Alumni

Striving for Social Change: Diane Bell McKoy ’73

/ 4 minutes of reading

For anyone with anything less than a “half-full” attitude about the potential for positive social change, Diane Bell McKoy has one unwavering response. “Challenges are just opportunities,” said the 1973 sociology graduate, who serves as president and CEO of Associated Black Charities, a Baltimore non-profit devoted to making African-American individuals and families economically self-sufficient. She is also a member of UMBC’s Alex. Brown Entrepreneurship Center Advisory Board. “I love challenges, as it relates to improving outcomes within the community,” said Bell McKoy, who is organizing a major gala in June to support ABC’s efforts. “I am hooked on trying to… Continue Reading Striving for Social Change: Diane Bell McKoy ’73

Sibling Revelry: The Hughes Family Five

/ 3 minutes of reading

For the Hughes family, nothing says “way of life” quite like the letters “UMBC.” Over the course of three decades, five out of eight Hughes siblings – J. Barry ’71, history; Stephen ’76, economics; Kevin ’79, economics; Brian ’80, mathematics; and Maureen Hughes Shields ’85, American studies – worked their way through college, eventually earning the first college degrees in their family’s history. “The decision to attend UMBC was a no-brainer,” said J. Barry Hughes ’71, history, who currently serves as Judge of the Circuit Court for Carroll County. “Having the five of us live at home during college also… Continue Reading Sibling Revelry: The Hughes Family Five

To Protect and To Serve: Bob Garrity '73

/ 3 minutes of reading

After more than 30 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bob Garrity has pretty much seen it all. He has traveled the country as an agent, worked on high profile cases, and helped to steer the organization into the highly-technical 21st century. It’s no wonder he’s still excited about the job after all these years. “I consider myself very fortunate in that even after 30 years of serving as a Special Agent, I still jump out of bed each morning and look forward to going to work,” said the 1973 sociology and psychology double-major graduate. “Like many FBI Agents,… Continue Reading To Protect and To Serve: Bob Garrity '73

To Protect and To Serve: Bob Garrity ’73

/ 3 minutes of reading

After more than 30 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bob Garrity has pretty much seen it all. He has traveled the country as an agent, worked on high profile cases, and helped to steer the organization into the highly-technical 21st century. It’s no wonder he’s still excited about the job after all these years. “I consider myself very fortunate in that even after 30 years of serving as a Special Agent, I still jump out of bed each morning and look forward to going to work,” said the 1973 sociology and psychology double-major graduate. “Like many FBI Agents,… Continue Reading To Protect and To Serve: Bob Garrity ’73

Love at First Byte: Lisa D. Price '87 & Dwayne A. Price '87

/ 3 minutes of reading

It’s freshman orientation 1983 and your parents have dropped you off way too early. So, what do you do to pass the time while the other students arrive? Do you study? Tour the campus? Twiddle your thumbs quietly? If you’re like Lisa and Dwayne Price, you very well might fall in love. “Dwayne was almost literally the first guy I laid eyes on at UMBC,” said the former Lisa Dates, who, like her husband, arrived on campus very early. “We got to know each other during the orientation, remained friends, and later started dating in the second semester of freshman… Continue Reading Love at First Byte: Lisa D. Price '87 & Dwayne A. Price '87

Love at First Byte: Lisa D. Price ’87 & Dwayne A. Price ’87

/ 3 minutes of reading

It’s freshman orientation 1983 and your parents have dropped you off way too early. So, what do you do to pass the time while the other students arrive? Do you study? Tour the campus? Twiddle your thumbs quietly? If you’re like Lisa and Dwayne Price, you very well might fall in love. “Dwayne was almost literally the first guy I laid eyes on at UMBC,” said the former Lisa Dates, who, like her husband, arrived on campus very early. “We got to know each other during the orientation, remained friends, and later started dating in the second semester of freshman… Continue Reading Love at First Byte: Lisa D. Price ’87 & Dwayne A. Price ’87

Behind the Scenes: Josef Novotny '04

/ 4 minutes of reading

Every year, swarms of talented singers, dancers and aspiring filmmakers move to Los Angeles looking for a chance at stardom. A meager few actually do it, seeming to instantly top the charts and clog the tabloids. Many more fail, finding the road to celebrity too difficult. Then there are the patient ones, like former UMBC tennis standout Josef Novotny ’04. Using his skills on the courts to network and secure odd jobs on the sets of movies like Eli Roth’s “Hostel: Part II,” he has begun the long climb to fulfilling his dream of becoming a filmmaker. “When I moved… Continue Reading Behind the Scenes: Josef Novotny '04

Behind the Scenes: Josef Novotny ’04

/ 4 minutes of reading

Every year, swarms of talented singers, dancers and aspiring filmmakers move to Los Angeles looking for a chance at stardom. A meager few actually do it, seeming to instantly top the charts and clog the tabloids. Many more fail, finding the road to celebrity too difficult. Then there are the patient ones, like former UMBC tennis standout Josef Novotny ’04. Using his skills on the courts to network and secure odd jobs on the sets of movies like Eli Roth’s “Hostel: Part II,” he has begun the long climb to fulfilling his dream of becoming a filmmaker. “When I moved… Continue Reading Behind the Scenes: Josef Novotny ’04

Better Than Fiction: Arnold T. Blumberg '93

/ 3 minutes of reading

The next time someone teases you about your hidden passion for philately, Hummel figurines or sudoku, consider the successes of UMBC’s own Dr. Arnold T. Blumberg. An avid comic book reader and collector since early childhood, Blumberg ’93, English, has managed to weave his love of super heroes, zombies, monsters and robots into a career as a published author, adjunct professor and – most recently – curator of the brand-new Geppi’s Entertainment Museum, a mecca of pop culture paraphernalia located in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. “I like to joke with people and tell them all my hobbies have eventually turned into… Continue Reading Better Than Fiction: Arnold T. Blumberg '93

Better Than Fiction: Arnold T. Blumberg ’93

/ 3 minutes of reading

The next time someone teases you about your hidden passion for philately, Hummel figurines or sudoku, consider the successes of UMBC’s own Dr. Arnold T. Blumberg. An avid comic book reader and collector since early childhood, Blumberg ’93, English, has managed to weave his love of super heroes, zombies, monsters and robots into a career as a published author, adjunct professor and – most recently – curator of the brand-new Geppi’s Entertainment Museum, a mecca of pop culture paraphernalia located in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. “I like to joke with people and tell them all my hobbies have eventually turned into… Continue Reading Better Than Fiction: Arnold T. Blumberg ’93

Adventures in Invention: Eric Conn ’85

/ 4 minutes of reading

Eric Conn doesn’t exactly have a traditional career. Then again, he was never a traditional student. Between switching majors several times and taking a few years off from college to play in a rock band, it took Conn nearly seven years to finish school. However, he has never regretted his decision to take a non-traditional path. In fact, it is Conn’s adventurous edge that has allowed the 1985 computer science major to prosper as an inventor and entrepreneur. His latest project, Cellblock.com – a social networking site that allows users to e-mail photos from their cell phones to a real-time… Continue Reading Adventures in Invention: Eric Conn ’85

Adventures in Invention: Eric Conn '85

/ 4 minutes of reading

Eric Conn doesn’t exactly have a traditional career. Then again, he was never a traditional student. Between switching majors several times and taking a few years off from college to play in a rock band, it took Conn nearly seven years to finish school. However, he has never regretted his decision to take a non-traditional path. In fact, it is Conn’s adventurous edge that has allowed the 1985 computer science major to prosper as an inventor and entrepreneur. His latest project, Cellblock.com – a social networking site that allows users to e-mail photos from their cell phones to a real-time… Continue Reading Adventures in Invention: Eric Conn '85

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