Alumni

The UMBC men’s soccer program had its most successful Alumni Game and Reception yet on Friday evening, April 27. A record 50 former Retrievers played at Retriever Soccer Park, representing four decades of play. “I would like to publicly thank all of our alumni in attendance for their  participation in and contribution to the biggest and most successful men’s soccer Alumni Game ever,” head coach Pete Caringi said. “I have been fortunate to see and hear of other programs’ alumni games, and I believe that UMBC sets a standard of excellence that we all should take pride in.” The alumni… Continue Reading UMBC Soccer Alumni Reunite on the Field

A novel about coming of age in 1970s Baltimore is among the semi-finalists in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award, reports alumna author Mary Volkman ’92, English. These Days, her first novel, specifically focuses on “the perils of romanticizing the past,” and is set in Baltimore’s infamous “block.” Volkman, who writes under the pen name Margo Christie, shared a bit of her story pitch: Fueled by a passion for golden-era Hollywood and her musician father’s tales of a time when “every hole-in-the wall bar had a band,” 14-year old Becky Shelling dreams of a career in show biz.  When her beloved… Continue Reading Volkman '92, English, Contestant in Amazon Novel Contest

After an ATV accident in 2006, Matt Courson ’11, political science, was paralyzed from the waist down and given a 1% chance of walking again. Thanks to aggressive physical therapy at the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s International Center for Spinal Cord Injury, he was able to walk across the stage to receive his UMBC diploma just five years later—a moment captured by the Baltimore Sun and featured on CNN’s “Human Factor.” Courson attended a celebration marking the 75th anniversary of the Kennedy Krieger Institute this week. He told CBS News, “This place has done so much for me, the therapists, the… Continue Reading Courson '11, PoliSci, Tells Inspiring Tale on CBS Baltimore

An alumna/student pair have launched LoveTagLA, a clothing line inspired by graffiti, the Catonsville Patch reports. Alumna Jedda Puzon ’11, information system management, and current student Lauren Roepcke founded the company in 2011, and recently released a spring line. Said marketing director Puzon: “We promote individuality and that can be seen with our tag line ‘Tag your own state of mind.’ We encourage self-expression through all art forms.” Visit LoveTagLA online here. Read the full Catonsville Patch story here.  

Alumna Stephanie Hill ’86, computer science and economics, makes a strong argument in favor of educating a new generation of female engineers in a guest essay appearing today in College Inc., a Washington Post blog focusing on higher education. In her essay, Hill — who is president of Lockheed Martin’s Information Systems & Global Solutions-Civil division — discusses the impact her experience at UMBC made on her decision to pursue a career in engineering. “Are you sure you want to be a software engineer? You are such a people person. Won’t you be stuck working alone, staring at a computer… Continue Reading Stephanie Hill '86, on Why the World Needs More Female Engineers

Nearly 200 alumni and friends enjoyed a night of wine, food and an incredible view of the Baltimore skyline at the 7th Annual Wine Tasting at the Legg Mason Tower in Harbor East April 27. The Chapter of Young Alumni hosted the event. The night — which included a silent auction, raffles, and a showing of artwork by current students — raised $3,648 for student scholarships, said Cindy Greenwood, Alumni Programming Coordinator. “It’s so nice to be able to have such a beautiful event, and to know that you’re helping students at the same time,” she said. “We were really… Continue Reading Wine Tasting Attracts Record Crowd, Raises Money for Scholarships

Fred L. Pincus, Professor of Sociology, will retire at the end of the semester after spending 44 years at UMBC. He came to Baltimore from UCLA as a 26-year-old instructor in 1968, the third year of UMBC’s existence. In addition to all the committee work needed to build the department and the university, Pincus taught courses in race relations, social psychology and introductory sociology. He also became very involved in the movement against the war in Vietnam and promoted campus policies to increase the number of African American students on campus. He was an early supporter of Black Studies and… Continue Reading Fred L. Pincus, Sociology, to Retire after 44 Years at UMBC