Paws of Glory

Dec 2, 2015 / 8 minutes of reading

Retrieving the Greatest Moments of UMBC Athletics History By Richard Byrne ’86 and Steve Levy ‘85 Athletics has been an essential part of the UMBC experience since the founding of the university. So narrowing down almost five decades of history – and shining a spotlight on a few of the iconic athletes of UMBC history – is not an easy task. Our guiding principles in what we did include aimed at inclusiveness. We tried to find the moment that spoke to each varsity sport played at UMBC, with equal weight to men’s and women’s teams. You can read more about… Continue Reading Paws of Glory

Finding a Voice

Dec 2, 2015 / 9 minutes of reading

Biologists at UMBC were on the hunt for female songbirds. The world sat up and took notice when they found them. By Joel N. Shurkin Illustrations by David Plunkert Once upon a time – 60 million years ago or so in Australia – a small, perhaps brightly feathered descendant of the recently extinct dinosaurs opened its beak and produced a melodic set of notes. And while it is impossible to know if the creature was startled by the sound it produced (more likely the change was subtle), that moment was the prelude to all bird song. Kevin E. Omland, professor… Continue Reading Finding a Voice

Vox Popular – Christie Finn ’07

Dec 2, 2014 / 4 minutes of reading

We, the Hearts, have something to say. So we might as well sing it. We have voices. Are you surprised? — From “The Hearts’ Manifesto” by Christie Finn On stage in the concert hall of UMBC’s Fine Arts Building last March, Christie Finn ’07, music was rehearsing Triptych of Gossips – a composition by UMBC professor of music Linda Dusman based on a poem by Serena Sue Hilsinger – with violinist and associate professor of music, Airi Yoshioka. The two musicians ran through the witty and ebullient piece with Dusman, who sat in the audience with the score and helped… Continue Reading Vox Popular – Christie Finn ’07

Up on the Roof – Fall 2014

Dec 2, 2014 / 4 minutes of reading

UMBC President Freeman A. Hrabowski, III takes your questions. Q. UMBC has made immense strides as an academic institution under your leadership, and students and alumni take great pride in those achievements. What role does athletics play at UMBC – and how can we infuse our athletics program with that same pride and school spirit? – Tim O’Ferrall ’95, interdisciplinary studies Athletics are exciting and enlightening. One can learn a lot playing a sport about teamwork, about leadership, about discipline, about hard work, about how to lose, and how to win. We take great pride in viewing athletics as a… Continue Reading Up on the Roof – Fall 2014

To You – Fall 2014

Dec 2, 2014 / 3 minutes of reading

I’m happy to admit it. I’m a big Retriever sports fan. There have been times when I have gone to extreme lengths to take in a UMBC men’s basketball game. I remember sitting in a Washington, D.C. hotel room back in March 2001, listening to online radio broadcasts of Northeast Conference tournament games involving the Retrievers. That 2000-2001 men’s team was the first Retrievers men’s squad in a while that had come close the navigating the madness of pressure-packed early March basketball and snatching a bid to the men’s NCAA basketball tournament. Sadly, the 2000-2001 team won only one game… Continue Reading To You – Fall 2014

The Virtue of Small – Michael Tully ’97

Dec 2, 2014 / 4 minutes of reading

Michael Tully ’97, cinematic arts, is a professional screenwriter. Or at least he was – until last month. Tully’s paychecks for writing his next feature, Don’t Leave Home, ran out on October 1. And if things go according to plan, he will fly to Ireland in April to start drawing a salary as director of that film – a spooky psychological thriller in the vein of David Lynch’s Lost Highway or Nicholas Roeg’s Don’t Look Now – for a full year. Which still leaves Tully with a half-year gap in employment. He had a steady gig for several years as… Continue Reading The Virtue of Small – Michael Tully ’97

The News – Fall 2014

Dec 2, 2014 / 5 minutes of reading

STRONGER STEM UMBC’s leadership in fostering the success of students seeking degrees in the sciences, technology, engineering and math (STEM) was highlighted in October when the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced a groundbreaking series of awards totaling more than $18 million for the university. The awards were part of a $240 million, five-year NIH investment to enhance diversity in the biomedical research workforce called Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (or, BUILD). Bill LaCourse, dean of the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, and UMBC Provost Philip Rous, together serve as the award’s principal investigators and will direct the STEM BUILD@UMBC… Continue Reading The News – Fall 2014

How To – Fall 2014

Dec 2, 2014 / 5 minutes of reading

Train a Dog to Perform Search and Rescue Lisa Kakavas ’94, psychology, spends her days working as textbook manager in the UMBC Bookstore. At night and on weekends, however, you’ll find her out in the field with her sable German shepherd, Zildjian (or “Z” for short), working with Mason-Dixon Rescue Dogs. Kakavas is president of the all-volunteer group, which trains dogs – and their owners – to seek and find missing people, both alive and dead. How do you transform a dog from lovable companion to hard-working rescue/recovery K9? Step 1: FIND A TEAM TO TRAIN WITH “There are… Continue Reading How To – Fall 2014

History Rooted in the Community

Dec 2, 2014 / 9 minutes of reading

UMBC alumni work to preserve and present history for broad audiences in Maryland and beyond. By Max Cole UMBC’s history department is the only one in Maryland that offers a graduate track in public history. Students who take courses in public history learn that it is a unique profession that requires a unique approach to research and interpretation. Each course creates opportunities for students to engage in work on real projects with real partners, which in turn helps prepare them to enter the workforce upon graduation. “Public history is a form of public service,” says Denise Meringolo, an associate professor… Continue Reading History Rooted in the Community

Hire Calling – Elliot Lasson ’87

Dec 2, 2014 / 3 minutes of reading

Rubin Rakovsky was an in-house auditor for a multinational accounting firm, but wasn’t happy with his job. “I was just a number there,” he says. “I wanted to feel like I was part of something.” Rakovsky’s search for a more satisfying position led him to Elliot Lasson ’87, psychology. Lasson, the executive director of Joblink of Maryland, helped match him with a small real estate investment fund in Laurel that satisfied the young accountant’s desire to meet new people and participate in multiple aspects of the business. “Employment is so central to who people are,” says Lasson, who moved into… Continue Reading Hire Calling – Elliot Lasson ’87

Grit to Greatness

Dec 2, 2014 / 9 minutes of reading

UMBC Athletics Director Tim Hall Lays Out His Program for the Future of Retriever Fever Interview by Richard Byrne ’86 When Tim Hall was appointed director of athletics, physical education and recreation in July 2013, he had some big shoes to fill. Longtime director Charles Brown had led UMBC’s program for 24 years, solidifying and growing the program’s Division I successes while keeping the department true to UMBC’s mission of emphasizing both sides of the student-athlete experience. Yet in Hall’s first semester, he had the chance to oversee the ascent of UMBC men’s and women’s soccer to simultaneous 2013 America… Continue Reading Grit to Greatness

Discovery – Fall 2014

Dec 2, 2014 / 9 minutes of reading

INSPIRED CHOICE Julia M. Ross’ path to becoming the new dean of UMBC’s College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT) was paved by numerous achievements as a scholar and an academic leader. But it is a deep commitment to breaking down disciplinary boundaries, ensuring graduate student success, and increasing diversity in the fields encompassed by her college that have characterized her time at UMBC. Ross arrived at the university in 1995, rising eventually to become Constellation Professor of Information Technology and Engineering at UMBC. In 2011, under her leadership as chair, UMBC’s chemical and biochemical engineering department merged with the… Continue Reading Discovery – Fall 2014

Fall 2014

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