 11, 2005

4-5 p.m.
A Conversation with Walter Sondheim

Moderated by Marc Steiner,
Host of "The Marc Steiner Show" and Executive Vice President for Programming
WYPR 88.1 FM

Lecture Hall II (ground floor, UMBC Administration Building)

A welcome by UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski followed by a public conversation with Sondheim moderated by Steiner with audience questions.

5 - 5:30 p.m.
Remarks, Ribbon Cutting, Statue Viewing

Exterior Front of Sondheim Hall (former Social Sciences Building)

Remarks by Hrabowski, Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, and sculptor Antonio Mendez, followed by first public viewing of statue.

Schedule of Events

4-5 p.m.
A Conversation with Walter Sondheim
Lecture Hall III (ground floor, UMBC Administration Building)

Moderated by Marc Steiner,
Host of "The Marc Steiner Show" and Executive Vice President for Programming
WYPR 88.1 FM

A welcome by UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski followed by a public conversation with Sondheim moderated by Steiner with audience questions.

5-5:30 p.m.
Remarks, Ribbon Cutting, Statue Viewing
Exterior Front of Sondheim Hall (former Social Sciences Building)

Remarks by Hrabowski, Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, and sculptor Antonio Mendez, followed by first public viewing of statue.