All posts by: UMBC News Staff

Gib Mason, UMBC Training Centers, Shares New Year’s Resolutions for Leaders

gib-masonGib Mason ’95, economics, chief operating officer, vice president of finance and administration and director of the Center for Leadership and Innovation at UMBC Training Centers, wrote an article in the Baltimore Business Journal highlighting his top New Year’s resolutions for leaders.

In the article, Mason shared five resolutions he sees as crucial for leaders: increase transparency, embrace vulnerability, develop opportunities to innovate, engage your team, and create shared experiences. “Through my experience, I’ve tried a number of best business practices to increase team productivity and quality of work,” Mason wrote. “The best lesson I’ve learned is for leaders to focus on your teammates — they are the bread and butter of your organization.”

Click here to read “5 New Year’s Resolutions for Every Leader” in the Baltimore Business Journal.

Donald Norris, Public Policy, on WYPR’s Midday with Dan Rodricks, in Bethesda Magazine

Donald Norris UMBCOn December 23, Donald Norris, professor and director of the School of Public Policy, joined WYPR’s Midday with Dan Rodricks for a review of the year’s most significant political stories. Norris, along with Melissa Deckman, chair of the political science department at Washington College, analyzed the results of Maryland’s gubernatorial election, discussed the future of outgoing Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, and other significant national political stories heading into the new year. The full segment can be accessed here.

On January 7, Norris was quoted in an article published in Bethesda Magazine examining the future of the Purple Line under incoming governor Larry Hogan. “He has enormous power to kill it,” Norris said.

He added, “if [Hogan] zero-funds the Purple Line, or the Red Line in Baltimore, then the legislature, through the budgetary process, can’t do anything,” said Norris, while adding: “That said, the legislature has enormous power otherwise—and they can make life so miserable for the governor that he wouldn’t do something like that or if he did, he would be brought right back to be accountable by the legislature.”

To read the full article titled “Supporters Would Have Little Recourse if Hogan Moves to Halt Purple Line,” click here.

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, Op-Ed in the Baltimore Sun

In his January 6 column in the Baltimore Sun, Political Science Professor and Chair Thomas Schaller wrote about his new book “The Stronghold: How Republicans Captured Congress but Surrendered the White House,” published this month by Yale University Press. In his column, he discussed the core argument of his book:

The Stronghold

“My main contention is that the Republicans — and, I suppose, the Democrats too — have reached a point of ideological-institutional confluence. Specifically, in our protracted modern era of partisan polarization and divided government, it makes sense that the more conservative party dominates Congress rather than the presidency.”

In the column, he discussed that the recent history of the Republican party since the era of Bill Clinton contrasts with previous decades when Republicans won seven of ten presidential elections between 1952 and 1988. He analyzed the shift in recent years and its implications for the future of the Republican party:

“Presuming divided government is indeed the new normal, conservatives should prefer that Republicans control Capitol Hill rather than occupy the Oval Office. But whatever its allures, a Republican Party defined by its congressional wing is risky political business for the GOP.”

To read the full column titled “Conservatives better suited to Congress,” click here.

Schaller is scheduled to present a talk on his book at Baltimore’s Ivy Bookshop on Wednesday, February 4 at 7:00 p.m. For more information, click here.

MLLI Faculty Accomplishments For Fall 2014

Ana Maria Schwartz Caballero received the 2014 NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award on Sept. 28, 2014. Photo credit: Baltimore Ravens.

Associate Professor Denis Provencher interviewed Eric Fassin discussing his lead essay from the special issue of Contemporary French Civilization on Marriage Equality in France (Vol 39.3 (2014)). “Interview with Eric Fassin: Au-delà du mariage/Marriage Equality in France.”  H-France Forum, Dec. 2014.

On November 2, 2014, Associate Professor Elaine Rusinko received the John Mihalasky Humanitarian Award from the Carpatho-Rusyn Society. According to its description, “The Mihalasky Award honors those who have dedicated themselves to the cause of Rusyn culture, heritage, and humanitarian aid.”

Ana María Schwartz Caballero, Associate Professor of Spanish and Second Language Education, was honored with the 2014 NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award at the September 28th Ravens versus Carolina Panthers game at M&T Bank Stadium (September 28, 2014). For more information, click here.

Denis M. Provencher co-organized the international symposium, Queer Québec, as part of the biennial American Council of Québec Studies (ACQS) in Montreal, Canada in October 2014. He and co-organizer Dr. Charles Batson (Union College), will guest edit two special issues of the journal Québec Studies (Liverpool UP), on the symposium’s theme, which will appear in 2015 and 2016 respectively.

Dr. Provencher also published a new article: “Stepping Back from Queer Theory: Ethnography, Language, and Sexuality in French Cultural Studies.”/French Cultural Studies/ 25.3/4 (2014): 408-417. This essay is part of the 25th-anniversary special issue of the journal French Cultural Studies on the state of the field and Dr. Provencher’s essay is featured in the last section, which points to future directions in the field.

Dr. Provencher received $1,500 from The Graduate School at UMBC Mini-Grant Program, to organize a series of cohort-based writing workshops for the students enrolled in the M.A. in Intercultural Communication. The workshops will address writing an M.A. scholarly paper, writing in the discipline, and resume & cover letter development and will be held in February 2015.

Julie Rosenthal, Asian Studies, in the Howard County Beacon

In its January issue, the Howard County Beacon published an article about the Food on the 15th program and UMBC’s Asian studies food pantry program for low-income Asian seniors at Longwood Apartments in Columbia.

Asian Studies Food Pantry2

Asian Studies Program Management Specialist Julie Rosenthal is founder and director of Food on the 15th and was quoted extensively in the article. Longwood Apartments was added to the program last year, and an internship was created for UMBC students to work as food pantry workers and translators for Chinese and Korean residents living in the apartments. Rosenthal saw a need, and now the program has delivered more than 18,000 bags of groceries and toiletries free of charge to the seniors. A community service project for children of all ages was also started as a component of the program to show them what some of the seniors go through on a daily basis.

“I wanted them to see the beginning, the middle and the end of the project, when they collected the food, sorted it and delivered it,” Rosenthal said. “The parents were also involved.”

To read the full article in the Howard County Beacon, click here (continued on pg. 9). For more information on the Asian studies food pantry program, click here.

UMBC Humanities Scholars Explore Baltimore History on The Marc Steiner Show

think_create_engage_red.jpgOn January 5, WEAA’s The Marc Steiner Show aired a radio series produced by UMBC humanities scholars which examined the people, places, and social movements which have contributed to the history and culture of Baltimore City. The radio series was part of a course taught by Kate Drabinski, lecturer of Gender and Women’s Studies, and Nicole King, associate professor of American studies titled “Place and Public History in Baltimore.”

The goal of the series was to dig below the surface and uncover the social history of the city by asking the question: What should the public remember about Baltimore history and why? Several Baltimore residents were interviewed for the series, which included segments on the history of day laborers at Camden Yards, Chinese immigrants, and the Our Daily Bread program.

To listen to the full, thirty-minute radio series, click here.

Robert Deluty, Graduate School, Publishes His 47th Book

robertdelutyRobert Deluty, associate dean of the graduate school, has published a new volume of poetry. In his review, Richard Berlin writes: “In ‘Being Wakeful,’ Robert Deluty works his magic again, opening our eyes to ‘the unseen, the unheard, the untouchable.’ Nothing in our teeming universe escapes his perceptive gaze, his compassion, and his generous sense of humor. Like its predecessors, this book will warm your heart and make you laugh out loud. Another gem from a prolific poet whose wonderful work never ceases to amaze me.”

“Being Wakeful,” as well as all of Dr. Deluty’s other books, may be purchased at the UMBC Bookstore.

Career Q&A: Research Assistant Allison Kelly ’12, Chemistry

Every so often, we’ll chat with an alum about what they do and how they got there. Today we’re talking with research assistant Allison Kelly ‘12, Chemistry, about her current research project. 

Name: Allison Kellyallisonkelly
Job Title: Research Assistant, PhD Candidate
Major/Minor: Chemistry, Writing
Grad year: 2012

 

Q: What drew you to UMBC for your studies?

When I stumbled onto the UMBC website I was greeted by the words: “The school where it’s cool to be smart.”  I wanted a local college that valued academics, and UMBC seemed to fit that bill. During the course of my studies, I grew to love the focus on scholarship and the acceptance of nerd culture I found on campus.

Q: Can you recall any professors or advisors at UMBC who inspired you?

I am very grateful for my time in the UMBC chemistry department. In particular, I got to work closely with Dr. Tara Carpenter and Dr. Stephen Mang in various classes and as an American Chemical Society student member. Their commitment to undergraduate education and enthusiasm for science outreach is something I hope to emulate after finishing my PhD.  And all of the folks in the Honors College were incredibly supportive. Especially Dr. Shields, who always managed to blend professionalism and empathy.

Q: Can you explain a little about your current sustainability project?

My project focuses on polymer solar cells. The silicon solar cells available on the market can be heavy and expensive. Polymer solar cells are light weight, flexible, printable, and less expensive, but currently are not as great at converting sunlight to electricity.  Our goal is to improve the efficiencies with the goal of making polymer solar cells commercially viable. Specifically, I’m focusing on increasing the amount of sunlight the cells can absorb by adding more absorbing components to the system. But making additions to an already complex system creates complications, which I am working towards understanding.

Q: What has been your greatest achievement throughout your project? Your greatest challenge?

Daily troubleshooting, especially at the beginning, is the most challenging part of research: doing experiments that worked yesterday but not today; using established, “easy” techniques and failing; determining which step(s) of a ten step process is causing the problem. I spent two months simply trying to get my controls up to par.

But after almost two years, I’m finding my feet, playing a bigger role in directing my project, and finally getting significant results.

Q: Is there any advice you’d like to give to students at UMBC?

Give a smile and a “thank you” to the Chartwells folks.

Q: Do you have a favorite memory from your time at UMBC? 

It’s impossible to pick just one! There was a lovely Friday evening when I had the opportunity to serve dinner at a homeless shelter, played capture the flag on campus, and camped out in a dorm lobby to watch the Lord of the Rings with some friends. We paused in the middle to walk out to Pig Pen Pond and “watch” a foggy sunrise. It’s certainly not my only good memory, but one that encompasses many of my favorite things about the UMBC community.

UMBC 3rd in Pan-Am Chess Championship, advances to Final-Four

chess6_700

Congratulations to the UMBC chess team for placing third in the 2014 Pan American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship and qualifying to advance to the President’s Cup on April 5-6 at the New York Athletic Club.  This tournament, known as the Final Four of College Chess, will determine the 2015 U.S. college team chess champion.

The UMBC team in this year’s Pan-Am consists of GM Niclas Huschenbeth, IM Levan Bregadze, IM Tanguy Ringoir, GM Akshayraj Kore and WGM Nazi Paikidze (alternate).

The final standings were: Webster University A (5.5 points), the University of Texas at Dallas A (5 points), the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (5 points) and Texas Tech University A (4.5 points). UTD placed ahead of UMBC by virtue of winning their match.

You can view the final results on the tournament website and review selected games on Monroi.

reposted from the CSEE Web site.

News Coverage

UMBC chess team advances to national championship (Baltimore Sun)

Competitive UMBC Team Excels In Intellect (CBS Baltimore)

UMBC Interim Policy on Prohibited Sexual Misconduct and Other Related Misconduct Approved

UMBCUMBC’s Interim Policy on Prohibited Sexual Misconduct and Other Related Misconduct was approved by President Hrabowski on December 22, 2014, and includes more information on prohibited misconduct that includes Sexual and Gender Based Harassment, Sexual Violence, Relationship Violence, Domestic Violence, Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Intimidation, Sex and Gender Based Stalking, and Retaliation. The policy follows recent updates in the USM Policy on Sexual Misconduct. Some campus training is underway and additional training is being developed.

Please take a moment to review the policy. For concerns about Gender-Based Misconduct, contact the Title IX Coordinator, Stephanie Lazarus at 410-455-5745. All students have additional campus based supports through the Voices Against Violence program, and the VAV Program Coordinator, Rina Rhyne, can provide support and information at 410-455-3748.

Piotr Gwiazda, English, Publishes New Book

Piotr Gwiazda, English, has published a new book US Poetry in the Age of Empire, 1979-2012 (Palgrave Macmillan).

Examining poetry by Robert Pinsky, Adrienne Rich, and Amiri Baraka, among others, this book shows that leading US poets since 1979 have performed the role of public intellectuals through their poetic rhetoric.

Piotr Gwiazda’s argument aims to revitalize the art of poetry and reaffirm its social value in an era of global politics and culture.

Douglas Lamdin, Economics, in Pew Research Center News

Doug LamdinAn article published December 16 by the Pew Research Center examines the relationship between lower gas prices and consumer confidence in the economy. The article cites research by Douglas Lamdin, professor of economics, and Mark Johnson, a professor at Loyola University Maryland. Their research found a negative relationship between changes in gas prices and their impact on consumer sentiment. The excerpt from the Pew Research Center article can be found below:

“[The Pew Research Center] plotted the monthly consumer-sentiment index against the monthly average price of regular gas (adjusted for inflation) and found a moderately strong negative correlation — that is, consumer sentiment rose as pump prices fell. That aligns with previous research: For example, a 2012 paper from two researchers at Loyola University Maryland and the University of Maryland Baltimore County not only found an inverse correlation between gas prices and consumer sentiment, but used causality testing to conclude that price changes predicted sentiment changes and not the other way around.”

To read the full article in Pew Research Center news titled “Do lower gas prices make for confident consumers, click here.

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