This issue of Generations celebrates the achievements of UMBC students, alumni, faculty and staff this past year.

Her career path was more improvised than choreographed, but Emily Giza, visual and performing arts '96 and M.A. instructional systems development '02, is now at ease in the classroom thanks to UMBC's Urban Teacher Education Program.

Kenya Cox, Ph.D. policy sciences '03, a resident scholar with the National Urban League, is quick to acknowledge the role her faculty mentor played in her graduate studies at UMBC.

Gib Mason, economics '95, is currently CFO of 180s LLC, an innovative Baltimore-based sportswear company — the most recent in a series of entrepreneurial adventures throughout his career.

In July, Harry S. Johnson, political science '76, became the first African-American president of the Maryland Bar Association — an achievement that speaks to his commitment to influencing change from "behind the scenes."

Joseph Grabowski, chemistry '78, recently received the Carnegie Science Center Award for Excellence for his work with students and technology at the University of Pittsburgh.