Education

Ballot Boxers

/ 15 minutes of reading

Four UMBC alumnae who have made careers in politics and government look back at an electoral cycle that held landmarks and heartbreaks for women candidates. By Richard Byrne ’86 Photos by Chris Hartlove The year 2008 saw a momentous breakthrough for African-Americans in U.S. electoral politics. But it was a landmark year for women as well. UMBC Magazine talked with four prominent political alumnae just after Election Day 2008. We asked them to reflect not only on the tumultuous political year, but also about gender and politics issues in their own careers. And to add some scholarly perspective, Cheryl M.… Continue Reading Ballot Boxers

Top Mountaineer: James P. Clements '85, M.S. '91, Ph.D. '93

/ 7 minutes of reading

UMBC alumnus James P. Clements, ’85 computer science and ’91 M.S. and ’93 Ph.D., operations analysis, ascends to the summit of West Virginia University. By Richard Byrne ’86 According to Google Maps, it takes a little over three hours to get from Catonsville to Morgantown, West Virginia. For James P. Clements, ’85 computer science and ’91 M.S. and ’93 Ph.D., operations analysis, the journey has taken a little bit longer than that – about 27 years, in fact. But the destination has been worth the drive, which also took detours through The Johns Hopkins University (where he took an M.S.… Continue Reading Top Mountaineer: James P. Clements '85, M.S. '91, Ph.D. '93

Top Mountaineer: James P. Clements ’85, M.S. ’91, Ph.D. ’93

/ 7 minutes of reading

UMBC alumnus James P. Clements, ’85 computer science and ’91 M.S. and ’93 Ph.D., operations analysis, ascends to the summit of West Virginia University. By Richard Byrne ’86 According to Google Maps, it takes a little over three hours to get from Catonsville to Morgantown, West Virginia. For James P. Clements, ’85 computer science and ’91 M.S. and ’93 Ph.D., operations analysis, the journey has taken a little bit longer than that – about 27 years, in fact. But the destination has been worth the drive, which also took detours through The Johns Hopkins University (where he took an M.S.… Continue Reading Top Mountaineer: James P. Clements ’85, M.S. ’91, Ph.D. ’93

UMBC's Champion Twirler – Stasi Kowalewski '10 and Mardel Kowalewski '81

/ 3 minutes of reading

The grace of a ballerina. The poise of an equestrian rider. The flexibility of a gymnast. Those are the qualities baton twirlers like Stasi Kowalewski ’10 need to have, according to Stasi’s mother Mardel Kowalewski ‘81. And Stasi, who is the world and national two-baton champion, possesses not only those traits but also a desire to learn. “You need to have time and patience for this sport,” Stasi said. “You need to want it bad enough to learn it. It still takes me a long time to perfect my routines.” Stasi, who regularly performs at UMBC men’s basketball games, has… Continue Reading UMBC's Champion Twirler – Stasi Kowalewski '10 and Mardel Kowalewski '81

UMBC’s Champion Twirler – Stasi Kowalewski ’10 and Mardel Kowalewski ’81

/ 3 minutes of reading

The grace of a ballerina. The poise of an equestrian rider. The flexibility of a gymnast. Those are the qualities baton twirlers like Stasi Kowalewski ’10 need to have, according to Stasi’s mother Mardel Kowalewski ‘81. And Stasi, who is the world and national two-baton champion, possesses not only those traits but also a desire to learn. “You need to have time and patience for this sport,” Stasi said. “You need to want it bad enough to learn it. It still takes me a long time to perfect my routines.” Stasi, who regularly performs at UMBC men’s basketball games, has… Continue Reading UMBC’s Champion Twirler – Stasi Kowalewski ’10 and Mardel Kowalewski ’81

Making U.S. Democracy A Little Less “Crazy” – Jamie Nola ’08

/ 3 minutes of reading

Confused about how an American democracy works? You are not alone. A new Web site – www.USDemocrazy.net – designed by Economist magazine cartoonist Kevin “Kal” Kallaugher, artist-in-residence at UMBC, aims to demystify and explore America’s crazy 50-state democracy in a fun and engaging way. Behind the scenes, recent alumnus Jamie Nola ’08, visual arts, spent the last year turning Kal’s black and white drawings into a colorful, interactive web experience, where talking fish discuss the economy and banners promising “crazy factoids” and “political mumbo-jumbo” are all the norm. “It’s really cool,” said Nola, who joined UMBC’s Imaging Research Center as… Continue Reading Making U.S. Democracy A Little Less “Crazy” – Jamie Nola ’08

Making U.S. Democracy A Little Less “Crazy” – Jamie Nola '08

/ 3 minutes of reading

Confused about how an American democracy works? You are not alone. A new Web site – www.USDemocrazy.net – designed by Economist magazine cartoonist Kevin “Kal” Kallaugher, artist-in-residence at UMBC, aims to demystify and explore America’s crazy 50-state democracy in a fun and engaging way. Behind the scenes, recent alumnus Jamie Nola ’08, visual arts, spent the last year turning Kal’s black and white drawings into a colorful, interactive web experience, where talking fish discuss the economy and banners promising “crazy factoids” and “political mumbo-jumbo” are all the norm. “It’s really cool,” said Nola, who joined UMBC’s Imaging Research Center as… Continue Reading Making U.S. Democracy A Little Less “Crazy” – Jamie Nola '08

Following the Game Plan: John Goedeke '79

/ 3 minutes of reading

During John Goedeke’s first year on the UMBC basketball team, the players lost all but five games. The year was 1975, and all of the players were freshmen and sophomores. “UMBC wasn’t even ten years old, but it was a challenge and an opportunity, and I welcomed that,” said Goedeke ’79, economics, who had turned down recruiters from big name basketball schools like Ohio State and the University of Maryland, College Park, for a spot on a fledgling team with coaches he really admired. Over his college years, however, the team made an amazing turn. By the time his senior… Continue Reading Following the Game Plan: John Goedeke '79

Following the Game Plan: John Goedeke ’79

/ 3 minutes of reading

During John Goedeke’s first year on the UMBC basketball team, the players lost all but five games. The year was 1975, and all of the players were freshmen and sophomores. “UMBC wasn’t even ten years old, but it was a challenge and an opportunity, and I welcomed that,” said Goedeke ’79, economics, who had turned down recruiters from big name basketball schools like Ohio State and the University of Maryland, College Park, for a spot on a fledgling team with coaches he really admired. Over his college years, however, the team made an amazing turn. By the time his senior… Continue Reading Following the Game Plan: John Goedeke ’79

A Global Perspective: Kevin Mulroe ’98, M.A.

/ 3 minutes of reading

Kevin Mulroe is the type of teacher who would travel to the ends of the earth for his students. Literally. A teacher of gifted and talented students in Howard County, Mulroe ’98, M.A., instructional systems development, was one of just 16 teachers from across the country to receive a Fulbright-Hayes Fellowship, enabling him to spend six weeks this summer exploring India in the name of education. Throughout his journey, Mulroe visited 23 different schools and learned a lot about what works – and what doesn’t – in math and science education. “This falls into the category of ‘lifetime experiences.’ One… Continue Reading A Global Perspective: Kevin Mulroe ’98, M.A.

A Global Perspective: Kevin Mulroe '98, M.A.

/ 3 minutes of reading

Kevin Mulroe is the type of teacher who would travel to the ends of the earth for his students. Literally. A teacher of gifted and talented students in Howard County, Mulroe ’98, M.A., instructional systems development, was one of just 16 teachers from across the country to receive a Fulbright-Hayes Fellowship, enabling him to spend six weeks this summer exploring India in the name of education. Throughout his journey, Mulroe visited 23 different schools and learned a lot about what works – and what doesn’t – in math and science education. “This falls into the category of ‘lifetime experiences.’ One… Continue Reading A Global Perspective: Kevin Mulroe '98, M.A.

All That Jazz: Ric Ryder ’84

/ 3 minutes of reading

Like so many times in his life before, Ric Ryder moved to the edge of the stage. The lights came up, and a round of applause sounded throughout the audience. Instead of bowing, however, the Broadway veteran took a step back and clapped along with the crowd for a student named Michael, who just sang 16 bars of “Why Should I Wake Up?” from the musical Cabaret for the second time. “With only 16 bars, you want to end that BIG,” said Ryder, who taught a one-day master class in vocal performance at UMBC last semester. “Let the voice do… Continue Reading All That Jazz: Ric Ryder ’84

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