Gael Force Catonsville’s a long, long way from Tipperary, but a local band with a strong UMBC connection is bringing Ireland and other musical ports of call a lot closer with their music. Five of the six members of fiddlin’ around (yes, the name is lower case) call UMBC their alma mater or their workplace. Tara Ebersole ’08, Ph.D., public policy, Dave Aylsworth ’74, American Studies and Sarah Moreland ’97, M.S. electrical engineering, are alumni. Eric Ebersole is a lecturer in UMBC’s sociology department, and Terry Aylsworth is the executive administrative assistant in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social… Continue Reading At Play – Winter 2010
Christina Ralls ’07, imaging and digital arts, recently completed a public art project that allowed her to dive into her family history and tell a story about one of the most turbulent moments in Baltimore’s recent history. UMBC Magazine asked her to share that experience: Cold concrete blocks have replaced glass windows and front doors. An abandoned Catholic church casts its ominous afternoon silhouette on the abandoned intersection at Eager and Valley streets. Many would say this sight is a familiar one in East Baltimore today, but this visit was different for me. It was my first day as community… Continue Reading Art History – Christina Ralls ’07, IMDA
Discovering Japan When UMBC men’s lacrosse team returned from an 11-day trip to Japan to play in the 2009 International Friendship Games, they came back with more than an undefeated record in the competition. They also returned with a sense of what makes Japan unique and a camaraderie that spanned cultural divides. Members of the team opened up a window on their journeys in Japan with postings during their trip at The UMBC Dawg Blog. “A trip to Nagoya Castle,” wrote Alex Hopmann ’09, business technology administration, “was capped with a trip to the gift shop to purchase rubber nunchucks… Continue Reading At Play – Fall 2009
Ask Andre Gudger ’99, information systems management, how he recalls his undergraduate years at UMBC, and he sums it up in a single word: “intense.” Gudger remembers a swirl of study and ambition at the core of his college experience. “There were a lot of classes, a lot of books, a lot of push to achieve,” he says. Intensity also defines Gudger’s approach to the business of information technology and its applications in business and government. Gudger is the CEO of Solvern Innovations, a company he founded in 2003 to help corporate executive and public servants cope with various opportunities… Continue Reading Center of Attention – Andre Gudger ’99, ISM
You might know John Strausbaugh ’74, interdisciplinary studies, from the books that he’s written on odd and controversial topics – including Elvis culture (E: Reflections on the Birth of the Elvis Faith), boomer rock (Rock ‘Til You Drop: The Decline From Rebellion to Nostalgia), blackface (Black Like You: Blackface, Whiteface, Insult & Imitation in American Popular Culture) and the sissification of America (Sissy Nation: How America Became a Culture of Wimps & Stoopits). But Strausbaugh’s been influential behind the scenes in contemporary journalism as well. As the editor of New York Press in the 1990s and the early part of… Continue Reading Charmed City
Austen in Motion UMBC’s annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day (or URCAD) is always a date circled in red on the university calendar – and for good reason. This past April 22, more than 180 students in 28 majors – ably mentored by the university’s faculty – presented their scholarly work at locations across the UMBC campus. At times, the work presented by undergraduates finds its energy by crossing over disciplinary boundaries. Such was the case with “Letters from Jane: A Tribute to Jane Austen,” a project conceived by Hannah Mary Rzasa ’10 and mentored by Doug Hamby, a… Continue Reading Discovery – Fall 2009
Over the past decade, Gustavo Matheus ’90, biological sciences, has demonstrated his pride in UMBC in a most tangible way: helping to persuade his fellow alumni to give back to the university. Now UMBC is giving something to Matheus: its 2009 Outstanding Alumni Award for Distinguished Service to the university and it’s alumni. Matheus has a successful health law practice in Rockville. But he has also spearheaded a number of alumni projects at UMBC, including mentoring young alumni who helped create the university’s Esperanza Endowment Fund – which supports UMBC students of Latino or Hispanic ancestry and/or students committed to… Continue Reading Fund-Amental Leader – Gustavo Matheus ’90, biological sciences
After spending the summer jamming on guitars in their living room together, Professor Morin and his son, Nick, traded mix tapes to commemorate the experience. They worked on their lists separately, but clearly have some similar tastes. (All tracks link to Amazon.com) Mix tape for Nick Morin From Dad (2009) by Professor Joseph “Skip” Morin Track 1: “Funk #49” by James Gang Track 2: “(Night Time Is) The Right Time” by Ray Charles Track 3: “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” by The Temptations Track 4: “Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands” by Bob Dylan Track 5: “One Mint Julep” by The… Continue Reading Killer Mix Tapes Cont’d
Establishing a legacy that spans generations is important for a school that is only 43-years-old – and one father and son team has created such a legacy as student-athletes at UMBC. John Goedeke ’79, economics, was one of the school’s better-known basketball players in the late ’70s, when he was a two-time academic All-America selection and a seventh-round selection by the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. He is now a senior vice president in the treasury management division of Sandy Spring Bank. Kevin Goedeke ’10 has been a key member of the men’s lacrosse team in the last two years, helping the… Continue Reading Over Coffee – Fall 2009
Two weeks after completing a grueling bicycle race that ran from Oceanside, Calif. to Annapolis, Adam Driscoll ’04, information systems, is still waiting for sensation to return to his fingertips. Driscoll’s hands are still numb from gripping the handlebars of his Cannondale geared bicycle for a week. But he says that the lack of feeling is a small price to pay to take first place in the two-man division of the 2009 Race Across America (RAAM) – a 3,000-mile contest which they won in a time of seven days, one hour and 33 minutes. The other member of the winning… Continue Reading Pedal Power
