MAGAZINE Discovering Chemistry Success

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We’re (Still) #1

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The Wire Should judges decide social issues such as abortion marriage? legal and gay Leading no. ’76 argues theorist Robin West Fall 2010 Fall Tapping Into Non-Profit Org. Non-Profit Postage U.S. PAID MD Baltimore, #6776 Permit Prep your palates palates your of UMBC: Prep A Taste foods get and enjoy from to ready the as celebrate we world the around diversity. university’s for CYA Join Events: Chapter Alumni night, CBLA and karaoke a RATT for check schedule the Reunion! for Plus, and athletic of Meyerhoff, gatherings groups. alumni Asian •  • 

Challenge yourself Challenge yourself Chase: 5K Dawg UMBC the around run a fun with campus. Lunch: Picnic UMBC Community barbecue delicious with a Enjoy lunch friends. Afternoon: An Arts & Humanities readings for UMBC us by Join faculty alumni. and to us 70s,The A Look Back: Join good the about reminisce old days! •  •  •  • 

University. University. victory against conference rival Boston victory Boston rival against conference Root the Retrievers on to to on Root Retrievers the University: alumni! vs. Boston Soccer Game Men’s Join us as we celebrate our distinguished our as celebrate us we Join Ceremony: Awards Year of the Alumni

•  •  homecoming. ticket information, visit www.umbc.edu/ visit information, ticket UMBC. schedule a complete and For everyone at this celebration of alleveryone things celebration this at at the bonfire. We’ve got something for for We’ve got something bonfire. the at at the picnic or find your school spirit schoolspirit your find picnic or the at Take in a soccer in game Relax art or event. Take Come back to campus for Retriever Fever! Fever! Retriever for campus backCome to UMBC MAGAZINE County Baltimore Maryland, of University Circle 1000 Hilltop MD 21250 Baltimore, Chad is a championship coach. Chad is an alumnus.

Chad supports the UMBC Annual Fund. “I have every reason to give. I had some great professors, and my experience Spend a semester inside UMBC’s pioneering Chemistry Discovery Center and you’ll find as an athlete was very positive. My athletes deserve my support, my program that its successes are rooted in teamwork – and two hours a week without Twitter deserves my support, and the university deserves my support. I don’t know and Twinkies. Plus: A look at how Philip Rous, dean of the College of Natural and what my life would be like without UMBC.” Mathematical Sciences, is extending the active — Chad Cradock ’97, psychology learning concept to other departments. Head coach, UMBC Swimming & Diving Team, winner of seven 14 By Ann Griswold consecutive America East titles and nine conference championships

www.umbc.edu/giving www.umbc.edu/magazine CONTENTS

Are rulings by judges the best way to settle hot-button departments issues such as same-sex marriage and abortion? No, argues Robin L. West ’76, philosophy, a law professor To You 2 at Georgetown University Law Center. From You 3 By Richard Byrne ’86

Up on the Roof 4 22

Campus Treasure 5 Courting Controversy

The News 6

At Play 8 American Studies professor Kimberly Moffitt felt like a stranger when she moved Discovery 10 to Baltimore. But her research on attitudes to the How To 36 gritty HBO crime drama brought the city closer to home. Plus: Case files on Class Notes 38 three UMBC alumni who appeared in The Wire. Then & Now 47 28 By Richard Byrne ’86 Over Coffee 48 Tapping into The Wire

Did you know the Velvet Underground played at UMBC in 1969? We look at that memorable concert and a recent campus performance by dynamic hip-hop artist Wale. By John Strausbaugh ’74 and Stefanie Mavronis ’12 on the cover 47 Courting Controversy illustration by Chris Buzelli. Then & Now

Visit UMBC Magazine online at www.umbc.edu/magazine for plenty of web extras! Thoughts, complaints, suggestions about UMBC Magazine? Get in touch at [email protected]. UMBC MAGAZINE | FALL 2010

2 TO YOU

How did you get through UMBC? Many UMBC alumni do it the hard way. Working day jobs o u r s t a f f (or the night shift) as they earn their degrees. They didn’t just thirst for knowledge; they broke a sweat to make sure that Editor they got it. Richard Byrne ’86 Count two alumnae featured in this issue – Robin West Associate Editor ’76, philosophy and Tootsie Duvall ’75, theatre – among Jenny O’Grady that group. West is a professor at Georgetown University Law Design Director Center and one of the nation’s most prolific and provocative legal theorists. And Duvall’s Jim Lord ’99 acting career has spanned four decades and includes network sitcoms and the HBO series, . Designers The Wire Michelle Jordan ’93 Both women worked their way through school, and reminisced about it in interviews Erin Ouslander ’03 with UMBC Magazine. Melissa Van der Kaay “I worked through UMBC as a waitress,” West recalls. “You could still do that back UMBC News Staff then, and come out of it with virtually no debt.” Chelsea Haddaway Duvall also worked her way through school. She recalls that UMBC theatre professor B. Rose Huber Bill Brown and other UMBC faculty “taught me how to live. Because I was pretty much Anthony Lane on my own by the time I was 18. They really took me under their wing.” Brown even Contributing Writers helped Duvall secure a scholarship that allowed her to finish her degree. David Driver West and Duvall also agree about the quality of their UMBC education. “I still have Ann Griswold very strong and positive memories of educational experiences at UMBC that were Blair Grubb ’76 tremendously important to me,” West says. “I felt very nurtured at UMBC intellectually.” Stefanie Mavronis ’12 Under the tutelage of Brown and other professors, Duvall obtained the skills and the Meredith Purvis Jeff Seidel ’85 visibility to leap from UMBC to the ABC sitcom Angie. “Brown started the summer Joel Shurkin theatre program,” she recalls. “That’s where I originally got seen and where I could meet John Strausbaugh ’74 [All in the Family star] Jean Stapleton, who was my mentor as a comedy and character Mark Trainer actress.” Contributing Illustrators/ This is why assisting students with the costs of attending UMBC is a top priority in Photographers the university’s philanthropic efforts. Helping students who are willing to work hard Chris Buzelli and stretch themselves financially to get their degrees is an investment that pays off. The Chris Hartlove successes of West and Duvall are cases in point. Howard Korn Jim Lord ’99 Erin Ouslander ’03 UMBC Magazine at UMBC Homecoming! This year’s UMBC Homecoming Melissa Van der Kaay (October 13-16) promises to be the best ever! (Check our calendar at www.umbc.edu/ homecoming.) Administration Greg Simmons ’04, M.P.P. UMBC Magazine is sponsoring an “Arts and Humanities Afternoon” on Saturday, Vice President, Institutional Advancement October 16. Hear bestselling faculty author Christopher Corbett (featured in the Summer 2010 issue) spin yarns of the Wild West at 2 p.m. And playwriting’s the thing Miriam Tillman at 3 p.m., with staged readings of works by UMBC alumnae Kara Corthron ’99 and Assistant Vice President, Marketing & Kathleen Warnock ’80, followed by a discussion with the playwrights – and a preview Creative Services of future UMBC Theatre productions. We hope to see you there! Sandra Dzija – Richard Byrne ‘86 Director, Strategic Initiatives

For information on the Alumni Association, please visit http://retrievernet.umbc.edu or call 410-455-ALUM.

For information on giving to UMBC, please contact the Annual Fund at 410-455-2210 or visit www.umbc.edu/exceptional. www.umbc.edu/magazine

FROM YOU 3

UMBC Magazine welcomes your letters RAVE REVIEWS FROM to the editor on any issue related to the BEYOND THE LOOP content of the magazine. Readers can e-mail comments to [email protected]. Faxed I just received some printing samples comments are accepted at 410-455-1889. from The Watkins Printing Company in Readers can also send letters to “Letters to today’s mail and the UMBC Summer 2010 magazine was among the samples. Just the Editor,” UMBC Magazine, 1000 Hilltop wanted to say congratulations on a great Circle, Administration Building, Baltimore, job. I love the grenade/mouse image on the MD 21250. cover, the clean design, and the balance of the historical and the contemporary design. PHILANTHROPIC And, of course, the article about Jim Lord’s THOUGHTS new dawg design. Great stuff. You should be proud. One thing that strikes me about the online version of UMBC Magazine is that there Brenda Foster isn’t an obvious way to make an alumni Partner, GCF, Baltimore donation. Driving people to the site with GREAT IDEAS your e-mail is a great idea (and, in my case, it I get dozens of alumni magazines from What a great magazine! I really enjoyed it. worked!) – but once they get there it might other universities forwarded to my office Who could resist all that tempting food – be nice to have a direct path to turning that every month. I’m sure you probably do too. and the nostalgic late-night photo of the into a donation. I’d think a big DONATE The vast majority of them go straight into Double T. (UMBC Magazine, Winter 2010) NOW button in the sidebar would be fine. the recycle bin. But UMBC Magazine is As a writer, I love telling the stories of our Just a thought... one of the few that I actually look forward ancestors. I believe that everyone has a Brian Cuthie ’84, computer science to sitting down and reading over a lunch fascinating, unique life story to tell. Our and M.S. ’94, computer science break – or even taking home. (And I have history shapes who we are. I would enjoy Member, UMBC Alumni Board of Directors absolutely no connection to your school!) reading in-depth profiles of current and I just want to compliment you and your past faculty and students. Like the “Over team on producing such an interesting, Richard Byrne writes: Now that we’ve reached Coffee” and “Then and Now” columns, well-written and fun-to-look-at publication. but filled with more personal stories. the sixth issue of the magazine, we are beginning Keep up the great work! to look actively for ways to invite alumni into the There’s also the history of UMBC and its important task of helping build an even stronger Jason Newell connection to Spring Grove. UMBC. Your idea is a great kick start to our Editor, Biola Magazine Many thanks to you and your editorial staff discussions. Thanks! Biola University for a great magazine! Marsha Nathanson ’75, mathematics

Richard Byrne writes: Thanks so much for the ideas, Marsha! They are definitely ones that we have our eye on.

Join us on Facebook! Did you know UMBC Magazine has its own Facebook page? We’ll keep you up to date on the magazine and alert you to special web-only content. Find us by searching “UMBC Magazine” on Facebook or directly at www.facebook.com/umbcmagazine. UMBC MAGAZINE | FALL 2010

4 UP ON THE ROOF

UMBC President Freeman A. Q. The path to success and achievement Hrabowski, III, takes your questions. is often paved by those who came before us who offer us a hand-up. Our Q. This past spring, the Baltimore institution appears to be reaching Sun caused a bit of clamor on campus a point of maturity in that we have when an editorial celebrating the graduated many alumni to positions success of UMBC’s championship chess of influence in our society (university team suggested that UMBC change its presidents, business leaders, elected name. Can you discuss your reaction to officials, teachers, etc.). What evidence the idea and the discussion that it set do you encounter that suggests that off, and explain why a name change our students and recent graduates isn’t likely at the present moment? are benefiting from the common — Richard Byrne ’86, English connections of their Alma Mater? Editor, UMBC Magazine — Jason Chamberlain ’97, economics A. My first reaction is that the Baltimore President, UMBC Alumni Association Sun respects the quality of the educational A. Our students are being hired as full-time experience at UMBC, They’re saying that we workers and as interns. Often, it is our own are a first-rate research university. UMBC graduates – in national agencies such My second thought was “Here we go as the Social Security Administration or in again.” Students, as they arrive at UMBC, companies like Legg Mason or T. Rowe Price, proactive in saying that they got a great sometimes bring up the same point that the or in the school systems of our region and education and that they like getting graduates Sun did. elsewhere – who are coming back to UMBC from UMBC into their workplaces – across to find talent. the private and the public sectors. I’d simply echo the response of one of our faculty members, Sheldon E. Broedel Jr. Graduates are serving as mentors for our And I hear this not only from our graduates, ’84 M.S. and ’90 Ph.D, biological sciences, students as well. They serve on advisory but from leaders in the community both whose letter to the editor in response to groups on campus. And they’re also giving us here and around the country. People respect the Sun made this point: Why would we feedback on how our students are doing. the quality of the UMBC education. And as more people talk about it, our success breeds change the name when we’ve gotten such a In the school systems, for instance, we have success. People say this is a first-rate university great reputation? Why change a brand that a number of graduates who are working in – and the results speak for themselves. is now associated with high quality? I was teaching or administrative roles. And they very encouraged by that response. It was the talk about the UMBC experience. When To send a question to President Hrabowski, visit response that was most appropriate. I travel around the state, these graduates www.umbc.edu/magazine. Also, few people understand the millions introduce themselves and say, “I’m proud to of dollars it would take to change be a UMBC graduate.” They are proud of the UMBC’s name. It’s not a simple matter. It’s education they received. extraordinarily expensive. Bad news travels fast. It’s much harder to The good news is that our brand – the get good news out. As the years go by and UMBC brand – is associated with high we have more success with our graduates quality and authenticity. We are who we are. and with our research and our publications, And that’s a good thing. people are taking the time to think about and understand the value of the UMBC (Broedel Letter: http://bit.ly/bAy1vQ) experience. So it’s great when alumni are www.umbc.edu/magazine

CAMPUS 5 treasure

Call it a “flash-back” that can help make new art. Majors in UMBC’s Visual Arts Department have the opportunity to use a variety of vintage photographic equipment that is kept in the “photo cage” on the fourth floor of the Fine Arts Building.

And how will the cage be stocked in the future? Chris Peregoy ’81, visual and performing arts and ’99, M.F.A., imaging and digital arts and a program specialist in the Visual Arts Department, says donations are always welcome. UMBC MAGAZINE | FALL 2010

6 the NEWS

Crimson Accolade Alumni Achievers On a bright and sunny late May morning in Cambridge, MA, UMBC’s president Freeman A. Hrabowski, Last year, the UMBC Alumni of the Year awards moved III, received one of the most prestigious awards offered back to campus and were scheduled to coincide in American higher education: an honorary Doctor of with the university’s Homecoming celebrations. It Laws degree from Harvard University. was such a smashing success that it’s happening Hrabowski was one of a group of 10 recipients that again on Thursday, October 14, 2010, with a new included Nobel Prize laureate Thomas Cech, retired crop of alumni award winners picked by UMBC’s U.S. Supreme Court justice David Souter and Oscar Alumni Association Board of Directors. This year’s award-winning actress Meryl Streep. recipients are: In her remarks on the occasion, Harvard University • Michael George ’87, information systems – a president Drew Gilpin Faust called Hrabowski “a vice president at Amazon.com – is the Engineering galvanic force in his university’s ascent, spurring and Information Technology Alumnus of the Year. • Vikki Valentine ’96, English – a science editor at National Public Radio – is the Humanities Alumna of the Year. (See profile on page 42.) • Michael Nishimura ’80, M.S. ’84 and Ph.D. ’89 – Vice Chair of Research, Department of Surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina – is Natural and Mathematical Science Alumnus of the Year. • Chad Cradock ’97, psychology – director of aquatics at UMBC and leader of the university’s highly successful swimming teams — is Social success against the odds. A leader whose wellspring and Behavioral Sciences Alumnus of the Year. of energy and insight has plenished pools of talent in science and beyond.” • Dean Alexander ’88, visual arts – award-winning Reflecting on the award a few weeks after the photographer – is the Visual and Performing Arts ceremony, UMBC’s president says that “I consider Alumnus of the Year. that award as an award for the institution. It comes as a • Gene Trainor ’86, health science and policy and result of the respect our colleagues there have for the economics – chair of the alumni committee for academic enterprise here.” UMBC’s Exceptional by Example campaign – will Hrabowski adds that the festivities – and the chance receive the Distinguished Service to the University to talk with academic leaders at Harvard – revealed to and the Alumni Association Award. (See profile on him the depth and breadth of that respect. page 45.) “The point made to me over and over again was that • Aaron Merki ’05, political science – an associate the UMBC product is superb,” says UMBC’s president. at Venable LLP – will receive the Young Alumni “And that the students who have graduated from here Rising Star Award. and gone to Harvard – across a range of disciplines – — Richard Byrne ’86 have done extraordinary work and come from a wide range of racial and ethnic and economic backgrounds. So we have become a symbol of inclusive excellence in American higher education.” — Richard Byrne ’86 Image: Staff Photographer Justin Ide/Harvard University www.umbc.edu/magazine

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U.S. News: UMBC Is Still The (Number) One Getting to the top is hard. But ask any Coming” list is what’s known as a “reputational education was also highlighted once again by competitor, and they’ll tell you that staying survey.” U.S. News canvasses a wide range of the university’s placement on the annual guide’s there is much harder. academic leaders (college and university list of the top 16 national universities “where That’s why UMBC’s repeat presidents, provosts and admissions the faculty has an unusual commitment to appearance at the top of deans) and asks them which undergraduate teaching.” Other universities on the list of “Up-and- 10 institutions “are worth that list include Dartmouth, Princeton, Brown, Coming National watching because they are the University of California-Berkeley, Stanford, Universities” in the making promising and and Yale. U.S. News and World innovative changes.” In a joint letter to the campus community, Report America’s In short: the more UMBC’s president Freeman A. Hrabowski, Best Colleges Guide those leaders are talking III and provost Elliot Hirshman wrote this year is an about you, the higher that “needless to say, we are extremely proud acknowledgment your ranking. UMBC’s to be recognized for our commitment to our that UMBC has raised place at the summit of the students and to be seen as a national leader in itself to prominence in list for a second straight year higher education.” discussions about best means that the university has — Richard Byrne ’86 practices in higher education. people talking – and in a good way. How do we know that? Well, the “Up-and- UMBC’s commitment to undergraduate

High Assessment Books about higher education attract policy visited, [UMBC] is the place that has makers and academic leaders, but they also most capably connected research with increasingly find readers among parents and undergraduate education,” Hacker and students making tough decisions about where Dreifus write. to spend their tuition dollars. The authors cite a number of UMBC One book about America’s colleges success stories in undergraduate education being widely discussed this autumn is Higher – and a palpable overall enthusiasm among Education? How Colleges Are Wasting Our students – observed in a campus visit made as Money and Failing Our Kids And What We Can they researched their book. Do About It. Co-written by Queens College While Hacker and Dreifus also noted professor Andrew Hacker and New York Times the Meyerhoff Scholars Program’s immense columnist Claudia Dreifus, the book has been success in increasing minority presence in the serialized in The Chronicle of Higher Education sciences and engineering, their conclusions and is stirring up spirited debate. about UMBC and its president focused keenly The big news for UMBC is that Hacker on an issue that many students and parents and Dreifus’ assessment of the university value most highly in selecting a university: squares significantly with the plaudits for “[Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski, III] sets overall excellence and undergraduate teaching a tone from the top that says teaching that UMBC has received from U.S. News and undergraduates is important, and the faculty World Report and other media outlets. knows he means it.” “Of all the research universities we’ve — Richard Byrne ’86 UMBC MAGAZINE | FALL 2010

8 AT PLAY

Making the Grade Cycling for a Cause Points on the scoreboard aren’t the only ones that UMBC’s women’s basketball team is scoring. Team Road trip. Those two words together conjure up thoughts members are also racking up the grade points. of freedom, wide open space, and self discovery. The team was recognized by the Women’s This summer, three UMBC alumni and one rising Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) for junior at the university put their own spin on this classic posting the third-highest grade-point average in the journey of fun and self-discovery as they cycled across country among NCAA Division I teams. the country to raise money for Active:Water – a charity Only Utah Valley (3.630) and South Dakota State dedicated to bringing clean water to communities (3.622) earned higher GPAs than UMBC’s women’s around the globe. hoops team (3.578) in Division I. And the Retrievers The trip’s itinerary unfurled from San Francisco, CA, ranked 13th in the country among schools from all to Baltimore, MD. The crew of three cyclists – Mike divisions. The high marks were also the best-ever German ’09, Mike Pacella ’10, and Jesse Crow ’12 – and one support car driver, Shelly Kessler ’10 – is connected by their relationship with UMBC and their strong belief in the importance of helping others. “Living on the East Coast, we take water for granted,” says German. “Clean water access is not a commodity, but a human right.” The four participants hope to raise $8,000 for Active:Water, and they’re well on their way to that goal thanks to family, friends, and people they’ve met along the way. The kindness hasn’t only come in the form of donations. From home-cooked meals in Utah to peach ranking for an America East conference school. cobbler and fireworks in Texas, almost everyone “It’s a testament to how hard our kids work,” said they’ve encountered has helped out. UMBC coach Phil Stern. “The players that we recruit “Everyone has something to offer others,” German understand what it takes to succeed at an honors observes. “It might not be much money, but it might be university.” Team members have consistently posted GPAs a nice piece of advice, a kind word, a glass of water, or of 3.0 or higher through Stern’s eight years as coach. a sandwich.” Jessica Hammond, assistant athletic director for Kessler adds that while the trip runs cross-country, academic services for student-athletes, said UMBC the goals that she has set for herself are ones that will coaches work diligently to recruit athletes who can last more than a summer. “This is not just about a trip,” succeed academically. She points to UMBC’s overall she says. “It’s about deciding to live a life of service.” graduation rate of 86 percent among athletes last year. — Meredith Purvis Fourteen UMBC student-athletes graduated with honors, including two who earned summa cum laude degrees. Forward Meghan Colabella ’10, history, for instance, graduated in only three years this past spring (magna cum laude) and will start graduate school as she plays in her final year of eligibility with UMBC. “Academics is number one and basketball is number two,” says Stern, “and fortunately we have kids that understand that right away.” — Jeff Seidel ’85 www.umbc.edu/magazine

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Retriever (Blog) Believer Curtis Tarver ’03, psychology and music, them quite a bit.” has made music for UMBC as a former Tarver updates the blog once or member of the “Down and Dirty Dawgs” twice a week. In the late spring, he pep band. And he keeps up with his alma posted an entry about his bout of mater and other matters musical and sporting sad nostalgia over the new look of via his blog: “80 Minutes of Regulation” UMBC’s athletics logo. (http://80minutesofregulation.blogspot.com/). “I will not obsess over UMBC’s new A native of Wilmington, DE, Tarver banged logo,” Tarver wrote four times, tongue the drums for UMBC’s pep band for four firmly in cheek. He also added a picture years. These days, he works as an associate of the old logo, wishing it “Farewell and Hill to catch UMBC’s lacrosse team play director of student programs at the University Godspeed, old friend.” the University of North Carolina in a 2009 of North Carolina at Greensboro, but part of Tarver says that one of his post-graduation NCAA tournament game. his heart will always remain in Catonsville. highlights was a chance to cheer on his “UMBC is where I met my wife, and, “I talk the most about the things that mean alma mater in person when the Retrievers obviously, where I started my college career. It the most to me, and the things I follow most met Georgetown University in Raleigh, means the world to me,” Tarver says. closely,” Tarver said. “Since I love UMBC and NC, in the 2008 NCAA men’s basketball follow their programs, I tend to talk about tournament. He also made a trip to Chapel — Jeff Seidel ’85

World Title Teammates Brendan Mundorf ’06, sociology, and Denver Outlaws in Major League Lacrosse. 195 points. Westervelt finished his UMBC Drew Westervelt ’09, economics, have “It was an honor to be selected to that team,” career – which ran from 2004 through 2007 taken on – and conquered – the lacrosse Mundorf said. “Having Drew there makes it – with 206 points, making him the university’s world with a friendship that began at UMBC. even more special. We’ve gone down the third all-time scorer. Both Mundorf and Westervelt were same road together.” “It just seems like we keep meeting up,” members of the United States team that won Mundorf played at UMBC from Westervelt says with a laugh. “I’m just happy the 2010 World Lacrosse Championships 2003 to 2006 and that I got to experience this with him. It’s always in England in late July. Mundorf scored 17 finished as the fun playing with him.” goals in the six-game tournament school’s sixth UMBC lacrosse coach Don Zimmerman and made the All-World team. all-time leading points to the duo’s success as further proof of Westervelt tallied 12 goals. scorer with the university’s burgeoning lacrosse reputation. The national The Johns Hopkins University had three teammates have also players on America’s championship team. Like played lacrosse together UMBC, Princeton, Syracuse, College Park and for seven seasons now: 2010 national champion Duke all placed two three years at UMBC members on the winning team. and four more “It just shows that UMBC is a top- with the notch lacrosse school,” Mundorf said. “The opportunity is there through UMBC.” — Jeff Seidel ’85 Photo by Bryce Vickmark UMBC MAGAZINE | FALL 2010

10 DISCOVERY

Playing with Tyre As the lights dim to signal the commencement of In part, the textual difficulties ofPericles arise from the UMBC Theatre Department’s production of questions of corruption (the play only exists in quarto William Shakespeare’s Pericles, Prince of Tyre, the form, and it was not included in the first collection of audience doesn’t quite know what to expect. The Shakespeare’s plays) and disputed authorship (many makeshift theater set up in the university’s Imaging scholars believe the text was co-written by George Research Center (IRC) already defies expectations: Wilkins, a minor Elizabethan author and tavern A table for a stage. Actors dressed in all black. keeper involved in frequent scuffles with the law). At last, one of the actors picks up a toy man One goal shared by Osherow and her students and gives it the deep booming voice of King was to help audiences shake their fear of such Antiochus. A version of one of Shakespeare’s uncertainties in language and textual history. They more difficult plays – blending technology and dug deep into Pericles to uncover the fun in the text. stagecraft – takes off. That effort extended into the spring, when the actors cast in the production began to learn how to channel their talents through toys that they manipulated atop a table. Under the direction of the technical director of the Imaging Research Center, Eric Smallwood ’03 and ’10 M.F.A, imaging and digital arts, students in that program created dozens of images that corresponded with the play’s scenes. The production that emerged married technology and performing arts in innovative ways. As the students played on stage, a camera was trained on the playing space, and this footage was imposed on one of the backgrounds and then projected onto the screen The creative minds in UMBC’s theatre department behind the actors. The result was a show that held never shy away from innovation, so when department three focal points for the audience: actors, toys and chair Alan Kreizenbeck made a mental connection the images on the screen. between the leaps of imagination in Pericles and his own The performance itself reflected the sense of play observations of his two children at play, he decided and collaboration that everyone involved brought to explore the possibility of staging a production of to the project. A Shakespeare action figure was used the play using Playmobil figures and other toys. The as the play’s narrator. When Pericles fed the hungry resulting production – which obtained some of its citizens of Tarsus with food from his ship, a student funding from a Kauffman Innovation Grant – grew poured corn flakes onto the playing area. into an interdisciplinary collaboration that spanned two “Imagination doesn’t stop just because we outgrow semesters and three departments. the toys,” said Kreizenbeck. “When Alan first suggested it, I thought he was — Chelsea Haddaway kidding,” said Michele Osherow, a professor of English and a resident dramaturg at the Folger Shakespeare Theatre. As a prelude to the actual production, Osherow’s dramaturgy class created study and production notes for the creative team, actors and audience. “This is not an easy Shakespeare play,” she explains. www.umbc.edu/magazine

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Creeds and Crises Lab Leader It’s not often that a historian gives a lecture in a an even more expansive investigation. series named in his honor, but that’s precisely what “My talk is about the relationship between emeritus professor of history Robert K. Webb religion and science,” Webb says, “or to put it better, will do at 4 p.m. on October 27 at the Albin O. religion and reason. I’m taking [Clarke’s] idea and Kuhn Library. making it into a very long 18th century – from The Robert K. Webb lecture is an annual the 1640s to the 1880s. It’s a period in which there event established by the History Department to was a real symbiosis between religion and science, honor Webb, a former UMBC professor who which only gradually mutated into hostility.” is also one of the preeminent historians of Great Renaissance philosopher Francis Bacon Britain’s religious and social movements. His talk (who died in 1626) had argued that religion and is titled “The Very Long Eighteenth Century: An philosophy (or science) should be separated, but Experiment in the History of Religion?” Webb says that the 1640s marked a long period in Reminiscing recently about his career as a which many thinkers abandoned that notion and historian, Webb recalls that he never had any embraced a belief “that science supports religion, intention of becoming a scholar whose work and religion supports science.” focused on religion. It was only near the end of the 19th century, Ralph Semmel ’92, Ph.D., computer “I sort of backed into working on the history Webb argues, that there was an explicit return science, is the new director of the of religion,” Webb says. “I saw myself as a social to the notion that Bacon set out. “In the 1880s, renowned Johns Hopkins University historian. I did my early work on literacy.” it all finally changes,” he says, “and very quickly. Applied Physics Lab (APL). He Webb’s first book,The British Working Class And after that, science and religion are at real replaced Richard Roca on July 1 to Reader: 1790-1848; Literacy and Social Tension loggerheads. I can show you this in denomination become the eighth director of APL in (1955), was part of a wave of research into that era. after denomination.” the laboratory’s 68-year history. Webb and other scholars excavated the roots of the — Richard Byrne ’86 Located in Laurel, Md., APL has empowerment of the working class that fueled the close to 5,000 employees conducting social revolutions which convulsed Britain in the and supporting research related late 17th and 18th centuries. to national defense and security. “And then I became interested in middle-class Semmel has worked at the lab for radicals. I suppose that’s autobiographical to some the past 23 years. extent,” Webb chuckles. Semmel is a graduate of the U.S. Webb first tackled the roots of the tumultuous Military Academy at West Point, and career of political theorist Harriet Martineau in the he completed master’s degrees Unitarian religion (leading to a 1960 book, Harriet at Hopkins and the University of Martineau: A Victorian Radical) and then widened Southern California before pursuing his focus to religion’s importance as an animating his doctorate at UMBC. force in British and European politics and history. In panoramic works on the era – including Modern — Richard Byrne ’86 England (1968) and Modern Europe (1972), co- written with his eminent colleague and friend Peter Gay – Webb reshaped our notions of how faith led to works of revolution and repression. Webb says that his lecture will use “the Long 18th Century” – a term coined by University of Kansas professor Jonathan Charles Douglas Clark to describe the unity of religion and politics in Credulity, Superstition and Fanaticism. Britain from 1660 to 1840 – as the springboard for William Hogarth (1762) UMBC MAGAZINE | FALL 2010

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Splitting Seconds DISCOVERY In Anthony M. Johnson’s world, the blink of the measure light. He splits beams of photons, the basic eye is an eon. constituent of light, into two streams in a crystal. One Indeed, the pulses of light used by Johnson – a stream is altered slightly to add just enough distance professor of physics and of computer science and to hold its arrival to a determined amount. (Einstein’s electrical engineering – in his research are so quick Special Theory of Relativity says light always travels at that scientists had to invent new words to describe one speed and extending the length of the trip is the their elapsed time: picoseconds (a trillionth), only way to delay its arrival). femtoseconds (a quadrillionth), and attoseconds (a Another crystal generates a “harmonic” (a doubled quintillionth) of a second. frequency) of the merged light nearly instantaneously, Nature really moves that fast. The initial movement which he can measure. in the seemingly simple act of seeing, for instance, “It has helped us understand how many things has been measured by lasers and occurs in about 300 work,” he says. “The devices and optical techniques we use uncover the processes in physics and chemistry.” To make faster microprocessors and integrated circuits, scientists have to understand what happens in the semiconductors, events happening in picoseconds or shorter. “The only way to measure these ultrafast events is with short pulses of light,” he says. Johnson’s research may even lead to faster Internet connections as more information is crammed down through fiber optic cables. A native of Brooklyn, NY, Johnson graduated magna cum laude from the Polytechnic Institute of New York. He conducted his thesis research at the femtoseconds – as a photon arrives and triggers a Bell Labs in New Jersey and earned a Ph.D. in physics cascade of biochemical events leading to vision. from the City College of New York. He went on to Johnson is the director of UMBC’s Center for work at Bell Labs for 14 years, and then reentered Advanced Studies in Photonics Research (CASPR), university life as chair of the physics department at the and deputy director of the NSF Engineering New Jersey Institute of Technology for eight years. Research Center, Mid-Infrared Technologies Johnson was recruited by UMBC to become for Health and the Environment (MIRTHE), a the director of CASPR in 2003. His work with collaboration of six research universities including MIRTHE centers on improving medical devices UMBC based at Princeton. to detect minute quantities of chemicals that may One of Johnson’s main tools is a titanium-doped adversely affect health and wellness. He is one of a sapphire laser which emits pulses measured in small number of African-American physicists and is a femtoseconds. His labs consist of large tables on fellow of the National Society of Black Physicists and which it appears people have dumped hundreds of other professional societies. mirrors and lenses randomly. In fact, every mirror and — Joel N. Shurkin lens is in a precise position facing a precise direction to intercept a precise beam of light from a laser. Johnson’s research is deeply imbedded in the principles of optics and quantum mechanics. Because electronic instruments are too slow, he uses light to www.umbc.edu/magazine

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Lattes and Letters statement,” she says. “After the year was over, I just started doing it out of habit.” Within a month, Ferrera received generic replies from Starbucks. Some even enclosed coupons. After six responses, Starbucks stopped writing back. But Ferrera kept writing. Occasionally, she would hear from the company – usually when she asked a question related to the coffee business. (For instance, Starbucks replied that people had fallen in love at the coffee shop.) In the main, however, the replies were curt. After two years of writing, Ferrera moved to Korea. She didn’t hear from Starbucks that year, assuming they had lost her address. But when When Starbucks solicits the thoughts of its she returned to the United States, a surprise millions of customers on comment cards, was waiting for her: a personal letter from a they likely weren’t counting on someone like customer service representative at Starbucks. Christine Ferrera ’10, M.F.A. imaging and “The letter was so direct, so confrontational,” digital arts. she said. “But it was nice and obvious that she Musing over one of the ubiquitous cards had something to say to me. She had been a few years ago, Ferrera recalls asking herself: reading my letters for years and had been “What would I naturally say to a friend?” Then touched by them.” Ferrera began writing. And didn’t stop. Ferrera appreciated the reply, but she also Five years later, Ferrera has penned nearly felt something was lost. “The project served as 2,000 letters to Starbucks – one for every a diary for me, and it was almost like no one day of every year. And she continues to write was reading,” she says. “This letter assured me them today. They range in tone from fun and that someone had been reading, that my words quirky to highly sensitive. In one, she asks the were out there.” company, “Has anyone ever fallen in love at Although Ferrara hopes she will be Starbucks?” In another, she discusses her pride known for works other than her coffee in buying a new couch. In many letters, Ferrera correspondence, she observes that “Starbucks – writes about the daily struggles of being an artist. and other corporations – are part of our every Ferrera started the lopsided correspondence day landscape. Artists need to react to the when she lived in Richmond, taking classes times in which they live.” she said. “There may at Virginia Commonwealth University. She be some kind of shift eventually, and maybe I’ll enrolled in an endurance art class which know when to stop writing the letters. But for required students to undertake a one-year now, it is part of my routine, and I’ll keep doing project. The class was asked to do something it until there’s a reason to stop.” out of their element, and since Ferrera was a — B. Rose Huber painter, she chose writing. “The only loose rule I had was that this wasn’t going to be some kind of political UMBC MAGAZINE | FALL 2010

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Spend a semester inside UMBC’s pioneering Chemistry Discovery Center and you’ll find that its successes are rooted in teamwork – and two hours a week without Twitter and Twinkies. By Ann Griswold Photos Chris Hartlove

How well do you remember your chemistry? Can you name the elements hidden in the story headings? UMBC MAGAZINE | FALL 2010

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hink Chemistry 101 is with two words: “It works.” And who keeps the group focused and hard? A few years ago, Bill he has the numbers to prove it. enforces the Chemistry Discovery TLaCourse, chair of UMBC’s In its five years of operation, the Center’s rules. (Breaking them costs chemistry department, devised a way Chemistry Discovery Center has the team valuable points.) “Managers to simultaneously make it seem harder. helped slash the failure rate for aren’t typing or drawing,” Hamilton He called his invention the Chemistry 101 by half. But it has says, “but your brains should be “Chemistry Discovery Center.” done more. Grades among students actively involved…. If we come by, Students call it “the isolation at all levels are up, even after the you should be able to give us a quick tank” or “boot camp.” department raised the grading rundown on what the team is doing.” LaCourse’s brainstorm is housed in standards. (See page 21.) And the The first task? A set of chemistry a brightly-lit room on the second floor number of UMBC undergraduates problems based on an hour-long lecture University Center – just a horseshoe who choose chemistry as their major students attended earlier that morning. toss from the chemistry department’s has also dramatically increased. The members of Team Nitrogen offices. For two hours every week, In the spring 2010 semester, I are already struggling with their new the students who enter it abandon all followed one group of students roles. Most of the answers are provided hope of food and drink, texting and through the Chemistry Discovery by Brennen Cheung, a chemical web-surfing, Twitter and Facebook. Center experience. My question was engineering major who acts as the Their full attention is on chemistry – simple: How does a weekly plunge manager. Kuntal Patel, a pajama and in particular – thinking and talking into a world without social media pant-clad psychology major who about chemistry. “The idea is to get and snacking create better – and ambled into the center late, yawns, tilts them in there to share their collective more – chemistry students? back in his chair and stares into midair. thoughts,” says LaCourse. “Give them “You have to write that on the board,” roles to perform, take away their pads Cheung says to Patel, who looks up. and pencils and make them talk.” February 3, 2010 “Question three,” Cheung repeats. “You Complaints about the rules have to write the answer on the board.” The campus is still buried in snow and rationale abound. The center Patel swivels his chair and leans over to when students trudge into the center, is a waste of time, some students grab the dry-erase marker. “No,” Cheung wearing heavy coats and scarves. It’s say. Others argue that they could says. “Take out the ‘S’ and put an ‘R.’” their first day, and most of them look solve the assigned problems in 45 Hamilton circulates among the as if they’d rather be outside sledding. minutes if left to their own devices. students, stopping here and there to Diana Hamilton, a lecturer in the LaCourse deflects the gripes read the answers scribbled on each Chemistry Department, explains how group’s whiteboard. At one point, she the center works to the 72 students in Bill LaCourse, chair of UMBC’s chemistry department freezes the students’ monitors and attendance. Teams are created from four and founder of the Chemistry Discovery Center. calls for attention. “A lot of you seem students. Each team member is assigned to be having trouble with question a role, which shifts every few weeks. A three,” she says. Hamilton explains “blogger” types the group’s answers on a the problem and drops a few hints keyboard. (These responses are conveyed to steer the teams back on track. to a computer used by Hamilton.) A By the end of the first session, the “scribe” jots the team’s calculations groups have picked up the momentum on a whiteboard. A “researcher” uses of solving problems as teams. But a calculator to manage the math. many are hesitant to admit the The final team member is a “manager” session was anything but tedious. www.umbc.edu/magazine

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Tara Carpenter, a lecturer in the Chemistry Department, works with Kunan Patel, in the Chemistry Discovery Center.

Jennifer Fedorowski, a third-year need to know on Friday,” Hamilton how many kilojoules would be graduate student and teaching assistant, announces. The review session takes produced by travelling 250 miles?” says it takes a few weeks before students the form of a game: questions pop “You gotta do the…” Patel realize that the benefits reaped from up on each team’s monitor and the begins, before his teammates the Discovery Center depend largely students scramble for answers. finish reading the question. on the energy they put into it. “The Team Nitrogen’s table remains “…dimensional analysis,” finishes students on their first day need to be empty until 10 minutes after the hour, Michael Criswell, a returning pushed,” she says. “In the second or third when Kuntal Patel ambles through student with a bachelor’s degree in week, we hardly ever have any issues.” the door. “I think our other dudes theatre arts who is here to brush up dropped,” he says, falling into a chair on chemistry for his MCATs. at an empty table. Hamilton steers “I knew it started with a ‘d’,” Patel MArch 3, 2010 him into a seat at Team Gold’s table, says, searching for the calculator. “Do where he take on the blogger’s role. 48 times 120,000 times 655 times It’s a wet morning a few days before It’s a good match. Patel is already 250 times 10 to the minus three.” the first exam, and the students wear engaged by the time the next question The teams grapple with the review anxious looks. Seven of them dropped pops up: “Your biodiesel car gets questions. It’s a messy process. the class after the first week, and several 48 miles per gallon. Biodiesel’s Sometimes a blogger abandons the more wonder if they should follow suit. energy density is 127,000 Btu calculator and grabs a dry-erase pen. “Just for this time, we’re going per gallon. If 1 Btu = 1055 Joules, Hamilton watches to see if the teams to look at some of the stuff you UMBC MAGAZINE | FALL 2010

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adhere to the rules. At one point, she improve the university’s success. “Discovery Center is the stands behind Criswell and peers over LaCourse took his cue for creating his shoulder at the group’s answers. the center from the Massachusetts reason I’m going to pass “It’s terribly frightening to have you Institute of Technology and a chemistry,” Criswell says. here,” Criswell says. “It’s like Darth Vader host of smaller colleges that were in the academy for the storm troopers.” attempting to revolutionize science “They actually hold your “I’m sorry I make you feel that education by using an approach hand and walk you through way,” Hamilton laughs. She points called “constructivism” – encouraging out an error in their calculations students to learn by doing and share it. It’s ingenious, actually.” before moving on to the next table. their knowledge with each other. If the center’s goal is to get students Other schools experimenting social media websites) replaced to puzzle through chemistry together, with this approach were moving the discussions. LaCourse and however, it’s working as intended today. slowly, with pilot programs and his colleagues sought to level the Hamilton offers to stay afterwards, small groups of students. But the playing field and engage even the but everyone seems eager to leave challenges facing UMBC compelled most introverted students. when the session is over. Outside LaCourse to move faster. The center also works because it in the courtyard, the students seem “We were failing and we didn’t helps students overcome barriers confident about the upcoming exam. want to subject anyone to a placebo,” that prevent them from grasping the “Discovery Center is the reason I’m says LaCourse. “Our GPA average concepts of what LaCourse calls an going to pass chemistry,” Criswell says. was going down; you had to keep ‘invisible’ science. “The [periodic] table “They actually hold your hand and walk lowering the cutoffs to get the same is full of atoms; you’ve got millions you through it. It’s ingenious, actually.” percentage of people passing. So of them in your hand. You can’t see we just went out and tried it.” them,” he says. “If you’re studying So LaCourse and his colleagues chimpanzees, you can see their behavior. Necessity dismantled and rebuilt UMBC’s But how do you see the behavior of introductory chemistry program. Gone a molecule? That’s the trouble.” and Invention were antiquated discussion rooms and In the Chemistry Discovery Center, The Chemistry Discovery laboratory benches. They also ditched a he says, the problem sets often ask Center’s founder says that it was an method of instruction that saw students students to contemplate more tangible invention born out of necessity. muddle through problem sets on their concepts like how the molecules Only a few years ago, LaCourse own and bring them back to large swirling in their morning coffee react recalls, introductory chemistry at discussions groups where a teaching with air to give the drink its bitter taste. UMBC was in a downward spiral. assistant simply announced the answers. “At some point, you make Fewer and fewer students attended “You’d have 90 kids in a discussion the connection,” LaCourse says. classes. Exam scores had plummeted. group,” LaCourse recalls. “The alpha “The things you see around you Student discontent became so loud that people in there were getting the now become explainable.” even the university’s administration took answers they wanted, but students note. Something had to change, and fast. who were a bit shy or overburdened UMBC’s academic leadership had with other things were left behind.” APril 7, 2010 The lectures have remained, but already made student retention and White cherry blossoms adorn a room with tables and intensive success a university-wide priority. And the branches of a tree outside the small-group interaction (without the Chemistry Discovery Center Chemistry Discovery Center’s windows. the distractions of snacking and was one key part of the strategy to The theme of today’s problem set is www.umbc.edu/magazine

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food. “If you can cook, you can do the energy level is already lacking. understand. Kuntal seems like that. chemistry,” says Hamilton. “And if you “Edutainment – that’s not what No matter what the context, other can do chemistry, you can cook.” we’re going for,” says LaCourse. students can get along with him.” Patel is a bit lost. He’s been shunted to Over at the next table, Criswell is a less-enthusiastic group, and he spends part of an animated and jovial Team some of his time exploring the limits Mercury. He punches numbers into of the group’s computer. Despite the the calculator as the team’s blogger, risk of losing points, Patel pokes around Ed Kim, types the group’s answers to see how computer applications on the keyboard. Freshman Dena are actually off limits. Annoyed that Lehmann jots down calculations the team’s researcher is not using the on the whiteboard enthusiastically. calculator on the table, Patel opens the “We are destroying this,” says Criswell, calculator application in the computer’s pleased with his current teammates and Accessories folder, only to elicit an error thankful that – at least for now – he’s not message: “UTILITY BLOCKED.” stuck in a group where no one speaks. “Aww, bastard!” he mutters. “So much of it depends on the “Someone type in 144 divided by synergy,” Criswell says later, empathizing 8.” No one picks up the calculator. with Patel’s plight. “I was in a couple of No one stands at the whiteboard. groups where they were just like toast. Patel’s teammates also won’t There was nothing exciting about discuss the answers out loud, so he them. The best group I had was my does a lot of thinking and typing. first group because there was a large His frustration is palpable. spectrum of personalities. There would “The atmosphere definitely feels be an obnoxious person, and a super like a high school environment nerd that wanted to get 100 percent where you’re heavily monitored to on the test and was really anxious stay on task,” Patel says, bemoaning about the material, and someone who Michael Criswell, a returning student preparing the strictness of the rules. knew it well and was just really relaxed for his MCAT exam, says that “Discovery Center “Stand up, stand up,” Hamilton about it, and that was Kuntal [Patel].” is the reason I’m going to pass chemistry.” says, striding briskly past the team’s Hamilton says that she is not table and snapping her fingers at the surprised by the contrast. In groups member who has been designated as where everyone works well together, MaY 12, 2010 the scribe. “If you need to, go splash the session moves quickly and everyone It’s the last session of the semester. water on your face. Wake up.” has fun. But that’s not always the case. Attendance is uncharacteristically low, It’s times like these – when hunger, “With so many students, I’ve seen with many students cramming for finals fatigue and restlessness set in before it all,” Hamilton says. “Some students, in other courses. “Hopefully we’ll have the session is even halfway over – you can tell they’d rather work alone. some more people coming in shortly,” that the urges to ignore chemistry They’re either too competitive or not Hamilton says. “Otherwise we’ll have to and doodle on a notepad are most comfortable in social situations. But shuffle people around to fill the tables.” compelling. Which is precisely why some just seem to be natural tutors, The session starts off with a quick laptops, iPods and cell phones are whatever role they play. And other game to review the material. Patel, prohibited. Distractions dissipate the people, you can see they’re smart; who is a scribe for Team Noble Gases, energy, particularly in groups where they can do chemistry and they madly writes the complete electron UMBC MAGAZINE | FALL 2010

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configuration of lead on the whiteboard, Patel asks. “Are you serious?” “It’s not about getting it in your hoping to be the first to arrive at the But before he can start, head, it’s about getting it back out,” answer: 1s22s22p63s23p64s23d104p65s2 Hamilton freezes the monitors Patel says. “You’re not going to 4d105p66s25d106p67s24f4… and congratulates Team Cadmium understand something until you “How far am I?” he asks. for arriving at the right answer. actually apply it or at least recite it.” “Almost done,” says the manager, a “They got it,” Mancilla So what happens to the UMBC sophomore named Andrea Mancilla. says, shaking her head. chemistry students who survive the “I’m going to need the whole Patel’s disappointment is short-lived: rigors of the center – and the gnawing board for this,” Patel sighs. Noble Gases win the next round. In absence of websites, texting and “What’s the next question?” retrospect, he says his experience with snacks? In most cases, they thrive. “What is the complete electron the Discovery Center wasn’t all bad. More than 80 percent of the students configuration of the cation that formed The real-world examples it offered I followed earned a grade of ‘C’ or the solid lead iodide?” Mancilla reads. and the teamwork approach helped better. And true to the statistics, some “Agh! Now I have to do iodide?” him nail down important concepts. of the students did decide to become

Castle Keeper by Anthony Lane and Learning Environment” – or CASTLE. Two introductory physics courses will use the space, along with three calculus courses. “What it’s all about is student success,” Rous says. “It’s about teaching the knowledge and skills to support them in their future careers.” CASTLE will advance the success of the Philip Rous, dean of UMBC’s College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences and founder of the CASTLE Chemistry Discovery Center in one large but obvious way. It’s a bigger room, for A bar graph about the precipitous rise in were steadily rising at the same time. one thing, with space for 93 students on grades in Chemistry 101 told Philip Rous, Against a national backdrop of the first floor of the University Center. Most dean of UMBC’s College of Natural and grade inflation in American universities, students will sit at round tables measuring Mathematical Sciences (CNMS), a lot about the UMBC’s introductory chemistry seven feet across – a seating design that success of the Chemistry Discovery Center. classes actually got harder. reflects the latest research about how to The number of students scoring a “C”or That double triumph in chemistry presented jolt students into active-learning mode. better in the gateway science class hovered an obvious challenge and opportunity for “This was the ideal diameter of a table,” near 70 percent in 2003 and 2004. After the Rous and others in his college: If active Rous explains. For groups of nine students, it Chemistry Discovery Center opened in 2005, learning works so well in chemistry, why not turns out, bigger tables leave them too spread that number shot up to around 85 percent. try it in physics, math and biology classes? out to collaborate effectively. Smaller tables are But what made Rous’ jaw drop was another The first step in spreading the concept too crowded. (To make the CASTLE accessible graph prepared by Chemistry Department throughout the college begins this fall, with to wheelchairs, the room also has two smaller chair Bill LaCourse and his colleagues, which the opening of a high-tech new classroom tables that will each seat six students.) showed that cut-offs to make a C or better called the “CNMS Active Science Teaching www.umbc.edu/magazine

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chemistry majors. Among them, Patel, I could with what they gave me.” department, it means higher scores and who earned a high B in the course. Patel may deny that the Discovery more chemistry alumni. And for society Still, he laughs when asked if Center influenced his decision to at large, it helps build a stronger, more the Chemistry Discovery Center become a chemistry major, but disciplined and collaborative workforce. influenced his decision to double- LaCourse says the historical data “I don’t think all of the students major in chemistry and psychology. suggests otherwise. The chemistry who take the course will be chemists,” “Oh no, absolutely not,” he says. “I’ll department has seen a steady and LaCourse says, “But they will all be put it this way. At the end of the day, dramatic increase in majors since more productive citizens in the end.” it’s a two-hour session and no one the Discovery Center began. really wants to do it. People I’ve talked In the end, what does this love-hate to pretty much unanimously say it’s relationship with the Chemistry torture. But whether you want to do Discovery Center mean? For Patel, Could you name the elements? it or not, it’s a mandatory component it represents hope for a future career Mn Ca Fe Ar Ne P Y of Chem 101, so I just did the best in neuroscience. For the chemistry Manganese Calcium Iron Argon Neon Phosphorus Yttrium

CASTLE descended from a research groups. The panels will give the instructors have to figure out exactly how they are project at North Carolina State University extra flexibility: The computers can be going to use it,” Rous says. “Building it is called SCALE-UP, which stands for Student- used when they are needed, and then put the easy part. Now, the work begins.” Centered Active Learning Environment for away when they’d be a distraction. Will Rous eventually teach a course Undergraduate Programs. The main idea Unlike the Chemistry Discovery Center, the in the CASTLE himself? His hectic is to increase student engagement at a CASTLE will be shared among departments, schedule as dean leaves him limited time variety of levels. At each table, the students which demands flexibility. Instructors may to teach physics classes. And the new cluster around work stations in groups also opt to create rules similar to those space requires instructors to develop of three, and occasionally four, to solve in the Discovery Center: no cell-phones, and practice new pedagogical skills. problems or do activities and simulations. points docked for tardiness. (Another But the dean’s eyes sparkle when he Instructors can monitor and engage with plus for instructors? Cell-phone reception considers the question – and surveys the students in their groups, at their tables or in seems quite poor in the CASTLE.) new tools CASTLE will provide for students the whole room at the same time. “You can As approaches toward active learning to wrestle with difficult concepts in science increase the number of students and get in CNMS evolve, the room could also and math. He finally answers with a the benefits of active learning,” Rous says. let some classes dispense with lectures whimsical laugh: “It would be a lot of fun.” Students who call the Chemistry Discovery entirely. “Faculty and the departments Center “the isolation tank” or “boot camp” should have a field day coming up with nicknames for CASTLE. The space is window- post-Discovery 85.6% pre-Discovery free and the powerful air conditioning required 71.2% to keep the computer equipment cool gives the room a chilly and dungeon-like feel. But CASTLE also has a touch of Jetsons- style futurism. A computer with a flat-screen monitor mounted on a rotating wooden panel serves as the anchor for three-student UMBC MAGAZINE | FALL 2010

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CourtingControversy

Are rulings by judges the best way to settle hot-button social issues such as same-sex marriage and abortion? Maybe not, argues Georgetown University law professor and UMBC alumna Robin L. West. By Richard Byrne ’86 www.umbc.edu/magazine

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ustice is a concept that can West’s investigations of the philosophy approaches to law that were competing Jenflame our passions and and history behind American legal for credibility in the legal academy both – animate our actions. The urge to justice have also prodded progressives for different reasons – dismissed justice.” seek redress for wrongs is woven to rethink their reliance on courts as the Those movements were called “legal into the fibers of our government, ultimate decider on hot-button issues formalism” and “legal realism.” Both our economy and our culture. such as same-sex marriage and abortion. philosophies are significant building Courts of law are the main venue in In books like Reimagining Justice blocks for today’s jurisprudence. which citizens seek justice. So it puzzles (2003), West argues that contemporary “The formalists gave us the case UMBC alumna Robin L. West ideas of legal justice have a historical and method – one of the modern ways of ’76, philosophy – one of America’s institutional tilt toward conservatism legal reasoning,” West says. “Basically preeminent legal scholars – that our and libertarianism. In their place, she they viewed justice as unnecessary; nation’s legal establishment and its proposes a vision of American justice they thought that law was sufficient to law schools have largely devalued and that creates greater social cohesion answer all legal questions. You could dismissed the concept of justice itself. and acknowledges the positive and do it all through deductive reasoning. “In Paper Chase-type movies and in essential roles that government The realists thought that where there stereotypical accounts of law school,” and politics play in public life. were gaps in legal reasoning, the gaps West observes, “first-year students will A weak concept of legal justice should be filled with the social sciences, often make an argument about a case “becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy if which were just emerging as a major being just or unjust. And they’ll be nobody ever thinks about it, if nobody way of thinking about political issues at shot down by a professor for having develops ideas about it, if nobody the beginning of the 20th century. So said something overly emotional or ever argues about it,” says West. for these different reasons, both camps childish, something inappropriate or put justice on the cutting room floor.” not sufficiently thoughtful, or not West observes that these movements sufficiently grounded in theory.” Justice on the Cutting also aligned with a third notion: the idea As the Frederick J. Haas Professor of Room Floor that a lawyer’s education should Law and Philosophy and an associate That law schools and the legal reflect the proper role of dean at Georgetown University Law system itself are dismissive of justice law in society Center, West has pursued her interest seems counterintuitive. Don’t and focus on in legal justice in law and in literature Supreme Court judges answer the courts as opposed to the legislatures through a dizzying array to the formal title “Justice?” which create laws. The concept of law of books and papers (see But West observes that this state of as a defender of the individual right page 27). She now ranks affairs has both a long history and against political power has deep roots among the most prominent a powerful ripple effect in in the Enlightenment and is manifest in and prolific legal scholars American culture: “The the U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights. in the nation. bad rap that justice has “We inherit these ideas about the dates back to the late 19th state potentially being the overreaching century, when the various Leviathan, and our needing common law and judges to clamp down on it,” www.umbc.edu/magazine

25 says West. “That then gets blended with our constitutional ideas. Separation of powers, individual rights, and so on. What you get out of this by the middle of the 20th century is a lot of rhetoric and ideology and philosophy about the role of law as that which constrains politics. Why does the rule of law clamp down on the state? It’s in order to free the individual to do what they’d do if the state wasn’t there.” This is a narrow view, argues West, which not only casts the state as a perpetual bad guy, but also negates any useful role for politics. Courts as a “Oftentimes the law serves other and in federal campaign finance nobler and life-enhancing purposes,” she Dead End? law which limited corporate observes, “where the state has to step As a legal theorist, West has expenditures in elections. in and protect people from pernicious expended a great amount “The main way to think about private power – or protect people of energy puzzling through a that case among [progressive] against natural disaster or inevitable conundrum: If the dominant notion constitutional scholars is to say tragedy. You don’t get that sense of law that law exists largely that the case is just wrong,” says intruding into the social world for good to police the West. “And I have no quarrel with ends from the rhetoric of law as the state for its that. But it also is representative of counter to the evil state that emerges infringements on individual rights the dominance of constitutional from the common law period.” has such a profoundly libertarian thinking on liberal political action West suggests that one corrective is and conservative tilt, then why have that comes out of law schools. It’s for law schools to “open up the subject of progressives embraced the courts as a bit of getting hoisted on your what legislatures ought to do to inquiry a primary vehicle for social change? own petard. You have several and study and teaching…The question West’s work points to a number of generations having gone through of the common good has been left out problems with that tactic. The first? the legal academy thinking that of legal education for the most part. Courts are far from immutable. They the Supreme Court is the vehicle Why? Because the common good, the do change – and largely as a result for progressive policy, and that the social good, is what legislators do.” of politics. One example, observes way to go about it is to have the West, is the Supreme Court’s ruling Supreme Court do something earlier this year in Citizens United v. that clamps down on the political Federal Election Commission – which branches. OK. So here struck down a key provision UMBC MAGAZINE | FALL 2010

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you have the Supreme Court doing couple: traditional male-female pairings Rights aside, West points out, the something that clamps down on the only or stated desire by two people stakes remain high: “The number political branches. And the result is to be married, regardless of gender. of privileges and economic goodies pretty much a disaster across the board.” “We have not thought very deeply that married partners have simply by West argues that choosing to or thoroughly about the politics of virtue of being married number in the litigate social change has boxed in marriage per se,” West observes. “Instead, thousands. It’s an extraordinary statistic.” progressives. “Somehow we’ve gotten we take marriage as a given, and then ask Marriage’s role as a de facto social into the position – we, meaning, basically why these people are treated like these safety net may have made sense in progressives and liberals – of constantly people. It’s a classic ‘treating likes alike.’ the 19th century, she adds, but the turning to the Supreme Court to “But what’s gotten completely dropped present world of single parenthood and decide these questions of fundamental from that conversation is whether extended life spans present different political choices,” she says. “You keep marriage – as presently constructed challenges for today’s families. going to the courts to represent things – well serves people,” West continues. “When you constitutionalize like social welfare, and you’re just “Obviously, it serves some people really something like same-sex marriage,” she wasting your time. The time would nicely. Other people it doesn’t serve so says, “you’re limited to talking about be better spent organizing people.” well at all, particularly, for example, folks whether this couple is like that couple, The problem manifests itself who want to parent and are poor. Why? rather than opening up the question of clearly in legal wrangling over Because if they want to parent but can’t what’s being served by virtue of the state’s same-sex marriage and abortion. access marriage – can’t find someone they role in marriage. Some of it may be worth In the case of same-sex marriage, West want to marry – they’re disadvantaged retaining. Other parts of it may be worth observes, the conceptually attractive quite substantially by virtue of not thinking through and doing differently.” notion of “formal equality” – or “treating being married but wanting to parent.” Abortion rights are another issue like cases alike” –which dominates where West sees the courts as a dead current legal thinking tends to end for progressives. She points out run aground on the issue of that the Supreme Court’s 1972 Roe how to decide what v. Wade decision legalizing abortion constitutes a married has been under steady assault since www.umbc.edu/magazine

27 the day the ruling was announced. “I was reading a biography of Kafka Now, it may hang on a single vote. and about his career as a law student, and “I think it was unfortunate that that then as a lawyer,” West recalls. “He was issue was constitutionalized,” West a workman’s comp lawyer, processing says. If keeping abortion rights legal is workman’s compensation claims. So a progressive goal, she continues, “Roe he knew a lot about law. It wasn’t just v. Wade and its aftermath are not doing a day job. It was a pretty demanding a very good job right now. The list just day job. It’s not one that you could just goes on and on of the undermining do in your sleep. And it turned out of Roe through state legislation.” that he did think a lot about law. West argues that pro-choice advocates “So it dawned on me that you might should place greater faith in politics and be able to read some of these parables organizing. “I don’t think it’s true that the and short stories he had written – as Robin West political process is going to yield these well as The Trial – and see what Kafka Frederick J. Haas Professor of Law horrific results on the abortion side,” said about law itself,” she says, “and not and Philosophy and Associate Dean (Research and Academic Programs) at she says. In fact, the emphasis on the just law as a metaphor for something Georgetown University Law Center courts as a battleground for the issue has else like ‘the father’ or ‘religion.’” Education: created “this huge brain drain of smart West’s work consciously harks back to B.A., in Philosophy, UMBC pro-choice people focusing entirely the law and literature movement’s heyday J.D., University of Maryland at Baltimore on litigation and courts, rather than on in the 1970s and 1980s, when the scholars J.S.M., Stanford University organizing in those states where it seems who worked in it sought to recapture and Recent Books: like a little organization might help.” reevaluate philosophical ideas about the Marriage, Sexuality, and Gender (Boulder, nature of law expressed in great works Colo.: Paradigm Publishers, 2007). Jurisprudence Cases and Materials: An of fiction. What can lawyers – and even Introduction to the Philosophy of Law By the Book the larger public – take from the conflict and Its Applications (edited with Stephen Literature has been another wellspring Gottlieb, Brian Bix & Timothy Lytton, between competing notions of law and LexisNexis 2006). in West’s work on justice. She is one conscience in Herman Melville’s Billy Re-Imagining Justice: Progressive of the leading figures in the law and Budd? That novella’s depiction of its Interpretations of Formal Equality, literature movement – which gleans Rights, and the Rule of Law (Ashgate/ title character – tangled in a knot of false Dartmouth 2003) insight about the law from novels, accusations and murder that leads to Rights (editor. Ashgate/Dartmouth 2001) plays and other literary forms. his execution – raises many of the same West distinguishes between this compelling questions about justice and sort of analysis and cultural studies law that West investigates in her work. – which examines representations “A lot of Herman Melville’s work of law in popular media. Her work has to do with law,” West observes. mines novels and stories by Herman For more about Robin West’s work on “People have been thinking about law and literature and her memories Melville (Billy Budd), Tom Wolfe (I Am what Melville had to say about law in of UMBC, check out our website. Charlotte Simmons) and Franz Kafka to Billy Budd since its publication. And illuminate legal argumentation on capital it’s interesting to trace the different punishment, war crimes and definitions critical theories about what Billy Budd of non-consensual sex and rape. is about through the decades, because Her interest in this sub-discipline you can really see political differences.” of law came from reading Kafka’s work and realizing the dualities of his occupations as writer and as a lawyer. UMBC MAGAZINE | FALL 2010

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Tapping into

American Studies professor Kimberly Moffitt felt like a stranger when she moved to Baltimore. But her research on public attitudes about the gritty HBO crime drama brought the city closer to home. Plus: Case files on three UMBC alumni who appeared in The Wire. By Richard Byrne ’86 www.umbc.edu/magazine

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When assistant professor of American Studies Kimberly Moffitt arrived in Maryland and moved into the Liberty Heights neighborhood in the northwest section of Baltimore four years ago, she had an almost immediate aversion to the place. For Moffitt, Charm City wasn’t so charming.

“I’ve lived in a number of major or even Charles Dutton in their age cities,” she says. “New York, Boston, group? You have to talk about The Chicago and D.C. And this one Wire because that’s what they know.” seemed to rub me the wrong way.” Moffitt picked up onThe Wire in So Moffitt sought to resolve her its fourth season – which included a dilemma as many academics do: masterful excavation of the problems Make her strange new environment facing urban schools. And like many the subject of pedagogy by creating viewers, she got hooked. And not merely a course on Baltimore in film. as a fan of the show, but also as a scholar “It forced me to learn about Baltimore,” who saw an opportunity – through Moffitt recalls. “This is going to be the show’s unblinking gaze on the grit home. So how can I embrace it in and graft of Baltimore – to analyze ways that fit my own interests? And how the city’s residents and others saw how we bring film and other media themselves and their metropolis. into how we understand America is precisely what I’m interested in.” FINDING BALTIMORE’S VOICE Moffitt stocked her course with Moffitt observes that academics in works by the best-known names who various disciplines such as sociology, had used the city as a setting for their urban planning and political science were films. But she balked at first when a already mining for their research. colleague insisted that she include the The Wire “The voice I felt wasn’t being talked about critically-acclaimed HBO series The was the perspective of Baltimore itself,” Wire – which tracks the intersection she says. “People who live and work here of the drug trade with the decline of day-to-day. Do they love it? Do they hate American cities and institutions. it? Is it a bad reflection on their city – or “He said it was the most contemporary truth telling that needs to be heard?” example using the city as a landscape,” So Moffitt set out to find them. She Moffitt recalls. “And he asked: What initially wanted to create focus groups were the chances of the students with various constituencies represented knowing John Waters or Barry Levinson www.umbc.edu/magazine

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in The Wire (teachers, journalists, public affairs office was, ‘We do links to the survey on a Facebook law enforcement), but ran into not participate in entertainment page devoted to the series. some yellow “Do Not Cross” tape – research,’” Moffitt recalls. After receiving queries from particularly with Baltimore’s finest. So the UMBC professor pursued the United Kingdom (where The “It was hard to get police another avenue to obtain her data: a Wire was being aired a few years officers to talk aboutThe Wire, web survey. The full survey featured behind its U.S. showings) and period,” says Moffitt. Her efforts 55 questions, including 14 targeted elsewhere, she opened up the extended to walking unannounced specifically at local residents. survey to anyone with an interest into precincts and approaching Moffitt’s sample grew quickly in the show. Eventually, Moffitt squad cars, but availed her little from current and former Baltimore received 800 completed responses. in the way of scholarly insight. residents to a cohort that included Opening up the survey did “The thing I heard back from the Wire viewers from across the result in less than 25 percent of the [Baltimore Police Department] United States. She even put up responses coming from the target

BARKSDALE TO BULLDOG

to major cable television of teachers – and the filming and how it works,” highest expectations he recalls. “The caliber for a theatre artist.” of actors they had Moss is already involved was amazing.” capitalizing on the Yale Moss ran with a experience, traveling to different crew over the Turkey to perform in a past two years, having commedia dell’arte tour recently graduated from and performing the role of It’s hard to boast more the prestigious Yale the clever clown Autolycus pop culture cred than School of Drama. in the Elm Shakespeare this: Aaron Moss ’07, “Yale is everything Company’s performance theatre ran with the and anything you could of The Winter’s Tale. Barksdale crew on Season imagine,” says Moss in Moss compares UMBC One of The Wire. a phone interview. “As to Yale in one crucial Working as an extra we’re talking, I’m sitting sense. “UMBC definitely playing the part of in one of the great has its mind set on D’Angelo Barksdale’s crew halls here, where August preparing leaders across in the low rises, Moss Wilson would rehearse the spectrum of academic says that his time on his plays before they life... [It] was a The Wire was “an amazing would go on to Yale Rep great take-off point educational experience” and then eventually go for what I’ve done.” for a young actor. on to Broadway... Yale — Richard Byrne’86 “It really exposed me has the highest caliber UMBC MAGAZINE | FALL 2010

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audience. But it did reveal the depth “The city is not 68 percent white,” and breadth of the show’s popularity she says. “I want to get a greater – and how those outside the city sense of racial and ethnic diversity in viewed Baltimore after watchingThe response to the show. I really want Wire. (Season Four, by the way, was to hear the voice of Baltimore.” the fan favorite of all five seasons.) “I’m happy with the survey,” says MAKING SENSE OF MOTHERS Moffitt, who is now doing follow-up While her own ambivalence about interviews with Baltimore-area Baltimore sparked her initial scholarly survey participants who agreed to be interest in , Moffitt’s latest work is interviewed at greater length about their The Wire now plunging headlong into the politics perceptions of the interplay between of gender and race depicted in the series. the city, various professions and the “I have issues with the show,” Moffitt says. “I think it’s fabulously written, but I do have issues with it… especially how it can perpetuate the ways in “I have issues with the show. I think it’s which we look at certain people.” In particular, Moffitt says that fabulously written, but I do have issues with she is drawn to the topic of how black mothers are depicted on the it… especially how it can perpetuate the show. “Personally, I was very taken ways in which we look at certain people.” aback by these moms,” she says. Indeed, as the professor and this reporter tally up the mothers represented on The Wire during an interview, it’s agreed that only two women could be considered “good” mothers – one is show. She’s hoping that those interviews a white police officer and the other is will lead to other local residents that an older black adoptive mother. The the web survey didn’t pick up. preponderance of black mothers on the “The voices I hear are loving show are abusive, neglectful and – in the city, loving the realism of The some cases – willing to sell out their Wire, but worrying about its effect children for the good of a larger drug on tourism,” she concludes. syndicate or their own personal comfort. Part of what Moffitt hopes to “There’s a particular story being told,” do in the follow-up interviews is Moffitt says. [University of Maryland “to cultivate greater diversity in the at College Park professor of sociology] voices.” In particular, she says, the Patricia Hill Collins talks about there fact that more than two-thirds of the being these particular images that web survey respondents were white are constantly recycled about black means that she has some work to do to women – and one of them is the bad encompass the city’s full ethnic weave. www.umbc.edu/magazine

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A CLASSROOM ACT

kids. And I got up, all from five episodes to eleven five foot tall of me, and appearances in Season Four clapped my hands and told – and a cameo in the final them all to give me their show in Season Five. “David, attention — and they did! God love him, he wrote a few They stopped talking. One lines into the finale for of the parents said that me so I could come back.” it was good that they had Duvall has fond memories an administrator there.” of her time at UMBC. Duvall has appeared “[Theatre professor] Bill in a number of films Brown was my mentor. And he and television shows, started the summer theatre In the universe of The including a few Barry program. That’s where I Wire’s fourth season, Levinson movies (Tin Men originally got seen and Edward J. Tilghman Middle and Liberty Heights) and where I could meet [All School assistant principal John Waters movies (A in the Family star] Jean Marcia Donnelly is a key Dirty Shame and Pecker). Stapleton, who was my mentor figure: balancing the She was also a regular on as a comedy and character educational needs of the second season of the actress.” It was Brown, she the kids in her school 1979-1980 sitcom Angie – adds, who helped her to against the directives playing one of a trio of secure a scholarship that and demands coming from Marys who were friends allowed her to finish school. the Baltimore City Schools of the title character. (She was working her way headquarters on North Avenue “I was Mary Grace,” through UMBC at the time.) — or as she refers to it she says. “There was Duvall’s memories of in exquisite Balmerese: also Mary Mary and Mary summer theatre at UMBC “The Puzzle Palace.” Margaret. We were supposed include a clear recollection “The Baltimore accent to be a spinoff for our of where she was when is my specialty,” says own series, but it never President Richard M. Nixon UMBC alumna Tootsie Duvall happened. It never got resigned. “It was the ’75, theatre, who played off the drawing board.” only time we ever stopped Donnelly on the series. Duvall’s connection with rehearsal,” she says. “People didn’t think that I The Wire was her previous was an actress. They really — Richard Byrne ’86 work with David Simon —the thought that [the producers] show’s creator— on projects had pulled me out of the including Homicide and The Baltimore School System.” Corner. “They saw a lot of In fact, Duvall recalls, people for Marcia Donnelly,” there was one moment during says Duvall. “And not just filming when she faked out from Baltimore. All over an entire group of extras. the place. And I really “There was one day when we didn’t think I had a shot.” had 300 little school kids,” Duvall not only made the she says. “And the Teamsters cut, but saw her role expand couldn’t wrangle these UMBC MAGAZINE | FALL 2010

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black mother. That easily, without When Moffitt’s survey asked for her voice in the show as she looks much effort, fits into what [series respondents what they thought was for its missing good black mothers. creators] David Simon and Ed missing from the show, a number “As a black woman who is a wife Burns are doing on The Wire.” of them – a majority of whom and mother,” Moffitt asks, “where am Moffitt says that her interest in were white and middle-class and I in this process? I live in Baltimore this aspect of The Wire springs from male – commented that they felt yet I do not see the women who look similar work she did as a scholar that their voice was missing from the like me. Where is the face of the with Stevenson University professor series and that they did not see their concerned black woman who is simply Heather Harris on the films of Spike Baltimore reflected in the show. trying to succeed at keeping her family Lee. “One of the things that sticks As a researcher who sought to together and in good health, physically, out time and again [in Lee’s films] help find her place in a strange city emotionally, and spiritually?” is how he reports on motherhood through a close study of The Wire, – and it’s not very flattering.” Moffitt says that she too is searching

THE BOYFRIEND EXPERIENCE

a copy of the paper with Messner came to UMBC her story on the front after two years at page. Messner’s character Harrisburg Area Community (dubbed “Boyfriend”) is College and with a few woken up as she leaves. years with professional “I’d been in several companies in Central times over the five years Pennsylvania. He says [of The Wire],” Messner UMBC’s theatre program says. “For a cop or “gave him tools” that something. And nothing have helped him as he’s really hit. And then I continued his career. got called in to read Messner played the title for the boyfriend.” role in a 2001 production When Eric Messner ’01, These days, Washington of Macbeth, but says acting got to his dressing D.C. theater audiences his favorite role at room for his one appearance see a lot of Messner, UMBC was as Heurtebise on The Wire, his costume who is a company member in a production of Jean was waiting for him. with the acclaimed Irish- Cocteau’s Orpheus. “It “It was a pair of boxer American company Solas was so bizarre and fun to briefs,” Messner recalls. Nua. He appears regularly look at,” he says. “And my “And a bathrobe.” with troupes including character had ‘powers.’ I Messner appeared in Imagination Stage, Longacre got to play a super hero. Season Five, playing Lea and Forum Theatre, and It was a lot of fun.” the boyfriend of young he has a burgeoning career Baltimore Sun reporter — Richard Byrne ’86 voicing characters for Alma Gutierrez. Gutierrez Graphic Audio in Bethesda. wakes before dawn to find www.umbc.edu/magazine

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“I live in Baltimore yet I do not see the women who look like me. Where is the face of the concerned black woman who is simply trying to succeed at keeping her family together and in good health, physically, emotionally, and spiritually?” UMBC MAGAZINE | FALL 2010

36 HOW TO How To Be a Pottery Detective With Esther Read, Field Archaeologist

So you’re digging a garden in your backyard, and all of a sudden the point of your trowel hits something hard. You poke around a little more, brush the soil away – probably just a rock, right? But on further inspection, the “thing” you have discovered is rather glossy, with faint drawings and a whiff of history about it. When you wash it off in the sink… Voila! You have a ceramics mystery in your hands. clay molded smooth by a machine or more Since Antiques Road Show only comes roughly by an artisan’s hands? Shape can around town once in a blue moon, you also help you understand what kind of might be scratching your head about what vessel the piece once was. Each detail is a to do next: keep it, or toss it? Thankfully, key to solving your mystery. Esther Read, a field archeologist and “The decoration is going to give you a clue lecturer in UMBC’s department of Ancient to what kind of ceramic it is,” says Read. Tools of the Trade Studies, is here to help. 1. Acute powers of Step 2: observation Step 1: Use your clues to figure 2. Dusty old tomes with Look for decorative clues out historical context catalogued artifacts from “If you found something on the ground, days gone by Decorative style reveals much about the the first thing you would do is look at it for time period in which the piece was created. 3. The internets its decoration,” says Read, who – with the For instance, a dish with images of giraffes 4. Ability to charm a real help of UMBC students and volunteers painted in a certain shade of purple might archaeologist into helping – is in the process of cleaning, identifying indicate a piece was manufactured between you and cataloguing more than 4,000 artifacts 1760 and 1780 – a time when images from found in the backyard of an historic Fells “exotic” lands were all the rage. Point home. “We know what kinds of designs were done during certain periods from old catalogues, from antiques magazines and articles,” says Read. Every bit of the design comes into play – from subject matter to painting style. A pastoral scene might have been manufactured during the time when Jane Austen first became popular. The use of stippling – or sharp dotting with a The first step is taking a close look at paintbrush – indicates another time entirely. decoration and shape. Then take a closer look; was the piece painted with a brush, or does it seem like one of many copies? Feel the ceramic with your hands; was the www.umbc.edu/magazine

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Step 3: she continues, you might miss the point of Now What? an object entirely. Location, location, Interested in learning more location “A lot of the training in doing this is not about archaeology? Check just learning the dishes, but learning past out these resources: manners and how people used the material culture of the past,” adds Read. “You need • A Guide to the Artifacts of to know all of these things to paint a really Colonial America by Ivor good picture.” Noël Hume – With more than 100 photographs and illustrations, this book Step 4: is considered the most Check in with the experts accurate reference guide for Read has spent more than 25 years learning artifacts of this time period. everything she can about artifacts of the • UMBC Ancient Studies Mid-Atlantic region. So, admittedly, Website – The department she has a brain full of details that help website at www.umbc.edu/ her identify objects much faster than ancs includes information the average Joe. But, she said, there are on upcoming travel/ plenty of resources out there for budding study opportunities and archaeologists. department news, as well as “It’s accumulated knowledge, it’s shared a list of online databases and knowledge, and it’s knowing what the other resources covering printed resources are and where to find everything from the Bronze them,” she says. (See “Now What?” for Age to medieval studies to some of her suggestions .) nautical archaeology. If you want to truly solve your pottery • Local and National mystery, you might also contact someone Societies – Visit the One of the biggest challenges in like Read at a nearby university, or visit Archeological Society archaeology is combining this collection your local historical society. People there of Maryland at www. of physical clues with information are often more than happy to talk shop, marylandarcheology.org about where you found the object, and Read said. or the nation’s oldest such the context of the time period – ie., society, the Archaeological sociological, economic, or political trends. “I get a lot of calls that start out, ‘I’ve Institute of America, online All of these things in combination are got a rock, can you help me?’” Read says. at www.archaeological.org, necessary to assemble a full picture of the After some clue-gathering, however, these for dig news, resources artifact’s life as an object. That’s why Read seemingly insignificant discoveries in the and opportunities for hastens to add one very important rule backyard often lead us to better understand networking. for anyone interested in reassembling the our nation’s history. puzzle: never move the artifact away from “We can never go back to the past,” she its original location. says, “so we have to reconstruct it from “An artifact has a context…its place in time what we find.” and space, and its association with other artifacts,” Read says. Without that context, — Jenny O’Grady UMBC MAGAZINE | FALL 2010

38 CLASS NOTES www.umbc.edu/magazine

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Blair. P. Grubb ’76, biological sciences, To some extent, I believe we have lessons that I had learned from each is a distinguished professor of medicine forgotten that medicine is neither a science patient. It was a process made difficult and pediatrics at the University of Toledo’s nor a business; rather it is an art that uses by an almost complete lack of exposure College of Medicine. He was also a recipient science and business as tools to aid in to the humanities throughout the of UMBC’s Alumni of the Year Award healing, and not as ends unto themselves. entirety of my previous education. in 1994. But Dr. Grubb – who is one of The increasing distance between Yet as I continued to write these stories the world’s foremost authorities regarding medicine and the humanities only serves about the patients I had treated and the syncope (or “fainting”) and disorders of the to aggravate the aforementioned issues. “nobility of the spirit” that they showed autonomic nervous system – is also a widely For if we think of the humanities as in their struggles with illness, I found published essayist. UMBC Magazine those activities that most reflect what it myself carried into the great repositories asked him to share his thoughts on the is to be a human, it could be argued that of wisdom found in literature, poetry, confluence of medicine and literature. medicine is one of the humanities’ most art and music. I discovered the Bible, the prominent fields. What is more human Divine Comedy, Maimonides, Camus and In the midst of the current debates on the than the act of healing? A patient is not Buber. I listened to Mozart, Verdi and future of American health care, a much Glass, and stared in wonder at the works less discussed crisis has been brewing: of Turner, Michelangelo and Rothko. the growing estrangement of physicians “Medicine is the It was an exploration accelerated by from the very people they seek to treat. my own confrontations with severe As a doctor, I know well that modern most humanistic of illness and loss, and those of my family. medicine can do more than ever before the sciences and the What I have found in the humanities to diagnose and often cure illness. But the is a quest to understand the depths of the patients we treat report an ever increasing most scientific of the human condition, and a willingness to sense of alienation and disenchantment venture into places where pure science with those who provide medical care. humanities.” cannot go. No one turns to their chemistry And the patients are not alone. Physicians book in times of deep emotional crisis. also report a growing sense of dissatisfaction — Edmund Pellegrino M.D. I have come to believe that one way to with the current practice of medicine. address the growing frustrations of both This disenchantment is underscored by merely a broken machine but rather a physicians and patients is to reconnect some grim statistics: among professions in unique individual shaped by his or her medicine with the humanities, and allow America today, physicians now boast the family, environment, heritage and culture. both parties to the act of healing to see highest rates of suicide, divorce, alcoholism Over time, I began to realize that every themselves more clearly as part of the and substance abuse. It is estimated that 300 patient tells a story, a unique narrative that is ongoing human drama in which we each to 400 physicians in the United States take critical to understanding not only his or her play a role. The humanities can help train their own lives each year, a number that is illness, but how that illness had affected his the keen eye of the artist on the problem only projected to grow in the near future. or her life. I also came to realize that sharing of illness, and aid in acknowledging the While the cause of these problems is in each patient’s story deeply enriched shared humanity of both those who suffer both varied and complex, I have come to my own life. I began seeing myself less a disease and those who seek to help them. feel that part of the reason lies in modern mechanic and more a partner in the healing If we achieve this reconnection, medicine’s progressive dehumanization process. More and more, I saw my patients’ a greater number of physicians can of both patients and the physicians struggles as reflections of the human once again see ourselves not as mere who serve them. Once sacred bonds condition itself, and our confrontations biomedical technicians, but rather as linking physicians and patients are with fear, hope and mortality. “healers” in the truest sense of the word. now increasingly disrupted by market I began to write down these experiences forces touting the “bottom line.” in stories that tried to convey the UMBC MAGAZINE | FALL 2010

40 UMBC Class Notes is compiled by Kate Markert, French, was appointed Ricardo D. Zwaig, Spanish, was appointed UMBC Magazine staff from items executive director of the Hillwood Estate, to the District Court for Howard County. submitted online and by mail by alumni, Museum and Gardens in Washington, D.C. He is the first Latino male appointed to the as well as from news articles and press Markert was associate director of The Walters bench in Maryland. His career has included releases received by the University. Art Museum before assuming leadership of the time as a public defender at the state and This edition of Class Notes contains estate formerly owned by American collector federal level and in private practice. He has information processed by August 1, 2010. and heiress to the Post cereal empire Marjorie also served on the Board of Governors of the Merriweather Post. The Hillwood includes Federal Bar Association. How to Submit Class Notes one of the premier collections of 18th century CLASS NOTES CLASS The deadline for submitting Class Notes for the Russian and French decorative arts. next print issue of UMBC Magazine is January 3, 2011. We cannot guarantee the publication Beth Wells, psychology, is in her 10th year of class notes received after the deadline as working at UMBC. She is the university’s 1978 production schedules and resources require assistant vice provost for academic affairs. Wells Jane A. Walker, sociology, was named by The strict deadline compliance. Notes may be also runs a small private practice as a personal Daily Record in May as one of the newspaper’s submitted online at www.umbc.edu/magazine coach, specializing in career development and “Maryland Top 100 Women.” She is the executive director of the Maryland Coalition of or by mail at: UMBC Magazine – Class Notes, stress management. She also writes that she loves Alumni House, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, her new miniature schnauzer puppy, Lucy. Families for Children’s Mental Health. MD 21250. Photo Guidelines Digital photos should be taken on the highest- 1976 1979 quality setting. They should be 4 x 6 inches or Michele Fantt Harris, psychology, is Stafford Bailey, visual and performing arts, larger and 300 dpi. Save the attachment as a managing director of human resources at is an award-winning filmmaker. His television TIFF or JPEG. Questions? Please e-mail to NCB – a federally chartered thrift and a wholly career started at WJZ-TV (Channel 13) in [email protected]. owned subsidiary of the National Consumer Baltimore. As a producer and director for 20 Cooperative Bank. Four 7 Productions, he has created film, video and television projects which have aired on ABC, CBS, NBC, BET, HBO and Showtime. His latest award-winning film –Blacks Without 1971 Borders – aired on Showtime. “It’s about a group , is the Robert Seasonwein, history 1977 of African Americans who went to South Africa supervisory counsel at BWI Thurgood Steve Lynch, psychology, enlisted in the Air to find the American dream,” he writes. “They Marshall Airport. He was formerly the assistant Force before graduating from UMBC. He discovered that America was not the only land chief counsel at Transportation Security served 21 years on active duty in USAF before of opportunity and that the boundaries that Administration headquarters in Arlington, VA. retiring at rank of lieutenant colonel. He also many of them faced here in the U.S. didn’t exist earned a J.D. from University of Maryland, an in South Africa.” For more information see: Lauren Schnaper, psychology, was named by M.S. from the University of Southern California, www.blackswithoutborders.net The Daily Record in May as one of the newspaper’s and LL.M. from George Washington University. “Maryland Top 100 Women.” She is the director Lynch settled with his family in Cleveland, OH, of the Berman Breast Center at GBMC. where he works as an attorney for Coast Guard personnel and their families in the Great Lakes region. He was recently appointed to serve on 1980 ABA Standing Committee for Legal Assistance Marcella A. Holland, political science, is 1973 to Military Personnel. an administrative judge in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. In February, she was named Diane Bell-McKoy, sociology, was named Deborah Benson Moffatt, sociology and one of the “AFRO by The Daily Record in May as one of the Baltimore Afro-American’s social work, received her Ed.D. in June from the newspaper’s “Maryland Top 100 Women.” 2010 Legends & Pioneers.” After more than a University of Cincinnati’s College of Education, She is president and CEO of Associated decade as a prosecutor in Baltimore City, she Criminal Justice and Human Services. Her work Black Charities. was appointed as an associate judge in the circuit has focused on exploring factors essential to the court in 1997. Her numerous other awards success and persistence of adult undergraduates for public service include the National Bar toward their educational goals. She teaches at Association Judicial Council’s Distinguished the University of Cincinnati. Service Award (2005) and UMBC’s 1974 Outstanding Alumna of the Year Award (2008). David Shapiro, economics, opened a café Susan M. Beck, French, graduated from (Shapiro’s Café) in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary in May with neighborhood. It’s already been favorably an M.Div. She also received a certificate in reviewed by Baltimore City Paper. ecumenism from the Washington Theological Consortium. She plans to be a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. www.umbc.edu/magazine

41 1981 Yolanda A. Tanner, economics, was GAME FACE appointed by Maryland Governor as a Master for Juvenile Causes in the Baltimore Circuit near Philadelphia. “He worked as hard as anyone Court Division for Juvenile Causes. She has on the team. I focused on assists and he made it worked for Baltimore city’s Department of so easy for me.” Social Services and the Legal Aid Bureau. Another teammate on the Retrievers teams of that era was Bill Larash ’82, economics, who works as a certified public accountant in Annapolis. Moreland “was offensively the best player I have ever seen,” he says. “He was 1983 unselfish on the court. I joke with him now that he could go out and play for the Wizards.” Joonna Trapp, English, completed an M.A. Page Elliott ’82, health science and in English at the University of Maryland - policy, was a co-captain with Moreland on the College Park in 1990. She and her husband did 1981-82 UMBC team. The two had previously a two-year stint in Budapest just after the fall of played against each other in the Maryland state the Iron Curtain. After returning to the United semifinals – when Elliott was a senior at Thomas States, Trapp finished a Ph.D. in rhetoric and Johnson High in Frederick – before becoming composition at Texas Christian University. She teammates. “It was a close-knit group,” says Elliott, who now lives in New Jersey. “[Current taught English for a decade at Northwestern men’s basketball coach] Randy Monroe is doing College in Iowa, and she just completed her first a great job of keeping our team involved with the year as an associate professor and chair of the program.” says Elliott. English and Foreign Languages department at Moreland attended the Bullets’ training camp Waynesburg University in Washington, PA. after being drafted in the spring of 1983, but did not make the team. So he switched gears and started looking at other career options in the After a stellar basketball career at UMBC, Rick business of sports. Moreland ’83, interdisciplinary studies Moreland had already honed his administrative 1985 was drafted in the ninth round of the National skills at UMBC, working in the athletic department Basketball Association’s annual draft by the as a sports information director, an assistant Bruce Goldfarb, emergency health services, Washington Bullets. athletic director, an assistant basketball coach, is a writer with seven books and thousands of And though he never made a basket or and as an acting athletic director. He started articles under his belt. He is also the publisher of grabbed a rebound for the Bullets (renamed the working for the Bullets in 1988 in the team’s WelcomeToBaltimoreHon.com. “Wizards” in 1995), Moreland eventually made the public relations department, capitalizing on his team in a different way – and he’s lasted 25 years experience as an intern at WJZ-TV in Baltimore Lucy Long, M.A., ethnomusicology, with them. during his college days. completed her Ph.D. in folklore at the “I have had a longer career than most of the “I wanted to stay in sports,” he says. Moreland University of Pennsylvania. She teaches at NBA players,” says Moreland, who is the team’s also took charge of handling the game-day senior vice president for corporate marketing and operations of the games that the Bullets played Bowling Green State University in Ohio. She executive seating. at the Baltimore Arena when the team was based recently received a research fellowship at the Moreland’s job with the team is to make sure in Largo. Smithsonian Institution Center for Folklife and that the corporations and other big customers Moreland assumed his current position in Cultural Heritage which focused on how the of the team have an ideal experience when they 1995. One of the highlights of his tenure with center’s annual festival on the National Mall has come to see the Wizards play at the Verizon the franchise was a chance to work with NBA superstar Michael Jordan, who won six NBA included foods from various cultures. Center in downtown Washington, D.C. His mantra? “Find something you really enjoy championships with the Chicago Bulls before ending his retirement and joining the Wizards doing and find a way to make money at it,” says as a player and team executive for two seasons Moreland, sitting behind his desk at the Verizon in 2001. Ashita Goel ’99, biochemistry, and her Center. He observes that some of the Wizards’ “Michael Jordan, who after you get past the husband, Caton Beitzell ’99, computer younger employees, after taking in his 6’ 7” celebrity, is a great guy,” notes Moreland. sciences, recently celebrated the birth of their frame, ask him if he ever played hoops. Moreland Moreland and his wife, Susan, have three son, Roshan. enjoys telling them that he was good enough to grown children and live in Davidsonville. Their be drafted by the team back in the day. daughter, Ali, was a senior guard this past Moreland played at Surrattsville High School in season for the women’s basketball team at Prince George’s County before arriving at UMBC, McDaniel College. which was still a Division II school at that time. He left the university as the leading scorer and — David Driver rebounder in school history – tallying 1,728 points and grabbing 931 rebounds at UMBC. Chris Farrell ’84, health science and policy, entered UMBC with Moreland in 1979 and played point guard for the Retrievers. “He was an excellent player and an excellent teammate,” says Farrell, who now works for a software company UMBC MAGAZINE | FALL 2010

42 Scott Winston, emergency health services, has worked for the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Emergency Medical See hear Services (EMS) since May, 1989. He is the office’s assistant director, overseeing regulation “Most often someone comes to me with a and compliance, education and training, story idea and we sit down and talk about that technical assistance, and planning and regional story and flesh it out,” she says. “Then we figure coordination. During his free time, Winston out what’s the best way to tell this story.” fishes, kayaks, and spends time with his children. CLASS NOTES CLASS One of features that Valentine has created at NPR.org is the Tiny Desk Kitchen. Inspired by the DIY spirit of NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concerts, these videos examine the science behind popular notions about food (Does honey really have healing powers? Is grass-fed beef better for you 1987 than corn-fed beef?) and cap it off with a taste Jamie Cuticchia, biological sciences, test in an improvised kitchen set up in an NPR now practices law as managing partner in the cubicle. Cuticchia Law Firm, PLLC, after 20 years in In 2009, she was among a team of editors the field of medical research. Cuticchia has held to win a National Academies of Science Award for excellence in reporting and communicating faculty appointments at The Johns Hopkins science, engineering and medicine. The award University School of Medicine; the University honored “Climate Connections,” a year-long of Toronto School of Medicine; and Duke multimedia series of stories looking at the University Health System. He has been involved complexities of the interplay between humans in several start-up biotechnology companies and and the climate. It’s the sort of hybrid project now hopes to use his scientific and legal skills to – reported stories underscored by sound, web support entrepreneurs in biotechnology. “People know what NPR sounds like,” says Vikki graphics and video – that shows the power of Valentine ’96, English. “But they don’t really web journalism to unlock stories at multiple levels. know what it looks like. And on the Web, it’s what More recently, Valentine has worked with you look like that’s important.” veteran storyteller Robert Krulwich on a series of That’s the daily challenge for Valentine, who science video and animation stories. For instance, is a senior editor in NPR’s science division – and a story of a group of space enthusiasts who 1990 recipient of the 2010 UMBC Alumna of the Year manipulate and trade images from the Hubble and Bethany Stancliff Coulter, English, was Award in the Humanities. Public radio is changing other space telescopes is accompanied by jaw- recently named director of communications and at light speed; so much, in fact, that National dropping images of a developing galaxy. Another Public Radio isn’t even National Public Radio events for the American Society of Health- story describes the crowded insect highway above System Pharmacists Research and Education anymore. In July, the name became simply NPR. our heads (around 3 billion insects strong) with a “The core product of NPR will always be whimsical animation that visualizes the scientific Foundation in Bethesda. audio storytelling,” says Valentine. “But people details of spiders and beetles at 6,000 feet. aren’t buying radios anymore. If you listen to In September, Valentine will expand her Karen Woodard, English, graduated NPR, you’re streaming it on your computer, responsibilities when she becomes the senior from Duke University Law School in 1993. you’re listening to it through your iPhone or your editor leading NPR’s environment, climate, and Since 2004, she has worked as deputy chief iPod…. NPR is trying to branch out and figure energy beat across all platforms. in the Employment Litigation Section of the out what NPR is in that digital space.” “It’s a really fun time to be here,” Valentine Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. Valentine’s career trajectory has followed that says. “NPR is always saying to its staff: ‘Come rise in digital storytelling. UMBC professor of the up with something interesting, come up practice in English Christopher Corbett helped with something innovative.’ I’ve had lots of guide her to a print journalism job with Baltimore opportunities to do lots of different things, which Style after graduation. But within two years, keeps it interesting.” Whatever radio becomes, Valentine was lured to The Baltimore Sun to work will Vikki Valentine be one of the journalists who 1992 on the newspaper’s website – learning the ins will take it there? Glenora Chandler Wells-Sanders, and outs of the new medium on the job. “I knew “Hopefully,” she says. “That’s what I’m trying to M.A. sociology, has written a book to her nothing about the Web when I went to the Sun,” be. I’ll let you know in ten years.” granddaughter entitled To Quierra, On Life. she recalls. “The only thing I had formal training in was reporting. UMBC gave me this great — Mark Trainer Her granddaughter, Quierra Wells is currently a foundation in learning and asking questions and student at University of Maryland at College Park, how to ask about things.” majoring in graphic design. She is director of social A lifelong interest in science eventually services at Lifebridge Health-Courtland Gardens took her from the Sun to Discovery magazine’s Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. website, where she wrote daily science news. When that magazine shut down Valentine’s Heather Cook Woodie, biological sciences, department after the dot.com bubble burst, she taught sixth and seventh grade science in ended up at NPR. Over the last nine years, and Carroll County Public Schools for five years in a variety of jobs, Valentine has helped reshape the way the organization tells its stories. In a while earning an M.S. degree in curriculum medium that’s constantly changing, she says and instruction - secondary education - from that flexibility and a knack for telling stories are McDaniel College. She has been home key elements in her task. with her kids since starting a family and has homeschooled her children for five years. She is www.umbc.edu/magazine

43 also an Area Developer for MOPS International (Mothers of Preschoolers), managing and administrating local field leaders and training for all of New York and six New England states. 1993 Arnold T. Blumberg, English, is the curator of Geppi’s Entertainment Museum. He is the author or co-author of books on Doctor Who, zombie cinema (Zombiemania), comics and pop culture. He is teaching a course in comic book literature at UMBC this fall for the twelfth consecutive year, and will teach a course on zombies in popular culture at the University of Baltimore this coming fall. He is also working on several new book projects.

Yi-Ping Huang, M.A and ’98 Ph.D, ethnomusicology, and M.A. ’02, A group of UMBC alums and friends enjoy a pre-game barbecue at the annual UMBC Night at instructional development systems, was named Camden Yards in June. Back row (L-R): Joan Cruz ’07, Peter Solly ’07, Derek Smith ’07. Front row: vice president for accreditation at the National Ryan Areu, Shez Areu ’07, Elisabeth Krug ’08. Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.

Marleah Isom, computer science, works at Thomas Dillon, Ph.D. information Avid Technology Professionals in Laurel. She systems, is a professor at James Madison is working toward a Ph.D. in computer science 1994 University. In the past academic year, he was from George Washington University. She hopes Karen Friedman, political science, was selected by the university’s College of Business to graduate in 2011. appointed as a judge on the Baltimore District for a Madison Scholar Award, which is bestowed Court. She was previously an associate judge on six faculty members each year for excellence Kaliope Parthemos, psychology, was on the Orphans’ Court for Baltimore City. In in scholarly achievement. appointed deputy mayor in the Baltimore May, Judge Friedman was named by The Daily City Office of Economic and Neighborhood Record as one of the newspaper’s “Maryland Development by Baltimore City mayor Top 100 Women.” Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. She had previously served as assistant deputy mayor in the same Mike Parkinson, digital visual arts, 1996 office, and also worked for Mayor Rawlings- became a partner in 24 Hour Company in Melissa E. Exum, M.A., sociology, has been Blake as deputy chief of staff. 1999, specializing in proposal and presentation named Purdue University’s new vice president for graphics. In 2006, he published a book on student affairs. She was previously dean of students conceptualizing graphics, Do-It-Yourself Billion Kevin Goh ’01 (pictured, swimming and and associate vice chancellor of student affairs at the Dollar Business Graphics. He is the founder (with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. diving) was of one seven alumni named to his wife Jennifer) of Billion Dollar Graphics, UMBC’s Athletics Hall of Fame, along with which offers books, tools, articles, training, and UMBC head baseball coach John Jancuska. resources for businesses. Last year, he launched The other six included Huguens Jean ’03 BizGraphics On Demand, a website where (track and field), Ingrid Kilpe Huber ’03 users can purchase and download high-end, 1997 (swimming and diving), LaNae Baker ’98 editable PowerPoint graphics for presentations, Jason Chamberlain, economics, and his wife (volleyball), Craig Linthicum ’81 (lacrosse), proposals, and various marketing materials. Rebecca became proud parents of their son, Monica Logan ’99 (women’s basketball) and William Arthur, on July 20, 2009. They “Love Deanna Vecchio ’02 (softball). City Life” from the vantage point of their roof deck atop their abode in the Federal Hill area of Baltimore. Jason is a certified financial planner 1995 and helps families achieve their lifetime financial Jennifer M. Clements, biological sciences, goals as a vice president - wealth management ’00, M.S. instructional development at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. He has run systems, has taught science and served as an seven marathons and is currently training for the assistant principal in the Howard County Columbia and Philadelphia triathlons. Jason and Public School System since her graduation from Becky recently took William to visit his great UMBC. Since 2009, she has been the system’s grandmother, “Oma” in Heidelberg, Germany. coordinator for secondary science. He is the outgoing president of UMBC’s Alumni Association Board of Directors. UMBC MAGAZINE | FALL 2010

44 Angela Scott, interdisciplinary studies, Lori Buss-Morton, sociology, has worked was recently recognized by the National Bar for Toyota Financial Services since 2002. She 1998 Association as a “Nation’s Best Advocate: 40 married her husband Erik in June 2007 and Francis J. (Rusty) Eder, history, has spent the Lawyers Under 40.” She was recognized with celebrated the birth of her daughter Ashlynn last 11 years teaching history at West Nottingham the other honorees in August. In May, she also in February 2008. Buss-Morton says: “My Academy. He is chair of the academy’s history received the Maryland Community Assistance daughters Kathryn and Ashlynn are my world.” department. Eder has also been named a fellow Network (CAN) Volunteer of the Year Award for of the James Madison Memorial Scholarship Baltimore County. Scott is an attorney with the U.S. Andrew Sindler, psychology, is an attorney. Foundation, whose support will allow him to Department of Health & Human Services. He and his wife Julie just moved into their first CLASS NOTES CLASS finish a master’s degree in American history new home in Pasadena and they are expecting and government at Ashland University. Eder their first child in September. “Exciting times,” wants to thank UMBC associate professor he writes. of history Daniel Ritschel for his support and recommendation in the fellowship process. 2000 Maria Roxanne Reyes Smalkin, Dawn Rock, social work, was recently named psychology, graduated from the University Jenny Hoofnagle Smith, psychology and vice president of regional compliance for Kaiser of Maryland School of Law in 2006. She has human resource management, helped Permanente of Georgia. worked since 2008 as a senior law clerk at the build Ciena Corporation from a start-up to a Maryland Court of Special Appeals. She is multinational organization as a senior director of Katrina Washington, English, has enjoyed a also an adjunct professor of legal writing at the human resources. She is now the owner of two fulfilling career in the copyright and permissions University of Baltimore School of Law. successful businesses: Smith Business Solutions field of publishing at firms including W.W. (consulting) and Saved Spirit Designs (unique Norton and Simon and Schuster. She now jewelry/art design). You can see both companies works as a freelance permissions administrator. at their websites: www.SmithBizSolutions.com Washington lives in Brooklyn with her partner, and www.SavedSpiritDesigns.com. David Monaghan, who works in film and photo 2002 production. They look forward to starting a Bernadette F. Hanlon, M.P.R, policy Jonta Williams, mathematics, moved to family in the next year. sciences and ’07 Ph.D., public policy, New York after graduation to work for IBM as published Once the American Dream: Inner- an IT specialist in the company’s Global Services Ring Suburbs of the Metropolitan United States, division. Over 10 years at IBM, her experiences with Temple University Press. She is a research ranged from project management to business analyst at the Center for Urban Environmental analysis to web application development. In 2001 Research and Education (CUERE) at UMBC. 2007, Williams started organizing for the Barack Ameet Kini, computer science, received his Obama presidential campaign in Queens, NY, Ph.D. in computer science from the University Kevin Maxwell, Ph.D, language, literacy and continued through the 2008 election. She of Wisconsin, Madison in 2007. He now works and culture, was unanimously voted a new now works for the Obama administration as a in San Francisco in Oracle’s R&D department. four-year contract as superintendent of the boards and commissions director in the White He and his future wife, Soumya Srinivasan Anne Arundel County Public Schools. He was House’s Presidential Personnel Office, supporting (Ph.D., Environmental Engineering, U of a 2008 UMBC Outstanding Alumni of the Year the Presidential appointments process. Wisconsin Madison) had a baby boy in May. Award winner.

Curtis Tarver and Megan Smell wedding. L-R: Elaine Castro ’05, Christina Moore ’05, Erin 1999 O’Connell ’04, Carrie Probst Schurtz ’04. Photo by Jason Putsche ’01 Terrence Gilchrist, Afro-American studies, completed an M.P.A. at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government in 2008. He recently served as a policy advisor on public safety and government reform to Newark, NJ’s Mayor Cory A. Booker.

Ashita Goel, biochemistry, and her husband, Caton Beitzell, computer sciences, recently celebrated the birth of their son, Roshan. Ashita is currently a practicing anesthesiologist in Annapolis, and Caton works as a software engineer for Spirent Communications.

Pratish Kumar, political science, attended medical school in the West Indies and graduated in 2005. He is now taking his licensing exams. www.umbc.edu/magazine

45 2003 Alan Aymie, acting, lives in Beverly “EXCEPTIONAL” ALUMNUS Hills, CA, where he focuses on writing for performance. Among his writing credits are “Gene dove into the role of UMBC Alumni Songs My Father Taught Me (Ensemble Theater Ambassador, and enthusiastically reached out to Company, New York), Child’s Play (HBO alumni locally and across the county,” says Greg Comedy Arts Festival), Rap (Zephyr Theater), Simmons, M.P.P. ’04, who serves as UMBC’s Rats (Zephyr Theater), Prepare For Take-Off vice president of Institutional Advancement. “His (University of Iowa short play competition), candor, enthusiasm, and leadership have helped change our expectations of how alumni can work Old Man Of The Mountain (LA Playwrights alongside faculty and staff to help UMBC achieve Festival) and a short film, Passion Of The Couch our short-term goals and our long-term vision.” (Portland Film Festival). When it comes to vision, it’s no surprise that Trainor was a perfect fit. He’s built a career Curtis Tarver, psychology, married Megan in supporting and facilitating the efforts of Smell ’04, psychology on June 12, 2010 in venture capital firms. Throughout his career at Baltimore County. The two met at UMBC companies such as Cramer Rosenthal McGlynn, and currently live in Greensboro, NC. Several New Enterprise Associates, and, most recently, UMBC alumni were in the wedding party and Foundation Capital, Trainor has trotted the globe helping firms grow and expand their offices – and UMBC’s alma mater was used as the ceremony’s ensure their futures through succession planning. processional. (See page 9 for a story about “I am not an entrepreneur per se,” says Tarver’s blog, 80 Minutes of Regulation.) Trainor. “But I believe in and have a passion for entrepreneurship. I realized I wanted to be closer to that side of the world.” Trainor sees himself as the proverbial “man behind the curtain,” handling the day-to-day 2005 operations that are critical to a firm’s success. Colin Holter, music, is completing a Ph.D. Successful navigation of this difficult behind- the-scenes work, he observes, allows a firm’s in composition at the University of Minnesota, In just over 40 years, UMBC has progressed investing partners more flexibility and time to do Twin Cities. He writes a weekly column for from a fledgling university to a nationally their job: seek out bold new ideas and provide the New Music Box – the web magazine of the renowned institution of higher education. And creative minds behind them with the necessary American Music Center. He composed a piece, when it comes to areas such as undergraduate funding to develop and sharpen their ideas and “NetWROUGHT,” for the Frederick Youth teaching or encouraging diversity in scientific and eventually bring them to the marketplace. technological disciplines, UMBC is now regularly Orchestra which premiered in March. He was “Most of the innovation in the world is driven mentioned in the same breath with Harvard by venture-backed companies,” he says. “My role also the composer and producer of “Meal Time University, MIT and Stanford University. Hero” – a “spontaneous music event” at Byerly’s is to run the internal operations of the firm so the But that growth didn’t happen without a lot of investing partners can do what they do best.” Grocery Store in Golden Valley, MN. help. And an important element in helping UMBC Through his willingness to engage in rise in national prestige has been the university’s philanthropic work and service, Trainor has also Nwokedi C. Idika, computer science, was successful Exceptional by Example campaign. brought that spirit of discovery and adventure to the subject of a feature article in the Indianapolis This year, the board of UMBC’s Alumni another marketplace of ideas: UMBC. Star recognizing his achievement at the first Association has recognized the key role played “I was a commuter student during college, so African-American to earn a Ph.D. in computer by its alumni in the campaign by awarding Gene I didn’t build up a vast network of friends,” says Trainor ’86, health science and policy, the Trainor. “It was neat to have the opportunity to science from Purdue University. Idika was 2010 Distinguished Service Award. Trainor will awarded the degree in August. come back to UMBC and meet alums from various receive his award at the university Alumni of the years while working on the campaign to create Year awards ceremony in October. awareness for the University.” UMBC embarked on its very first sustained When Trainor talks to people about making an capital campaign in 2006, in the same year that investment, he says that he asks them to consider the university celebrated the 40th anniversary of where their resources – time, money, or effort – 2006 its founding. Among the goals of the campaign can have the greatest impact. Katie Locke, psychology, received an M.S. was to engage the university’s alumni more “There are very few places where I think in organizational counseling from The Johns directly in philanthropic giving to UMBC. you can get a better bang for your buck than Trainor agreed to serve as the chair of the UMBC,” he says. “All you need to do is look at Hopkins University in May. As part of her Alumni Campaign Committee. Among his tasks in degree program, Locke completed an internship the progress UMBC has made in the last ten that role were serving as chairman of committee to 20 years. Even with limited resources, it has at UMBC’s Career Services Center in winter meetings and training exercises, sending out made incredible progress not just regionally but and spring of this year. regular e-mails to committee members – and nationally.” even holding a campaign event at his own home. Thanks to his unflagging support of the campaign, — Meredith Purvis UMBC’s alumni not only met but surpassed their goal of raising $3 million to support the university’s various initiatives. UMBC MAGAZINE | FALL 2010

46 Mandy Moore, acting, appeared in The Matthew Morgal, English and media Amoralists Theatre Company’s critically- & communication studies, is pursuing a acclaimed production of Pied Pipers of the Lower master’s degree in professional writing at Towson East Side at PS 122 in New York City. University. He was an intern at UMBC Magazine .

Melissa Smith, political science, has started Mary C. (Cass) Naugle, M.A., aging her own political campaign and fundraising firm, studies, was named by The Daily Record in May Blue Crab Politics. as one of the newspaper’s “Maryland Top 100 Women.” She is the executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Maryland.

Njualem Khumbah Nwelatow, biological 2008 sciences, will begin studies at the University of Kristina Bennett, health administration Maryland’s School of Pharmacy this fall. and policy, works in Guatemala with the Peace Corps as a rural health technician in a program called Health Homes. Her job includes giving health education talks and forming health More than 30 alumni gathered for a New York promoter groups – and she will also be involved in 2010 City alumni reception at the International building programs that will supply residents with Elliot Mooney, mechanical engineering, Center of Photography in June. Pictured, L-R: latrines, stoves, cement floors, and water reserves. will attend graduate school at UMBC. Terrence Gilchrist ’99 and guest. Francis Coates, music composition, has Jose Angelo Viray, mechanical engineering, started a music education organization called will pursue a graduate degree at UMBC. Music Play Patrol (www.musicplaypatrol.com), 2007 which provides Philadelphia-area children Andy Waiters, music education, is a Elizabeth Cowan, ancient studies, graduated (especially in underserved communities) with clarinetist in the 257th Army band. He plans to summa cum laude from the University of music and creative arts education. He also pursue an M.B.A. Baltimore School of Law in May. After taking composes music for independent film and Momoka Watanabe, psychology and the bar exam, she will work as a tax attorney ballet. His composition for ballet, “Comfort sociology, plans to work on psychological with the IRS Office of Chief Counsel Honors Zone,” which was commissioned by the research at a university in Japan Program in Washington, DC. She also plans to Slovene National Theatre Opera and Ballet, attend the Georgetown University Law Center premiered in Ljubljana in May. Listen to his at night to earn an L.L.M. in taxation. work at www.franciscoates.com. Friends We Will Miss Janelle Dowling, biological sciences, is Meghan Neville, social work, received the recipient of a doctoral research fellowship an M.S. in social work from the University of Michael J. Hahn ’77 passed away on from the National Science Foundation. She is Maryland School of Social Work in May. May 4, 2010. studying for a Ph.D. at Cornell University. James Valentine, interdisciplinary studies, Eytan Kaplowitz ’09, history, passed away Eric Anthony Grollman, sociology and received his M.H.S. in health policy from The in June 2010. psychology, received a Ford Foundation Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School Robert E. Magin ’92, computer science, Diversity Fellowship for his doctoral training of Public Health in May. He is now in the J.D. passed away on May 6, 2010. in sociology at Indiana University. He also program at the University of Maryland School received a Diversity Fellowship at University of of Law. He is a program analyst with the Office James Williams, who worked to support Wisconsin-Milwaukee to teach Sociology of of Special Health Issues in the U.S. Food and UMBC’s Facilities Management at the South Sexuality this past summer. Drug Administration. Campus, passed away on April 20, 2010. He had been at UMBC since 1983. David Lande, M.A., history, wrote an article about a World War II bomber that continued to be used in the Vietnam War for the June/July 2010 issue of Air & Space 2009 Smithsonian magazine. The article, which is Bethanee Bemis, anthropology, works as a part of a series on “Legends of Vietnam,” can contractor in the Collection Documentation be found at www.airspacemag.com/military- Services in the Smithsonian’s Museum of aviation/Truck-Killer.html. He is a senior American History. researcher at National Geographic. www.umbc.edu/magazine

THEN & NOW 47

September 20, 1969 — The Velvet Underground I was just a couple of weeks into freshman year, straight out of Loyola High School and still struggling to get the hang of the looser, hippier culture that was UMBC at the time, when the Velvet Underground played a concert there. I confess my memories of it are vague. Partly that’s because we were all then experimenting with consciousness-altering substances of one sort or another. But mostly it’s because I was with a girl I must have met just a week or so before. I think I remember the concert was in the gym. I definitely remember we all sat or lay on the floor, where I was much more interested in the girl than the band. I knew enough about the Velvets to be disappointed that it wasn’t the classic line-up on stage. Nico the sepulchral vocalist and John Cale, the brainy Welsh cellist whose avant-gardisms had blended with Lou Reed’s NYC drug-rock to form the VU sound, had left the band. This VU line-up was more conventionally rock, even folk-rock. I probably should have liked it better, but I remember it sounding kind of deflated and dispirited to me. They sounded like a Velvets tribute band. I got the impression they were just going through the motions. Maybe a concert in a gym in suburban Baltimore felt like a step down from the trippy nights at Andy’s Exploding Plastic Inevitable. — John Strausbaugh ’74 Image from The Velvet Underground: New York Art, published by Rizzoli.

April 21, 2010 – Wale Quadmania is the biggest event of the spring semester, and tickets for rising hip-hop star Wale’s show at the festival were in demand. A line for tickets formed at 6 a.m. on the day they went on sale, eventually snaking through Flat Tuesdays to the stairs outside of The Commons, and past the Physics building. After two hours, the concert was sold out. Even the artist was impressed: Wale tweeted a shout out to his UMBC fans when he heard about the line. The University Center Ballroom was lit up with glow sticks, anticipating the rapper’s arrival. After Wale was announced to the crowd, the artist and his crew walked past the mass of excited fans and jumped on stage, where he immediately started in. Fans rapped every word, sang every chorus, swayed with every beat, and threw their fists in the air when they felt passionately about a particular line. Wale upped the ante by jumping from the stage and onto a barricade in front of the stage a few times, interacting with his most dedicated fans. After his long set came to a close, Wale did not make a quick exit from the stage the way that most artists do. Instead, he stayed to sign everything that the crowd offered up to him: sneakers, ticket stubs, posters and even cell phones. The sea of smiles and excited outbursts from audience members who realized that Wale did indeed just actually sign their shoe said it all. Many times, the selection of artists at Quadmania produces as many grumbles as cheers. But Wale’s appearance was more than a success; it was a true moment of happiness and pride for all those involved on every level. — Stefanie Mavronis’ 12 UMBC MAGAZINE | FALL 2010

48 OVER COFFEE

Anna Shields: As director of the Honors College, one of the things I have my advising teams do is to let students know that Phi Beta Kappa is something that should be on their radar. That they need a college-level math course, for instance. John Pinkston: The eligibility requirements are spelled out on our web page, but we need to do a better job of informing people about how meaningful membership is, and differentiate Phi Beta Kappa from other honor societies that have come on the scene. Jay Freyman: There are two hard pieces of evidence that Phi Beta Kappa is different. First, the age. It was formed in 1776. There really isn’t anything else that comes up to that on its prestige. Second, there is the difficulty in obtaining a chapter charter. What’s the greatest misconception about Phi Beta Kappa at UMBC? John Pinkston: The question of liberal studies can be interpreted many ways. At Princeton, where I graduated, engineers It’s no surprise that an Honors I have read that it took a decade to create were eligible for Phi Beta Kappa. And I University in Maryland has a chapter UMBC’s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. think there is an argument to be made that of America’s longest-lived and most Jay Freyman: Oh, longer. We put in a knowledge of technology is an important prestigious academic honor society. preliminary application in 1979. The campus part of a liberal education. I was very But hosting a chapter of Phi Beta was only 13 years old. The term for that is pleasantly surprised at how receptive the Kappa (PBK), founded in 1776 at “chutzpah.” We put in another application UMBC chapter was to that idea. The College of William and Mary, in 1982. That didn’t go anywhere either. But Anna Shields: I think there’s a requires an intensive application and it was important that we did it. Because the misconception in the culture generally review process by the organization. executive secretary of Phi Beta Kappa invited that the love of learning is something that’s Success is a sign of great distinction us down to his office… and told us, “This is affiliated only with humanistic modes of and intellectual rigor – especially at what we have concerns about.” One of the inquiry. That’s not the case. You can’t turn a university as young as UMBC. Jay things that he suggested was that we start over a rock here at UMBC without finding a Freyman, associate professor of ancient an Honors Program, which is now the passionate chemist or physicist or computer studies and first president of UMBC’s Honors College. scientist. Passion and love of learning and chapter, Anna Shields, current After another 12 years, we thought we had liberal education can all go together and be president and director of UMBC’s a chance, so we applied in 1994 and were perfectly coherent and important at a school Honors College and outgoing Phi eventually approved in 1997. that has strong STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] disciplines. Beta Kappa chapter president and Students can’t apply to Phi Beta Kappa. They Part of our job as the chapter is to explain professor of computer engineering are chosen based on academic excellence and to students how their membership reaffirms John Pinkston sat down with UMBC fulfillment of certain criteria – including 90 things about them that they may not have Magazine to talk about UMBC’S credits in liberal studies subjects, at least one conceptualized or articulated as love of chapter which was created in 1997. college-level course in mathematics, and 18 learning and passion for education. credits in a structured program outside their major. How do you let students know what — Richard Byrne ’86 they need to do to be eligible? Chad is a championship coach. Chad is an alumnus.

Chad supports the UMBC Annual Fund. “I have every reason to give. I had some great professors, and my experience Spend a semester inside UMBC’s pioneering Chemistry Discovery Center and you’ll find as an athlete was very positive. My athletes deserve my support, my program that its successes are rooted in teamwork – and two hours a week without Twitter deserves my support, and the university deserves my support. I don’t know and Twinkies. Plus: A look at how Philip Rous, dean of the College of Natural and what my life would be like without UMBC.” Mathematical Sciences, is extending the active — Chad Cradock ’97, psychology learning concept to other departments. Head coach, UMBC Swimming & Diving Team, winner of seven 14 By Ann Griswold consecutive America East titles and nine conference championships

www.umbc.edu/giving MAGAZINE Discovering Chemistry Success

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We’re (Still) #1

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The Wire Should judges decide social issues such as abortion marriage? legal and gay Leading no. ’76 argues theorist Robin West Fall 2010 Fall Tapping Into Non-Profit Org. Non-Profit Postage U.S. PAID MD Baltimore, #6776 Permit Prep your palates palates your of UMBC: Prep A Taste foods get and enjoy from to ready the as celebrate we world the around diversity. university’s for CYA Join Events: Chapter Alumni night, CBLA and karaoke a RATT for check schedule the Reunion! for Plus, and athletic of Meyerhoff, gatherings groups. alumni Asian •  • 

Challenge yourself Challenge yourself Chase: 5K Dawg UMBC the around run a fun with campus. Lunch: Picnic UMBC Community barbecue delicious with a Enjoy lunch friends. Afternoon: An Arts & Humanities readings for UMBC us by Join faculty alumni. and to us 70s,The A Look Back: Join good the about reminisce old days! •  •  •  • 

University. University. victory against conference rival Boston victory Boston rival against conference Root the Retrievers on to to on Root Retrievers the University: alumni! vs. Boston Soccer Game Men’s Join us as we celebrate our distinguished our as celebrate us we Join Ceremony: Awards Year of the Alumni

•  •  homecoming. ticket information, visit www.umbc.edu/ visit information, ticket UMBC. schedule a complete and For everyone at this celebration of alleveryone things celebration this at at the bonfire. We’ve got something for for We’ve got something bonfire. the at at the picnic or find your school spirit schoolspirit your find picnic or the at Take in a soccer in game Relax art or event. Take Come back to campus for Retriever Fever! Fever! Retriever for campus backCome to UMBC MAGAZINE County Baltimore Maryland, of University Circle 1000 Hilltop MD 21250 Baltimore,