The weeks around Homecoming offer multiple ways for the UMBC community to reconnect with our Retriever pride and celebrate the accomplishments of our amazing alumni. Two marquee events during this time are the Alumni Awards ceremonies and the UMBC Athletic Hall of Fame Induction.

Recognizing alumni excellence

Standing out on the Alumni Awards stage, Rising Star honoree Stefanie Mavronis ’12 shared a sentiment echoed by several other speakers—UMBC is a place to flourish.

“UMBC did more than accept students like me who brought idealism and lots of passion to campus,” said Mavronis, chief of staff in Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement. “This institution embraced it, it fostered it, and it gave us space to actively change the culture.”

Left to right: President Valerie Sheares Ashby; McKenzie Chinn ’06; Stefanie Mavronis ’12;
Karsonya ‘Kaye’ Wise Whitehead, Ph.D. ’09; Keith Elder, Ph.D. ’02; Carolyn Forestiere; Benjamin
Garmoe ’13; Joy Haley, Ph.D. ’01; Josiah Dykstra, Ph.D. ’13; and Brian Frazee ’11, M.P.P. ’12. — Left to right: President Valerie Sheares Ashby; McKenzie Chinn ’06; Stefanie Mavronis ’12; Karsonya ‘Kaye’ Wise Whitehead, Ph.D. ’09; Keith Elder, Ph.D. ’02; Carolyn Forestiere; Benjamin Garmoe ’13; Joy Haley, Ph.D. ’01; Josiah Dykstra, Ph.D. ’13; and Brian Frazee ’11, M.P.P. ’12.

The 33rd annual Alumni Awards celebration was one event of many in the weeks around Homecoming that allowed the UMBC community to reconnect with our Retriever pride and celebrate the accomplishments of our amazing alumni.

On Thursday, October 27, the UMBC community gathered in the Earl and Darielle Linehan Concert Hall to recognize eight Retrievers at the 2022 Alumni Awards, hosted by the UMBC Alumni Association Board of Directors.

“This year’s honorees represent the very best of our alumni community, and their contributions are making a difference all over the world,” says Brian Frazee ’11, political science, M.P.P. ’12, UMBC Alumni Association President.

“This is one of my favorite events because it brings the UMBC community together in such a beautiful way,” says Stanyell Odom, director of Alumni Engagement. “We are proud to continue to support the Alumni Association and its board of directors in this annual celebration of excellence.”

Three different types of awards are given to alumni during the ceremony: Outstanding Alumni of the Year awards (by major or field affiliation), Distinguished Service, and Rising Star (Young Alumni). The alumni board also recognizes one Outstanding Faculty member who has demonstrated commitment to student success beyond the classroom.

This year’s awardees are:

Josiah Dykstra, Ph.D. ’13, computer science—Outstanding Alumnus in Engineering & Information Technology
Karsonya ‘Kaye’ Wise Whitehead, Ph.D. ’09, language, literacy and culture— Outstanding Alumna in the Humanities
Joy Haley, Ph.D. ’01, chemistry—Outstanding Alumna in Natural & Mathematical Sciences
Keith Elder, Ph.D. ’02, health policy, policy sciences—Outstanding Alumnus in Social & Behavioral Sciences
McKenzie Chinn ’06, theatre—Outstanding Alumna in Visual & Performing Arts
Benjamin Garmoe ’13, political science—Distinguished Service
Stefanie Mavronis ’12, media and communication studies, political science—Rising Star
Carolyn Forestiere, Professor of Political Science—Outstanding Faculty

Athletics’ legacy of excellence

The UMBC Athletics Hall of Fame first launched in the 1970s and was later made an annual ceremony in 1990. This celebratory event recognizes UMBC community members for their athletic excellence and contribution to the university. To date, 129 members have been enshrined. And this year, Brian Barrio, UMBC Director of Athletics, made a key change, moving the popular event to Homecoming weekend to capitalize on the #RetrieverNation excitement.

People make small talk at an event in the Skylight Lounge

Two woman greet each other enthusiastically with a hug

“We are thrilled that the Athletics Hall of Fame has been moved to the Homecoming weekend, and grateful to UMBC’s Office of Alumni Engagement who have been great partners in the re-launch of this event,” says Barrio. After postponing the event for two years due to COVID 19, says Barrio, Athletics is eager to celebrate their community. “This class is a diverse and talented group that set high standards of excellence for Retriever Nation.”

The 22nd edition of the Hall of Fame inductions took place on Friday, October 7, in UMBC’s Skylight Room honoring:

Steve Levy ’85, interdisciplinary studies—associate director of Athletics/director of athletic communications, 1986 – present
Dana Eberly Keiner ’97, biological sciences—volleyball, 1993 – 1996
Jean Salkeld Battista ’98, sociology—softball, 1997 – 1998
Mohamed Hussein ’14, mechanical engineering, M.S. ’17, systems engineering—swimming, 2011 – 2014
Levi Houapeu ’15, financial economics—men’s soccer, 2007 – 2010
Mercedes Jackson ’15, psychology—track and field, 2011 – 2015)