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“An Eye on Air Quality”  As a environmental economist focusing on transportation issues, Virginia McConnell knows a lot about cars and trucks – more specifically, the impact of policies to reduce air pollution through vehicle emissions regulations, inspection and maintenance programs, fuel regulations, emission taxes and land use changes. She became interested in the intersection of urban and environmental problems as a graduate student, and has taught and pursued research in these areas ever since. Her recent work is on differential fuel taxes for introducing cleaner fuels, and land use policy changes and their impact on air quality. She enjoys working… Continue Reading An Eye on Air Quality

  Sari Bennett, director of geographic education, works with educators to strengthen the teaching of geography. “The Power of Geography”    For more than a decade, Sari Bennett has worked with educators in Maryland to strengthen the teaching of geography in grades K-12.  “All too often students think of geography only as maps or the memorization of place names. We’re working to show teachers and students the power of geography in understanding the world around us.” As head of the Maryland Geographic Alliance, an initiative funded by the National Geographic Society (NGS) and the State of Maryland, Bennett has provided… Continue Reading The Power of Geography

“An Advocate for the Liberal Arts”  Ancient studies professor Jay Freyman, a member of the faculty since 1968 and director of the Honors College, is a tireless advocate for the liberal arts and a role model, personal counselor, career advisor, and mentor to hundreds–if not thousands–of UMBC students. His actions have inspired a tradition of mentoring at UMBC, and he was instrumental in UMBC’s successful application for Phi Beta Kappa, serving as the chapter’s first president. In 1999, he received one of the University System of Maryland Board of Regents’ highest honors, a Regents Faculty Award for Excellence in Mentoring.As director… Continue Reading An Advocate for the Liberal Arts

“Teaching That Makes a Difference”  UMBC is a leader in assisting Maryland’s most troubled public schools through Project SUPPORT (School-University Partnership to Prepare Outstanding Responsive Teachers), a remarkably successful federally funded program that will ultimately place 1,100 teachers in Baltimore City and hundreds more in Anne Arundel and Baltimore Counties.“Our school-university partnerships will break a tradition of neglect by recruiting, preparing, mentoring and retaining the high-quality teachers necessary to improve student learning and achievement,” says UMBC Clinical Associate Professor of Education John Lee, who heads the project.The program is a win-win for public school students, their schools and UMBC’s urban teachers-in-training.… Continue Reading Teaching That Makes a Difference

/a> “Probing Our Impact on the Environment”    A member of the physics faculty since 1984 and a 1974 UMBC graduate, Larrabee Strow is one of the chief scientists behind NASA’s $30 billion international Earth Observing System project. He developed a new satellite instrument, the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), and complex algorithms that will be used to measure climate change. The data collected by AIRS will be used by scientists around the world to better understand weather and climate change and by the National Weather Service and others to improve the accuracy of weather and climate models. Strow’s work on… Continue Reading Probing the Environment

“A Mentor of Many” An accomplished teacher and mentor for countless students at UMBC, J. Lynn Zimmerman credits her parents for her love of teaching and its importance to her. “My mother was a teacher in a one-room school house in rural Canada,” says Zimmerman, a professor of biological sciences who was recently named Presidential Teaching Professor, 2001-2004. “The value of education was always foremost in our home.” But, it was her father and his love of plants that would inspire her most. He was a nurseryman for the city of Detroit. And, “Although he wasn’t educated beyond high school, he… Continue Reading J. Lynn Zimmerman

“The Art of Educational Outreach” UMBC’s Fine Arts Gallery has drawn upon the experience and energy of one of its graduate assistants in the design and organization of its educational outreach initiative for the current exhibition, “Fred Wilson: Objects and Installations, 1979 – 2000.” Imaging and digital arts student Bea Bufrahi ’01, who also worked as an undergraduate intern in the gallery and recently completed another internship with Baltimore’s Contemporary Museum, brought together a rich and diverse offering of educational experiences focusing on museums and their recent collaborations with living artists. Students from Middle River High School, City College, Catonsville High… Continue Reading Bea Buhrafi – The Art of Educational Outreach

“A Political Insider”History and political science major Tracy Tucker ’00 understands the value of the internships and connections that an honors university can provide. A Humanities Scholar, Tucker participated in UMBC’s Legislative Affairs Internship Program, interning with Maryland State Senator Thomas Middleton. “It was exciting to have such an insider’s view of how our state government works,” she says.Tucker was also one of only 20 students throughout Maryland chosen to participate in the Governor’s Summer Internship Program, coordinated by UMBC’s Shriver Center. She interned with Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend’s office, an experience which led to her current position as… Continue Reading Tracy Tucker – Political Insider

“Gifted Young Students Find a Home at UMBC”Compared to their classmates, they’re a little short, and their voices a bit high-pitched, but otherwise, they’re very comfortable as UMBC students pursuing their undergraduate degrees. They are UMBC’s Young Scholars–some, like David Dalrymple, are only 10 years old, others in their early teens–but all are academically gifted and ready for college-level classes. And they are drawn to UMBC as a place that makes them feel welcome. “UMBC is developing a reputation–quietly, and by our actions–as a good place for these academically talented kids to come,” explains John Martello, vice provost for community… Continue Reading Gifted Young Students Find a Home at UMBC

  “Green Writing” It seems only natural that Jim McKusick would find a way to bring together his passion for nature with his love of literature. His achievement can be found in two new books exploring the emerging field of “ecological literary criticism.” “I’ve been fascinated by the outdoors and the environment since I was a kid,” explains McKusick, chair of UMBC’s English department. “It’s deep in my blood.” As a teenager, he hiked 1,000 miles of the northeast section of the Appalachian Trail, and in subsequent summers, he trekked hundreds of miles of the Sierra Nevada and Pacific Crest trails,… Continue Reading Growing a company on campus

“Growing a Company on Campus” Like many UMBC students, Andy Lufburrow has a job that earns him money and keeps him busy between classes. But Lufburrow’s work is not your usual off-campus employment. He’s the founder and CEO of his own company, Digimo, a web-development firm with a client base of major corporations and headquarters in the UMBC Technology Center. At least it’s an easy commute from work to class. As a freshman, Lufburrow presented his business plan to the UMBC Technology Center and became the first student entrepreneur to set up shop in the center’s high-tech incubator program. It wasn’t… Continue Reading Growing a company on campus