I am pleased to announce that Thomas Field, professor of Modern Languages, Linguistic, and Intercultural Communication, has been named the Lipitz Professor of the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences for Academic Year 2009-10. This professorship is supported by an endowment
created by Roger C. Lipitz and the Lipitz Family Foundation "to recognize and support innovative and distinguished teaching and research in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Maryland Baltimore County."

Professor Field has achieved an extraordinary record as a teacher, scholar and citizen of the University since joining the UMBC faculty in 1979. In addition to serving on innumerable important committees, he has been chair of his department (1992-1996) and director of the Center for the Humanities (1999-2005 ). A superb teacher of French and linguistics, professor Field was UMBC Presidential Teaching Professor (1992-95) and Carnegie Foundation Maryland Professor of the Year (1996), and in 1982 he shared the Gilbert Chinard Pedagogical Prize given by the American Association of Teachers of French. Professor Field's research focuses on Gascon/Occitan, an endangered language of southwestern France and the Pyrenees area of Spain, French sociolinguistics, historical perspectives on literacy, and issues in language education. He is author of two books and more than two dozen articles, and his research has been supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Fulbright Commission and the American Council of Learned Societies. He has held a Fulbright Senior Scholar Research Fellowship and, most recently, a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship that supported his ongoing research on Gascon. During the period of his Lipitz Professorship, he will continue his current research project of creating an electronic corpus of Medieval Gascon .

I know that everyone will join me in congratulating Professor Field on his many accomplishments and on being named the Lipitz Professor of the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences for Academic Year 2009/10.

John Jeffries
Dean of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

Alumna Voted Chair for Maryland Association of CPAs
Kimberly Ellison Taylor ’93, engineering and information technology, was voted chair elect (vice chair) for the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants. She will be the first African American, female chair for the organization, which has 11,000 members.

Barry Lanman, History, in Baltimore Sun
A book authored by Barry Lanman, professor and director of the Martha Ross Center for Oral History, will help celebrate Baltimore County’s 350th birthday in 2009. The illustrated history, Baltimore County: Celebrating a Legacy 1659-2009, was published by the Historical Society of Baltimore County. "It's one of the fastest pieces I've ever done. It was intense, but it was fun," Lanman said. "This was to be a picture book as well, and our themes were Baltimore County traditions, change and diversity.” The story, “New Book Celebrated Baltimore County’s 350th,” ran Sunday, June 21.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bal-md.backstory21jun21,0,4690124.story

Kriste Lindenmeyer, History, in Baltimore Magazine
Baltimore teenagers feel the reality of the recession alongside their parents, according to a Baltimore Magazine article. Chair and Professor in the Department of History Kriste Lindenmeyer sees similarities between children and teenagers now and those raised during the Great Depression. “Every time kids come of age when there's a downturn in the economy, I think they have a better grasp of the reality that capitalism doesn't always guarantee an upward rise to opportunity," she said. The article, "Reading, Writing, and Recession: Think your teen isn't worried about the economy? Think again," ran in the June 2009 issue.

http://www.baltimoremag.com/article.asp?t=1&m=1&c=32&s=715&ai=83686

Don Norris, Public Policy, in Baltimore Sun
In a debate about whether to reduce funding to the inspector general’s office, Don Norris, public policy chair, noted that the city’s legislative body fills a similar role to the inspector general. "If the city council is doing its job, which is in part to hold accountable city government, then there is no need for an IG," Norris said. The article, “Baltimore inspector general facing cuts and queries,” ran Friday, June 19.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bal-te.md.ci.inspector19jun19,0,515352.story?page=2

Bill Thomas, Erickson School, in Health Progress
Erickson School professor Bill Thomas was featured in The Catholic Health Association’s journal, Health Progress, as one of the “Change Makers of Our Time.” He was described as person who is revolutionizing societal views and care toward older Americans. "You can impact people's lives and you can impact society in a way that is actually not possible if you're strictly and only in clinical practice,” he said. The article ran in the July 2009 issue.

http://www.chausa.org/Pub/MainNav/News/HP/Archive/2009/07July-Aug/Articles/SpecialSection/hp0907f.htm

UMBC in the Washington Examiner
In her regular column, Washington Examiner’s Marta Mossburg wrote about the fairness of funding among Maryland colleges and universities. She said even though fewer students are graduating, state taxpayers continue to provide financial backing for higher education projects. “It is not fair to students or taxpayers to focus aid on schools that fail to prepare students to become productive citizens. University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), Frostburg State University and Towson University all provide a low-cost, quality education and a likely path to graduation and a higher paying job that comes with a diploma,” Mossburg wrote. The opinion piece, “Failure to graduate is nothing to worry about in Maryland,” ran Friday, June 19.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columns/marta-mossburg/Failure-to-graduate-is-nothing-to-worry-about-in-Maryland.html

Lacrosse Player Selected to Second Team and All-Star Game
Kara Dorr ‘09 has been honored by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) with selections to the Mid-Atlantic All-Region Second Team and the Under Armor North-South Senior All-Star Game. In addition to sports, Dorr excelled in the classroom and was a unanimous selection to the America East All-Academic squad as well as earning CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District Second Team nods.

Non-Exempt Staff Senate Awards Book Scholarships
The Non-exempt Staff Senate (NESS) awarded two book scholarships of $500 each to Laura Wood ‘10 and Rose Wilson ‘10. These scholarships are awarded annually to two UMBC undergraduate students who have completed 90 credit hours of course work and have achieved at least a 3.2 GPA. For further information about NESS or the scholarships, contact NESS President Michael Dick at michaed@umbc.edu.

Artists to Perform in AREA 405 CIRCUIT
Several UMBC artists will perform at AREA 405 CIRCUIT, an interdisciplinary event on Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27. Professor of Dance Carol Hess and the Baltimore Dance Project will showcase their work, “Liquid Measure.” Alumnae Renee Brozic ‘99 Barger will present “Quad Ruled,” a piece intermixing space, time, manners and dance. Professors Timothy Nohe and Marian Glebes along with Nick Prevas ‘03 will perform musically. Nohe is also the curator for the event. Video and animation artists include Prevas, Nicole Shiflet M.F.A. ’06 and Matt Sterling ‘11.

The event will be held at 405 West Oliver Street in Baltimore.

For more information, visit http://userpages.umbc.edu/~nohe/AREA405Circuit/index2.html.

Adam Driscoll ’04, Patrick Blair ’03 Bike to Benefit Children
Two UMBC Alumni hope to capture first place in Race Across America, a 3,000 mile race that begins in California and ends in Annapolis around June 26. Adam Driscoll ‘04 and Patrick Blair ‘03 met at UMBC, where they both ran track and cross country. The two “have their sights set on a more altruistic goal - they hope to raise $50,000 to benefit local children with diabetes and disabled children in Africa,” the Baltimore Sun reported. The article, “Grueling ride for a good cause,” ran Sunday, June 14.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/howard/bal-ho.neighbors14jun14,0,3326564.story

Tom Schaller, Political Science, in Baltimore Sun
In his regular Baltimore Sun column, Tom Schaller notes that a recent poll revealed the people feel Rush Limbaugh is the voice of the Republican Party. Schaller reveals that Limbaugh explained on his radio show that, unlike liberalism, conservatism requires thinking. “Thoughtful liberalism and conservatism alike require seriousness, thinking and, perhaps most of all, the realization that solutions to complex problems are (surprise!) equally complex and sometimes elusive,” said Schaller. The article, “Au contraire, Rush: It's not easy being a liberal,” ran Tuesday, June 16.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.schaller16jun16,0,1553641.story

Stuart Schwartz, CUERE, in Baltimore City Paper
Stuart Schwartz, senior research scientist at the Center for Urban Environmental Research, was recognized in Baltimore City Paper for his project, "Forecast Generation and Dissemination for the Record Setting 2009 Red River Flood.” The purpose of the endeavor is “to document the role of human forecasters and their interactions, both within the forecast community and between forecasters and users of sequential forecasts, as a central element of the forecast generation and dissemination process.” The article, “Record flood of 2008 results in UI flood research projects of 2009,” was covered by Baltimore City Paper Wednesday, June 17.

http://media-newswire.com/release_1092943.html

Lacrosse in LaxPower.com
UMBC men's lacrosse team will participate in the 2009 International Friendship Games as part of a 11-day journey to Tokyo and Nagoya, Japan.

www.laxpower.com/laxnews/news.php?story=15653

Don Norris, Public Policy, In the News
Although some of the charges against her have been dropped, Mayor Sheila Dixon is not out of the woods yet: seven criminal charges remain--as well as the possibility of prosecutorial appeal. Don Norris, professor and chair of public policy and director of the Maryland Institute for Policy Analysis and Research, was part of a panel discussion about Dixon on WYPR’s “Midday with Dan Rodericks” Wednesday, June 10.

www.wypr.org/midday.html

City leaders have questioned the appointment of former school board chairman Brian Morris to a $175,000 job managing operations inside the district. "It has the appearance of favoritism, regardless of the qualifications of the person hired,” said Norris. The article, “Morris gets cautious backing,” ran in the Baltimore Sun Thursday, June 11.

www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/bal-md.morris11jun11,0,5611008.story

Robert Provine, Psychology, on NPR
Psychology professor and laughter expert Robert Provine was part of a panel discussion on “All Things Considered” Thursday, June 4, about whether or not apes and other animals laugh when tickled? Psychology professor Robert Provine said dogs pant in a certain way when they're playing, and rats are known to chirp. He thinks the roots of laughter might go even further back. The story was picked up by over 100 additional news outlets.

www-cdn.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104952197

Tom Schaller, Political Science, in Politico
Politico.com reported that President Barack Obama may have a strategy in mind when it comes to the Obama Administration: isolating conservatives in the Deep South. “Boxing the Republicans into a South-dominated party is very good strategy, because the more you reduce the Republican Party, the more conservative and reactionary it will become, and thus less attractive to moderates,” said Schaller. “The Midwest and the Northeast are the places where there are still remnants of old-line Rockefeller Republicans. And these are the places where the Democrats will build durable majorities.” The article, “Stealth War: Barack Obama sabotages Republications,” ran Wednesday, June 3.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/23253.html

Bill Thomas, Erickson School, in Parade Magazine
Parade Magazine recently reported on the conditions of older Americans in terms of housing. Erickson School professor and geriatrician Bill Thomas was cited for his success with The Green House Project, a nursing home model that includes housekeeping and cooking along with care. He’s noted for rejecting the coldness of an institution. “We only have two populations who live in institutions in our society: criminals and the residents of nursing homes," he said. The story, “Where To Live As We Age,” ran Sunday, May 31.

http://www.parade.com/health/2009/05/where-to-live-as-we-age.html

Cliff Bridges ’09 Receives Post-Graduate Scholarship
Cliff Bridges ’09 was named one of the three recipients of the Maryland Association of College Directors of Athletics (MACDA) post-graduate scholarships. The MACDA postgraduate scholarships recognize three student-athletes for superior work in the classroom and on the field. Bridges, who earned seven varsity letters as a jumps specialist for the indoor and outdoor track and field teams, was a two-time All America East Conference selection in 2006 and 2008. He also earned Dean’s List honors four of his eight semesters and is a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma and Golden Key Honor Societies. He will be attending the University of Colorado at Boulder to pursue a Ph.D. in Mathematics in fall 2009.

http://www.umbcretrievers.com/sports/track/release.asp?release_id=4796

Anindya Roy Appointed Associate Editor
Associate Professor of Mathematics Anindya Roy has been appointed an associate editor for the Journal of American Statistical Association, the flagship publication of the American Statistical Association. The new editorial board’s tenure is 2010-12.

Lacrosse Players Selected in Major League Draft
Three UMBC seniors were selected in the Major League Lacrosse Entry Draft at Stevens Institute of Technology. Peet Poillon was a third-round selection by the Boston Cannons, Alex Hopmann and goalkeeper Jeremy Blevins were back-to-back fourth-round picks of the Denver Outlaws. The three selections matches the total number of Retrievers selected in draft history.

Screenings by Eric Dyer, Visual Arts
Films by Assistant Professor of Visual Arts Eric Dyer will be screened at various locations throughout the summer:

* His film, “Copenhagen Cycles,” will screen at the opening of the Edge of Arabia on Saturday, June 6. The opening celebration will take place at The Palazzo Contarini Dal Zaffo Polignac (a magnificent, early Renaissance palace). The films in the program have been chosen to reflect the feeling and spirit of the Edge of Arabia foundation, which is to explore visual language and innovative multimedia art across cultures.

* Dyer will also present his art and cinema project, “The Bellows March,” at the 15th International Symposium of Electronic Art in Belfast, Ireland on Saturday, August 29.

* Several of the 3-D printed ‘cinetropes’ from Dyer’s installation and cinema project, “The Bellows March,” will be exhibited at Ererbuni Gallery Space, Williamsburg, Brooklyn in September. Too Art for TV is a group exhibition designed to promote and encourage artistic approaches in the field of animation.