Alumni

Connie Pierson and the UMBC mascot, True Grit, standing arm in arm and pointing at the camera.

Meet a Retriever—Connie Pierson ’90, M.A. ’92, associate vice provost for institutional research

/ 6 minutes of reading

Meet Connie Pierson ’90, M.A. ’92, a double alum—earning her bachelor’s degree in economics and sociology in 1990 and her M.A. in applied sociology in 1992—and UMBC’s current associate vice provost for Institutional Research. In total, Connie has spent 31 non-consecutive years at UMBC as both a student and staff member. After leaving the university to earn her Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a short stint at the U.S. Census Bureau, Connie returned to UMBC in 1999 for a job in the Office of Institutional Research, Analysis, and Decision Support where she has been… Continue Reading Meet a Retriever—Connie Pierson ’90, M.A. ’92, associate vice provost for institutional research

Mary K. Tilghman and True Grit with her books in the statue's mouth.

Meet a Retriever—Mary K. Tilghman ’79, novelist and donor

/ 4 minutes of reading

Meet Mary K. Tilghman, whose original decision to attend UMBC may have started off more pragmatic than fairytale (she could commute with her brother who was attending), but the story ended up having a happy ending. Tilghman ’79, English, is a novelist—the author of half a dozen modern romance and historical novels. She says she finds inspiration in her native Maryland and draws on her bachelor’s degree from 45-plus years ago. According to Tilghman, her classes at UMBC laid the foundation for a prolific and fulfilling writing career. Tell us your story, Mary! Q: What’s one essential thing you’d want… Continue Reading Meet a Retriever—Mary K. Tilghman ’79, novelist and donor

30th Anniversary Black Greek Alumni Party

Meet a Retriever—Karen Woodard ’90, Alumni Association Vice President and co-chair of the Alumni Awards committee

/ 5 minutes of reading

Meet Karen Woodard ‘90, English. Karen is chief of the Employment Litigation Section in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and an active member of the UMBC Alumni Association Board of Directors, serving as Vice President of Finance and one of the co-chairs of the Alumni Awards committee. As an undergrad, Karen was heavily involved on campus. She played on the women’s basketball team all four years—serving as team captain her senior year—and was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., serving as president also in her senior year. Karen credits her time at UMBC… Continue Reading Meet a Retriever—Karen Woodard ’90, Alumni Association Vice President and co-chair of the Alumni Awards committee

an older man in a black polo shirt stands on a baseball field holding a bat

Stepping up to the plate to preserve UMBC history

/ 5 minutes of reading

When the Fort McHenry Tunnel opened, drivers could thank Richard “Rock” Soracoe ’71, economics, for helping them see as they drove under the harbor. Soracoe spent 50-plus years in the lighting industry and helped source the original 8,870 8-ft light fixtures that lined the road. In retirement, he’s helping shed a different type of light. Soracoe and other members of the founding four classes at UMBC are putting their collective memories to work to assist in identifying people and events in UMBC’s archival material to help complete our UMBC history. One event—UMBC’s first intercollegiate athletics win—is a story Soracoe loves… Continue Reading Stepping up to the plate to preserve UMBC history

Two men in a rowing boat that is in water paddling oars in front of a backdrop that says USRowing

Finding gold on the water

/ 7 minutes of reading

Push, pull, push, pull. On goes this routine of synchronized oar movements as rowers—nestled in long, tapered boats—move through the water with precision and speed. The trim boats glide through the water with seemingly effortlessness, and as a child, Mark Couwenhoven finds himself entranced.  One day he’ll learn just how much effort this smooth process takes, but for now, Couwenhoven watches his older sister and her fellow competitors shoot through the water with dolphin-like gracefulness.  “I went to my sister’s races and became enthralled with rowing—I knew that it was what I wanted to do when I got older,” Couwenhoven… Continue Reading Finding gold on the water

A collage of images showing students traveling with mentors and teaching with children

A Journey of Growth

/ 14 minutes of reading

International travel offers ample opportunities to stretch yourself—one minute you may be the expert and the next, completely clueless about how something works. Retrievers currently in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program—teaching English or researching around the globe—find themselves oscillating between their teaching and student roles on a daily or hourly basis. By engaging their host communities through openness and cultural humility (and many shared cups of tea or coffee), these Fulbrighters are finding their balance along the way. Continue Reading A Journey of Growth

UMBC Police Chief Bruce Perry Jr. ‘97 smiling and waving to students on Academic Row.

Meet a Retriever–Bruce Perry Jr. ’97, UMBC Chief of Police

/ 4 minutes of reading

Meet Bruce Perry Jr. ’97, psychology. Bruce has spent 33 years at UMBC as both a student and staff member. He first joined the police department in 1994 as a student aide. After graduation, Bruce rejoined the police department in 1998 as an officer and has served in many roles over the years, including Operations Commander and Deputy Chief. In 2022, Bruce was named Chief of Police. Take it away, Bruce! Q: What is your WHY? What brought you to UMBC? A: In high school, I was in a club that had a field trip to UMBC. My guidance counselor… Continue Reading Meet a Retriever–Bruce Perry Jr. ’97, UMBC Chief of Police

a woman with bright green hair stands in front of shelves of thousands of Pez dispensers

PEZ—The Sweetest Hobby

/ 2 minutes of reading

Beware of crushes. Especially as a 10-year-old in 1995. They might lead to a lifelong hobby, rooms of your house dedicated to your collection, a quirky and supportive community, and even a spot in an Emmy-winning documentary. Katie Chrzanowski, however, has no regrets. After a brief crush on someone who collected PEZ, and thinking that starting her own collection would be a fun competition, she’s now the proud owner of more than several thousand PEZ dispensers, the host of the Maryland PEZ Gathering, and an extra on the set of The Pez Outlaw. But Chrzanowski ’07, visual arts, doesn’t just… Continue Reading PEZ—The Sweetest Hobby

Amy Caballero '22 at her field placement in Seneca Valley High School.

Meet a Retriever—Amy Caballero ’22, new social worker with strong ties to UMBC-Shady Grove

/ 3 minutes of reading

Amy Caballero graduated from UMBC 2022 with her bachelor’s degree in social work. She stayed on at the Shady Grove campus to complete her master’s in social work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and she graduates this May. She has a job lined up as a youth development specialist at a local nonprofit. Outside of academia, she says, she’s obsessed with her two dogs, enjoys bouldering, reading fiction and manga, and hanging out with friends. Take it away, Amy! Q: What’s the one thing you’d want someone to know about the support you find at UMBC? A: The support… Continue Reading Meet a Retriever—Amy Caballero ’22, new social worker with strong ties to UMBC-Shady Grove

Ron Pettie and his family at Homecoming 2022.

Meet a Retriever—Ron Pettie ’82, retired police officer and true Retriever Believer

/ 4 minutes of reading

Meet Ron Pettie. Ron is a retired Baltimore City police officer and a loyal Retriever alumnus, graduating with a B.A. in English in 1982. When he’s not writing postcards to incoming UMBC students, commenting on UMBC Alumni Association Facebook posts, or attending alumni events, Ron can be found spending time with his wife Christine. Ron’s path in life may not have always gone according to plan, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. Take it away, Ron! Q: What’s one essential thing you’d want another Retriever to know about you? A: I am a true believer that education is… Continue Reading Meet a Retriever—Ron Pettie ’82, retired police officer and true Retriever Believer

a woman in sleeveless shirt and glasses

Meet a Retriever—Camilla Sandoval ’17, M.A. ’19, program coordinator for Maryland Humanities

/ 4 minutes of reading

Meet Camilla Sandoval ’17, history, M.A. ’19, historical studies, a first-generation student who spent part of her time on each of UMBC’s campuses before graduating and putting her studies to work. Today, she spends her days as the program coordinator for grants with Maryland Humanities, where she still employs lessons learned from her time as a Retriever. Continue Reading Meet a Retriever—Camilla Sandoval ’17, M.A. ’19, program coordinator for Maryland Humanities

All photos courtesy of Monroe Kennedy.

Meet a Retriever—Monroe Kennedy, III, ’12, mechanical engineering professor at Stanford University

/ 4 minutes of reading

Meet Monroe Kennedy, III, a Meyerhoff Scholar (M20) who earned his B.S. in mechanical engineering from UMBC in 2012 before earning his M.S. in robotics and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and applied mechanics from the University of Pennsylvania. Monroe is now an assistant professor in the mechanical engineering department at Stanford University. His work is in collaborative robotics, building systems capable of extending robotic autonomy to scenarios where robots work closely around humans and must anticipate their needs to be effective teammates. Outside of his role as a professor, Monroe serves as a national director for Black in Robotics, a… Continue Reading Meet a Retriever—Monroe Kennedy, III, ’12, mechanical engineering professor at Stanford University

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