All posts by: UMBC News Staff

Production by Susan McCully, Theatre, at Fringe NYC

SusanInexcusable Fantasies, written by Susan McCully, theatre, and directed by Eve Muson, theatre, will be part of this year’s New York City International Fringe Festival, Fringe NYC, program. Performances will take place Sunday, August 18 through Saturday, August 24.

About Inexcusable Fantasies (GrrlParts.com):

“Martha Stewart, motorcycles, and Grandma’s Oil of Olay jar. What do they have in common? They are just a few of the often hilarious obsessions Susan McCully visits in Inexcusable Fantasies a show about sexual politics, lust ‘over forty, cloning, eye replacement surgery, and the unmistakably erotic powers of Martha Stewart’s marzipan.”

The production, starring Susan McCully and Rachel Hirshorn ’04, theatre, has been performed at a number of venues, including the Prague Film Festival in 2012, the Strand Theatre Company this year and various other international festivals since 2004. It’s been considered by critics as a comedy with incredible “subtlety”, “intelligence” and “verve,” and that “what makes the script so poignantly hysterical is the idea that the obsessions, the irrational emotions, the painful awkwardness—while hugely hyperbolic—speak to experiences we’ve all shared.”

Learn more about the production at GrrlParts.com; find time and ticketing information at Fringe NYC’s website.

Kimberly Moffitt, American Studies, guest hosts The Marc Steiner Show

Dr. Kimberly Moffitt, Professor of American Studies, was the guest host for The Marc Steiner Show’s “Weekly News Roundup,” which aired on Friday, July 26.

Dr. Moffitt was joined by panelists E.R. Shipp, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and Journo-in-Residence at Morgan State University, and Dr. Avis A. Jones-DeWeever, President and CEO of Incite Unlimited, LLC., to discuss the decline in the latest Maryland State Assessment scores and the existing achievement gaps based on race. Panelists and callers also commented on the repercussions of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on voting rights and the Justice Department’s role in pursuing legal action against voting rights cases throughout the nation.

Listen to the full segment »

Ed Orser, American Studies, in The Baltimore Sun

Catonsville is seeing a change in its demographics – and this is nothing new, according to UMBC American Studies professor, Ed Orser. In recent years, the 21228 zip code has seen a noticeable influx of younger single families looking to plant their roots in the quaint Baltimore suburb, leading to a revival in the housing market and increased enrollment in local schools, the article cites.

This isn’t the first time Catonsville has seen a demographic shift that brings a surge of school-age children to the area. The current boost is similar to the one from a century ago, Orser said. “Catonsville has this sort of unique blend. There is sort of an old character, it’s a historic community and people come and they stay.”

Christine Routzahn, Shriver Center, on WYPR’s Midday with Dan Rodricks

Christine Routzahn, director of professional practice, shares UMBC’s internship process and how it positively impacts the undergraduate experience on WYPR’s “Midday with Dan Rodricks,” which aired last week.

An increasing number of college students are trading traditional summer jobs for internships – and many of them are working for free. It is estimated that half of the more than a million undergraduate internships a year are unpaid. While internships have always been seen as effective stepping stones toward career development and job opportunities, recent lawsuits over unfair labor practices have raised concerns about companies using internships to replace employees with free labor.

“It’s our job to educate our students when accepting an offer. Internships are critical, but it’s important to understand that not all internships are equal,” said Routzahn. “When a student evaluates an offer and is sitting at the interview chair, it is important to ask certain questions and evaluate those answers.”

Listen to the full segment »

Maurice Berger, CADVC, and ‘Revolution of the Eye’ Receive NEH Planning Grant

Revolution of the Eye: Modern Art and the Birth of American Television, a forthcoming project from the Center for Art, Design and Visual Culture, UMBC and its Project Director, Dr. Maurice Berger are the recipient of a 2013 Planning Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The $40,000 grant, awarded under the Endowment’s America’s Historical & Cultural Organizations Grant program, will assist in the planning of an exhibition, book, and website. Revolution of the Eye represents the first collaborative institutional effort between the CADVC and the Jewish Museum in New York, where Dr. Berger holds the title of Consulting Curator. He is Research Professor and Chief Curator at CADVC. The grant will be administered through the Jewish Museum.

This is the third NEH grant awarded to Dr. Berger since 2008 in his capacity as project director at CADVC. An earlier project, For All the World to See: Visual Culture and the Struggle for Civil Rights received Planning ($40,000) and Implementation ($400,000) grants from the NEH in 2008 and 2009.

“Revolution of the Eye is the first exhibition to comprehensively examine the influence of modern art on television in its formative years, from the late-1940s to the early-1970s. The project looks at the dynamic new visual medium, and the ways its risk-taking and aesthetic experimentation paralleled the cutting-edge nature of modern art. More than just a compelling and entertaining story, the exhibition, catalog, and website will captivate the mind, eye and ear through a dynamic and bold installation and book and web design inspired by the visual revolution ushered in by American television and modernist art and design of the 1950s and 1960s.”

Lisa Akchin, Associate Vice President for Marketing and Public Relations, in the Baltimore Sun

“In a time when social bridge building is greatly needed, we have lost much of our capacity for public friendliness,” writes Lisa Akchin, associate vice president for marketing and public relations, in a recent Baltimore Sun op-ed.  Akchin was responding to President Obama’s recollection of being greeted by the click of car door locks while crossing the street as a young black man.

“I know my own hand made that reflexive move for the door lock too many times before my mind considered the impact of my actions as a white woman on the feelings of a young black man,” she says.

Akchin writes about her own process of changing her perceptions, and calls on others in Baltimore to seek out opportunities to engage with people of diverse backgrounds. “For me, the first step out of this counterproductive cycle was a decision to stop seeing a statistic when I approached a black man on the street and begin seeing an individual coming from somewhere and going somewhere,” she says. “We are fortunate in Baltimore to have many attractive public spaces and events that serve as a modern-day town commons. These places and experiences offer rich opportunities to practice public friendliness.”

The piece, “On race, moving from fear to friendliness,” appeared in the Sun on July 24.

Naming Academic IV for Generous Supporters of UMBC

TO: The UMBC Campus Community

FROM: Diane Lee, Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education, and Greg Simmons, Vice President for Institutional Advancement

RE: Naming Academic IV for Generous Supporters of UMBC

We are delighted to announce that the USM Board of Regents have approved UMBC’s request to officially name Academic IV after George and Betsy Sherman, in honor of their generous support of the University. Over nearly 20 years, the Shermans have committed more than $10 million to help strengthen our efforts increase the number of well-prepared, highly qualified teachers committed to teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in high-needs school throughout the Greater Baltimore region.

In 2007, the Shermans partnered with UMBC to start the Sherman STEM Teacher Scholars Program, which is dedicated to growing the number of highly-qualified STEM teachers working in urban school districts by providing scholarships, intensive advising, and robust peer support and mentorship. Dozens of Sherman Scholar alumni are now working in Baltimore City Public Schools.

The Shermans’ most recent gift commitment, a $1-million pledge, will enable UMBC and the Sherman STEM Teacher Scholars Program to deepen its connection to city schools through a multi-year partnership with Lakeland Elementary and Middle School in southwest Baltimore. Sherman Scholars, along with Shriver Center Peaceworkers and Choice Program caseworkers, will work with school leadership to develop school- and family-centered strategies that address student and community needs.

In appreciation of the Shermans’ generosity, and in recognition of our shared commitment to the power of education to transform lives, Academic IV will be renamed “Sherman Hall.” In the tradition of the Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Chemistry Building and Janet and Walter Sondheim Hall, signage throughout the building will be changed and donor plaques will be introduced. Work will begin over the summer, with the building officially assuming its new name at the beginning of fall 2013.

A formal dedication ceremony will be planned for the fall, and we will share that information in a follow up communication in the coming weeks.

UMBC Again Named a “Great College to Work For”

July 26, 2013

To: The UMBC Community

From: President Freeman Hrabowski and Provost Philip Rous

Re: UMBC Again Named a “Great College to Work For”

For the fourth consecutive year, The Chronicle of Higher Education has named UMBC one of the best colleges in the nation for which to work. Each year, the Chronicle asks faculty and staff across the country to rate their workplaces on a host of factors. UMBC rated highly across all categories this year, earning it a spot on the “Honor Roll” for the second consecutive year.

UMBC is among only 97 colleges included in the Chronicle’s full list, and is one of only 10 Honor Roll institutions nationwide in its size category.  Other Honor Roll institutions in our category include Baylor University, Stanford University, and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

The Chronicle results are based on responses from nearly 45,000 people at 300 institutions nationwide, including UMBC. The assessment also included an analysis of demographic data, benefits, and workplace policies at each participating college. This year, UMBC received high ratings in seven categories:

  • Collaborative Governance
  • Teaching Environment
  • Confidence in Senior Leadership
  • Supervisor/Department Chair Relationship
  • Respect and Appreciation
  • Tenure Clarity and Process
  • Diversity

Those ratings reflect our values and our deep commitment to supporting one another. We are a “Great College to Work For” because of each of you. Thank you for all you do for the UMBC community.

Center for Digital History and Education and New Media Studio Develop iPad App

The Center for Digital History and Education (CDHE) and the New Media Studio have developed an iPad app based on their recent project, “Children’s Lives at Colonial London Town: The Stories of Three Families.”  The app is now available for free in the Apple App Store here.

“Children’s Lives at Colonial London Town: The Stories of Three Families” is an interactive exploration into the lives of children who actually lived in colonial America. The navigation and enhanced content enliven the stories of three families in London Town, Maryland from before the Revolutionary War.

A screenshot from the new app.

The app features include interactive timelines, historical and thematic maps, image galleries, a clickable glossary of terms and people, and a teaching guide.

The stories were written by elementary school teachers in graduate course work at UMBC, under the direction of Marjoleine Kars, chair of history. Rachel Brubaker, CDHE, directed the digital project. Bill Shewbridge, director of the New Media Studio, oversaw the app design.

“Children’s Lives at Colonial London Town” builds on a successful grant partnership between the CDHE, Anne Arundel County Public Schools, and Historic London Town and Gardens. Funding for the project was provided by the United States Department of Education’s Teaching American History Grant Program.

A companion website was developed in 2012. The project received the 2012 Social Studies Program of Excellence Award from the Middle States Regional Council for the Social Studies, an affiliate of the National Council for the Social Studies.

Zeev Rosenzweig Appointed Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Zeev RosenzweigUMBC is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Zeev Rosenzweig as chair of the department of chemistry and biochemistry and professor of chemistry, effective January 1, 2014.

Rosenzweig will come to UMBC from the National Science Foundation, where he is presently a program director in the division of chemistry. He also carries the title of professor adjunct in the chemistry department of the University of New Orleans, where he was previously a professor. His research interests are in the synthesis of nanomaterials and their applications in biological and environmental systems.

“We are delighted to have Dr. Rosenzweig be a member of our campus. He is a gifted and talented researcher, experienced educator, and proven administrator,” said William LaCourse, dean of the college of natural and mathematical sciences.

In addition to his management and leadership experience, Rosenzweig has an outstanding record of scholarship. He received his B.Sc. in Chemistry in 1986 and Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1992. He also held postdoctoral research positions at the Ames Laboratory of Iowa State University (mentored by Dr. Edward S. Yeung) and the University of Michigan (mentored by Dr. Raoul Kopelman). He is the author of 57 refereed papers in a variety of prestigious journals, eight book chapters and one patent. Rosenzweig has presented numerous papers at national and international conferences. Rosenzweig’s leadership and excellence has been recognized with an NSF CAREER award, Hebrew University Visiting Scholar Award, and a number of service awards from NSF including the NSF Director’s Superior Accomplishment Award.

On accepting his appointment as the chemistry and biochemistry chair, Rosenzweig said, “I am honored to have been selected Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UMBC. I thank Dean LaCourse and the search committee for their confidence in me to work with the faculty and lead the department to continued excellence in chemistry and biochemistry research, teaching, and service in the upcoming years. I am excited about the opportunity to redevelop my research program in the area of nanomaterials chemistry and to make significant contributions to solving sustainability and human health problems through the use of nanoscience and nanotechnology. I wish to thank NSF for providing me with the opportunity to serve the community as Program Director in the Division of Chemistry for the last eight years. I believe that lessons I learned from my NSF experience will prove invaluable as I assume my new role as Department Chair. Finally, I wish to thank the outgoing Department Chair Dr. Richard Karpel for his leadership over the past few years, which has allowed the UMBC Chemistry Department to maintain its tradition of excellence.”

Rosenzweig’s appointment as chair brings to a conclusion a successful national search for a leader who will build upon, and enhance, the outstanding reputation of UMBC’s department of chemistry and biochemistry in teaching, research, outreach and service.

Career Q&A: Jennifer Mercer ’12, INDS, Intern with Free State Legal Project

Every so often, we’ll chat with an alum about what they do and how they got there. Today we’re talking with student attorney Jennifer Mercer ’12, interdisciplinary studies, about how her time at UMBC helped prepare her for her work with the FreeState Legal Project and how both experiences are shaping her future career.

Jennifer Mercer at GraduationName: Jennifer Mercer
Job Title: Student Attorney
Employer: FreeState Legal Project

Q:  Tell us a little about how you wound up at UMBC. What’s your background?

A: I am originally from Lutherville, Maryland. When I was in high school, I got a postcard in the mail for the Just for Juniors visit day. To be honest, I didn’t want to go because I thought I wanted to go to college out of state. My mother made me go, however. Once I went, I had a very positive experience. It’s hard to describe, but I felt a certain energy in the air on campus. The students seemed to be excited to be there. The professors I spoke to seemed to be genuinely interested in me. Needless to say, I am sure I was not the first prospective student to be powerfully impressed upon by Dr. Hrabowski’s words. And to think that if I’d had my way, I would have blown it off! I learned a lesson no teenager particularly relishes: my Mom was right.

I liked UMBC so much, I just couldn’t wait until I graduated high school to enroll. I spent my senior year of high school taking classes part time, then taking six credits per semester at UMBC as part of the concurrent enrollment/Young Scholars Program. I got a head start on college, and knew I was where I needed to be.

Q:  You’re in the middle of an internship right now, so a few questions: What have learned so far? What are you most excited about working on this summer? How do you feel this internship will help you in your career?

A: Interning for FreeState Legal Project has been a wonderful experience so far. My clients are low-income members of the LGBT community. I help them get access to critical legal services which they need but cannot afford. Since FreeState is very small, no two days are the same, as there is so much to be done! We are a fairly new organization, but we have grown tremendously in the past few years. This is due in no small part to founder and Executive Director Aaron Merki ’05, political science, who is also a UMBC graduate (and UMBC’s Rising Star Alumnus of the Year in 2010).

I have learned a great deal already about the substantive law issues affecting low-income LGBT clients, such as family law issues, legal name and gender changes, discrimination cases, immigration, and more. Due to the rapid and relatively recent advance of society’s acceptance of LGBT people, there is a striking lack of legal precedent in these areas. Therefore, a large part of my job is researching issues and constructing the best possible work product out of limited information. I do this with my clients in mind, as important parts of their lives depend on it. After my work is reviewed by my supervisors, it gets sent to clients or to the court. I’m proud to do work that makes a direct impact.

It is hard to pick a thing that I am most excited about, but the first thing that came to mind was my work on juvenile justice. FreeState sponsors a LGBT Youth Roundtable which consists of leaders from many agencies which impact the lives of LGBT youth. I work on the Juvenile Justice Subcommittee along with several juvenile public defenders and prosecutors. Right now, I am surveying existing research on the state of incarcerated LGBT youth in order to develop strategies for further research. We are looking at best practices for caring for these youth, and will draft a model policy to show to policymakers. The assignment is perfect for me, considering my senior capstone project (and URCAD presentation) was about incarcerated adolescent girls more generally. I have the opportunity to build on my existing knowledge, which is wonderful.

I think the most vital skills I am learning come from the actual interactions I have with my clients. Learning how to talk to clients, who are often distressed at their situation, and to meet their problems with legal solutions, is critical. That being said, I think it is equally important to be able to take out the legalese when speaking to clients. I do my best to make sure they understand what is going on with their cases, and answer their questions as needed. My internship is teaching me how to be a compassionate, client-focused attorney. That is something I will use for my whole career, as are the connections I have made with others in the legal community who are similarly minded.

Q:  Tell us about your career plans for the future. What would you like to do after law school? Were there any lessons you learned, in particular, at UMBC that have stuck with you?

A: I came into law school with the experience I had as an undergraduate intern at the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City, Juvenile Division (thanks Shriver Center!). Between that internship and my coursework at UMBC, I knew I wanted to become a public interest attorney. While it is absolutely true that public interest attorneys do not make as much money as their colleagues in the firm world, I know that this path is for me. My experience at UMBC helped to give me that confidence.

I plan to spend my entire career doing public interest work on behalf of people who would otherwise not have access to the justice system. I hope that when I retire someday, I can look back at my career and know that it has changed lives. I am aware that these might be seen as lofty goals by some, but my time at UMBC taught me that I can achieve more than I may believe. If you would have told me when I was in high school that my college career would have gone so well, that I would apply to and be accepted to five different law schools, that I would choose a top tier law school and secure an internship I love helping clients who need it, I would not have believed you. And yet here I am!

Q:  Is there a particular class or professor who really inspired you?

A: It would be impossible to fully describe my UMBC experience without acknowledging the Interdisciplinary Studies department. The great thing about INDS is that truly does not limit students, but encourages them to pursue their intellectual interests at the highest level. My departmental adviser was INDS Assistant Director Steven McAlpine, who nurtured my curiosity and allowed it to grow and blossom. Former INDS (now POLI) faculty member Dr. Lisa Vetter also helped me along, giving me advice when I needed it. The course that stuck with me the most was Civil Rights, taught by Dr. George LaNoue. The lessons I learned in that course have proven practical in this line of work. Additionally, that course introduced me to the power of law to uplift the downtrodden.

Q:  What advice would you give to students considering UMBC?

A: My advice to prospective UMBC students is to keep an open mind, and not to limit yourself based on what you think you want. Once you’re here, get to know the faculty. I still work with some of the adjunct professors I had at UMBC, including Profs. Carrie Evans and Terry Hickey. Just the other day, I had dinner with someone I originally met because she was a guest speaker in Prof. Hickey’s Problem Solving in the Urban Black Community class.  We talked about the work I have been doing, and she gave me some advice. I still see Prof. McAlpine at his monthly drum circle performances. The relationships you build with faculty can be very enriching, so stop by during office hours and get to know them.

Q: What is your favorite UMBC memory?

A: I have a lot of great memories of UMBC, but many of my favorite memories are related to my experience as a member of the UMBC Down and Dirty Dawg Band. I played clarinet for all four years. The time I spent playing at basketball games, traveling during the conference tournaments, and just spending time with my pep band friends was time very well spent. I have an incurable case of Retriever Fever!

Bill LaCourse, Dean of CNMS, in The Baltimore Sun

In a recent Baltimore Sun article on engaging underprivileged and minority students in science, Bill LaCourse, dean of the college of natural and mathematical sciences, voiced the importance of creating a strong community to support student learning and success.

Students who come to college unprepared often need remediation, said LaCourse. UMBC has decided to change the approach of throwing 800 students into an introductory science class to let everyone sink or swim, because too many were sinking. Today, the school works to ensure that students feel more supported and have a small community of fellow students to turn to for help.

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