ACTiVATE, Vivian Armor, Alex. Brown Center, in the Baltimore Business Journal
UMBC’s ACTiVATE program and Vivian Armor, director of the Alex Brown Center Entrepreneurship, appeared in the Feb. 16 Baltimore Business Journal’s “Putting Practice to Theory.” The article discussed the rise of entrepreneurship programs at college and universities.
http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2007/02/19/focus1.html?page=3&b=1171861200^1418056

David Fink, techcenter@UMBC, in Nature.com
David Fink, director of Entrepreneurial Advisory Services at the techcenter@UMBC, was profiled in the People section of Nature.com. Fink, who was recently appointed to director, will consult with companies in the biotechnology field by assessing business plans, preparing federal grant applications and evaluating technology transfer and new business opportunities.
http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/v25/n2/pdf/nbt0207-260.pdf

Freeman Hrabowski, UMBC President, in the Baltimore Sun
On Feb. 16, the Baltimore Sun’s “Sage Adviser, Key Figure in City's Growth” quoted UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski about his long-time friendship with Walter Sondheim Jr., who, at 98, died Feb. 15. Sondheim was the leading advocate for desegregating Baltimore public schools in the 1950s. Sondheim is also the inspiration for UMBC’s Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars program.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.sondheim16feb16,0,2958478.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

On Feb. 16, the Baltimore Sun also quoted Hrabowski in “Friends Recall a Man of Wit, Diligence and Integrity.”
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.react16feb16,0,4948583.story?coll=bal-home-headlines

Don Norris, Public Policy and MIPAR, in the Baltimore Sun
Don Norris, professor of public policy and director of MIPAR, was quoted in the Baltimore Sun on Feb. 16 in “Think Tank Founder Aims to Change Minds in Md.” Norris said many think tanks serve as lobbying firms rather than as independent, objective research organizations.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.gold16feb16,0,5968289.story

Matthew Polonchak, Music Recording Major, in The Journal (WV)
Matthew Polonchak, a freshman music recording major, was featured in the Journal’s (WV) “Note by Note” on Feb. 22. Polonchak, along with his twin brother Michael, who attends another local college, are members of the band, Transcendent Third.
http://www.journal-news.net/Living/articles.asp?articleID=7247

Tom Schaller, Political Science, in Salon.com
Associate Professor of Political Science Tom Schaller wrote “Losing Louisiana to the GOP,” published in Salon.com on Feb. 20. According to Schaller, the migration of Katrina victims out of the New Orleans-area and the inability of George Bush’s administration to respond effectively after the storm may have caused the state to turn red.
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/02/20/louisiana/

February 16, 2007

Assaf Anyamba, GEST, in the Baltimore Sun
Assaf Anyamba, a research scientist at UMBC’s Goddard Earth Sciences and Technology Center, was featured in the Baltimore Sun’s “The Outbreak Predictor” on Feb. 9. For his research, Anyamba collected weather data obtained from satellites which he used to help determine an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever, a fatal disease caused by mosquitoes, in Kenya.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/health/bal-hs.predict09feb09,0,3006708.story?coll=bal-health-utility

Pete Caringi, UMBC Men’s Soccer Coach in the Baltimore Examiner
UMBC men’s coach Pete Caringi appeared in the Baltimore Examiner on Feb. 8 in “Protecting Maryland’s Borders,” an article about the 2007 recruiting process.
http://www.examiner.com/a-553779~Protecting_Maryland_s_borders.html

Freeman Hrabowski, UMBC President, in the Chronicle of Higher Education
The Chronicle of Higher Education’s “At Annual Meeting, Council Focuses on Issues of Access and Accountability” prominently featured UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski on Feb. 12. Hrabowski gave the opening speech for the annual American Council on Education, which this year focused on the theme, “The Access Imperative." “Responding to this imperative means examining ourselves -- our values and our attitudes about students of all types, looking to see not so much what is missing in them, but what they can become," said Hrabowski.
http://chronicle.com/daily/2007/02/2007021205n.htm

To read the full speech, click http://www.umbc.edu/aboutumbc/president/access_imperative.html.

David Marcotte, Public Policy, in the Baltimore Sun
Research conducted by David Marcotte, professor of public policy, finds that the academic progress of children declines when schools close due to snowy conditions. On Feb. 14, the Baltimore Sun covered this report in “Researcher Studies Effect of Snow Days on Testing.”
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.snowdays14feb14,0,773899.story?coll=bal-pe-maryland

Profectus Biosciences Inc. and CEO Joseph F. Berardino in Business Week
Profectus Biosciences Inc., a techcenter@UMBC incubator, and CEO Joseph F. Berardino, were profiled on Feb. 5 in Business Week’s “Andersen Was Never This Rewarding.” Profectus, in partnership with Wyeth pharmaceuticals, is developing a vaccine and other therapies for HIV.
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_06/b4020084.htm

Tom Schaller, Political Science, in the News
“Republican self-identification has declined nationally and in almost every American state,” wrote Tom Schaller, associate professor of political science, in his Feb. 14 Baltimore Sun editorial, “America's View of Republicans Crumbles in Iraq.” Schaller said President Bush’s stance on the Iraq war “has destroyed the partisan brand Republicans spent the past four decades building.”
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.schaller14feb14,0,771774.story?coll=bal-pe-opinion

Schaller was quoted in the Southern Maryland Online’s Feb. 9 “Maryland Has Never Produced a U.S. President.” Rather than producing American presidents, Schaller said Maryland has served more as a “stage prop for presidential events.”
http://somd.com/news/headlines/2007/5378.shtml

Nancy Rankie Shelton, Education, in the Baltimore Sun
Nancy Rankie Shelton, assistant professor of education, wrote “Training Isn't What Our Teachers Need,” which appeared in the Baltimore Sun’s Letter to the Editors on Feb. 10. In response to the Feb. 1 article, “Local Schools Used State Aid to Raise Salaries," Shelton said teachers do not need money for more training and listed some of the uses that additional funding could be used for.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/letters/bal-ed.le.10ffeb10,0,5281018.story?coll=bal-oped-headlines

UMBC in the Catonsville Times
On Feb. 8, the Catonsville Times’ featured UMBC in “Grads Have Degree of Confidence in Future.” According to the article, employers will hire a higher percentage of 2007 graduates than those offered positions in 2006. Most of these positions will go to students who majored in technology or engineering-related fields. Anne Scholl-Fiedler, director of the Career Services Center, Dominique Owen, a senior information systems major, and Andrew Sears, professor and chair of the Department of Information Systems, were quoted in the article.
[Article no longer appears on Web site.]

UMBC Theatre Faculty in the News
UMBC's Department of Theatre faculty and alumni recently received favorable reviews in the Baltimore Sun, Washington Post and the Washington City Paper.
http://www.umbc.edu/NewsEvents/releases//archives/2007/02/umbc_theatre_fa.html

February 9, 2007

Warren Belasco, American Studies, on the “Restaurant Guys Radio Show”
Professor of American Studies Warren Belasco appeared on the “Restaurant Guys Radio Show” on Jan. 24 to discuss his latest book, Meals to Come: A History of the Future of Food.
http://www.restaurantguysradio.com/sle/rg/content/shows/index.asp?show_id=288

BDMetrics, techcenter@UMBC, in Expo Magazine
The February, 2007 edition of Expo magazine, a publication for exposition and conference professionals, profiled BDMetrics, a techcenter@UMBC company, in “Will BDMetrics’ Personalization Technology Revolutionize the Industry?” The story profiled the increased popularity of You-Based, the company’s personalization technology being used to enhance the experience of trade show vendors and attendees.
http://www.expoweb.com/2007February/Feature1.htm

Duff Goldman ‘97, in the Associated Press
An Associated Press feature on Duff Goldman ‘97, philosophy and history, owner and chef of Baltimore’s Charm City Cakes and star of the Food Network’s “Ace of Cakes” appeared in several U.S. newspapers, including the Detroit Free Press and Jackson-News Tribune.

Freeman Hrabowski, UMBC President, in the New York Times
In the Feb. 7 edition of the New York Times, UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski discussed the relatively low participation of African-American students in Advanced Placement courses. “Too few African-American students have achieved in middle school and in the first years of high school at a level that will allow them to take advantage of the courses. We need to encourage students to do better when they are in the seventh and eighth grade,” President Hrabowski said in “Advanced Placement Tests Are Leaving Some Behind.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/07/education/07ap.html

Julie Lenzer Kirk, ACTiVATE, in the Washington Business Journal
Julie Lenzer Kirk, an instructor with UMBC’s ACTiVATE program, was featured on Feb. 2 in the Washington Business Journal’s “In Marketplace of Ideas, She Keeps Students Fresh.” She discussed the marketing lessons she teaches her students.
http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2007/02/05/focus2.html?t=printable

Tom Schaller, Political Science, in the Local and International News
In the Guardian’s “Primary Education,” Associate Professor of Political Science Tom Schaller explained why the 2008 presidential nomination process will differ from the 2004 selection process.
http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/thomas_f_schaller/2007/01/primary_education.html

Schaller will regularly contribute opinion editorials to the Baltimore Sun. His debut column as a regular contributor, “Black Women Face Dilemma in Democratic Primary,” ran on Feb. 7. Schaller writes that the vote of black females will play a significant role in the 2008 democratic primaries.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.schaller07feb07,0,1558210.story?coll=bal-oped-headlines

Alan Sherman, Computer Science, in the Catonsville Times and Arbutus Times
Associate Professor of Computer Science Alan Sherman was quoted in the Catonsville Times and Arbutus Times on Feb. 2 in “Professor Casts Vote in Debate for Machines to Provide Paper Trail.” Sherman, who is conducting research on the security of voting machines, recommends that Maryland legislators consider using voting machines that use cryptography to verify voter ballots.
http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpID=351&NewsID=780758&CategoryID=8381&show=localnews&om=1

Retirement Living Television in Business Monthly
Retirement Living Television (RLTV), a national network owned by John Erickson, CEO of Erickson Retirement Communities and benefactor to UMBC’s Erickson School, was featured in Business Monthly’s “An Age-Old Story: Erickson Shooting for TV Spotlight.” Executives of RLTV, which broadcasts programming for viewers age 55 or older, recently opened a newly updated studio on the UMBC campus. Eventually, RLTV will relocate to a new $20 million home in UMBC’s bwtech@UMBC Research and Technology Park.
http://www.bizmonthly.com/2_2007/3.shtml

To celebrate the opening of the new studios, an Open House will be held on Feb. 16 from noon-2 p.m. in the studios on the second and third floors of Academic IV, A Wing. More information on the Open House is available at http://www.umbc.edu/newsevents/insights/archives/2007/02/post_3.html.

February 2, 2007

Article by Ellen Handler Spitz, Honors College, in the Chronicle of Higher Education
An article written by Ellen Handler Spitz, Honors College professor of visual arts, was published in the Chronicle of Higher Education on Feb. 2. “From Virgil to Alma Mater,” passionately explains the significant role Spitz’s alma mater, translated to “foster mother” in Latin, played in her life.
[Requires subscription, or readers with a hard copy can find the article on page 5 of the Feb. 2 edition.]
http://chronicle.com/weekly/v53/i22/22b00501.htm

Eric Dyer ’95, Visual Arts, in the Baltimore Sun
On Feb. 2, the Baltimore Sun featured Assistant Professor of Visual Arts Eric Dyer ’95, visual arts, in “Special Effects Without Computers.” Dyer’s latest work, Copenhagen Cycles, was filmed without using special effects. Copenhagen Cycles was recently screened at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/lifestyle/bal-to.dyer02feb02,0,5177585.story

Tom Schaller, Political Science, in National News
On Jan. 25, Tom Schaller, associate professor of political science, appeared in the Washington Times’ “Is GOP a Regional Party?.” Schaller and a colleague provided data which compared “the regional shift in partisan distribution of congressional seats” over the past 50 years.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20070124-094727-2806r.htm

On Jan. 25, Schaller also appeared in the Nation’s “The Way Down South” in which the author of the article discussed why Democrats should not pull out of the South.
http://www.thenation.com/docprint.mhtml?i=20070212&s=moser

Tom Beck, Albin O. Kuhn Library and Gallery, Lectured at George Eastman House and BMA
Tom Beck, chief curator for the Albin O. Kuhn Library and Gallery, recently lectured at the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and the Baltimore Museum of Art. At the George Eastman House he delivered two presentations: one on “Humanism in Photography: The Imagery of David Seymour” and another on “Curatorial Issues in Photography.” At the Baltimore Museum of Art, he spoke on “Modernism in Photography” to a fully subscribed two-hour workshop sponsored by the Print, Drawing and Photograph Society and the Friends of Modern Art.

Robert H. Deluty, Psychology, Publishes 11th Book
Robert H. Deluty, associate professor of psychology, published his 11th book of poetry, In the Moment (Gateway Press). "In the Moment marks an even greater potency in Deluty's amazingly prolific poetic output. With its recurrent references to student life from elementary to graduate levels, and to marriages from the wedding to the long, long run, In the Moment is not just a collection but a book, almost a novel,” wrote Clarinda Harriss, professor of English at Towson University.

February 16, 2007

Twice As Nice: Retrievers Sweep Conference Crowns at 2007 America East Swimming and Diving Championships
The UMBC men’s swimming and diving team was crowned America East Conference Champions Sunday evening for the fourth year in a row. This year, however, was different, as for the first time, the Retriever women shared in the glory, claiming their first-ever America East title, marking the fourth time in conference history but first in a decade that the same school has won both the men’s and women’s championships.
http://www.umbcretrievers.com/sports/swimming/release.asp?RELEASE_ID=3225

UMBC Ice Hockey Gains First Regional Playoff Birth
For the first time in the club’s history, the UMBC Ice Hockey team will be competing in the ACHA (American Collegiate Hockey Association) Southeastern Regional Conference Playoffs.
http://www.umbc.edu/sportclubs/

Anna Rubin, Music, Receives Maryland State Arts Council Awards, Receives Commissions
Anna Rubin, associate professor of music, recently received a $3,000 Individual Artists Award from the Maryland State Arts Council and has received commissions for new work.

Rubin was one of eight composers commissioned by CUBE Ensemble-Chicago and Jungemusik/Berlin to write works commemorating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Bertolt Brecht. Written for soprano and electronics, Rubin’s 'Legende, vom Toten Soldaten' (Story of the Dead Soldier), a satiric anti-war rant, premiered in Berlin in September 2006 and will be performed in May in Chicago. Recent performances of other works have occurred in Tasmania and more locally in Hartford, New Orleans and Murray State University (KY) and at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Rubin's analysis of Francis Dhomont's electroacoustic work, "Forêt profonde," was published in the fall in a book of essays, Portraits Polychromes No. 10 Francis Dhomont, Ina (Institut national de l'audiovisuel), 2006, in French. A brief summary and an aural excerpt from "Forêt profonde" are available at http://www.ina.fr/grm/acousmaline/polychromes/dhomont/ in French or English. She will be discussing her analytic approach to Dhomont's work in June at the Electroacoustic Music Studies Network conference on ‘The Languages of Electroacoustic Music’ in Leicester, UK.

Rubin is currently completing a duo for UMBC's Michael Richards, professor of clarinet, and Kazuko Tanosaki, director of the post-baccalaureate certificate in American contemporary music. The McFish Duo, comprised of Marlow Fisher, viola, and Kathleen MacIntosh, harpsichord, have commissioned Rubin to write them a new work for the 2008 season.

Maria Loos, recorder player based in Salzburg, Austria has also commissioned Rubin to write a companion piece to the Vivaldi Recorder Concerto “La Notte.”

February 9, 2007

Eric Dyer ’95, Visual Arts, and IRC Fellows Perform With Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
The final performance of “Shout,” a brass and percussion composition by members of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and an animation created by Eric Dyer ’95, assistant professor of visual arts, and Imaging Research Center Fellows will be held on Feb. 4 at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. The animation is performed “live” with the Symphony and was performed numerous times this fall. At the conclusion of the concert, the Zoetropes (an animation toy) and technique to produce the animation will be on display in the lobby of the Meyerhoff.

Read more about Dyer in the Baltimore Sun.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/lifestyle/bal-to.dyer02feb02,0,5177585.story

Exempt Employee of the Quarter Drema Wentz, who joined UMBC in 2004, serves as coordinator of Campus Scheduling and Guest Services. She began her career as a Maryland State employee 25 years ago when she worked for the Maryland Parole Commission. In 1984, Wentz transferred to Towson University where she held positions as secretary and facility reservation manager.

“Drema works with every department on campus. She strives to provide the best possible customer service for the entire campus community,” said Michelle Myers-Brown, director of The Commons. “She is highly motivated and organized, [overseeing] 100 to 300 room requests that come in weekly. Due to a staff member leaving, Drema and one part-time student staff member handled all non-academic scheduling requests for the campus as well as all outside contracts – numbering around 4,000 (for a five-month period).”
“[She] has also been the driving force behind the campus conversion to the new, automated scheduling process (R25). In just two years, Drema has taken a fledgling program that the campus purchased without much support, trained personnel in every department on campus, worked with the Registrar’s Office on policy development for the program and created the online system for scheduling non-academic events that exists on campus today. The new process has cut the scheduling process from one to two weeks to a 24-48 hour turnaround.”

Wentz is a member of the ACCED-I, a professional organization for scheduling and conference personnel. She is actively involved in planning the next national conference, which will be held in Baltimore this spring and will highlight UMBC. In addition, Wentz is pursing a master’s degree in management with a concentration in human resources development. She expects to graduate in May 2007.

Wentz received her award on Jan. 8 at a staff meeting.

Donald Dickey, the Nonexempt Employee of the Quarter, is a groundskeeper lead in Facilities Management. Dickey began his career at UMBC in 1994 and has worked in the Landscaping and Grounds shop for the past twelve years.

“Dickey is a hardworking member of the Landscaping and Grounds crew who takes great pride in making the UMBC community a welcoming environment. I’ve observed [him] interrupt his work or stop his truck to give a quick wave and good morning to students and staff. [Dickey] must believe that his mission goes beyond his groundskeeping responsibilities to include building community and UMBC pride,” said Director of Student Judicial Programs Chris Tkacik, who also nominated Dickey.

“He has taken great strides to improve the landscaping of the Student Development and Success Center (the old Shriver Center),” added Tkacik. “His dedication is shown in photos taken of the building and surrounding grounds. His care for the plants and trees always include a personal touch and his interest in sharing his knowledge demonstrates his deeper commitment to UMBC, beyond his job responsibilities. Dickey epitomizes the personality of UMBC. His employment goes far beyond his job responsibilities and he takes the personal interest in students that Dr. Hrabowski speaks so often about.”

Dickey was presented with his Employee of the Quarter Award on Jan. 19. The facilities management staff joined Dickey for the celebration and offered their congratulations. Tkacik and other staff members spoke of Dickey’s contributions during the presentation ceremony.

The UMBC Center for Mediation and Conflict Resolution (CMCR) is pleased to announce the next Basic Mediation Training course that will run from March 3-March 15. This 45-hour course is open to all UMBC faculty, staff and students. The complete schedule is identified on the Application for Mediator Training. Applications for a limited number of positions will be accepted through February 19.

Questions concerning the upcoming Basic Mediator Training course or the CMCR should be directed to Stephanie Lazarus, CMCR Acting Coordinator at 410-455-5745 or slazar@umbc.edu.

The Maryland Forum, hosted by UMBC, presents former Baltimore Oriole Cal Ripken, Jr. at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28. The series is presented in partnership with the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce, Inc. The Maryland Forum also welcomes former U.S. Vice President Al Gore to UMBC on Tuesday, May 8.

Recently elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Ripken broke Lou Gehrig's streak of 2,131 consecutive games by 500. He will speak about leadership, loyalty, patience and perseverance - qualities that lead to success in baseball and in business.

Gore, the 45th Vice President of the United States, is one of the world's most visible environmental activists. "An Inconvenient Truth," the documentary film on his work to raise awareness about global climate change, recently won the Academy Award for best documentary feature. Gore is also organizing the global environmental benefit concert "Live Earth," scheduled for July 7.

All Maryland Forum lectures are held in the Retriever Activities Center. Doors to the RAC open at 6:30 p.m. and the lectures begin at 7 p.m. There will be limited parking on the upper deck of Lot 10.

UMBC students, faculty and staff may purchase discounted tickets for $5. (One ticket per UMBC ID. Please note: discounted tickets are for bleacher seating only.) Tickets are on sale at The Commons Information Desk as of Monday, February 5. UMBC community members who have purchased discount tickets must have their UMBC IDs available to show at the door. Backpacks will not be permitted inside the RAC.

Tickets for the general public can be purchased online or by calling 1-866-49-FORUM. A discount is available to UMBC alumni. For more information about the Maryland Forum, visit www.themarylandforum.com.

A campus map and directions to UMBC are available online.

The Maryland Forum welcomes former U.S. Vice President Al Gore to UMBC on Tuesday, May 8. He will give a special multimedia presentation of "An Inconvenient Truth," which examines environmental issues and their impact on our global civilization. Gore will discuss how physical changes in the planet will influence our global economy and key opportunities and challenges for the democratization of technology. Tickets for the general public can also be purchased via the Maryland Forum Web site (A discount is available for UMBC alumni); UMBC faculty and staff can purchase discounted tickets with UMBC ID at The Commons Information Desk.

Previous Maryland Forum Events

Wednesday, November 8, 2006
Pulitzer-prizewinning journalist Bob Woodward

Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Ehud Barak, former prime minister of Israel

On Jan. 24, the production and filming for two national television shows began in a newly updated studio located on UMBC’s campus. The Voice is considered the sounding ground for entertainment for the 55+ community. Casting is underway for the second show, a hard hitting investigative reports show addressing issues impacting seniors. The shows produced at UMBC are part of an expanding line up of daily programming for Retirement Living Television (RLTV), the first television network for seniors, established by Erickson Retirement Communities’ CEO John Erickson

To celebrate the opening of the new studios and this latest venture between Erickson Retirement Communities and UMBC, an Open House will be held on Feb. 16 from noon-2 p.m. in the studios on the second and third floors of Academic IV, A Wing. Guests will meet RLTV staff, view demonstrations in the Control Room, and tour the facilities.

The refurbishment of the studio has already increased internship opportunities for UMBC students and will further the collaboration of research between the University and the Erickson School of Aging Studies. Eventually, RLTV will broadcast its programming from a new $20 million office building currently under construction at bwtech@UMBC Research and Technology Park.

More than 26 million homes nationwide can watch RLTV. Viewers in the Baltimore region can catch RLTV on CN8 The Comcast Network and on Channel 238 on DirectTV. For more information on the Open House, contact Kathy Raab, RLTV University Liaison, at kraab@rl.tv or 443-610-0028. For more information on Retirement Living Television, visit http://www.rl.tv.