Alumni

Swimming Upstream: George Maroulis ’73

/ 3 minutes of reading

At four o’clock in the morning, most of the world is quietly sleeping. However, George Maroulis ’73 is hard at work. As general manager of the Fulton Fish Market in the Bronx, N.Y., this UMBC alum spends the early hours of his mornings running one of the largest fish markets in the world. Maroulis describes the Fulton, which does over a billion dollars of business each year, as “one of a kind.” Alumni Relations staff member Carol Myers ’72, who spent an early April morning touring the facility with Maroulis, agrees. “It’s like walking into a giant refrigerator!” she describes,… Continue Reading Swimming Upstream: George Maroulis ’73

A Nose for News: Jamie Smith Hopkins '98

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When it comes to spotting trends, Jamie Smith Hopkins ’98 is – appropriately – usually one step ahead of her competitors. At 28 years old, Hopkins’ instinctive nose for news and willingness to complete months-long data studies have already propelled her to the top of her craft as a business reporter for the Baltimore Sun. Just last month, in addition to six other awards, the former UMBC valedictorian was named top journalist under the age of 30 by the National Association of Real Estate Editors. And to think, much of Hopkins’ training came from her time as a staff reporter… Continue Reading A Nose for News: Jamie Smith Hopkins '98

Around the Clock Creative: Katie Hirsch '04

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Katie Hirsch is one of the lucky few who manages to combine her passions with her job. An animation and computer enthusiast since childhood, Hirsch has used her talent and enthusiasm for both fields in her career as a computer game developer, and, most recently, in her production of a short animated film about a hungry reptile. Hirsch’s two-minute short, “Dragin’ On,” will premiere in this month’s Maryland Film Festival at Baltimore’s Charles Theatre. “I was inspired to make the film because I wanted to create a made-up world with made-up rules,” said Hirsch, who graduated from UMBC in 2004… Continue Reading Around the Clock Creative: Katie Hirsch '04

In the Eye of the Storm: Cindy Dahlstrom McNitt '81

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We’ve seen many images of the impact of Hurricane Katrina over the last six months: photographs of the hordes displaced from their New Orleans homes, video footage of the volunteers rebuilding, house by house. But Cindy Dahlstrom McNitt sees another side of the damage. As a licensed clinical social worker from the small town of Slidell, La. – which sustained major damages, falling within the eye of the storm – she witnesses the emotional effects of the flooding on a daily basis. “Since everyone here is experiencing some degree of stress, my clinical work is not confined to the office,”… Continue Reading In the Eye of the Storm: Cindy Dahlstrom McNitt '81

Engineering a Bright Future: Brian and Annica Wayman '99

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Many people claim to know the formula for true love. In the case of Brian and Annica Wayman ’99, both Meyerhoff Scholars and mechanical engineering grads, however, it’s easy to see how it all adds up. For them, math + science + UMBC = lasting romance. “I guess it was probably a combination of having the same classes and seeing each other all the time,” laughed Brian, who, like his wife, the former Annica Warrick, is pursuing his doctorate in mechanical engineering at Georgia Tech. Married since 2001, they also have an eight-month-old son, Donovan. Like so many relationships, the… Continue Reading Engineering a Bright Future: Brian and Annica Wayman '99

A Writing Life: Jadi Keambiroiro '79

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Every morning, before she does anything else, Jadi Keambiroiro sits down at her desk to work on her novel, Killing Ants. Nothing can distract her – she’s worked too long to get to this point to take it for granted. “I am really where I need to be right now,” said Keambiroiro (formerly Gloria Green), who earned her bachelor’s in English in 1979. Today, nearly 25 years after graduating from UMBC and following a 15-year career in development, she has what she always wanted: a writing life. In addition to her creative writing projects, Keambiroiro also started her own press,… Continue Reading A Writing Life: Jadi Keambiroiro '79

All the World's A Stage: Jeff Ware '74

/ 3 minutes of reading

They say practice makes perfect, but Jeff Ware might beg to differ. After more than 30 years of practice as a working actor – all the years on stage, the bit parts in television shows, the movie roles – Ware is well aware of the reality of his craft. He knows the learning never really ends. “Acting is really like plumbing or like woodcutting,” said Ware ’74, theatre, who is appearing this month and next in CenterStage’s production of Motti Lerner’s The Murder of Isaac. “It’s a craft. You have to practice it.” Given the challenge of his current role… Continue Reading All the World's A Stage: Jeff Ware '74

Two of a Kind: Robert Cartwright '80 and Ryan Cartwright '06

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Not surprisingly, Robert Cartwright ’80 felt a bit of déjà vu watching his son, Ryan, cross the finish line at the America East Conference Championship in Binghamton, NY, last month. Almost exactly 30 years before – as a freshman economics major at UMBC in 1975 – his team also came from behind to win the Mason Dixon cross country conference championship. “This is such a coincidence, it’s just unbelievable,” said the elder Cartwright, of Perry Hall, an All Conference performer during his years at UMBC. “It sort of choked everybody up.” The father-son connection was just the icing on the… Continue Reading Two of a Kind: Robert Cartwright '80 and Ryan Cartwright '06

From UMBC to Costa Rica: Justine Wagner '04

/ 2 minutes of reading

Just a few months after graduating from UMBC, Justine Wagner, Spanish and economics ’04, traveled to Costa Rica on a Fulbright Research Award. Wagner conducted research for a study on the effects of government social spending on poverty at the Institute of Economic Science Research of the University of Costa Rica with Professor Juan Diego Trejos, who has worked with UMBC Professor of Economics and Wagner’s mentor, Tim Gindling. As part of her award, Wagner also had the opportunity to attend a Fulbright Enhancement Seminar in Honduras, where Fulbright Scholars studying in Central America presented their research. “The seminar was… Continue Reading From UMBC to Costa Rica: Justine Wagner '04

Using Chemistry Every Day: Dr. Adam Freeman '95 (M3)

/ 2 minutes of reading

What’s it like being a pioneer? Ask Dr. Adam Freeman ’95, chemistry, an innovator in the chemistry of paper and one of the first generations of UMBC’s Meyerhoff Scholars. He’ll tell you the secret – keeping your eyes open for opportunity. “You know, when I look at where I am and what I wound up doing, most of it was unplanned,” said Dr. Freeman, Senior Research Scientist for the Eastman Kodak Company in New York. “But over time, I realized everything I was learning was part of a flow that wove together over time.” A native of Silver Spring, Dr.… Continue Reading Using Chemistry Every Day: Dr. Adam Freeman '95 (M3)

Back to School: Bradford C. Engel '89

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When was the last time you thanked a teacher? As morning bells begin to ring in a new school year, Brad Engel ’89, B.A. American studies, cert. secondary education, is doing his part to make sure teachers get some well-earned pats on the back. His new book, “T.E.A.M. (Thanking Educators Across Maryland),” features 300 thank-you letters from parents to teachers who have changed their children’s lives. “My vision for this project was to let teachers know they are truly appreciated,” said Engel, Maryland’s 2005 Teacher of the Year, who recently was promoted to Assistant Principal at Kent Island High School… Continue Reading Back to School: Bradford C. Engel '89

Eyewitness to History: Vikki Valentine '96

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As the world reeled amid the latest terrorist attacks in London last month (July 2005), Vikki Valentine pushed her fears aside to do what she does best – tell it as she sees it. Even as the world appeared to crumble around her, the former Retriever reporter and editor gathered tidbits of color commentary from the front lines in order to write the stirring “An American in London, Watching Brits ‘Press On,’” for National Public Radio online. “It is hard, nearly impossible to put your emotions aside when in a situation like that,” admits Valentine, who studied English at UMBC… Continue Reading Eyewitness to History: Vikki Valentine '96

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