Ellen Berhane
Meyerhoff Parent

Her son Bruk entered UMBC as a member of the 10th class of the Meyerhoff Scholarship Program, which enrolls talented students in the areas of science, engineering, mathematics and computer science who are committed to increasing the representation of minorities in these fields. In her role as the "M-10" representative for the Meyerhoff Parent Association (MPA), Ellen Berhane helps support the program by hosting events and fundraisers.

"Not many colleges and universities have a parent association (for scholarship programs)," she points out. "But Dr. Hrabowski and the university believe that it's a key component for the success of the students." MPA members attend the Alumni Association Reception in Annapolis to encourage legislators to support the Meyerhoff Scholarship Program. "It's a very worthwhile program that does a lot of good things and opens a lot of doors," Berhane says.

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André Gudger
Information Systems '99

As a financial advisor for UBS PaineWebber Inc., André Gudger is used to dealing with money. As a member of the UMBC Alumni Association Board of Directors and the President's Advisory Council on Business Outreach, he also applies his talents to help support and improve the university. Gudger is currently helping to launch an outreach program targeting new alumni donors.

"Because we're such a young university, and many of our peers have a history of very wealthy donors giving back, we need to get there as well," says Gudger. "I wanted to be instrumental in seeing the program get off the ground and succeed."

Gudger is a UMBC donor himself. He also supports annual scholarships through nonprofits including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the United Negro College Fund.

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Cathy Hiebler
Interdisciplinary Studies '98

Cathy Hiebler's UMBC diploma was her 50th birthday present to herself. She started college in 1972, but the demands of family and work interrupted her studies. Fourteen years later, Hiebler, an IT specialist for the Social Security Administration, finished her degree.

"I believe that we're here on this planet to help each other," says Hiebler, who volunteers at admissions welcoming receptions and college fairs. She also regularly attends the legislative reception in Annapolis and recruits fellow alumni to attend. "I'm like a cheerleader for UMBC," she says. "There's power in numbers."

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Jim Kaufman
Policy Sciences Ph.D. Candidate

Jim Kaufman believes that most people don't get involved in public policy because they don't understand it. That's why he jumps at any opportunity to talk about how Annapolis really works and the issues that legislators deal with on a daily basis.

Kaufman is director of governmental relations for Johns Hopkins Medicine and previously worked for the Maryland Higher Education Commission. He is enrolled in the health policy track of UMBC's policy sciences Ph.D. program and a member of the Alumni Association's Public Policy Forum.

In addition to teaching at McDaniel College in Westminster, Kaufman runs a legislative simulation each year for the American Legion Boys State program. "I'm a firm believer that the only way our system of government works is by participation," he says.

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Donna Richardson
Visual and Performing Arts '79

Community outreach and advocacy are daily activities for Donna Richardson as the government and public affairs manager for Comcast Cable Communications. As a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, she puts her experience and local government contacts to work on the Annapolis Reception Planning Committee. "The idea is to show a united front to our elected officials," Richardson says. By attending, alumni, current students and their parents help highlight UMBC's successes.

"Being able to actually show what students are learning and doing and to remind legislators that our alumni stay in the area, are taxpayers and contribute to society in positive ways just kind of sweetens the message," she says.

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Tom Schaller
Assistant Professor of Political Science

UMBC students who look forward to playing a key role in shaping public policy one day often turn to Tom Schaller for guidance. In addition to teaching courses on American government and politics, Schaller directs the political science department's legislative internship program, in which students are matched with legislators in Annapolis for the 13-week session. He also places students with nonprofits, lobbying firms and state agencies in Annapolis and Washington, D.C.

Schaller brings his interns to the Alumni Association's reception in Annapolis each year. "I think having the students there humanizes the connection that's sometimes lost when you're looking at budget numbers," he says.

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Phil Shockley '04
SGA President

Phil Shockley, a political science and information systems major, is always looking for new ways to advocate for UMBC and its student body. He frequently speaks at university events like Convocation and acts as a student representative to administrators and VIPs.

One of the things he enjoys promoting about UMBC‹ whether talking to parents or major donors‹is the individual attention that students receive. "I have a big thing about making sure everyone feels special, like a person, not just a number," says the native of tiny Snow Hill, Md. Shockley also proudly talks about UMBC's status as one of Kaplan/Newsweek's "Hot Schools" and the rich student life on campus and advocates for resources in demand by students, including more parking, improved recreational fields and more emergency blue lights.

Being a student advocate for UMBC serves Shockley as well as the university. "I want to go into politics, so it's good practice," he says.

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Christopher Strong
Interdisciplinary Studies '86

As a member of the UMBC Alumni Association's Board of Directors and Public Policy Forum, Christopher Strong's job is to make sure alumni aren't intimidated by the prospect of chatting up legislators at the Alumni Association Reception in Annapolis. "Elected officials are just like you and me", says Strong, vice president for member programs for the National Manufacturers Association. "You're talking to folks who need to know what you have to tell them about funding for the school," he notes.

Attendance at this year's reception is especially important, he says. With the budget in bad shape and a new governor, UMBC needs to show that its students and alumni support legislators who support their school.

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