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Celluloid Deities Can street paintings and advertisements be studied as art? And can examining other cultures inform our answer to that question? Preminda Jacob, an associate professor of art history and theory in UMBC’s Department of Visual Arts, replies in the affirmative to both questions. In her new book, Celluloid Deities (Lexington Books), she examines the collision of cinema, politics and religion in South Indian culture at street level. Movie posters in the city of Chennai, she found, not only advertise a film – they can also be improvised into religious shrines or impart a political message. “The street is… Continue Reading Celluloid Deities

Passionate Promoting Not many people discover their life’s passion at 14. But after doing “street team work” (passing out flyers and promoting bands online) Baltimore native Christine Osazuwa ’11, interdisciplinary studies and music journalism, knew the music world was the place for her. While some high school students dream of being rock stars, Osazuwa wanted to work behind the scenes by promoting bands. At age 16, she hosted a party featuring six local bands that drew 400 people, netting several thousand dollars in profits for the bands. Soon after, Osazuwa received requests from other local bands and venues to help… Continue Reading Passionate Promoting

Through The Shriver Center at UMBC, hundreds of students are foregoing their summer trips to the beach to boost their resumes with internships, co-ops, service-learning and research positions at organizations throughout the U.S. Benjamin LinkExpected graduation: December 2009Major: Chemical Engineering CovidienNew Haven, Connecticut “Engaging in a summer internship was a terrific way to transition from an academic environment into a professional engineering role. The breadth of experience I received through my industry placement has helped me define the direction my career path will take. Above all else, my internship experience has reinforced the engineering principles and validated the critical thinking… Continue Reading How UMBC Students Made the Most of Summer

Researching Cancer, Serving the Uninsured Paula Whittington ’01 is a healer in more ways than one. As a doctor in training, she gives medical treatment to patients at an inner-city Detroit medical center, many of them uninsured. Outside of the clinic, her research may offer hope for millions of breast cancer patients. The former MARC*U*STAR and Meyerhoff scholar at UMBC has already earned her Ph.D. and is working towards her M.D. at Wayne State University. She was recently lead author on a Cancer Research article announcing a potential new vaccine for a type of breast cancer. Whittington, who has always… Continue Reading Researching Cancer, Serving the Uninsured

Students Give Back, Gain Affordable Experience through Alternative Spring Break UMBC’s Alternative Spring Break trips share one common theme: helping others locally. Through the four trips offered March 16-20, students have the chance to work with children and people with disabilities, assist with trail building and experience homelessness firsthand. “These trips are for students who want to volunteer with Alternative Spring Break but don’t have the money,” said Jordanna Spencer ‘09, graduate coordinator for service and volunteerism. “Financial opportunities are tight; these trips will give students an opportunity to become immersed and have an extensive experience at a low price.”… Continue Reading Students Give Back, Gain Affordable Experience through Alternative Spring Break

Turning Knowledge into Action Women Involved in Learning and Leadership (WILL) at UMBC, part of the Gender and Women’s Studies program, is one of eight groups nationwide participating in a week-long global health event funded by a grant from Americans for Informed Democracy (AID). “Global Women’s Health Action Week: Healthy Women, Healthy World” will run April 27 through May 1. Jen Keeter ’09, one of the lead organizers of the event, received information about an available grant through AID and was immediately drawn to the idea of helping women. WILL members wrote the proposal together and submitted it in fall… Continue Reading Turning Knowledge into Action