All posts by: UMBC News Staff

Kevin Wisniewski, LLC Doctoral Student, Named 2014 Michael Denker Chesapeake Chapter Fellow

Language, Literacy and Culture doctoral student Kevin A. Wisniewski was recently named a 2014 Michael Denker Chesapeake Chapter Fellow at the American Printing History Association. The fellowship is named after a former Chesapeake Chapter president, and it offers a one-year membership and active participation in the association’s various activities throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, including a presentation of original research at an upcoming symposium on the history of colonial printing and typography.

Kevin Wisniewski

Wisniewski will also be presenting a paper at the upcoming American Literature Association’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C. with professors from Ohio University, the College of William and Mary and the University of Massachusetts from May 22-25 in a panel entitled, “Graphic Humor in the 19th-Century Periodical.”

Finally, Wisniewski’s review of Michael David Cohen’s monograph Reconstructing the Campus: Higher Education and the American Civil War (University of Virginia Press, 2012) is forthcoming in the journal Civil War History, and he is awaiting the publication of sections he completed on the early American republic for a forthcoming online, Open Access American History textbook entitled American Yawp. 

The project is edited by Joseph Locke (University of Texas-Pan American) and Ben Wright (Rice University) and boasts an impressive editorial board that includes Edward Ayers, Kathleen Brown, Joyce Chaplin, Woody Holton, James Merrell and Richard White.

Ellen Handler Spitz, Honors College, Participates in Community Development Program in Appalachia

Honors College Professor Ellen Handler Spitz recently traveled to Sewanee, Tennessee to the University of the South, where she was invited as a guest lecturer in the pioneering program, “Child, Family and Community Development in Rural Appalachia.”

EHS at Sewanee

The program is sponsored by the University of the South, The Yale Child Study Center and Scholastic. A major goal of the program is to help children and families in poverty-stricken Appalachia while building community and fostering a rich cultural life.

As part of the program, Spitz lectured and read story books to four groups of children ranging from three to six years old and met with colleagues and planners, sitting in on a variety of sessions and classes that involve the program, the arts, children’s literature and psychology.

UMBC Recognized for Value and Smart Students

Recent reports have recognized UMBC as a top school for “smart students” and a university that provides students with strong “ROI,” relating tuition and other costs to alumni salaries.

Using student-reported data from College Prowler, Business Insider ranked UMBC in the top ten on a list of Public Colleges with the Smartest Students. A student review of UMBC on College Prowler describes, “UMBC is a great university. Its diversity, high-quality education, and leadership opportunities make it a place where everyone can shine.” The Business Insider story generated notable online interest, including over 15,000 views through UMBC’s Facebook page. 

In the Payscale.com College ROI report, UMBC ranked in the top 10% of 1,310 colleges and universities measured — one of the highest rankings among universities in Maryland.

Hilltop Researcher Michael Abrams Co-Authors Two Articles Published in Psychiatric Services

Michael T. Abrams, MPH, a senior research analyst at The Hilltop Institute, co-authored two articles published in the April 2014 issue of Psychiatric Services. The articles are both based on a study of low-income young adults (aged 18-26) discharged from an inpatient psychiatric event, a marker for serious mental distress.

Identifying Young Adults at Risk of Medicaid Enrollment Lapses After Inpatient Mental Health Treatment discusses a study that identified antecedents to Medicaid enrollment lapses in the year following discharge. Such lapses are undesirable because they suggest absence of medical attention that is especially indicated in the wake of an inpatient psychiatric stay.

Medicaid Lapses and Low-Income Young Adults’ Receipt of Outpatient Mental Health Care after an Inpatient Stay discusses a second study that estimated the impacts of Medicaid enrollment disruptions on access to mental health services in the same year following inpatient discharge. That study found that Medicaid disruptions correlated with reduced outpatient mental health service utilization and lower medication possession ratios. Jointly, these articles offer information to policymakers and others regarding the reasons and the potentially negative health care consequences of insurance discontinuities for young adults with substantial, albeit emerging, mental health needs. Such young adults represent an important subset of persons who should gain broader access to medical care coverage via the Affordable Care Act.

Dr. Yvette Mozie-Ross ’88 Named Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and Planning at UMBC

To: UMBC Community
From: Philip Rous, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dr. Mozie-Ross with UMBC students.

I am delighted to announce that Dr. Yvette Mozie-Ross ’88, health science and policy, has been promoted to the position of Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and Planning. Dr. Mozie-Ross served as Associate Provost for Enrollment Management since 2011 and prior to that appointment served for five years as Assistant Provost for Enrollment Management. Dr. Mozie-Ross also served as Acting Director of Academic Services and Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Orientation. Dr. Mozie-Ross is a UMBC alumna and earned a Ph.D. in Education Policy and Administration from the University of Maryland, College Park.

This appointment recognizes the centrality of strategic enrollment management, development and planning as it impacts the mission and future of our community and the success and progression of our students. It recognizes the importance of developing a leadership structure consistent with the increasing breadth of the enrollment management portfolio and the critical importance of strong and effective leadership of the enrollment management team in supporting core academic affairs functions and initiatives, including student success, retention and graduation; student administration and oversight; and direction of the SA system and the SA functional team. As Vice Provost, Dr. Mozie-Ross will work with the Provost and with UMBC’s leadership team on strategic enrollment planning and to leverage existing tools and resources to enhance data- and evidence-driven approaches to determine and reach our institutional enrollment and student success goals.

I am grateful to Dr. Mozie-Ross for her leadership, dedication and commitment in service to the UMBC community for the past 25 years. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Mozie-Ross on her appointment as Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and Planning.

__________________________________________________________

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Ant Ozok, Information Systems, on The Kojo Nnamdi Show

photo 3Technological advancements such as direct deposit, ATMs and cell phone apps have changed the way people bank. A recent news report found that 50% of the population had not visited a bank branch in the last month.

Ant Ozok, associate professor of information systems, visited WAMU’s The Kojo Nnamdi Show to discuss technological innovations that have transformed personal banking. Ozok, who specializes in human computer interaction, emphasized the importance of a positive user experience, saying, “Banks need to take the precautions that are necessary so that users do what they need to do in an efficient way.”

Click here to listen to “Personal Banking Technology” on The Kojo Nnamdi Show.

Erle Ellis, GES, on WPR and Die Zeit

ErleEllisWebErle Ellis, geography and information systems, recently discussed how humans are changing the planet with Wisconsin Public Radio and Die Zeit.

Ellis explains the idea of the Anthropocene, a term that signifies a new geological epoch where humans significantly impact the earth’s systems. He says, “It’s out of date to see the earth as a natural ecosystem that is disturbed by people. Rather, the earth has become a human system with embedded natural ecosystems.”

Click here to listen to “The Future Of Humans’ Transformation Of The Planet” on Wisconsin Public Radio. Read “Planet of the People” on Die Zeit by clicking here.

Lee Hawthorne Calizo, OSL, Recognized as ACPA Diamond Honoree

lee_calizo_300x375Lee Hawthorne Calizo, Director of Student Life, was recognized at the American College Personnel Association’s National Conference in Indianapolis in this years class of Diamond Honorees.

Lee was nominated by colleagues who believe she has distinguished herself as a teacher, administrator, researcher, writer, and an association leader. In addition, Lee has demonstrated sustained contributions to ACPA, higher education, and the Student Affairs profession at the local, state, regional, national, or international levels.

UMBC’s Chess Team Ranks Second in the Nation

CHessPhotoOn Sunday, April 6, 2014, UMBC Chess took second place in the President’s Cup, also known as the Final Four of College Chess. UMBC has won the President’s Cup a record six times, and this year competed against Texas Tech, the University of Illinois and Webster University, which grabbed the title this year.

Alan Sherman, director of UMBC’s Center for Information Security and Assurance, has been director of UMBC’s chess program for over a decade. Joel DeWyer, associate director of The Commons, is business manager for the team. His live tweeting of the competition, with play-by-plays conveying the energy of the team, generated a buzz on social media.

DeWyer has previously said of the UMBC chess team, “I admire their passion for their sport, the efforts they make in balancing this passion with their priority of earning a degree, and how they support one another by offering suggestions.”

The Washington Post ran two articles on the President’s Cup this year, calling UMBC’s chess program “one of the oldest and most successful” and a “powerhouse in college chess.” Click to read “The other Final Four — of chess” and “Webster University wins (chess) Final Four” in The Washington Post.

Shriver Center Peaceworker Fellows Meet With City Council

P1060529The Shriver Center’s Peaceworker Fellows recently met with City Council President Jack Young and City Councilman Jim Kraft to discuss their history of public service and their vision for moving Baltimore forward.

UMBC’s Peaceworker Fellows have worked in public service internships at City Hall with Councilman Kraft for nearly a decade. This partnership has allowed Peaceworker alumni to hold positions in various City Hall offices.

The above photo features the current cohort of Peaceworker Fellows at Baltimore City Hall on March 28, joined by Peaceworker alumni Kristyn Oldendorf from Councilman Kraft’s Office, Lisa Fink from the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, Cailin Benson from Council President Young’s Office and Brian Greenan from the Mayor’s Office of Economic and Neighborhood Development.

Yonathan Zohar, Marine Biotechnology, on NPR’s The Salt

yoniDespite the popularity of seafood, fish farming is not a common practice in the United States due to concerns about waste and disease. However, recent technological innovations could offer solutions to those problems.

Yonathan Zohar, marine biotechnology, was interviewed by NPR about his work with the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology. Zohar has found a way to farm fish without the risk of disease or need for antibiotics, explaining, “The idea is to have the entire life cycle in completely clean and controlled conditions that are disease-free, so you don’t introduce anything from the outside.” Zohar is also working on a new type of fish food that would eliminate the concerns about waste.
To listen to the story, entitled “The Future Of Clean, Green Fish Farming Could Be Indoor Factories” on NPR, click here.

Meet the Staff: Jessica El-Zeftawy ’08, Political Science, Sociology; ’12, M.P.P.

Here in the Office of Alumni Relations, we spend a lot of time telling stories about and talking with our wonderfully supportive alums. However, we’ve decided to turn the tables and take time to get to know the people behind the scenes – the  advancement and alumni relations staff members who are hard at work on behalf of our alumni. Today we’ll be hearing from Jessica El-Zeftawy ’08, Political Science, Sociology; ‘12, M.P.P., the Alumni Programming Coordinator.

jess-9829Name: Jessica El-Zeftawy (formerly Bard)
Job Title: Alumni Programming Coordinator
Focus Area: I work with the UMBC Chapter of Young Alumni (CYA) to plan fun and engaging events and volunteer opportunities throughout the year. I also work with the UMBC Student Alumni Association (SAA), a student organization dedicated to finding opportunities for alumni and students to network and creating a vibrant on-campus community.
Years at UMBC: Student 2004-2012; Alumni Relations staff since 2013
Grad year: 2008 – Political Science, Sociology; 2012 – M.P.P.

Q: Where are you from originally?

A: I’m an Air Force brat so I’m not really from anywhere, but my heart will always belong to Texas.

Q: What do you love most about UMBC?

A: UMBC is a community where it’s totally cool to be a dork. The students here are allowed to love learning, to engage in challenging dialogue, and there are so many opportunities to try new things out whether it be a new major, club, or activity. I’m really proud to have spent what I consider my formative years at UMBC.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about your job?

A: While I love working with my fellow alumni, the student group I work with, the Student Alumni Association (SAA), really brings so much joy to my work at UMBC. They’re incredibly intelligent, funny and passionate about the work they do in the community.

Q: Has your position as an Alumni Relations staff member changed who you are as a person?

A: Having been in my position for less than a year as I write this response, I can’t say for certain that my time in Alumni Relations has changed me as a person, but what I can say is that it has definitely changed my outlook on giving. Being a young alumni myself, with school loans, a house payment, etc. I’m not sure I saw the importance or the impact of giving back to UMBC until I started working in Alumni Relations. During my time as a staff member, I’ve had the opportunity to meet a scholarship recipient, I’ve heard amazing stories from student groups and projects that were funded by charitable donations, and I think if I ever leave UMBC I’ll probably always continue to give back, whether it’s by giving a donation or volunteering my time.

Q: Who do you admire and why?

A: I recently read a book called Endurance: Shackelton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing. It’s an amazing true story of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton’s heroic attempt to cross the Antarctic in 1914, which resulted in their ship being trapped and crushed in an ice flow and their survival for over a year on drifting ice in the Antarctic seas. After reading this book, I admire Shackleton as a heroic leader in the face of extreme adversity and I also admire his love for exploring uncharted territory. I believe one can either daydream about epic adventures or try and live them.

Q: If you could be another staff member for a day, who would it be and why?

A: Without a doubt I would want to be Logan Wern, UMBC Phonathon Coordinator.

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