CAHSS

News and Updates about UMBC’s College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

Freeman Hrabowski, Mike Summers Offer Ideas for Improving Science Education

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“If you could make one change to improve science education in the United States, what would it be?” asked the New York Times in a special feature published Monday, September 2. Nineteen people answered the question, and among them were President Freeman Hrabowski and Mike Summers, HHMI Investigator and professor of chemistry and biochemistry. “We need to create opportunities to excite students about how math and science connect to real life,” said Hrabowski, adding that he would like to see more programs offering teachers the chance to apply their skills outside of the classroom. “A teacher who has worked summers… Continue Reading Freeman Hrabowski, Mike Summers Offer Ideas for Improving Science Education

Emerald Christopher, graduate student, at 50th anniversary of March on Washington

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UMBC graduate student, Emerald Christopher, joined tens of thousands of other supporters to acknowledge the importance of women leaders in the March on Washington at the 50th anniversary of the movement, held last week. Christopher wore a shirt emblazoned with the names “Audre & Gloria & Angela & bell” – a nod to the famous feminist and womanist thought leaders Audre Lorde, Gloria Anzaldúa, Angela Davis, and bell hooks. Having women political figures address the rally was great, Christopher said, but she questioned where the African-American women thought leaders were.

Production by Susan McCully, Theatre, Reviewed by NY Theatre

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The Fringe NYC performances of Inexcusable Fantasies — written by Susan McCully, theatre, and directed by Eve Muson, theatre — received praise in a NYTheatre.com review released last week. Read the article here: “Inexcusable Fantasies” The review of the “masterfully-written two-woman piece,” written by Andrew Rothkin, details the comedy as an honest, intelligent coming-of-age story that invites the viewer into McCully’s “baring [of] her very soul.” Rothkin says, “I was awed by McCully’s wordsmithery, her intricately woven stream of words whose meanings and allusions seemed three steps ahead of me.” He also commends the acting and chemistry of both McCully and Rachel Hirshorn ’04, theatre, as incredibly solid… Continue Reading Production by Susan McCully, Theatre, Reviewed by NY Theatre

Erle Ellis, GES, on Smithsonian Magazine blog

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Erle Ellis, associate professor of geography and environmental systems, appeared on a Smithsonian Magazine blog this week. The post “Watch How America’s Lands Changes from Forests to Fields” shares maps that Ellis created to depict how land use in the U.S. has evolved over the past 300 years. Ellis maps anthropogenic biomes—”a matrix of human-altered croplands, pastures, towns and cities…’anthromes’ for short” to help readers visualize humanity’s effect on the landscape. This semester, Fall 2013, Ellis is a visiting associate professor of landscape architecture at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design.

Dennis Coates, Economics, on Press Box Online and SB Nation

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As Baltimore anticipates the start of the 2013 Grand Prix, a well-known 2011 economic impact analysis by UMBC economics professor Dennis Coates is again making news. The Press Box Online article “What Is Best Way To Measure Grand Prix’s Economic Impact?” notes that race organizers believe the 2012 Grand Prix generated $42.3 million in economic impact for Baltimore and the 2011 event generated $48 million. Coates, however, contested the 2011 figure in a assessment following that year’s Grand Prix, which indicated the impact was approximately $20 million less than the race organizers claimed. The article notes, “Coates’ argument centered on… Continue Reading Dennis Coates, Economics, on Press Box Online and SB Nation

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the Baltimore Sun

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In advance of Labor Day, UMBC political science professor Thomas F. Schaller writes in his latest Baltimore Sun column that despite increased productivity, U.S. workers have less access to vacation time and lower pay than their international peers. Schaller references a study released earlier this year by the International Labor Organization, which found American workers are the most productive in the world, producing $63,885 of wealth annually on average. However, he notes, citing a recent study by the Center for Economic and Policy Research, “the United States is the only nation that doesn’t guarantee every worker a certain number of… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the Baltimore Sun

Donald Norris, Public Policy in the Baltimore Sun

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“Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler came under fire Tuesday for comments that his top rival in the Democratic primary for governor is running on little besides his African-American heritage,” write Erin Cox and Michael Dresser in The Baltimore Sun. What impact could Gansler’s statement have? Donald F. Norris, professor and chair of public policy at UMBC, tells the Sun that Gansler “has just offended a whole lot of voters he cannot afford to offend.” Read the full Baltimore Sun article here. Norris commented further about the situation in an August 13 interview on WTOP radio.

Gerontology Honor Society Expands, Plans Year Ahead

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Sigma Phi Omega (SPO) is the national academic honor society in gerontology, for professionals who work with or on behalf of older persons. The UMBC chapter of SPO, Delta Lambda, has continued to grow, thanks to the strength of UMBC’s sociology, gerontology and Management of Aging Services programs. At a recent induction ceremony welcoming new members, the group also honored graduating member Susan Hannum, who pioneered Delta Lambda’s annual senior center “Food Drop.” Continuing volunteer activities with local senior centers and organizations remains a primary goal for the year ahead. The society also plans to connect with Washington D.C.-area colleagues… Continue Reading Gerontology Honor Society Expands, Plans Year Ahead

Ellen Handler Spitz, Professor of Visual Arts, presents ‘Story-telling in Paint and Marble’

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Ellen Handler Spitz, Professor of Visual Arts, gave a talk on the power of illustration in story-telling called “Homage to Illustration: Story-telling in Paint and Marble” at the education and training conference, Tell Me a Story: Creativity and Storytelling, hosted by the Austen Riggs Center. The conference, held from August 9-10, is designed to provide continuing medical education for physicians.Dr. Handler Spitz writes:“Artists refashion stories with paintbrush and chisel.Illustration has received short shrift in the art world because of the conceits of modernism and post-modernism, but I have spent my whole life in a commingled universe of story-and-image; I therefore… Continue Reading Ellen Handler Spitz, Professor of Visual Arts, presents ‘Story-telling in Paint and Marble’

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the Baltimore Sun

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A new Baltimore Sun column by UMBC’s Thomas F. Schaller, professor of political science, examines last week’s rejection of President Barack Obama’s proposal “to exchange a cut in corporate tax rates for an infrastructure-based jobs stimulus plan” by Congressional Republications. Schaller suggest that this rejection was motivated in part by knowledge among GOP members of Congress that “corporate tax rates aren’t nearly as punitive for corporate America as they claim them to be.” Schaller notes that although President Obama suggests lowering the nominal corporate tax rate from 35% to 28%, the figure of more importance is the “effective” tax rate, which… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the Baltimore Sun

Kate Drabinski, Gender and Women Studies, Headlines City Paper

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In the latest issue of the Baltimore City Paper, Gender and Women Studies professor, Kate Drabinski, pulls back the curtain, giving readers a glimpse into the world of Bronies, a small, but dedicated group of predominantly adult men who are fans of the cartoon My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Drabinski traverses the network of fan-made illustrations, full-body fur suits and panel discussions throughout the Baltimore Convention Center, observing and interviewing fans and volunteers to get a better understanding of the world around her. “To an outsider, this subculture contains all the elements of something creepy. Grown men seemingly obsessed with a… Continue Reading Kate Drabinski, Gender and Women Studies, Headlines City Paper

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