Lou Cantori, Political Science, Serves as Featured Panelist for CenterStage Event
Professor Emeritus of Political Science Lou Cantori will be part of a three-member panel to discuss “Political Violence” at the CenterStage on Feb. 1. The event is held in conjunction with the CenterStage’s production of “The Murder of Issac,” a play by Motti Lerner, and is based on real life events surrounding the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin.
http://www.centerstage.org/production.php?prodID=23

Tamara Newcomer Selected as Featured AllAboard.com Blogger
Junior Geography and Environmental Systems major Tamara Newcomer is one of the four featured bloggers selected by AllAboard.com to share her study abroad experiences with the world. Newcomer’s blog, which chronicles her travels to Costa Rica and Nicaragua, was selected among 150 entries. Read her blog and profile at http://tammycamera.mindsay.com/. A press release is available on http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/1/prweb334586.htm.

1/20/06

UMBC Alum’s Museum Makes Worldwide Headlines
A move from Monterey to San Francisco, Calif., has given The Beat Museum, owned and founded by Jerry Cimino, ’76 history, international recognition. The museum, devoted to the writers of the beat generation, also has a traveling component, the Beat Museum on Wheels, which visited UMBC’s campus in October 2005.
http://www.thebeatmuseum.org/

James Smalls, Visual Arts, Served as Guest Curator for Turner Exhibition
James Smalls, associate professor of visual arts, was the guest curator for the Henry Ossawa Turner exhibition series at the Baltimore Museum of Art. The exhibitions -- Henry Ossawa Tanner and the Lure of Paris, and Henry Ossawa Tanner and His Influence in America -- opened on Dec. 7 and will run through May 28.
http://artbma.org/exhibitions/special.html

1/13/06

Tim Brennan, Public Policy, Named T.D. MacDonald Chair
Tim Brennan has been selected to serve as the 2006 T. D. MacDonald Chair in Industrial Economics for the Canadian Competition Bureau. Brennan, who has been a member of the faculty of the Department of Public Policy at UMBC since 1990, is the first academic from the U.S. to be named to this prestigious post.

The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency that promotes and maintains fair competition among Canadian firms.

The T. D. MacDonald Chair in Industrial Economics is filled by a visiting expert on competition policy and/or industrial organization. The holder of the Chair provides policy and economic advice to the Commissioner of Competition (the head of the Competition Bureau) and is also an active participant in the research activity of the Bureau.

Additional information regarding the T. D. MacDonald Chair and the Competition Bureau can be found at http://csgb.ubc.ca/ccpp/people.html.

Brennan will join the Bureau in January 2006 for one year and plans to return to the Department of Public Policy at UMBC in January 2007.
http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/internet/index.cfm?itemID=2015&lg=e

Piotr Gwiazda, English, on The Signal
Poet Piotr Gwiazda and assistant professor of English, shares a reflection on his hometown memories --- of a childhood spent in a Polish city under the political and economic rule of the Soviet Union on The Signal, on Friday, Jan. 13 at noon and again at 7 p.m. on WYPR 88.1 FM.

Patricia Young, Education, Publishes Commentary
Patricia A. Young, assistant professor of education, has published a commentary entitled, "The Demise of Public Schooling."

It will be published in the weekly online Web site The Black Commentator: http://www.BlackCommentator.com. http://www.blackcommentator.com/166/166_guest_young_demise_public_schooling.html

1/06/06

2006 Alumni Award Recipients Named
The following 2006 Alumni Award recipients will be recognized during the University’s annual reception in Annapolis on Wednesday, Feb. 8, at the Loews Annapolis Hotel from 6–8 p.m.:

Outstanding Alumni:
Engineering & Information Technology
Donna Stevenson ’87 Information Systems
CEO, Early Morning Software

Humanities
Steven Eidelman ’73 American Studies
Edelsohn Professor of Disabilities Studies, University of Delaware

Natural & Mathematical Sciences
Diane Jones ’88 M.S., Biological Sciences,
Deputy Associate Director, White House Office of Science & Technology Policy

Social & Behavioral Sciences
Lisa Dickerson ’78 Political Science
Administrator of the Maryland Transit Authority

Visual & Performing Arts
William Kemp ’95 Music
Musician and Composer; adjunct faculty in music

Distinguished Service Award:
Michael Oster ’74 Economics
Founding Chair, UMBC Economics Advisory Board

Read more about the award recipients and RSVP for the celebration at http://retrievernet.umbc.edu/alumawards.

Also, the Alumni Association Executive Board will present a Visionary Leadership Award to the alumni who planned the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African-American History reception: Kisha Matthews ’03, Yvette Mozie-Ross ’88, James Wiggins ’75, Gary Brooks ’79, Devin Walker ’89, Michael Sterling ’85, Juan Holcomb ’81 and Crystal Watkins ’95.

The largest and most decorated class in the school history, featuring nine new members, will be inducted into the UMBC Athletic Hall of Fame on February 11.The honorees are Giuliano Celenza (men’s soccer, 1999-2000), Lisa Cline Smith (volleyball, 1995-98), Ray Ford (men’s soccer, 1977-80), Jack Kane (men’s basketball, 1975-79), Oscar Lopez (men’s tennis, 1997-2000), Joe Provance (men’s lacrosse, 1972-75), Steve Tomshack (baseball, 1996-99), Terence Ward (men’s basketball, 1997-2001) and Kathy Zerrlaut (1974-current).

The induction of the nine new honorees brings UMBC’s membership in the Hall of Fame to 87. The dinner and induction ceremony will take place at the Holiday Inn BWI after the men’s basketball game vs. Vermont at the UMBC RAC that afternoon. Tickets are available through the UMBC Office of Athletic Development at 410-455-1532.

The two men’s soccer and men’s basketball players were central figures during different, yet very successful eras in their respective sports. Ford is UMBC’s all-time leading scorer in the school’s soccer history, with 51 goals and 124 points. He was a multiple All South honoree and, as a freshman, helped the 1977 team to a 15-2 record and the school’s first NCAA Tournament bid. Celenza is third in all-time scoring with 100 points, amassed in a brilliant two-year period. He scored a school record 22 goals in 1999, leading UMBC to the best record in the nation (19-1-2) and its first NCAA bid at the Division I level. The Baltimore native is an MISL All-Star with the Baltimore Blast. Both Ford and Celenza prepped at Archbishop Curley.

Kane, an Academic All American, is currently eighth in career scoring (1,253) and fourth in assists (373) as he led UMBC to its first NCAA Division II Tournament appearance in his senior season of 1978-79. Jack’s brother, Howie, and a third high school teammate, Parkville's John Goedeke, helped UMBC to national prominence under Head Coach Billy Jones. Ward, who buried a school record 296 three-point goals in four years as a starter, earned Northeast Conference All League honors in three seasons. The Egg Harbor, New Jersey native is fourth in career scoring at UMBC with 1,692 points and is first in free throws made (374), free throw percentage (85.4%) and games started (112).

Lopez becomes the first tennis player inducted into the UMBC Athletic Hall of Fame. UMBC’s 1998-99 Most Outstanding Male Athlete was the #1 flight singles champion in Northeast Conference play in 1999 and 2000, and led the Retrievers to an NCAA Tournament appearance in his senior season. The native of Torreviega, Spainwas a two-time CoSIDA Academic All American and captured the ECAC Men’s Open and the Junior Davis Cup during his tenure.

Cline had a brilliant career, earning both Big South (1997) and Northeast (1998) Conference Player of the Year honors. The team won a pair of league titles and earned UMBC’s first appearance (1998) in the NCAA Tournament. The Sunderland, Maryland(Northern) native produced 1,869 kills, second in school history, and shared the stage with Lopez as UMBC’s Most Outstanding Female Athlete in 1998-99.

Tomshack, a native of Glen Burnie, Maryland (North County), was a two-time All Big South catcher and is currently ranked in 12 offensive categories, including first in total bases (392), second in home runs (34), third in RBI’s and fifth in batting average (.383). He was UMBC’s Most Outstanding Male Athlete in as a junior in 1998 and was a draft selection of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1999.

Provance led UMBC’s 1975 men’s lacrosse team with 85 ground balls after corralling 108 the previous season. The Retrievers went 13-2 in1975 with wins over Syracuse, Navy, Virginia, North Carolina and Towson. The Baltimore native (Cardinal Gibbons), who competed in the North-South All Star Classic that season, was a face off specialist, but he did amass 78 career points and is a member of UMBC’s All-Time Lacrosse team.

Kathy Zerrlaut arrived at UMBC in 1974 and coached over 850 games in 24 seasons in the sports of lacrosse and volleyball. Over the past two decades, the Baltimore native (Lansdowne) has served as UMBC’s Senior Women’s Administrator/Senior Associate Athletic Director and has been elected to the NCAA Management Council and the chair of the 2004/2005 NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Championships Committee.

Richard Bissell, Emergency Health Services, in The Capital News Service
Richard Bissell, associate professor of emergency health services, provided his expertise in emergency service response during a University of Maryland, Baltimore symposium on the Avian Flu. Held Jan. 13, the day-long seminar, "Avian Flu: What Can We Do?," explored the concerns of a possible Influenza pandemic.
http://www.journalism.umd.edu/cns/wire/060113-Friday/AvianFlu_CNS-UMCP.html

Lee Boot, Imaging Research Center, in the Baltimore Sun
A review of “Euphoria,” a documentary by Lee Boot, filmmaker and associate director of the Imaging Research Center, appeared in the Baltimore Sun on Jan. 22. In “Film Hunts the Elusive Smile,” the reporter credits the film as “an ingenious documentary with "chapters" illustrated by fantastical visual metaphors.”
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/ideas/bal-id.vision22jan22,1,3515090.story?coll=bal-ideas-headlines

Robert Diamond, Presidential Advisory Committee on Business Outreach, in the Washington Business Journal
Robert Diamond, a member of UMBC’s Presidential Advisory Committee on Business Outreach, was profiled in the Washington Business Journal for being selected as Maryland’s assistant secretary for business development. Diamond, the former vice president for corporate services for Rockville-based Manugistics, a supply chain software company, appeared in “Md. Picks Software Vet to be DBED Assistant Secretary” on Jan. 17.
http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2006/01/16/daily13.html?jst=b_ln_hl

Susan McCully, Theatre, in the Baltimore Sun
A theatre competition organized by Susan McCully, a lecturer of theatre, was briefly profiled in the Baltimore Sun’s “Women Also Win” on Jan. 26. The 10-Minute Play Competition accepted play entries that focused on providing visible roles for women.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/lifestyle/bal-to.theatcol26jan26,1,4814317.column?coll=bal-artslife-today

Kathy O’Dell, Visual Arts, in The View
Kathy O’Dell, associate dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and associate professor of visual arts, was mentioned in The View, a regional publication. O’Dell will judge artwork submitted by Howard County K-12 students for the Columbia Festival of the Arts, which takes place June 9-24.
http://www.theviewnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=6994&paper=91&cat=199

Michelle Osherow, English, in the Washington Post
Michelle Osherow, acting director for the Center for Humanities, adjunct assistant professor of English and assistant director of the Shakespeare Association of America, was praised in a “A ‘Measure’ of Greatness at the Folger,” a Jan. 25 Washington Post review of Aaron Posner’s version of Measure for Measure, currently running at the Folger Theatre. Osherow portrays Mariana in the production.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/24/AR2006012401860.html

Don Norris, MIPAR, in the Baltimore Sun
Political candidates are assuming more responsibility to raise campaign funds rather than their political parties said Don Norris, professor of public policy and MIPAR director, in “Political Spending Starts Early,” in a Jan. 20 Baltimore Sun article. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.fund20jan20,1,3909215.story?coll=bal-local-headlines

Tom Schaller, Political Science, New Columnist for Washington Examiner
Tom Schaller, associate professor of political science, provides insights into Maryland politics as the Washington Examiner’s newest columnist. Schaller’s first column, “Ehrlich Sends Mixed Signals,” was published on January 19.
http://www.dcexaminer.com/articles/2006/01/23/opinion/op-ed/51oped19schaller.txt

Alan Sherman, Computer Science, in the Kansas City Star
Alan Sherman, associate professor of computer science and cryptology expert, was quoted in “To Build a Better Net,” on Jan. 22 in the Kansas City Star. Sherman discusses the need to improve the Internet, but adds that there are many complexities surrounding the Web, making it difficult to determine what needs to be changed.
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/13681958.htm

UMBC in the Baltimore Sun
UMBC hosted the FIRST LEGO League State Tournament on Jan. 21. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a nonprofit organization that seeks to motivate youth in pursuing opportunities in science and technology. An article, “Competition Turns Toys Into Robots, Kids Into Scientists,” was published on Jan. 22 in the Baltimore Sun.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.lego22jan22,1,3756221.story?coll=bal-local-headlines

In an Opinion piece published on Jan. 17, the University was listed as one of the area’s higher education institutions to have benefited from federal grants, and ultimately making Baltimore one of the fastest growing regions in the bioscience, health, defense, intelligence and financial-service sectors. “Shedding Rust” was published on Jan. 17.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/bal-ed.biotech17jan17,1,5105084.story?coll=bal-opinion-headlines

1/20/06

Dave Marcotte, Public Policy, in the Wall Street Journal
Dave Marcotte, associate professor of public policy, was quoted in the Wall Street Journal on Jan. 13 in “Labor Movement Chalks Up A Win With New Maryland Law.” Marcotte commented on the so-called “WalMart Bill” -- Maryland legislation that requires companies in the state with 10,000 or more employees to “spend up to 8% of their total wages on healthcare benefits or pay the balance into a state low-income health insurance fund.” Marcotte attributes the bill’s passing to a large Democratic presence in the general assembly and the need to have a balanced budget.
[Viewing of the article online requires subscription.]

UMBC Blog Researchers in the Baltimore Sun
Three UMBC researchers’ study of blogs (web logs or online journals) and spam (“the pejorative nickname given to unsolicited Internet advertising”) showed how nearly 75% of blog content and nearly 50% of blogs studied are actually spam. Doctoral student Pranam Kolari and computer science and electrical engineering professors Tim Finin and Anupam Joshi are conducting the research as part of UMBC’s eBiquity Research Group. “Fighting Spam Sites - Latest Battle in the Blog Wars” appeared in the Baltimore Sun on Jan. 15.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/technology/bal-id.blog15jan15,1,1538387.column

The story also has an associated podcast at:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/media/mp3/2006-01/21371944.mp3

UMBC Student Brian Bailey in the Catonsville Times
UMBC junior Brian Bailey, political science major, was profiled in the Catonsville Times on Jan. 11 in “Board Position Exciting Prospect for UMBC Student.” The story details his lifelong interest in community service and politics. Bailey is one of three finalists for University System of Maryland Student Regent.
http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?show=archivedetails&pnpid=351&om=1&ArchiveID=1159447&requesttimeout=100

Don Norris, Public Policy, in the Baltimore Sun
Maryland politics expert and professor of public policy Don Norris cautioned against making assumptions about Mayor Martin O’Malley’s $4 million financial campaign statement in “Mayor Raises Over $4 Million, a Baltimore Sun article printed Jan. 16.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.election16jan16,1,4306101.story

UMBC Women’s Basketball in the Arbutus Times
An article on UMBC Women’s Basketball team appeared in the Arbutus Times on Jan. 11. “UMBC Program Rises with Young Talent and Experience” highlights the team’s current successful run.
http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpID=805&NewsID=688657&CategoryID=5769&show=localnews&om=3

1/13/06

ACTiVATE in the Baltimore Business Journal
ACTiVATE, UMBC’s program that instructs professional women on how to start and run technology-related businesses, was profiled in the Baltimore Business Journal. “Taking a Big Leap at Mid-Career” was published on Dec. 16.
http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2005/12/19/smallb1.html?t=printable

Rick Bissell, Emergency Health Services, on medscape.com
Rick Bissell, associate professor of emergency health services, was quoted in “Urban, Teaching Hospitals Most Prepared for Bioterrorism, Mass Casualties”. Medscape.com printed this article on Dec. 19.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/520073 [Requires subscription]

Tim Brennan, Public Policy, in The Baltimore Sun
Tim Brennan, professor of public policy and economics, was interviewed for “Outages, Fees Tarred Image of CEG Suitor,” a Baltimore Sun article. The article explored some of the changes BGE customers could experience as result of the merger between Constellation Energy and Florida-based FPL Group. This story was published on Dec. 16.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-bz.bge16dec16,1,6628216.story?coll=bal-business-headlines

Alumni Stan Charles in the Baltimore Jewish Times
Alumni Stan Charles, English Literature, was profiled in the Baltimore Jewish Times for his sports radio show, Stan The Fan’s Sports Breakfast Club, which airs locally on ESPN Sports Radio 1300 on Saturdays from 7-9 a.m. “Return of ‘Stan the Fan’” was reported on Jan. 6.
http://www.jewishtimes.com/News/5300.stm

Chess Team in the San Jose Mercury News
UMBC’s Chess Team appeared in a San Jose Mercury News report in “Heard This One?" which mentioned the team’s seventh win in the Pan American Intercollegiate Chess Tournament. The brief story was printed on Jan. 3.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/13537111.htm

“Dynasty? Check!,” a Detroit Free Press article reported the victory.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060103/SPORTS18/601030340/1066/SPORTS

The Charlotte Observer picked up the story in “Checkmate, Retrievers -- 5 times Over.”
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/sports/13536928.htm

Christopher Corbett, English, in the Baltimore Style Magazine
Christopher Corbett, journalism instructor, provided the January/February 2006 Baltimore Style Magazine column, “A Lament for Grub Street,” about the lack of interesting reads in newspapers.
http://www.baltimorestyle.com/jf06issue/backpage_jf06.html

UMBC Student Rodney D. Foxworth, Jr. in the Baltimore Sun
Rodney D. Foxworth, Jr., a sophomore cultural anthropology major, wrote an opinion that was published in the Baltimore Sun on Dec. 18. “Spheres of City Life Lack Sense of Responsibility” challenges Baltimore’s creative class, which Foxworth defines as writers, educators, entrepreneurs, scientists and engineers, “to provide solutions that will have meaningful impact on people's lives.”
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.city18dec18,1,898175.story?coll=bal-oped-headlines [Link is archived and requires a fee to view.]

Stephen Freeland, Biological Sciences, in Scientific American.com
Stephen Freeland, evolutionary biologist, was quoted in “Lean Gene Machine,” a Scientific American.com article. The article explores how the genome has minimal genetic requirements to create and develop life. This article appeared in the “In Focus” section on Dec. 19.
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa004&articleID=000743E0-AA06-137B-A7A583414B7F0000

Don Norris, Public Policy, in the Baltimore Sun
MIPAR Director Don Norris, who is also a professor of public policy, was in the Baltimore Sun on January 11 explaining his current study of voter verification systems the state may employ for its electronic voting machines. The article’s title is “Ehrlich Commission Backs Vetoes of 4 Election Reform Bills.”
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.election11jan11,1,2012331.story?coll=bal-local-headlines

1/06/05

Tim Brennan, Public Policy, in The Capital
Tim Brennan, professor of public policy and economics, was interviewed for “Will Power Company Merger Cost You?” The story discussed the recent merger between Baltimore-based Constellation Energy and FPL Group of Florida. Brennan said that although he was unaware of mergers that that led directly to price increases after the merger’s approval, there is no guarantee that prices will not increase. This story was published on Dec. 25.
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2005/12_25-51/BUS

Chess Team Receives Local and National Media Attention
UMBC Chess Team appeared in several publications after winning the Pan American Intercollegiate Chess Tournament, the “World Series” of college chess. This is the team’s seventh win. The Miami Herald featured UMBC chess team member Bruci Lopez playing his opponent Charles Galofre of Miami Dade College. The article, “For the Players, It’s Riveting; For Fans, It’s (Yawn)… ZZZZZZZZ,” appeared on Dec. 31.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/13520455.htm

“UMBC Chess Team Gets Place in Record Books,” was included on WJZ.com on Dec. 31.
http://wjz.com/topstories/local_story_365110445.html

Also, on Dec. 31, the Baltimore Sun reported the team’s win in “UMBC Chess Takes its Place as a Dynasty. The story appeared on Page 1 of the newspaper.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.chess31dec31,1,2180013.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

The Pioneer Press included the victory in a sports roundup on Jan. 1. http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/13526086.htm

Lynnda Dahlquist, Psychology, on cbsnews.com
Lynnda Dahlquist, professor of psychology, appeared in “Playing the Pain Away” on Dec. 28. Dahlquist is currently conducting research that uses video games to reduce the pain children may experience during painful medical procedures.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/12/28/eveningnews/main1168346.shtml

KCNC-TV, a CBS affiliate in Denver, also carried the story on its Web site on Dec. 29.
http://cbs4denver.com/topstories/local_story_363084737.html

Mona S. Jhaveri-Brown, CEO of Foligo LLC, in the Daily Record
Mona S. Jhaveri-Brown, CEO and chief scientific officer of Foligo LLC, a new biotech company housed in the techcenter@umbc, was highlighted in a Daily Record article. Jhaveri-Brown’s company is the first business to be recruited to the center by the ACTiVATE program, which helps established female executives start their own technology businesses.
http://www.umbc.edu/techcenter/news/010306.htm

Library Gallery Exhibition in the Columbus Dispatch
The Albin O. Kuhn Library and Gallery exhibition "On Assignment" was reviewed in the Columbus Dispatch’s, Life section on Dec. 14, 2005. The article, "Accident Opened Window to Career" referenced UMBC’s exhibition "On Assignment: Photographs by Arthur Leipzig," currently on exhibit at the Columbus Museum of Art.
http://www.dispatch.com/weekender/weekender.php?story=dispatch/2005/12/14/20051214-C1-01.html

Pranam Kolari, CSEE, in Red Herring.com
A reference to CSEE graduate student Pranam Kolari’s research was cited in Red Herring, an online business technology publication. Kolari’s research evaluates how well “pings” recognize and block splogs, or spam blogs. On Dec. 27, “Spam Plagues Blogs” was published.
http://www.redherring.com/Article.aspx?a=15067&hed=Spam+Plagues+Blogs

Don Norris, Public Policy, In the News
MIPAR Director and professor of Public Policy Don Norris appeared in several Baltimore Sun articles. On Dec. 17, Norris discussed the unknown identity of an Internet user, MD4Bush, who supposedly persuaded an aide for Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. to spread rumors about Martin O’Malley, mayor of Baltimore. In “Tracking 'MD4Bush' Identity is Debated,” Norris said, "If it was a setup, that's got lack of ethics written all over it.”
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.politics17dec17,1,5476556.story

In a Jan. 6 article, “City Sees Slight Drop in Killings,” Norris claims O’Malley’s record in handling city crimes will be a sensitive issue during his campaign.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/crime/bal-te.md.homicides01jan01,1,5300593.story

Norris also appeared in “Duncan Aims at One-up Strategy, published on Dec. 21 in the Baltimore Sun.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/ politics/bal-md.copycat21dec21,1,5678874.story (Story requires fee to view).

Greg Payne, Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, in the Baltimore Sun
Greg Payne, professor of chemical and biomedical engineering, was mentioned in the Baltimore Sun for his collaborative work in recycling the chitin found in crab shells. Payne is working with Chitin Works in Cambridge to help with wastewater treatment and wound care. The article was printed on Jan. 2 and is titled “Counties Creative in What they Recycle.”
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.recycle02jan02,1,3165365.story?coll=bal-local-headlines

Robert Provine, Psychology, on Discovery Channel.com
Laughter expert and professor of psychology Robert Provine said people may “laugh-speak,” a cross between laughing and speaking when they are in uncomfortable situations. The story, “Study: Laughter Can be Genuine, Strategic,” was based on a recent report that claims laughter can be phony or fake.
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20051226/laughter_hum.html

Scott Rifkin, ’81, in the Baltimore Jewish Times
An article on Scott Rifkin, ‘81, who also serves on UMBC’s Board of Visitors, appeared in the Baltimore Jewish Times. Rifkin, a physician, is pursuing his first political race as a state senator for District 11. “Rifkin Heats Up D-11 Senate Race” was published on Dec. 23.
http://www.jewishtimes.com/scripts/edition.pl?now=5/25/1999&SubSectionID=30&ID=5264

Tom Schaller, Political Science on WJZ.com
Tom Schaller, assistant professor of public policy, appeared in a WJZ.com report, “Black Democrats Complain About Support for Cardin.” In the Dec. 31 story, Schaller said it would be difficult for U.S. Senate candidate Kweisi Mfume to conduct a successful campaign with his current projected campaign finance report.
http://wjz.com/topstories/local_story_365095916.html

In “Ehrlich Soon to Exceed $10 million in Campaign Funds,” a WTOP.com news story, Schaller believes advertisements for Ehrlich’s campaign will soon be aired on television and radio stations statewide.
http://www.wtopnews.com/index.php?nid=25&sid=662543

UMBC Student Victor Torres in the Baltimore Sun
Victor Torres, a Ph.D. student in electrical engineering, was profiled in the Baltimore Sun for his impressive pursuit of education in “Taking Education to the Nth Degree.” Torres has two bachelor's degrees, three master's degrees, two post-master's advanced degree certificates, is actively involved in the community, and a father of two children. The article appeared Jan. 1.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/annearundel/bal-ar.torres01jan01,1,5021265.story?coll=bal-local-arundel

UMBC in the Baltimore Business Journal
UMBC will receive part of a $690,000 grant from the state to purchase computer equipment for a joint program with the National Security Agency. The grant is from the Sunny Day Fund, which provides support for programs related to economic development. “Sunny Day Fund Targets $4M to Bio, Informatics” appeared in the Baltimore Business Journal on Dec. 22.
http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2005/12/19/daily27.html

UMBC was one of the state-supported schools whose tuition rose in the 40 percent range since 2002, said Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley. O’Malley used this example to criticize Gov. Ehrlich’s stance on higher education. “O'Malley Rebukes Ehrlich on Higher Education” was printed in the Baltimore Sun on Jan. 2.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-omalley0102,1,2491736.story?coll=bal-local-headlines

Members of the campus community are invited to attend the FIRST LEGO League State Tournament, to be held at UMBC on Saturday, January 21, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. UMBC will partner with the Boys and Girls Club of Harford County as host for the event, which will take place at the University Center and various other locations throughout campus.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that designs accessible, innovative programs to build self-confidence, knowledge and life skills while motivating young people to pursue opportunities in science, technology and engineering.

The 2006 FIRST LEGO League State Tournament at UMBC will host over 50 teams from throughout the state of Maryland and Washington, DC. The event is free and open to the public. More than 500 middle school youth and their families are expected to participate.

Spectators are invited to join the VIP receptions for breakfast at 9 a.m. and again for lunch at 12:30 p.m., in Room 456 of the Information and Technology Building.

FIRST LEGO League introduces 9-14 year olds to the fun and experience of solving real world problems by applying math, science and technology. FLL is an international program for children created in a partnership between FIRST and the LEGO Company in 1998. Each September, FLL announces the annual Challenge to teams, which engages them in authentic scientific research and hands-on robotics design using LEGO Mindstorms (TM) technologies and LEGO brinks. After 8 intense weeks, the FLL season culminates at high-energy, sports-like tournaments. In 2005-2006, over 72,000 children will participate from around the world.

For more information, please contact Anne Spence at aspence@umbc.edu or Mark Terranova at terranov@umbc.edu.

Read a preview that appeared in the Jan. 15 issue of the Baltimore Sun.

By Jenny O’Grady

Every morning, before she does anything else, Jadi Keambiroiro sits down at her desk to work on her novel, Killing Ants. Nothing can distract her – she’s worked too long to get to this point to take it for granted.

“I am really where I need to be right now,” said Keambiroiro (formerly Gloria Green), who earned her bachelor’s in English in 1979.

Today, nearly 25 years after graduating from UMBC and following a 15-year career in development, she has what she always wanted: a writing life. In addition to her creative writing projects, Keambiroiro also started her own press, Three Sistahs Press, with two friends two years ago.

A Baltimore native, Keambiroiro’s experience at UMBC nurtured the writer already blossoming within her. As an English major with a minor in fine arts, she became involved with the Black Student Union, organizing arts festivals and poetry readings. She also wrote for the BSU’s publication, Voices, and took advantage of the many literary opportunities her teachers offered her, in particular Professors Acklyn Lynch (Africana studies) and Reza Baraheni (English).

“Between the two of them, I read just about everything,” she said, explaining that both teachers also helped her to meet a number of poets, such as Paul Robeson, Jr., Angela Davis and Allen Ginsberg. “That’s probably the roots of my writing, right there.”

Following graduation, Keambiroiro worked for a slew of local newspapers, including the Afro-American in Baltimore. She spent three years living in Bermuda – the birthplace of her husband – and then came back, with her family, to live in Baltimore. Instead of pursuing writing, however, she chose a more “stable” career in fundraising, working 15 years for the Baltimore Zoo, the National Aquarium and Mercy Medical Center.

All along, though, the urge to write never left her.

“I never stopped writing,” said Keambiroiro, who tends to focus her creative works on “strong women” carving out paths for themselves. “I tried to stop, but then it would hit me that I needed to be writing again.”

This time, the decision meant a major life change. Keambiroiro quit her fundraising job and started working as an associate publisher for Black Classic Press, the second oldest African-American press in the country. She also started a master’s degree in creative writing and publishing arts at the University of Baltimore, which she completed in May of 2005.

The decision has paid off. In October, Essence magazine published her poem, “Death and the Sea.” Over the summer, she taught creative writing at the Community College of Baltimore County, and this semester, she’s an adjunct professor at Villa Julie College. As for Three Sistahs Press, the group published its first book of poetry last year, and is currently working on putting together an anthology of writing by 19th century African-American women entitled Broken Utterances.

For Keambiroiro, the life she has achieved has been well worth the journey.

“When I left UMBC, my intention was to become a writer,” she said. “I just got a little sidetracked.”

UMBC President Freeman A. Hrabowski is among a group of higher education leaders invited to participate in the U.S. University Presidents Summit on International Education, to be held January 5 and 6 in Washington, D.C.

Co-hosts of the summit are U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings.

The objective of the Summit is “a renewed partnership to strengthen international education, emphasizing its importance to the national interest,” according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Education. “The Summit will focus on how to attract foreign students and scholars to study in the United States, as well as how to encourage more American students to receive part of their education abroad.”

“ ‘Through this Summit, Secretary Rice and Secretary Spellings and their respective Departments want to reach out to college and university presidents to reinforce a common interest in attracting foreign students and scholars to U.S. institutions,’ ” Karen Hughes, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, notes in the release. “ ‘Of equal importance is seeking investment in educating globally competitive U.S. students to work in fields of international interest.’ ”

UMBC joins a group at the Summit that includes institutions such as Cornell University, Dickinson College and the State University of New York at Buffalo. Summit attendees will come from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.