Alumni

Many of us in Baltimore were captivated by the magic of the Superbowl this weekend. But chiropractor Alan Sokoloff ’82, health science and policy, found himself truly in the thick of Ravens mania, traveling with the team to New Orleans to make sure the players’ joints were ready for the big game. In an interview with the Annapolis Capital newspaper, Sokoloff — founder of the Yalich Clinic of Glen Burnie — talked about his work with Baltimore’s football team: “A receiver, for example, wants to be able to run as efficiently as possible,” Sokoloff said. “But one leg might not… Continue Reading Chiropractor Sokoloff ’82, HESP, Travels With Ravens

Autism rights activist Ari Ne’eman ’10, political science, was interviewed recently by Al Jazeera about the role of mental illness in the U.S. gun control debate. While still a student at UMBC, Ne’eman co-founded the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), an advocacy organization run by and for Autistic adults seeking to increase the representation of Autistic people across society. Watch the video interview from Al Jazeera here. In a 2009 interview with UMBC Magazine, then student Ne’eman stated: “I feel like I’ve set up a good foundation,” says Ne’eman, of both his advocacy and his education. “As long as I… Continue Reading VIDEO: Autism Rights Activist Ne’eman ’10, PoliSci, in Al Jazeera

Alumni Association – International, a Maryland-based group created to support alumni relations programs within the University System of Maryland, presented a $4,000 check to the UMBC Alumni Association Board at the board’s quarterly meeting last week. AA-I president Janice Batzold, pictured left, presented the check to Alumni Board president Bennett Moe ’88, visual and performing arts. The money will be incorporated into the Alumni Relations budget toward new alumni initiatives, said Alumni Relations director Stanyell Bruce.

Turns out UMBC alumnus-turned-celebrity-chef Jeffrey “Duff” Goldman ’97, history, is not just a stellar cake baker, but also an auto enthusiast. In an interview with MotorTrend.com, the “Ace of Cakes” star talks about his lifelong love for all things car. As he tells Motor Trend reporters: “I am a freakish gearhead,” he says, sitting at a table in Cakemix, which allows people to decorate their own cakes and cupcakes. “I will take your car apart and put it back together. I can totally do that.” Read the full story in Motor Trend here. Goldman, who most recently created a six-tier… Continue Reading “Duff” Goldman ’97, History, In Motor Trend

Rick Foster ’73, M.S., mathematics, will retire from his position as chief actuary at the Center for Medicare and Medicade Services next month, having spent nearly two decades influencing our nation’s healthcare at the top level. The New York Times wrote about Foster’s career and retirement, saying he is known for “his fierce independence,” and that he has been “an influential voice on Medicare, Medicaid and the new health care law.” Read the New York Times story here. Healthcare-focused MedPage Today profiled Foster here. Foster, who was named an Outstanding Alumnus of the Year by UMBC in 1997, has been… Continue Reading Foster ’73, M.S. Math, to Retire from Center for Medicare and Medicade Services

Charm City Cakes, owned by UMBC alumnus Jeffrey “Duff” Goldman ’97, history, will bake the official cake for President Obama’s Monday inauguration, the Baltimore Sun reports. Read the story here. According to the story, the bakery will create a six-tier cake, with each layer representing a branch of the United States military. Tier flavors will include red velvet, lemon poppy seed, pineapple coconut, and pumpkin chocolate chip. Goldman, former star of the Food Network’s “Ace of Cakes,” was named an Outstanding Alumnus of the Year by UMBC in 2009. Read a UMBC Magazine article about Duff’s rise to fame.

Charm City Cakes, owned by UMBC alumnus Jeffrey “Duff” Goldman ’97, history, will bake the official cake for President Obama’s Monday inauguration, the Baltimore Sun reports. Read the story here. According to the story, the bakery will create a six-tier cake, with each layer representing a branch of the United States military. Tier flavors will include red velvet, lemon poppy seed, pineapple coconut, and pumpkin chocolate chip. Goldman, former star of the Food Network’s “Ace of Cakes,” was named an Outstanding Alumnus of the Year by UMBC in 2009. Read a UMBC Magazine article about Duff’s rise to fame.

Every so often, we’ll chat with an alum about what they do and how they got there. Today, we’re talking with Rhea Marasigan ’03, information systems management (with a dance minor) about what it’s like to juggle careers in graphic design and dance. Name: Rhea Marasigan (A.K.A. “Ria DeCastro” on stage) Job:  Graphic Designer, Dancer Employers:  Spectrum Brands HHI and RheeDesigns (Marasigan’s side-business) Based in: Los Angeles, California Q:  You recently were featured on a dance webcast called DancePlug (click here to view)…what has been the highlight of your dance career thus far? A:  The highlights of my dance career… Continue Reading Career Q&A: Rhea Marasigan ’03, ISM and Dance

“Bittersweet.” That’s how Kyla McMullen ’05, computer science, describes what it feels like to be the first African American woman at the University of Michigan to graduate with a Ph.D. in computer science. – Read an interview with McMullen in NBC’s The Grio here. “I don’t think there’s anything special about me,” says a modest Kyla, who recently started a new job as an Assistant Professor in the Human-Centered Computing division of Clemson University’s School of Computing. She explains that while it’s nice to be recognized as a “first,” her accomplishment points out a sad reality: not enough women and… Continue Reading McMullen ’05, CompSci, Makes Academic History at UMich

Red Sammy, a Baltimore band helmed by Adam Trice ’04, English, will release its fourth album, “These Poems with Kerosene,” next month with a show at the Windup Space. We asked Trice to talk a bit about life as a musician, and how his study of literature has influenced his work. Q:  Tell us some of the story behind your band…what type of music do you play? What influences you? A: Red Sammy is a minor character in Flannery O’Connor’s short story, “A Good Man is Hard to Find” (1955). Our music tends to be gritty, sparse, and deeply emotional.… Continue Reading Trice ’04, Eng, to Release Fourth Red Sammy Album

Baltimore Dance Project returns to UMBC for its 30th year, featuring the creative work of professors Doug Hamby and Carol Hess, with dancer Sandra Lacy, along with music and dance performances by UMBC alumni. The show will be held on February 7 in the proscenium theatre in UMBC’s new Performing Arts and Humanities Building. Expanding dance with visually stunning, inter-disciplinary and collaborative works, BDP brings together company alumni, new dancers, visual artists and live musicians, and features dances with interactive sound, video and spoken text. The performance will feature two world premieres: “Common Axis 13,” a Hamby/Hess collaboration for ten… Continue Reading Baltimore Dance Project Show, Feb. 7, Features Dance, Music Alumni

Captain B. Donald Andrasik ’05, psychology, has published a book on his experience eating gluten-free while deployed in Afghanistan with the United States Army. “I hope to draw attention to our service members who need these accommodations to thrive. Being at war and on a gluten free diet is a distinct hardship, and if you know what you are getting into you understand there’s no easy meal,” he explained in a press release for “Gluten Free in Afghanistan.” Andrasik started a gluten free diet at 15 years old, after having symptoms related to celiac disease. He currently works as a… Continue Reading Andrasik ’05, Psych, Publishes Book On Gluten-Free Eating in Afghanistan