Political Science

Cargo shipped in water with remains of the Francis Scott Key Bridge of top of the cargo ship

Infrastructure of support after Key Bridge collapse

/ 6 minutes of reading

In 1987, Paul Flinton, then a 23-year-old senior studying at UMBC, decided to make a short documentary focused on the tollbooth workers on the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The six-minute documentary “One Dollar”—named after the toll’s cost for cars at the time—captures a vehicle’s journey across the bridge from the driver’s point of view in one continuous take. As Flinton ’87, visual arts, drives across the bridge, audio of the tollbooth workers interviewed for the project act as the film’s narrators in which they share some of their experiences as toll operators.  Flinton, who is now a location sound manager… Continue Reading Infrastructure of support after Key Bridge collapse

UMBC's campus from a bird's eye view, with gold location pegs superimposed the image to indicate research zones

Putting UMBC Research on the Map

/ 13 minutes of reading

Spring on UMBC’s main campus brings a host of familiar sights and sounds: blooms on the magnolia trees, the chatter of red-winged blackbirds calling from the reeds around Library Pond, greening grass on the campus Quad, and black-and-gold-bedecked Grit Guides leading groups of prospective Retrievers around what may soon become a home away from home. The guides cover the usual highlights—Academic Row, the Retriever Activity Center, the AOK Library, eating establishments, and residential halls. UMBC is a place to live, to learn, and to find community. And while some of the functions of campus spaces are obvious, others are often… Continue Reading Putting UMBC Research on the Map

A man and woman stand in front of a yellow backdrop

Meet a Retriever—Brian Frazee ’11, M.P.P. ’12, Alumni Association President

/ 4 minutes of reading

Meet Brian Frazee, the president and CEO of the Delaware Hospital Association. Brian is a double alum—earning his political science degree in 2011 and his M.P.P. in health policy in 2012—a former resident assistant (RA), and the current president of the UMBC Alumni Association Board of Directors. But most importantly, he would say, Brian is married to Angela Frazee ‘11, psychology, whom he met during his time at UMBC, and the couple have three daughters. Take it away, Brian! Q: What’s one essential thing you’d want another Retriever to know about you? A: I am an alumnus who met his… Continue Reading Meet a Retriever—Brian Frazee ’11, M.P.P. ’12, Alumni Association President

Four alumni hold books in front of a large quilt.

Meet a Retriever —Diane Tichnell ’70, political science, Founding Four alum

/ 6 minutes of reading

Meet Diane Tichnell ’70, a political science graduate of UMBC’s very first class of Retrievers! As a member of UMBC’s “Founding Four” group of alums from the university’s first four graduating years, Diane has stayed involved with her alma mater, participating as an editor of This Belongs To Us, a collection of Founding Four stories, and establishing the Tichnell Aging Gracefully Graduate Scholarship to support students in the Erickson School of Aging Studies. Take it away, Diane! Q: What’s one essential thing you’d want another Retriever to know about you? A: I have been a loyal Retriever since that first day on campus,… Continue Reading Meet a Retriever —Diane Tichnell ’70, political science, Founding Four alum

Three alumni coaches talk with the mock trial team

All Rise for Alumni Mock Trial Coaches

/ 4 minutes of reading

When Natalie Murray ’22, biological sciences, Thomas Azari ’22, political science, and Lauren Wotring ’22, political science, graduated last spring, they didn’t expect to be returning to UMBC so soon. These recent alums—all members of the 2021 National Mock Trial Championship team—were making inroads in the next stages of their careers, but didn’t hesitate to pick up the phone when the UMBC Mock Trial team called. Together they took on the leadership of UMBC’s B team, guiding the group—composed mostly of first-year students—to the Opening Round Championship Series (ORCS) in March 2023 and saw B team co-captain Fadil Adeite ’26,… Continue Reading All Rise for Alumni Mock Trial Coaches

UMBC’s Farah Helal, longtime student advocate, is named USM student regent

/ 6 minutes of reading

Farah Helal ’24, global studies and political science, is the newly appointed 2022 University System of Maryland (USM) student regent. “Student representatives provide educators and policymakers with the perspective needed to ensure the student voice is valued and understood throughout the decision-making process,” she says. Continue Reading UMBC’s Farah Helal, longtime student advocate, is named USM student regent

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