Provost Elliot Hirshman in the Maryland Gazette of Business & Politics
In an opinion editorial, Provost Elliot Hirshman recounts his first year as provost, congratulates outstanding scholars and addresses the importance of Maryland institutions. “If you happen to hear ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ or see a young person in cap and gown, take a moment and contemplate this: Maryland is home to one of the finest public higher education systems in the nation, thanks to you and the strong support of Gov. Martin O'Malley and other elected officials.” The opinion piece, “Elliot Hirshman: A time of pomp and pride for all Marylanders,” ran in the Maryland Gazette of Business & Politics on Friday, May 22.

Senior Exit Exhibition Awards
The following seniors received a total of approximately $2,000 in gift certificates and cash prizes for their outstanding work in this year's Senior Exit Exhibition at The Center for Art, Design and Visual Culture (CADVC). The prizes came from the following donors: ColorLab, Creative Alliance Movie Makers, MBC Precision Imaging, Plaza Art Supply, Service Photo, Severn Graphics and CADVC.

GRAPHIC DESIGN: Ronald Mugabi, Sean Heavey, Jennifer Hong, Samantha Song, Tijani Oghnlende, Daniela Hinoha and Allison Mowry

PHOTO: Jennifer Erb, Michelle Renay Wilson and Terah Murray

PRINT MEDIA: Katie Heather and Dennis Garcia

FILM: Matt Szychowski, Brendan Huza, Justin Wineke, Johnathan Ramirez, Antonio Calderon and Kevin Goodson

GAMING: Elka Cahn, Joel Bowers, Matt Fioravante, Paul Guseman, Adam Shook, Tommy Truong, Justin Wineke, Jan Zhang and Danny Hollis

CADVC’s Show Pick: Michele Renay Wilson and Sean Heavey

Their artwork will be on display at the CADVC through Saturday, June 20.

Four Men’s Lacrosse Players Selected to All-America Squads
For the second consecutive year, a school-record tying four UMBC men’s lacrosse players have been selected to the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association’s All-America squads. Senior midfielder Peet Poillon earned the top honor, earning Second Team honors, while senior goalkeeper Jeremy Blevins repeated as an Honorable Mention selection. Senior midfielder Alex Hopmann and junior linemate Kyle Wimer both earned honorable mention citations.

Tennis Player Named to First-Team Academic All-America
Tennis standout Cornelia Carapcea ‘09 has become the ninth student-athlete in UMBC history to earn multiple Academic All-America citations as the native of Constanta, Romania, was named to the First-Team Academic All-District II women’s at-large squad. Carapcea, who earned Third Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All American honors last spring, was UMBC’s co-salutatorian at graduation ceremonies on Thursday, May 21.
She is the second women’s tennis player to earn multiple honors. Eight of UMBC’s nine honorees have been recognized since 1997.

Thomas Blass, Psychology, in the Baltimore Jewish Times
In his book, The Man Who Shocked The World: The Life and Legacy of Stanley Milgram, Professor of Psychology Thomas Blass tells the story of the late Stanley Migram, who was a major figure in the field of social psychology after World War II. “Milgram’s evolution and impact are the subject of the newly released paperback version of the original biography by Thomas Blass…an acknowledged expert on Milgram’s life and work.” The book review ran Friday, May 15, in the Baltimore Jewish Times.

http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/book_reviews/

Josh Michael ’10 in the Chronicle of Higher Education
The Chronicle of Higher Education reported on the in-state tuition freeze established by Governor Martin O’Malley. Josh Michael ’10, the student regent on the University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents, told the paper, “We're not willing to necessarily sacrifice quality at the price of affordability,” and added students were willing to pay somewhat more to preserve the value of their educations if the state money is not there. “When we graduate, we want our degrees to mean something.” The story, “Calculating the True Cost of Tuition Freezes at Public Colleges,” ran Friday, May 15.

http://chronicle.com/weekly/v55/i36/36a01901.htm

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the Baltimore Sun
Associate Professor of Political Science Tom Schaller’s latest column for the Baltimore Sun offered suggestions on ways the U.S. government can reform the tax code to reward savings strategies. The column, “Encourage Americans to Save by Creating Tax Code Incentives,” ran Tuesday, May 19.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.schaller19may19,0,832745.column

Manil Suri, Mathematics, in the Washington Post
A Washington Post review of the Folger Theatre play "Arcadia" noted the credit given in the program to Manil Suri, professor of mathematics and statistics. “The program goes so far as to credit a ‘mathematics consultant,’ Manil Suri, a professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. But rest assured: Even if the cast felt the need to bone up on algorithms, you, on this evening of open heart and crackerjack wit, won't have to.” The review, “Warmly, an ‘Arcadia’ That’s Most Calculating,” ran Friday, May 15.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/14/AR2009051404064.html

Ellen Handler Spitz, Visual Arts, Serves as Guest Editor, Speaks on Panel
Ellen Handler Spitz, professor of visual arts and an Honors College faculty member, served as guest editor for the Journal of Aesthetic Education. The topic of the issue is children’s literature and will be published in summer 2009. This special issue is being submitted by the University of Illinois Press for a Council of the Editors of Learned Journals prize.

On Monday, June 1, Handler Spitz will speak on a panel, “The Metamorphoses of Sigmund: Freud and His Afterlives,” before the evening performance of “Hysteria,” a play by British playwright Terry Johnson. The location is the Wilma Theater in Philadelphia.

bwtech@UMBC in the Catonsville Times
Two companies at bwtech@UMBC are among the 18 finalists named by the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, the Maryland Technology Development Corporation, RSM McGladrey Inc., and Saul Ewing LLC for the ninth annual Maryland Incubator Company of the Year Awards. The Catonsville Times reported that Amethyst Technologies and Columbia BioSystems, Inc. were among those nominated for the awards, which recognize the achievements of current and graduate companies within Maryland's incubators. The story, “UMBC Research Park Companies Finalists for State Honors,” ran Wednesday, May 13.

http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/business/99052/umbc-research-park-companies-finalists-state-honors/

CUERE in Earth Magazine
Environmentalists today are working with pervious concrete, a pavement made with a cement-like binding material devoid of the sand-like particles for which traditional concrete is know. “You can literally dump a five-gallon bucket of water on this stuff and not get your shoes wet,” Stu Schwartz, a senior research scientist at the Center for Urban Environmental Research, told Earth magazine. “It lends itself to some dramatic photos, like fire hoses being discharged onto it, and the water just disappears into the pavement.” The magazine described the center’s study of chemical changes in water flowing into and out of the pavement system. The article, “Dull as Concrete? Think Again,” ran in the June issue.

www.earthmagazine.org

Ray Hoff, Physics, in ScientificAmerican.com
The Web site for Scientific American reported on the “Smog Blog” established at UMBC under the direction of Ray Hoff, professor of physics. “The idea is to put all that [air quality] data in one place and put a story together,” Hoff said. “We aim to be a one-stop shop.” Hoff has run the Smog Blog with a team of current and former graduate students and other volunteers since 2003. The piece, “Slide Show: Painting the Picture of Air Quality with Satellite Data,” ran Thursday, May 7.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=smog-satellite-data

Don Norris, Public Policy, in the Baltimore Sun
Political observers in Maryland believe that Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith will ultimately run for state comptroller next year. “If Smith runs, he will have the support of the governor and the governor's organization,” Don Norris, professor of public policy and director of MIPAR, told the Baltimore Sun. “If Smith gets out there early enough, he will be a viable candidate.” The story, “Smith Expected to Challenge Franchot,” ran Sunday, May 10.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_county/bal-md.co.smith10may10,0,3522059.story

UMBC in the Washington Post
The Washington Post reported that David Phelps, a high school student from Prince George’s County received the Barry A. Lanman Award for Oral History from the Martha Ross Center for Oral History at UMBC. The news item, “Names in the News,” ran Thursday, May 14.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/13/AR2009051301910.html?referrer=emailarticle

May 14, 2009

To: The UMBC Community, Graduating Students and Commencement Guests

Fr: Lynne Schaefer, Vice President for Administration and Finance
Chair, Emergency Preparedness Committee

Nancy Young, Vice President for Student Affairs
Co-chair, Emergency Preparedness Committee

Re: Swine Flu Precautions and Commencement

Some of you have asked if UMBC plans any changes to the upcoming Graduate School and undergraduate Commencement ceremonies in the wake of the swine flu outbreak. While swine flu cases continue to appear in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world, at this point in time its symptoms and outcomes appear to be similar to normal seasonal flu in healthy populations. Therefore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is not currently recommending the cancellation of large public events. The CDC has encouraged campuses to use this as an opportunity to remind individuals of the ways we can protect ourselves and each other from spreading flu at large gatherings like Commencement.

Please consider the following if you are attending UMBC’s Graduate School and/or undergraduate Commencement ceremonies:

-If you or one of your guests is sick, please do not attend Commencement in order to avoid passing your illness on to others.

-While we are not making any changes to the Graduate School and undergraduate Commencement ceremonies, we do, however, recognize that some students may choose not to shake hands with administrators when they receive their degrees. We leave that choice to each student; no one will take offense and will respect a student’s failure to extend his/her hand. We also respect any decisions made by administrators or faculty on whether or not to shake hands.

-Wash your hands with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleansers are also effective. You are also encouraged to wash your hands following the ceremony especially before eating or touching your face.

-Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.

-Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue into the trash after you use it. If a tissue is not available, cough or sneeze into your sleeve (not your hands).

Additional information on swine flu symptoms, prevention and care is available at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm or on the UMBC University Health Services Web site at http://www.umbc.edu/uhs/healthalerts.html.

UMBC’s campus wide Emergency Management Committee continues to monitor the situation. If you have a question or concern, please call the Division of Student Affairs at 410-455-2393 or University Health Services at 410-455-2542 and press “1.”

General information about the Commencement ceremonies is available at http://www.umbc.edu/commencement.

Senior Economics Lecturer Marcia Croteau Retires
Marcia Croteau departs her students and classes to retire with her family and enjoy their cabin in the woods. Croteau has taught for 21 years in the economics department, administrative and managerial sciences program. She headed the program from 1998 to 2006 and has been coordinator of the program since 2006. Over the years, she was active with the Interdisciplinary Studies Committee, the Accounting Club and in mentoring numerous students. UMBC was a second career after reaching a senior accountant position with Price Waterhouse and serving as vice president and controller of a public company. The economics department and UMBC community salute her teaching and leadership accomplishments and wish her well on her retirement.

Ellen Hemmerly, bwtech@UMBC, Receives SmartCEO Magazine’s Brava! Award
Ellen Hemmerly, executive director of bwtech@UMBC, has been selected as one of 25 winners of SmartCEO magazine's Brava! Women Business Achievement awards. Winners were selected for their career accomplishments and contributions to their companies and communities. Hemmerly is being recognized for her achievements at bwtech@UMBC as well as with the ACTiVATE program, which has trained 92 women over the past four years to be technology entrepreneurs.

Hemmerly and the other winners will be recognized at an awards breakfast on Friday, July 24, and will be featured in SmartCEO's July issue.

CADVC Receives Awards for Design, Exhibition
Congratulations to visual arts professor Franc Nunoo-Quarcoo, and Emily Wilson ‘99 for winning Honorable Mention for their design of CADVC's latest publication, Visual Culture and Bioscience: An Online Symposium. The recognition from the American Association of Museums is in the category of “scholarly journals for institutions with a budget of less than $750,000.” This is Franc Nunoo-Quarcoo's 24th award for the design of a CADVC publication. For more information, visit http://www.artbook.com/9781890761127.html.

Note: Bioscience explores the timely and relevant subject of the enlocked relationship between the biosciences and the domain of art. It is the 12th volume in CADVC's Issues in Cultural Theory Book Series. Bioscience, and the online conference on which it is based, represent the start of a new collaborative effort between CADVC and the Cultural Programs of the National Academy of Sciences (CPNAS) in Washington, D.C.

Congratulations also go to CADVC's Senior Research Scholar Maurice Berger who won the prestigious Exhibition of the Year award from the Association of Art Museum Curators for the exhibition he co-curated at The Jewish Museum in New York. This is the second award that Berger's exhibition won this year. The award ceremony will take place at the Museum of Modern Art on Monday, May 18. For more information, visit CADVC News/Events at http://www.umbc.edu/cadvc/news/news.php or read The New York Times review at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/02/arts/design/02acti.html?ref=design.

Softball Players Selected for America East Team
Second baseman Lauren Brummell ‘11 and third baseman Krista Kearns ‘09 were selected to the America East All-Championship Team on Saturday, May 9.

Marina Adler, Sociology and Anthropology, Receives Mentor Award
Sociology and anthropology professor Marina Adler received the 2009 Donald Creighton Award for Outstanding Faculty Mentor from the Graduate Students Association. She received the award at a presentation on Monday, May 4.

Despite the strong competition among other Maryland colleges and universities, UMBC held its own at the 2009 Recyclemania competition, capturing two second-place awards in most-recycled corrugated cardboard and bottles and cans. Students are recycling now more than ever, according to Recyclemania results, and UMBC was among the six universities with improved scores from 2008. In the Grand Champion Competition, which measures the greatest achievement in source reduction and recycling, UMBC raised its 2008 percentage of 11.10% to 20.48%. The campus also increased the amount of paper recycled per person with 2.27 pounds versus 1.77 in 2008. The amount of cans and bottles recycled per person increased from 1.24 to 1.63.

Maurice Berger Wins Exhibition of the Year
Maurice Berger, senior research scholar of the Center for Art, Design and Visual Culture (CADVC), won Exhibition of the Year award from the Association of Art Museum Curators for the exhibition he co-curated at The Jewish Museum titled “Action/Abstraction.” The award ceremony will be at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City on Monday, May 18.

Shriver Center’s Office of Professional Practice Receives Best Practice Award
The Shriver Center's Office of Professional Practice received the 2009 Best Practice Award from the Cooperative Education and Internship Association (CEIA) for its innovative and effective “Internship, Co-op and Research Programs” during a gala dinner in Portland, Oregon, on April 22. The purpose of the CEIA's Best Practice Award is to spotlight new approaches in applied learning and their application to other programs nationwide. More information can be found at http://www.ceiainc.org/sub.asp?PageID=78

Erle Ellis, Geography and Environmental Systems, in WiredScience.com
Erle Ellis, professor in the geography and environmental systems department, wrote an opinion essay for WiredScience.com calling for a “ ‘postnatural environmentalism.’ ” He wrote, “Postnaturalism is not about recycling your garbage, it is about making something good out of grandpa’s garbage and leaving the very best garbage for your grandchildren. Postnaturalism means loving and embracing our human nature, the nature we have created to feed ourselves, the nature we live in. What good is environmentalism if it makes you depressed about the future?” The piece, “Stop Trying to Save the Planet,” appeared Wednesday, May 6.

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/05/ftf-ellis-1/

President Hrabowski in the Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun reported that President Hrabowski has been named the winner of the Virginia B. Smith Innovative Leadership Award by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education and the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning. The award recognizes innovative leaders in higher education. President Hrabowski was praised for his efforts to enroll minority students in science, technology, engineering and math courses, as well as for his research and publications in the areas of math and science education. The news brief, “UMBC’s President Honored for Leadership,” ran Friday, May 1.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/bal-md.briefs012may01,0,4494548.story

Tom Schaller, Political Science, in the News
Associate Professor of Political Science Tom Schaller’s latest column for the Baltimore Sun focused on the causes and consequences of childhood pneumonia. “The bigger mystery is why the United States isn’t taking a lead role in eradicating this killer,” Schaller wrote. The column, “The Right Fight,” ran Wednesday, May 6.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.schaller05may05,0,6407896.column

Schaller told the NationalReview.com that the Republicans “have completely marginalized themselves to a mostly regional party.” The story, “The Campaign Spot,” appeared Thursday, April 30.

http://campaignspot.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NGFmOGVlMzg0MGNlOWNmOGM5ZWU5ZTZlMDczNzcxZGE=

Schaller contributed a “report card” to Salon.com regarding the first 100 days of the Obama administration. The story, “Obama’s 100-Day Report Card,” ran Wednesday, April 29.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2009/04/29/100_days/print.html

Students for Environmental Awareness (SEA) in the News
Members of the UMBC Students for Environmental Awareness (SEA) group were included in a segment of the Maryland Public Television Volunteer-A-Thon. The segment aired Friday, April 24.

Erickson School Professors Bill Thomas and Judah Ronch in American Medical News
Bill Thomas and Judah Ronch, professors at the Erickson School, were featured in an article about accommodating aging for older individuals. "Geriatrics is going to be the fastest-growing segment of primary care practice, and this is good, because taking care of older people is one of the most thrilling experiences in medicine," said Bill Thomas. “Keep them function independently and having a good quality of life,” Ronch said. The article, “Accommodating aging: Helping your older patients live the life they want,” ran Monday, May 4.

http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/05/04/hlsa0504.htm

Jeffrey Campbell, assistant research scientist in the Center for Urban Environmental Research and Education (CUERE) and advisor to students in SEA, was interviewed by Watermarks, the membership magazine of the National Aquarium in Baltimore. For the May issue, he discussed the involvement of students in environmental research.

UMBC Alumnae Capture Teacher of the Year Awards
Two UMBC alumnae have won Teacher of the Year awards in Maryland.

Cecily A. Anderson '93, English teacher at Catonsville Middle School, was named Baltimore County Teacher of the Year.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/bal-md.co.teacher05may05,0,7930111.story

Kimberly A. Schmidt '95, social studies teacher at Havre de Grace High School, was named the 2009-10 Harford County Public School Teacher of the Year.

http://wbal.com/apps/news/templates/story.aspx?articleid=25861&zoneid=3

Two UMBC alumna have won Teacher of the Year awards in Maryland.

Cecily A. Anderson '93, English teacher at Catonsville Middle School, was named Baltimore County Teacher of the Year.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/bal-md.co.teacher05may05,0,7930111.story

Kimberly A. Schmidt '95, social studies teacher at Havre de Grace High School, was named the 2009-10 Harford County Public School Teacher of the Year .

http://wbal.com/apps/news/templates/story.aspx?articleid=25861&zoneid=3