university of baltimoreFOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS • FALL 2015 MAGAZINE

Seeds of Change Battling Baltimore’s Food Deserts

Inside: Rocking the Vote / Come Sail Away / Go Clubbing PUBLISHER snapshot University of Baltimore Beautiful Minds Office of Alumni and Donor Services ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT For four days in late July and early part” as well as lectures, a movie FOR ALUMNI AND DONOR SERVICES AND EXECUTIVE EDITOR August, the University of festival, poetry readings and Kate Crimmins Baltimore welcomed more than musical performances. The MANAGING EDITOR 300 participants—ranging from conference also opened its doors

Catherine Leidemer, M.A. ’11 CHRYSTAL JJ PHOTOGRAPHY: mathematicians, architects to the public for a free Family Day, ASSOCIATE EDITOR and computer scientists to artists, which gave attendees of all ages Giordana Segneri, M.A. ’10 educators, musicians, dancers and the chance to experience firsthand ASSISTANT EDITOR weavers—from 25 countries for the the exhibited collision of math, art Libby Zay Bridges Baltimore 2015 conference. and science through workshops, ART DIRECTOR This annual event, which changes games and more. Gigi Boam host cities each year, “celebrates the GRAPHIC DESIGNERS synthesis of math, art and science, pictured: The conference’s JJ Chrystal Sarah Davis [which is] engaging and fun,” says mathematical art exhibition Audra Harvey, M.A. ’11 organizer and faculty coordinator included “The {3,12} Polyhedron Katie Watkins Sujan Shrestha, assistant professor Decorated with a Fractal Circle PHOTOGRAPHERS/ILLUSTRATORS in the Division of Science, Information Pattern” (2015) by Doug Dunham, Jim Burger JJ Chrystal Arts and Technologies in UB’s Yale professor in the Department of Kate Crimmins Gordon College of Arts and Sciences. Computer Science at the University Sarah Davis Bridges Baltimore’s itinerary of Minnesota Duluth; “[It] shows Chris Hartlove James L. Jones Jr., B.S. ’81 included what Shrestha described that mathematical objects can be Joel Kimmel as the “largest exhibition of beautiful,” Dunham has said about Christopher Myers Andy-Evens Pierre mathematical art ever assembled, his work, which is inspired by that Libby VanderPloeg with more than 150 artists taking of artist M.C. Escher. Katie Watkins

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Meredith Lidard Kleeman Mary Medland Paula Novash Koren Wetmore

STAFF CONTRIBUTORS Emily Brungo Chris Hart Allison Hedden, M.A. ’14 Peter Toran Erica Wienholt

EDITORIAL BOARD Gigi Boam Anthony Butler, M.A. ’02 JJ Chrystal Kate Crimmins Sarah Davis Kathryn Fenstermacher Danielle Giles Chris Hart Audra Harvey, M.A. ’11 Caroleigh Haw, M.S. ’01 Allison Hedden, M.A. ’14 Hope Keller Catherine Leidemer, M.A. ’11 Tracy Lisse Monica Queen Giordana Segneri, M.A. ’10 Theresa Silanskis, M.P.A. ’95 Erica Wienholt Libby Zay

UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT Kurt L. Schmoke

VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Theresa Silanskis, M.P.A. ’95

COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS AND INQUIRIES Office of Alumni Relations University of Baltimore 1130 N. Charles St. Baltimore, MD 21201-5779 410.837.6131 [email protected]

WEBSITE www.ubalt.edu/ubmag

The University of Baltimore Magazine is published by the University of Baltimore Office of Alumni and Donor Services. The magazine welcomes feedback from readers. Letters received may be published in a future issue of the magazine. The University of Baltimore is a member of the WebExtra University System of Maryland. ALUMNI.11.15.52,800 President’s Page

PHOTOGRAPHY: CHRIS HARTLOVE CHRIS PHOTOGRAPHY: university of baltimore MAGAZINE

Dear UB Alumni and Friends: At UB, we take pride in providing career-oriented education. We are clearly successful at achieving this goal, as evidenced by the accomplishments of our approximately 45,000 alumni—regional and national leaders in law, business, public policy, communications and other fields. At a time when many are questioning the return on investment of higher education, the value of a UB degree in the marketplace is as strong as ever. But the total worth of a college education, especially a UB education, must be measured by more 11 Join the Club than career success or additional dollars earned. Recent studies, such as the College Board’s by Libby Zay Education Pays 2013, indicate that those with college degrees are more civically engaged than are those Improv? Check. Boxing? Got it. These days, it who hold only a high-school diploma. College graduates are more likely to volunteer in their seems no matter what the interest, there’s a UB communities and are almost twice as likely to vote in local and national elections, a finding that takes on club for that. Meet a few of the members who additional significance as we approach critical elections in Baltimore and across the country next year. help make these clubs thrive. UB students have multiple opportunities to participate in the democratic process during their time here. Since 2004, the Schaefer Center for Public Policy has received grant funding to participate in the Help America Vote College Program, which encourages students to assist in elections as nonpartisan election judges and poll workers. The program reinforces the importance of an engaged electorate and provides the city and county with much-needed staffing support. In addition, the UB Voter Education independent-study course, launched in spring 2014 through the College of Public Affairs, tasked students with raising their “Voter IQ” by learning about the voting process, election cycles, elected representatives and other critical elements of civic responsibility. Students then applied this knowledge to develop an online Voter Education Project to provide 16 Seeds of Change: Battling information on voter registration, the voting process, voting schedules and locations, and other relevant information. The project will be updated in the spring. (You can learn how various UB alumni, Baltimore’s Food Deserts too, are involved in all facets of elections in our feature “Thinking Outside the Ballot Box” on p. 22.) by Meredith Lidard Kleeman As our students continue to graduate and hit the ground running in their chosen fields, we remain One in four Baltimoreans lives in an area committed to instilling in them the value of civic engagement in accordance with our mission statement, without easy access to fresh food. But the UB which commits us to providing our students with “a foundation for lifelong learning, personal community is determined to bring healthy development and social responsibility.” options—and hope—to the neighborhoods that Thinking Outside Mentored by faculty whose work contributes to real-world solutions to 21st-century challenges and need it most. 22 following our alumni’s rich tradition of civic awareness, our students make me confident that the real the Ballot Box worth of a UB degree—for our graduates and for our region—will continue to grow by all measures. by Libby Zay

Sincerely, An election-judge trainer, a U.S. Senate back cover photography: candidate, a political strategist and more— Christopher Myers these UB grads are hard at work on the upcoming elections long before you enter the voting booth. Kurt L. Schmoke DEPARTMENTS President, University of Baltimore 1 Snapshot 24 Advancement WebExtra Don’t forget that anytime you see the WebExtra icon, it means we’ve 2 President’s Page 26 Alumni added related bonus content to the magazine website. 4 Noteworthy 34 Class Notes

www.ubalt.edu/ubmag Fall 2015 3 noteworthy reaking up is hard to do, and in seeking an emotional outlet post- relationship, English major Derick Ebert tried his hand at spoken-word Bpoetry for the first time in spring 2014. He was Meet a taken with it instantly and began crafting poems that tackled subjects from his biracial background to his views on police brutality. Student Only a year and a handful of poetry slams PHOTOGRAPHY: CHRISTOPHER MYERS CHRISTOPHER PHOTOGRAPHY: PHOTOGRAPHY: CHRISTOPHER MYERS CHRISTOPHER PHOTOGRAPHY: later, the then-sophomore was named Baltimore’s first-ever youth poet laureate in Derick Ebert April after winning a competition sponsored by the mayor’s office, the Enoch Pratt Free by Catherine Leidemer, M.A. ̓11 Library and the nonprofit Dew More Baltimore. The win came complete with a cash prize, a book deal, a city tour and the responsibility of giving a voice to the city’s youth while also encouraging that same audience to become more engaged in the arts. Since then, the 19-year-old has performed for U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey, toured libraries and schools with his fellow Baltimore City Youth Poetry Team members— many of whom he competed against for the title of youth poet laureate—and focused his efforts on introducing students of all ages to Meet a the art of expression through spoken-word poetry. Following the unrest in Baltimore after Freddie Gray’s death in April, the mayor’s office also called upon Ebert to Faculty add a youthful perspective to the ongoing discussion about the city’s future. Ultimately, he hopes to earn his master’s Member degree and become a literature or creative writing teacher. In the meantime, he’ll continue working to inspire the next generation of Don Haynes writers. “I’m almost … I don’t want to say like by Libby Zay a tool,” he says of his position as youth poet laureate, “but I’m just helpful for getting kids to want to write.”

Haynes demonstrates how to cast a fly-fishing rod while standing in the Gunpowder River. He estimates he and his wife, Norma, spend 60-70 days fishing each year. An excerpt from Ebert’s poem “Black”: hen Don Haynes, associate “About six years ago, when the kids were the sport’s therapeutic nature and how it For six years, professor in the School of Public gone and we had an empty nest, we were intersects with other pursuits, including I have been reading and International Affairs, isn’t looking for something to do,” Haynes says, entomology (“You’re imitating bugs, so you Between the lines at UB, odds are you’ll find him explaining that his wife, Norma, grew up need to know what bugs do”), geomorphology In a world Wknee-deep in the Gunpowder River or in the fishing in the ocean. After the pair took a (“You’re trying to find out where in the water Completely color blind Jones Falls with a fly-fishing rod in hand. half-day fly-fishing lesson, they were hooked. column the fish will be”) and meteorology Haynes grew up fishing in a “good-sized Now, the couple spends many weekends (“The weather is such a factor”). No wonder creek” behind his Southern Virginia home. and late afternoons fishing, and they’ve He’s also interested in the history and Waldo always hides “Fishing was kind of normal,” he recalls, also become involved in conservation literature surrounding the sport; he’s read No wonder explaining that he started fishing as most efforts. Haynes holds elected positions at works on fly fishing that date back to the 16th Zebras always run other people do—with regular spin rods, the local and state levels of Trout Unlimited, century, and he also references contemporary No wonder the kind used to fling a heavy lure into the a volunteer organization dedicated to reads, including Norman Maclean’s popular I share traits with both of them water. In his late teens, Haynes bought a rod protecting and restoring North America’s novel-turned-movie A River Runs Through It. Always hiding for fly fishing, a more manual method that fisheries. He and his wife also participate “It’s not just an activity,” he says. “You’re In crowds that’ll never accept me requires a special casting technique and uses in City Catch, an annual event in which always picking up these bits and pieces [of And fleeing a comparatively weightless lure, but he had children learn to fish in Baltimore waterways, knowledge about the sport]. It’s something Not fighting difficulty catching on. and Casting for Recovery, which hosts you have to be into—and not only literally As soon as I’m attacked “There’s a pretty steep learning curve on retreats for breast cancer survivors. into the fishing, but [into] all aspects of it.” how to do it, and there was nobody around to When asked why he loves his hobby, But I’m still searching, teach me,” Haynes explains. Haynes doesn’t have to fish for reasons. For what it means, WebExtra Although he fished from time to time over “There’s an old saying: ‘Trout don’t live in To be WebExtra the next few decades, it wasn’t until he reached ugly places,’” he begins with a chuckle. Black his 40s that he gave fly fishing another try. But then things turn serious: He talks about

4 University of Baltimore Magazine www.ubalt.edu/ubmag Fall 2015 5 noteworthy nd something you’re passionate about, “ and try to make a difference every day 0n the Spot in whatever you do. Margarita attiude to Cardona We walked around campus and Bring a director of sponsored “What advice would you give to difficult situations, research and faculty put UB students, staff, faculty and development alumni on the spot, asking them: recent graduates?” WATKINS KATIE DAVIS, SARAH PHOTOGRAPHY: and you’ll see that your career will progress. ”

“Get involved in your Determine what your Identify with a mentor definite purpose you is, and do that. NEVER soearly you canin yo startur buildincareerg Everything you do should be y Caylin A. Young know Tairran-Shari DON’T Sabrina important Greene centered Viscomi, WHEN compare yourself MBA ’13 relationships graduate integrated around you’re when you law student and develop a design student to other people graduate.” accomplishing that purpose. going to meet someone strong [who] could ... introduce network you to your next of “Brush [up on] all your skills, “Get out there and opportunity. like-minded particularly the professionals MEET NEW PEOPLE, So be open to every that can help opportunity Frank LePage, and most of all, Ting Zhang Troy Pritt, and always, always be your M.P.A. ’92 HARD SKILLS, B.S. ’15 GET INVOLVED WITH THE coordinator of ... keeping some examples in assistant professor, for when veteran and Merrick School of you have best self military services YOUR HEART . Business interview opportunities.” alumni association.”

Hear more sage advice for new grads—and offer yours. WebExtra

6 University of Baltimore Magazine www.ubalt.edu/ubmag Fall 2015 7 UB Institute Looks to Grow noteworthy Baltimore by Monitoring Neighborhoods’ Health by Chris Hart PHOTOGRAPHY: JJ CHRYSTAL JJ PHOTOGRAPHY: People move to and from a city for all kinds of reasons: jobs, schools, housing, even the weather. What’s clear about Baltimore is that JACOBS ALANGE OF COURTESY PHOTO over the last several decades, more people have been moving out than in. Now, in an initiative supported by the University of Baltimore’s Jacob France Institute, that trend is understood better than ever—and it may be the start of a turnaround for the city. Announced at UB in May, “Grow Baltimore: Who’s Moving, Where and Why” is part of a citywide initiative to increase A Matter of Course Baltimore’s population by 10,000 new l. to r.: Alison Perkins-Cohen, executive director of new initiatives for Baltimore City Public Schools; l. to r.: Hal Turner was by his father’s side at the surprise naming ceremony. Also ARTS 297: Topics in the Arts: Baltimore households by 2020. The Jacob France Matt Gallagher, president and CEO of the Goldseker Foundation; and Iyer at a May 21 Grow Baltimore panel in attendance was the elder Turner’s wife, Iva. Music Industry / HIST 240: Everyday Lives: Institute’s Baltimore Neighborhood discussion held at UB Indicators Alliance, which collects and Social History of Pop Music publishes extensive information about city neighborhoods for public access, partnered says Seema Iyer, associate director of the “The data we provide serves as a continuous Building Naming Etches with Live Baltimore—a local nonprofit institute, director of UB’s undergraduate Real monitor on neighborhoods,” she says. WHO: Joshua Clark Davis, assistant professor in the focused on city living and residential Estate and Economic Development program “Only when you keep track of changes can Turner’s Place in UB History Division of Legal, Ethical and Historical Studies, investment—to generate a series of Grow and a research assistant professor in the neighborhood leaders address issues that public and digital historian and author of the Baltimore reports on aspects of life that Merrick School of Business. In turn, leaders impact residential attraction and retention.” t isn’t easy to pull off an on-campus surprise for someone who forthcoming book Head Shops and Whole Foods: either “push” people toward or “pull” them can use this “big data” to make important Steven Gondol, executive director of knows virtually everyone in town and is intimately familiar Activist Entrepreneurs of the 1960s and ʼ70s and the away from Baltimore. decisions for establishing a more attractive, Live Baltimore, praised the Baltimore with just about every inch of UB’s footprint. But on June 10, Roots of the New Economy The research for Grow Baltimore more livable city. Neighborhood Indicators Alliance’s work: H. Mebane Turner, UB president emeritus, seemed to be Irendered speechless as he learned, at a surprise ceremony in front of a WHEN: Mondays/Wednesdays, 3:30-4:50 p.m., or concentrated on property and public-school Iyer says that by collecting, analyzing and— “We can now target our outreach in records as well as surveys and focus groups most importantly—sharing information about specific neighborhoods while also sharing crowd of family and friends, that the University’s Learning Commons Tuesdays, 5:30-8 p.m., fall 2015 of recent movers conducted in collaboration communities, it’s possible to spot challenges, otherwise hidden assets to families wanting building had been named the H. Mebane Turner Learning Commons with UB’s Schaefer Center for Public Policy. such as a growing number of vacant homes to raise children in the city,” he says. “This in his honor. WHAT: This cross-listed undergraduate course looks These large pools of information about the on a block, or to identify elements that intervention strategy will allow us to In fact, his first response upon hearing the announcement from at “the history of popular music through the lens of local city present researchers with a much greater make a neighborhood special, including a accelerate our goal of growing the city current UB President Kurt L. Schmoke was a simple “oh, goodness.” communities, business and technology,” says Davis, level of insight than was previously available, concentration of community gardens. through family retention.” The honor resulted from a collaboration between Schmoke and whose focus on 20th-century U.S. history has included the University of Baltimore Foundation Board of Directors, explains research on African-American record-sellers and radio Stuart Silberg, B.S. ʼ71, then-chairman of the board. “On behalf of the DJs. “For example, while we’ll learn about famous popular UB Foundation and our alumni, we very much wanted to recognize music stars like Baltimore natives Eubie Blake and Billie Meb as an inspirational and respected president of UB for 30-plus Holiday, we’ll also learn about record store owners, people years,” he says. “We felt the Learning Commons was the perfect venue.” who bootleg music and how fans actually experience The renaming is, as Schmoke noted, a fitting tribute for Turner, who music on a grassroots level.” CUBA retired from UB in 2002 (though he remains an active volunteer). Davis’ students will do some digging in the online “Why we’re here is really no surprise or a secret to anyone who’s archives of The Baltimore Sun and The Baltimore Afro UB FACULTY AND STAFF—including Merrick School of been around the University or … this community,” Schmoke told the American to familiarize themselves with local musicians

Business Professor DARLENE SMITH, College of Public Affairs audience before recognizing Turner’s numerous accomplishments, and music professionals and to “learn how they were Y Professors JEFFREY IAN ROSS and LENNEAL HENDERSON, including transitioning the University from private to public, expanding integral parts of local communities in Baltimore,” he adds.

the campus from 2.5 to 14 acres and achieving regional accreditation. Students may also have the chance to conduct oral history T Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences Professor DIEDRE “And I think the things you’ve done for the University are well interviews with Baltimore musicians.

L BADEJO, School of Law Professor NIENKE GROSSMAN, beyond just the things that you can measure in terms of the people Provost JOSEPH S. WOOD and President KURT L. SCHMOKE— that were hired here,” he continued. “The number of alumni, the REQUIRED READING:

U traveled to Cuba in June to explore potential academic graduates [who] have gone and done wonderful things in the city and • How the Beatles Destroyed Rock ’N’ Roll: An Alternative the state—we really do appreciate it,” he said. History of American Popular Music (Wald) C partnerships as opportunities for engagement, now that U.S.- “This is wonderful,” a misty-eyed Turner said in his brief, • The Death of Rhythm and Blues (George) Cuban diplomatic relations have been restored. Accompanied A impromptu remarks. “It’s a great privilege to have been associated F by Coppin State University business Dean Ronald Williams with this institution for so long. … I think this place is just getting REQUIRED LISTENING (a selection): and Baltimore attorney Kenneth Thompson, they visited the started, and you’re the crowd to get it there.” • Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit” F G University of Havana and the University of Matanzas, several Renaming notwithstanding, the highlight of the event for many who • Randy Newman’s “Baltimore” N academic research centers, community arts and culture are familiar with Turner’s signature accessory may have been the fact • The Orioles’ “Crying in the Chapel” A that he wasted no time in donning a new bow tie featuring Eubie, the R-FLU projects, museums, an urban organic-garden project and more. WebExtra University’s bee mascot, that Silberg presented to him. In return, the former president removed his trademark bow tie with a previous UB WebExtra logo and gifted it to Silberg, quipping, “I’ve got two or three of these.”

8 University of Baltimore Magazine www.ubalt.edu/ubmag Fall 2015 9 noteworthy UB By the Numbers

outgoing UB students and young alumni made new friends at the June debut of UB’s newest alumni volunteer program, Dinner With 12 Strangers, hosted by Phaedra Stewart, MBA ʼ96 12 DAVIS SARAH PHOTOGRAPHY:

38,811 students from Baltimore’s Sandtown- Winchester neighborhood visited campus in images (and counting) are being digitized by Langsdale July to work on crafting their mural design Library’s Special Collections archivists to form the Kurt L. presentations through a partnership among Schmoke Photograph Collection, which covers 1990-97 and

UB, the Baltimore Office of Promotion & THE documents much of Schmoke’s tenure as Baltimore mayor; the Arts and Jubilee Arts’ Art @ Work: look for a curated online exhibit in the spring 80 Sandtown, part of a summer-employment program for city teens

days was the duration of a Baltimore visit in May from the monks of Tibet’s Drepung Gomang Monastery; at UB, they presented lectures on chanting and kindness as well 9 as a “Tibetan cultural pageant” CLUB The 90-plus student organizations on campus are as diverse and

varied as are the club members. During their time at UB, students can give dance, improv, gospel choir or jiu jitsu a try, just to name a few. Meet a handful of students—and find out why they’re so passionate about their pursuits—on the following pages.

by Libby Zay | photography: Christopher Myers PHOTO COURTESY OF THE HOFFBERGER HOFFBERGER THE OF COURTESY PHOTO ETHICS PROFESSIONAL FOR CENTER

WebExtra members of the UB School of Law’s chapter of the Black Law Students Association contributed to earning the title of runner-up for best chapter then-Baltimore Mayor Schmoke at the B&O Railroad Museum in in the nation, behind Harvard’s, in March August 1991 during his “Stay on Board With Schmoke”-themed campaign for re-election 55

10 University of Baltimore Magazine www.ubalt.edu/ubmag Fall 2015 11 PLORK PRESS “I wanted more opportunities to work on book- binding projects and continue to learn new techniques. Luckily, Plork Press does just that. We’re planning a reading for the spring that highlights the chapbooks [small collections of poetry] of three writers. The chapbooks will be designed by the club with insight from the writers.” —Jeffrey Bismayer, graduate creative writing and publishing arts student

OUTDOORS CLUB “You daydream about a weeklong adventurous vacation you want to take, but you can’t because you have loads of homework and studying to get done. So in comes the Outdoors Club to the rescue with camping, hiking, biking, skydiving and more.” —Christin Pittman, undergraduate digital communication student AFRICAN STUDENT UNION “We have a black-tie dinner, a fashion show and cultural events during the school year that unite students from various African countries and those concerned with its welfare. Some people wear traditional clothes, but you can wear anything you like. … This [jacket’s] fabric is called ankara. The print is from Nigeria.” —Nicolas Israel-Eledan, undergraduate government and public policy student

FORENSIC SCIENCE SOCIETY “I went with the club on a tour of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for Maryland. It was such a fascinating opportunity that I wouldn’t have had as an individual. We also tour local crime laboratories and do other fun activities like going to the [now- closed] Crime Museum in Washington, D.C.” —Leah Livengood, undergraduate forensic studies student

www.ubalt.edu/ubmag Fall 2015 15 Battling Baltimore’s Food Deserts by Meredith Lidard Kleeman | photography: Chris Hartlove

Access to affordable and nutritious food can be just a mirage for the 23.5 million Americans who live in what the U.S. Department of Agriculture calls “food deserts”—typically low-income areas that do not have easy access to grocery stores. Urban residents living in these neighborhoods often rely on fast-food joints and corner convenience stores for their meals, a practice that ultimately links food deserts to health issues like obesity, diabetes and heart disease.

16 University of Baltimore Magazine www.ubalt.edu/ubmag Fall 2015 17 Ripple, affiliate faculty and experiential learning program manager at UB, Reservoir Hill’s Whitelock Community shows off some of the herbs Farm (pictured) is just one of the grown in an on-campus organizations with which Rupp works garden that sits adjacent as director of community greening for to an exit off the Jones Falls the Parks & People Foundation. Expressway.

or many Baltimore residents— BALTIMORE: THE CITY THAT GARDENS smell and identify the herbs planted there. leaves of the squash plant provide shade gardens since the program’s inception especially those living in the 30 If you take the southbound exit for Maryland “Many times, students don’t visually know and retain the soil’s moisture. in 1996, Rupp says. The grant program percent of households without Avenue off the Jones Falls Expressway, you any herbs because they haven’t really seen Ripple has plans to ensure the garden provides funding of as much as $1,000 to easy access to a car—finding might notice a collection of yellow, green and them, but they might know the smell,” he continues to grow, including ideas for encourage community-led greening projects fresh food options can be a blue planter boxes in a large, grassy area on explains. He says oregano reminded students collaborations with community members such as gardens, tree plantings and vacant- logistical nightmare. One in the side of the road. Over the summer, those of spaghetti while cilantro made them think and businesses, activities with elementary lot restoration. “When it comes to urban Ffour Baltimore residents needs to travel more boxes were filled with herbs and vegetables. of the rice at Chipotle Mexican Grill. schools and a potential partnership to agriculture, there’s a big push for [edible than a quarter-mile to find a supermarket, Darien Ripple, affiliate faculty at UB and Ripple expanded the gardens this past provide a local restaurant with fresh gardening] in the city because there’s a huge placing that 25 percent of citizens in what its experiential learning program manager, spring after receiving additional donations ingredients. The garden can be used by amount of vacant land that people can use to the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable led the effort to construct the boxes and from Home Depot and a grant through the other UB classes to conduct ecological grow vegetables,” she explains. Future defines as a food desert. In a study a neighboring greenhouse and shed in experiments, and Ripple is Another way the foundation provides the center conducted in collaboration spring 2014 as part of the College Readiness also inviting faculty from assistance to residents interested in starting with the Baltimore Food Policy Initiative, Academy, a six-week program at UB that “In order to have access to healthy UB and other area colleges and maintaining community gardens is researchers also found that one in three helps local high-school students develop to include the issue of food through an annual membership program school-aged children in Baltimore lives in a their college-level math, reading and writing food, there’s a great need for deserts in their own curricula. called the Community Greening Resource food desert and that African Americans are skills. Ripple had been asked to provide the He hopes to educate the greater Network. The network provides classes on disproportionately affected: 34 percent live students with a personal experience that people to have education. …” Baltimore community about how to grow produce in urban spaces and in food deserts as compared to only 8 percent would encourage inquiry and help them the importance of fresh food workshops on different urban agricultural of white residents. understand a complex problem. He chose to Office of the Mayor’s Baltimore City Anchor through student-generated projects that practices in addition to free gardening Even for those who live near a grocery take a look at the city’s food deserts, an issue Plan, an economic development partnership are focused on access to affordable and supplies donated by local nurseries. It also store, proximity isn’t enough. At a local Giant that directly affects many of the students in among eight Baltimore universities and nutritious food and community awareness. works to reduce risk perceptions surrounding supermarket, a dollar can buy either three in- the program. hospitals. He and his students, including While the new garden at UB is located urban gardening, as many residents are season apples or a box of off-brand macaroni A local Home Depot donated paint, members of a newly formed UB student in a highly visible area, many of the city’s concerned about broken glass, animal waste and cheese that serves as dinner for three plants and soil. Ripple collected pallets organization called the Urban Farming community gardens are tucked away. Valerie and other contaminants in the soil. “In order people. If residents can afford only the store’s from UB’s dumpsters to create four raised Association, planted corn, beans and Rupp, M.P.A. ’14, director of community to have access to healthy food, there’s a great most unhealthy options, it doesn’t bode well beds that he and his students filled with squash—the three main agricultural crops greening at Baltimore’s Parks & People need for people to have education. … so they for nutritious eating habits. herbs—basil, thyme, parsley and dill— of various Native American groups—on the Foundation, works with local residents who aren’t consuming something that might not These complex problems require creative and vegetables, including tomatoes, green side of the Maryland Avenue exit ramp. want to plant gardens in the city’s vacant be good for them,” Rupp explains. solutions, and members of the University peppers and jalapeños. These plants are known as the “three sisters” lots. She has seen interest in community Along with educational resources, the of Baltimore community are up to the task. Because some students in the program because they have a symbiotic relationship: gardening increase year after year; the network offers peer support for community Our staff, students and alumni are exploring had never seen a garden before, Ripple Corn removes nitrogen from the soil, beans organization has more than doubled the members working to reduce the number of ways to help provide city residents with designated one of the planter boxes as a return nitrogen to the soil and the large number of Neighborhood Greening Grants vacant lots in their neighborhoods. “When access to fresh, healthy food. sensory garden and asked the students to awarded annually for projects such as edible you’re transforming any type of open space,

18 University of Baltimore Magazine www.ubalt.edu/ubmag Fall 2015 19 Growing Together “The food movement is popular these days because people recognize the importance of the quality of food,” explains Christopher Croft, an adjunct professor in the UB College of Public Affairs’ School of Public and International Affairs who is teaching an undergraduate course on sustainable communities this fall. Thanks in part to a Fund for Excellence grant from the University of Baltimore Foundation, students are researching the feasibility of a Baltimore food hub to aggregate and distribute food to the public. The class is working with nearby Boone Street Farm, which supplies produce to residents who live in a food desert, to see if a food hub could help similar small farms reach a larger market. Croft’s class has split into groups to research supply and demand, competition, business structures, marketing and the financial viability of a hub, which could be virtual, brick and mortar or even a food truck. Graduate students in an Advanced Speaks stands outside the (now you’re talking about changing behaviors and SHOPPING SOLUTIONS Financial Analysis and Forecasting vacant) Apples and Oranges Fresh patterns of people around you,” Rupp says. Michele Speaks, B.A. ’92, has direct class are working to develop a five-year Market. She and her husband Parks & People also runs several experience attempting to change unhealthy forecast of the hub’s financial needs opened the store in 2013 and educational programs for city youth, behaviors and to increase food access. In and performance. closed its doors after 18 months. and Rupp notes that—much like Ripple’s 2013, Speaks and her husband, Erich March, In addition to looking at successful experience with introducing students opened Apples and Oranges Fresh Market in food hubs, Croft’s class is using data to the UB garden—many participating the East North Avenue area of Baltimore, a Farrow works with the city’s Baltimarket program, which enables residents to buy healthy food at locations collected by the UB Jacob France Institute’s children aren’t familiar with fresh fruits and community with few grocery store options. including Lafayette Market (pictured), a corner store in West Baltimore. Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators vegetables. A community member working Speaks spent more than a year planning the Alliance on the location of food deserts with the organization made this discovery store, and it opened to much enthusiasm and corner stores. Students will also gather while delivering bagged lunches containing from residents. “We felt really good about the supply-and-demand market data and tangerines to local high schools, she says. ability to bring fresh grocery products to the admits that she was rigid in her ideas about advocates to address issues of food equity “Shortly into it, it was query food-service providers to identify The students began bouncing the fruits as if community,” Speaks says. offering only healthy food options and didn’t in the city’s food deserts. Advocates receive other partnering opportunities. they were balls, and the volunteer realized In addition to providing healthy food acknowledge the community’s appetite for training on how to become community clear that there was What’s more, Croft says, the grant has the teenagers weren’t just playing with their options, Speaks offered nutrition classes and certain unhealthy items. “We were trying to leaders, and in turn they engage fellow allowed interested UB students not in his a lot of pushback food—they had no idea what a tangerine was. food demonstrations inside the store, helped change the culture,” she explains. residents in conversations about nutrition class to serve as interns who assist with While the increasing number of residents read package labels and learn how Despite the criticism Apples and Oranges and the importance of eating healthily, research and also get some hands-on [from shoppers] about community gardens in the city is a step in to shop on a budget, and held fitness classes received from the community, Olivia Farrow, Farrow explains. Along with Farrow’s team, experience at Boone Street Farm. Not only the right direction, Rupp notes that they in the parking lot. She also made a conscious J.D. ’95, says there is demand for healthy the neighborhood advocates encourage the lack of fried foods have they been helping to market the farm’s won’t necessarily help children consume decision to stock only healthy food. “Shortly food in the city. As the Baltimore City Health local corner-store owners to stock additional community-supported agriculture program, fresh, healthy food. “Actually growing food into it, it was clear that there was a lot of Department’s deputy commissioner for youth healthy food options and to change their and soda.” they’ve also been teaching the value of in your own neighborhood is fantastic, but pushback [from shoppers] about the lack of wellness and community health, Farrow signage to promote these offerings. nutrition by leading cooking classes and by it’s only one piece of the puzzle,” Rupp fried foods and soda,” she says. spearheads the city’s Virtual Supermarket Farrow believes that despite the creating a healthy cookbook. explains. Whether through school activities Speaks says she also heard rumors that Program, underway since 2010. Through challenges facing Baltimore and the rest of “We really have to evaluate our unique or community programs, she says, children the store’s prices were too high and that local the program, residents can order groceries the country—including reversing unhealthy situation here in Baltimore and be need hands-on experience with gardening to residents expected heavily discounted prices. online and pick them up at five set locations, behaviors—city residents do want to improve methodical and careful about the best learn more about the health benefits of fruits “The impression was [that] because we were including a local library and several senior their overall health and know that a diet way to address the challenges as well as and vegetables. here to be a service to the community … the and public-housing buildings. “It’s a unique filled with fresh produce will help them the strengths of the city,” Croft says. If the “[Urban agriculture] is not the thing items in the store would be nearly free,” program—bringing healthy foods to people meet those goals. “We’re trying to engage students find the food-hub idea is feasible, that can alleviate food deserts,” she adds. she says. Because of the store’s small size where there [haven’t] been those options,” the community as a whole,” Farrow says. Croft says the next step would be to create “[Community gardens] get people connected compared to large supermarket chains, she she says. Farrow says the program is very “Poverty is a big barrier—we have to work a business plan. Eventually, there could be to things and they help create a demand, wasn’t able to buy the bulk quantities that popular among senior citizens who don’t within a person’s means to access healthy a food hub on or close to campus. but if you really want to see people having would allow her to offer lower prices. After have transportation or who physically can’t food—but we know that people really want to “This is a wonderful issue for UB reliable access to healthy food, you need only 18 months, Speaks and her husband travel to the store. [eat healthily] and [that] they will do it if they because this is how we’ve been known—as to have reliable grocery stores that are full closed the store. The Virtual Supermarket Program falls have access.” a school that’s practical, that makes things service [located] where people can access “We made a good attempt with the intent under the department’s Baltimarket initiative, happen,” Croft says. “In these challenging them conveniently.” and mission of the store,” Speaks says. She which entails working with neighborhood WebExtra times, UB is rising to the occasion.” —Libby Zay 20 University of Baltimore Magazine THINKING OUTSIDE For most people, the voting process seems straightforward: Show up at an assigned location, check a few boxes and voilà. But behind the scenes, there’s a THE BALLOT BO X lot of legwork that goes into making sure everything runs smoothly on Election Day. These UB alumni contribute their expertise to the campaign trail and beyond so votes can be cast with confidence.

by Libby Zay | illustration: Joel Kimmel

Stephanie L. Binetti, B.A. ’09 Jamal K. Jackson, B.A. ’13 founder, Binetti Political Strategies election judge trainer, Baltimore City

What she does: Binetti co-manages a full-service political consulting firm with What he does: Jackson works with UB’s Schaefer Center for Public Policy to train her husband, David Kosak. Binetti says they do it all for their clients—including election judges on how to use voting equipment and how to follow procedures. He Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake—from triple-checking the spelling on also visits polling locations on Election Day to monitor judges and to make sure emails and bumper stickers to putting up yard signs long after the sun goes down. they’re complying with the rules.

On the pressures of the job: “People put a lot of trust in us to make the right On why his job is crucial: “I can remember traveling to a polling location to moves throughout the campaign because every decision leads up to that final monitor and observe and being utterly surprised to see that the election judges moment when your candidate either wins or loses. On election night, it’s hard to sit had not properly secured polling machines [which makes them subject to physical THE TRAINER THE STRATEGIST still as the results are reported.” tampering]. This is an absolute no-no that we stressed over and over again in training class.”

Chrysovalantis “Chrys” Kefalas, J.D. ’04 Nikki Baines Charlson, J.D. ’96 Republican candidate, U.S. Senate deputy state administrator, Maryland State Board of Elections

What he does: Kefalas is running to replace retiring Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski What she does: Charlson has a role in every part of the election process, including (D-Md.) in the U.S. Senate, and if he makes it, he’ll be the first openly gay Republican helping people file for office and register to vote, implementing new voting to enter Congress. In the meantime, he also works full time as vice president of systems—like an easier-to-use ballot—and troubleshooting voter complaints. executive communications for the National Association of Manufacturers. On the buildup to Election Day: “No two elections are the same, although I On campaign fundraising: “The amount of money you have to raise and how think sometimes it would be nice if they were. … The most nail-biting part of my much time you have to spend raising it is astounding. It’s incredibly energizing job is during the weeks leading up to an election. The final pieces of the election meeting voters and getting out across Maryland, but raising money limits the time puzzle are falling into place, but there’s not much time left to find a ‘missing piece’ THE CANDIDATE to do that substantially—and without those donor dollars, you can’t compete.” THE ADMINISTRATOR or resolve an issue. By the time Election Day comes, it’s showtime and there’s been no dress rehearsal.”

Kevin Keene, B.S. ’92, J.D. ’97 Sean Pumphrey, B.A. ’10, M.P.A. ’14 election director, Harford County (Maryland) Government contractor, Election Software and Support

What he does: Keene and his team make sure eligible Harford County residents What he does: Pumphrey is the on-the-ground serviceman who installs and are registered to vote and that elections are conducted in a fair and impartial manner. repairs voting machines at polling locations. In his role, he travels often and has to If a close election causes a recount, he’s also the go-to guy to manage interactions keep two types of customers satisfied: the election officials and the voting public. with candidates, their supporters and their lawyers. On a predictable question: “Sadly, if you work in this business, you often hear On some unexpected duties: “While most directors are in the office, my the hackneyed question of whether or not you are there to ‘rig’ the elections. On deputy and I are out delivering and setting up equipment, putting up signs, working the other side of the coin, no one seems to ask the same question of campaigns, lines at early voting [locations] or whatever it takes to get the job done.” which in some cases are intentionally misleading.” THE DIRECTOR THE TECHNICIAN

22 University of Baltimore Magazine www.ubalt.edu/ubmag Fall 2015 23 advancement Puzzled About Your Alumni Benefits? STUDY Test your knowledge of UB’s alumni benefits and services, volunteer programs and more by taking a crack at the crossword puzzle below. Stumped? You’ll find many of the answers scattered throughout the UB alumni website at ABROAD

www.ubalt.edu/alumni. But don’t give up too easily; we bet you’ll be able to figure it out simply because you’re a loyal JAMISON ERIN OF COURTESY PHOTO alumnus, volunteer, ambassador and friend. 101: Need an answer key? 1 WebExtra Getting a 2 3 Beefeater 4 to Smile 5

6

Textbooks get you only so far. To really Hague’s international courts, where some understand international government and of humanity’s worst offenders have stood 7 politics, you have to make the trek to trial. And they met with law enforcement Want to support UB students’ next 8 experience them firsthand. officials in London to discuss police protocol adventure (and more) through the Fund for Across UB’s Comparative Issues in Criminal in England. Excellence? Make a contribution by visiting Justice course took undergraduate and The UB Foundation’s Fund for Excellence 5. If you recommend a prospective student via www.ubalt.edu/support or by including 9 graduate students to England, the provided competitive scholarships to www.ubalt.edu/recommend, that person will your gift in the postage-paid envelope Netherlands and Belgium this summer for participating students with a minimum 3.3 10 receive an ______fee waiver. in this magazine. For more information, a whirlwind, nine-day tour of political and GPA to help defray the cost of the trip. 6. a fast-paced event at which you help students contact the Office of Annual Giving at criminal justice systems in those countries. So thank you for putting the international hone their ability to make business contacts 410.837.6271 or [email protected]. They saw where things go quiet inside into our government and politics course. 8. UB’s auto insurance partner, whose mascot is NATO and EU headquarters in bustling ... and for the chance to get a grin out of a almost as adorable as Eubie is Brussels. They heard from experts at The Beefeater. 10. a program that allows you to dine at a local 11 restaurant with a student who has similar professional interests 11. an alumnus-owned olive oil business featured in our last issue 12. the number of “strangers” (students) invited to this new, alumni-hosted dinner program

Down 12 1. Buy discounted books, apparel and gifts at Barnes & Noble at the University of Baltimore, UB’s campus ______. 2. Come back to campus for this popular outdoor bash. 3. UB’s online career database Don’t forget to visit www.ubalt.edu/alumni to find out more about 4. a program in which you can come back to the alumni benefits and services, to learn how to get involved and to classroom to share your professional insight request your UB Alumni Bee Card—your one-card solution for official with students UB alumni identification, library access, Campus Cash purchases, 7. Keep this in your wallet to access your UB special alumni discounts and more. You can also update your email alumni benefits. address to receive BuzZworthy, our monthly e-newsletter. 9. Join fellow alumni for this volunteer effort handing out coffee and treats to grateful students during exams. Recommend students at www.ubalt.edu/alumni, and weÕll waive their application fee.

24 University of Baltimore Magazine www.ubalt.edu/ubmag Fall 2015 25 President’s Welcome Reception in alumni 1 1 2 6 Harford County: Sept. 24, 2015 7 EVENTS

35th Annual UB Night at 4th Annual Young Alumni Reception Spring Undergraduate Commencement Camden Yards: June 9, 2015 at Verde: Sept. 7, 2015 Reception: May 22, 2014

8 35th Annual UB Night at Camden 3 Yards: June 9, 2015 Events and Photos 9 pictured, l. to r.: 81; ʼ 1. Michael and Alicia Weidel, J.D. ’13

2. Nuria A. Rodriguez Padro; Nikolay (B.S. ’14) and Eileen Ratajczak; Jessica L. Kaufman, B.S. ’11; and Nikkia N. Fitch, B.S. ’08 A Celebration of Service: Oct. 7, 2015 3. Hannah M. Dawson, B.A. ’12, J.D. ’13; Kate E. Wolfson, J.D. ’12; and Jennifer N. Nwachukwu, J.D. ’15

4. Chetta H. Henron-Byrd, B.S. ’77; Pat Reardon, Office of 8 Institutional Advancement; and Gina Norton, B.S. ’93 Fifth Annual Alumni Barbecue Hosted 5. Karen A. (B.S. ’92) and Kyle Kupa Spring Undergraduate and Graduate by Clifton L. (J.D. ʼ78) and Carol Ann Commencement Reception: May 19, 2015 Brown: Sept. 12, 2015 WebExtra PHOTOGRAPHY: JIM BURGER; KATE CRIMMINS; JAMES L. JONES JR., B.S. B.S. JR., JONES L. CRIMMINS; JAMES KATE JIM BURGER; PHOTOGRAPHY: WATKINS KATIE PIERRE; ANDY-EVENS 10 pictured, l. to r.: 6. Don C. Fry, J.D. ’80; Diane L. Sengstacke, J.D. ’80; Bill Kissinger, B.S. ’74; Kurt L. Schmoke, UB president; and Robert S. Lynch, J.D. ’82

7. Donald (B.S. ʼ10) and Sarah Lewis; Brad Prevatt; Sarah E. Mease, B.S. ʼ10; Hope N. Bundy, B.A. ʼ14; and Jon Oinde

8. Amir Paracha, B.S. ’15, and Salwa Kahn, B.S. ’15

9. Albert Moseley III, J.D. ’12; Charles Ellison; Tkeyah Lake, B.S. ’14; and Alex D. Tremble Jr., B.S. ʼ11

10. Tracey Lloyd, B.S. ’03; Alycia Marshall; Cindy Schuster, B.S. ʼ87, M.A. ʼ89; and Stacy L. Rodgers, M.P.A. ’99 President’s Welcome Reception in 4 5 Presidentʼs Welcome Reception Harford County: Sept. 24, 2015 in Philadelphia: Oct. 8, 2015 A Celebration of Service: Oct. 7, 2015

26 University of Baltimore Magazine www.ubalt.edu/ubmag Fall 2015 27 alumni PROFILE PHOTOGRAPHY: CHRIS HARTLOVE CHRIS PHOTOGRAPHY:

Running a Tight Ship Michael Rodriguez, B.S. ’94 by Paula Novash

Michael Rodriguez, B.S. ’94, gained a enhances his continuing journey in the global perspective on business from Day maritime industry. One in the working world. “The day after I “[Effectively representing the maritime graduated from the United States Merchant labor force] requires knowledge of contracts, Marine Academy in 1979, I shipped out to business plans, accounting, communications West Africa,” he recalls of his first job as an skills—all enhanced by my business officer on a merchant marine vessel. education,” he explains. At the Maritime Administration, Rodriguez’s role involves promoting the maritime industry—including the U.S. fleets “It was an unusual path, trading in foreign markets and within the but everything I learned at United States and its territories—responding to national emergencies and providing UB I apply in some way.” humanitarian aid. Maritime Administration ships were used to transport supplies and to support rescue workers in the wakes of After 17 years as a mariner, Rodriguez, now hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Sandy and also deputy administrator of the U.S. Department retrieved and neutralized chemical weapons of Transportation’s Maritime Administration, from Syria in 2014 to comply with United decided to alternate stints at sea with Nations Security Council agreements. semesters in Baltimore to earn a degree in One of Rodriguez’s current priorities business administration. is the Marine Environmental Technical “It was an unusual path, but everything I Assistance program, which works with the learned at UB I apply in some way,” he says. shipping industry to identify and implement “I didn’t speak the language of business, and environmentally friendly practices, such as that’s what I needed and achieved.” making sure water from the enormous After graduating from UB, Rodriguez ballast tanks that provide stability to huge held positions at his merchant marine alma merchant vessels is not contaminated with mater, administering its internship program invasive organisms. Rodriguez stands in front of the MV Cape Washington, and preparing students for their shipboard Rodriguez says he thrives on the variety a U.S. Maritime Administration Ready Reserve Force assignments, then worked to represent the he finds in his work at the administration. ship docked at Port Covington, Baltimore. This ship and interests of men and women who make “After 36 years in the industry, I still enjoy others around the country support military sealift and their living on the sea at the International working with people who operate ships,” he humanitarian assistance missions such as the wars in Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots. says. “Every day, there’s something new, and Afghanistan and Iraq and recovery operations following Rodriguez says his business knowledge I begin every day happy to be here.” hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Sandy; the Haiti earthquake; and the U.S. response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

WebExtra Check out Rodriguez aboard the MV Cape Washington.

2828UniversityUniversity of ofBaltimore Baltimore Magazine Alumni Magazine www.ubalt.edu/ubmag Fall 2015 29 alumni And the Story Behind the Last Photos Is ... The old photos of the 1975 UB Block Party featured in The year was . our last issue generated several responses; our thanks 1965 to everyone who weighed in. We hope you’ll share more Flashback: stories about your time at UB. The first U.S. troops arrived in one year in UB history Vietnam. Martin Luther King Jr. marched on Selma, Alabama. The Dodgers beat the Twins 4-3 to clinch the World Series. S SPECIAL COLLECTIONS SPECIAL S And a first-class postage stamp ʼ cost 5 cents.

At UB: UB OF COURTESY PHOTO • the Bees soccer team topped Lynchburg College 4 goals to 1 in the north-south playoffs, winning the Mason-Dixon Conference Championship

(Bonus points if you can tell us the exact date this championship From Richard Bands, B.S. ’77: took place; see our contact information below.) The person on the left in this photo is Brian Chetlet from Dundalk Community College. The person in the center is • workers broke ground April 7 for the brand-new Joe Rutkowski from Johns Hopkins University, class of 76. Langsdale Library, a $1.5 million project with the The person on the right is Michele J. Gregory [B.A. ’76] capacity to house 125,000 volumes (and with air from the University of Baltimore, class of 76. conditioning!) From Fred Guy, associate professor and director of UB’s • at the second-annual bull roast, May 1, $3 bought all-you- Hoffberger Center for Professional Ethics: can-eat-and-drink beef and beer On page 28 of the spring edition of UB Magazine are photos of people from the original UB Block Party, 1975. I can • having outgrown the Lyric Theatre, the annual commencement identify the girl in the photo at the bottom right as Michele ceremony was held for the first time at the Baltimore Gregory, a former student in my classes and a jurisprudence Civic Center, drawing a crowd of about 5,000 to cheer on major, who went on to law school here at UB. The guy with his arm around her is her boyfriend at the time, Joey. But he 585 graduates was not a UB student. That’s all I know! • 1,153 freshmen enrolled during the fall semester, up 44 percent from 1964’s entering freshman class • the Shirelles (of “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” and “Mama Said” fame) played the Homecoming dance, Nov. 26 at the Pikesville Armory, for a crowd of 1,500.

WebExtra S SPECIAL COLLECTIONS SPECIAL S

ʼ We want to know more about this year in UB history.

Think back to your UB days and tell us, in a few sentences, From Bonnie (Buchanan) Little, B.S. ’85:

COURTESY OF UB OF COURTESY about your memories of campus. We hope to collect and Attached is a photo from a Block party in June 1984 (above). compile these brief stories for a future issue. My co-student (Incredible Hulk) and I (Batwoman) won Contact the Office of Alumni Relations at [email protected] best costume, male and female. The booth Hall of Just Us or 410.837.6131 to share your memories. was my American Marketing Association club booth (I was president), selling sausage and pepper sandwiches. Block parties were the best part of attending U of B, though no complaints about the education I got there either.

30 University of Baltimore Magazine www.ubalt.edu/ubmag Fall 2015 31 alumni PROFILE CHRIS HARTLOVE CHRIS

PHOTOGRAPHY: PHOTOGRAPHY: The Victims’ Advocate Jessica Emerson, J.D. ’13

by Mary Medland

As a young social worker in New York City, a clinical teaching fellow in the UB School Jessica Emerson, J.D. ’13, found her calling of Law’s Saul Ewing Civil Advocacy Clinic, working with victims of sex trafficking who continuing her work on the victim advocacy were trying to turn their lives around. “If project she began during her time as a you have an arrest for prostitution on your law student. record,” Emerson says of these victims, “it Maryland is still creating a structure to can be very difficult to find employment or support its legislation, and Emerson has housing, to apply for student loans or to been instrumental in developing outreach heal from trauma.” materials and in training attorneys to understand After running into these and other legal the law and to advocate for survivors who roadblocks with her clients, Emerson decided seek to have their convictions vacated. to attend law school in the hope of more effectively helping them, and UB’s reputation for its strong program in public interest law “We are doing a great was a key attraction. disservice to victims of truly “After my first year of law school, I interned at the Legal Aid Society in New heinous crimes if we do not York City, and I was given the opportunity help them actually take back to craft a motion to vacate [convictions] control of their lives.” on behalf of a … survivor of trafficking. We were successful in vacating all three of her prostitution convictions,” she says of the Emerson’s work has not gone unnoticed. process of removing convictions from victims’ Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) heard a piece records and reflecting that they never should on National Public Radio in February about have been convicted in the first place. “That Emerson’s representation of a 24-year-old summer really sold me, and working on trafficking survivor. That led Shaheen behalf of these survivors was a perfect way to introduce an amendment to federal to combine my social work background with trafficking legislation—focused on financial the law.” incentives for remaining states to introduce Increasingly, states are passing legislation similar legislation and to focus on the needs to empower survivors of sex trafficking to of criminalized trafficking survivors—that have convictions vacated. In 2010, New York Congress passed last spring. was the first state to enact such a law, with “It is just a matter of time before all states Maryland doing so in 2011; 22 states have have passed vacatur legislation,” Emerson since followed. says. “There are great social services agencies With legal supervision from the Women’s working with survivors of trafficking, but legal Law Center of Maryland, Emerson spent services for these same individuals are sparse. another internship researching how vacatur “We are doing a great disservice to victims laws work and how best to train attorneys of truly heinous crimes if we do not help to implement them. “The University of them actually take back control of their Baltimore was integral to me being able lives,” she adds. “I am truly grateful to the to conceive of and grow this project into a people at the UB School of Law for allowing legitimate legal [initiative in Maryland],” me the space I needed to find my voice.” says Emerson, who is serving this year as

32 32UniversityUniversity of ofBaltimore Baltimore Magazine Alumni Magazine www.ubalt.edu/ubmag Fall 2015 33 alumni CLASS NOTES

Baby Bee Announcements ‘Top 100 Women’

UB proudly welcomes the newest members of our University family—Baby Bees! Includes a Dozen class notes Moms- and dads-to-be, let us know when your little one arrives, and we’ll send you a Let your fellow UB alumni know where you are and what you’ve been up to. UB Alumnae Baby Bee bib, courtesy of the UB Alumni Association. We look forward to receiving Submitting a Class Note is easy; just visit www.ubalt.edu/classnotes or contact more photos of your new additions proudly sporting their Baby Bee bibs and will

the Office of Alumni Relations at 410.837.6131 or [email protected]. include them in the magazine as space permits. VANDERPLOEG LIBBY ILLUSTRATION: Congratulations to the alumnae who were named among the 2015 Top 100 Women by The Daily Record for Ellis H. Goodman, J.D. ’65, Alan Jacobs, J.D. ’75, was reappointed as Harry B. Bosk, M.A. ’83, rebranded his their professional accomplishments 1960s was awarded first-place adjunct professor of law in the International business, The Write Image, as Harry Bosk PR and dedication to the community. honors at the 2015 Toastmasters International LL.M. program at American University’s & Photography. Speech Contest in April. Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C. Linda S. Ostovitz, B.S. ’78, J.D. ’81 Monroe W. DeVos, B.S. ’83, celebrated his Mel D. Powell, J.D. ’65, received the 2015 John G. Peters Jr., B.S. ’75, is the president five-year anniversary with Michelin North Debra G. Schubert, J.D. ’87 Donald C. Stone Award from the International and chief learning officer for the Institute America in January and is now a zone Stephanie S. Franklin, J.D. ’94 Association of Schools and Institutions of for the Prevention of In-Custody Deaths in deployment manager for Michelin Franchise Administration in July for his contribution to Henderson, Nevada. Development in Harmans, Maryland. D. Jill Green, J.D. ’94 the field of public administration and active Harry C. Storm, J.D. ’79, a business attorney Susan R. Gainen, J.D. ’84, published The Arielle Harry-Bess, MBA ’99 commitment to the association. at Lerch, Early & Brewer in Bethesda, Backyard Roosters of Saint Paul, a collection Jennifer Stearman, J.D. ’99 Maryland, is president-elect of the Maryland of portraits and stories documenting 45 Nicole P. Klein, J.D. ’00 Louis A. Becker, J.D. ’70, State Bar Association. of St. Paul, Minnesota’s “finest whimsical Scott Edward “S.J.” Wiener Jr. Meir Weil was born Nov. 4, 2014, to Alex Miller, grandson of was born Sept. 9, 2014, to Jana R. Brett (M.S. ’13) and Blumi Weil. Wayne (B.S. ’77) and Marion Tracey Barbour-Gillett, M.P.A. ’04 1970s retired from the Circuit roosters,” in February. Wiener, J.D. ’05. Panek, was born Nov. 12, 2014. Court for Howard County, Maryland, in 2014. Frances M. Draper, Marianne Shepperd, B.S. ’84, sold her Mary D. Helfrich, B.S. ’06 Drew D. Carberry, B.A. ’71, joined Lighthouse 1980s CERT ’80, MBA ’81, was business, Pet Sitters, in September 2014 and Kelly A. Powers, J.D. ’06 in Catonsville, Maryland, as executive appointed vice chair of the Morgan State retired to the Florida Keys in May. Share the buzz about your new Baby Bee with us at 410.837.6131 or [email protected]. Kimberly Neal, J.D. ’07 director in May. University Board of Regents. Patricia C. McMullen, J.D. ’86, was selected Stuart M. Goldberg, B.A. ’70, J.D. ’74, was Michael B. Kaminski, B.A. ’81, published as a fellow of the American Academy of Rachel Barrett-Dolcine, M.P.A. ’10 elected to serve a two-year term as chair of his book, Life after Russian Roulette: Game Nursing in June. the University of Baltimore Foundation’s Over, in January 2014. Gary F. Collins, J.D. ’87, finished working Alumni Committee in May. Charles E. Andreatta, MBA ’82, retired as with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Alan B. Grossman, J.D. ’88, had his David L. Costello III, Sharon A. Perfetti, B.S. ’93, launched her Meyer Simon, J.D. ’74, served as a course associate director of the U.S. Department Crime in Afghanistan in December 2014 article, “Termination of Residential Rental 1990s MBA ’91, was selected as website, The Stories Between, in September planner and moderator for the Continuing of the Treasury’s Government Securities and is now with the Lebanese judiciary in Agreements,” published in the July issue of president of Arundel Federal Savings Bank 2014. The site allows individuals to share Legal Education seminar “Montgomery Regulations staff in April. Beirut, where he is working on a judicial The Florida Bar Journal. in Glen Burnie, Maryland, in May. stories and photos of loved ones who have County Sheriff’s Department—Practice and strengthening program. passed away. Paul F. Sullivan Jr., M.S. ’82, and his Karen A. Stout, MBA ’88, former president Robert D. Anbinder, J.D. ’92, was appointed Procedures,” presented by the Montgomery team at Sullivan & Co. in Bethesda, Michael D. Mallinoff, J.D. ’87, was appointed of Montgomery County Community College president of the Bar Association of Baltimore William A. York III, B.S. ’94, retired from (Pennsylvania) Bar Association in May. Maryland, recently completed a webinar for as county administrator for the Charles in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, is now president City in May. the U.S. Air Force as lieutenant colonel in and chief executive officer of Achieving the March and in April began his career as lead Steven A. Allen, J.D. ’75, became a fellow clients on “Pros & Cons of Pension Plans County (Maryland) government in May. Richard E. Cosentino, B.S. ’87, MBA ’93, Dream in Silver Spring, Maryland. associate with Booz, Allen & Hamilton. of the American College of Trial Lawyers such as 401k’s, Simple IRAs, IRAs, SEPs, Robert G. Cassilly Jr., J.D. ’88, was elected became the 13th president of Lander University in March. and other plans.” to the Maryland State Senate to represent in Greenwood, South Carolina, in July. District 34, Harford County (Maryland), in January.

34 University of Baltimore Magazine www.ubalt.edu/ubmag Fall 2015 35 alumni CLASS NOTES

Aaron C. Ball, J.D. ’97, joined New York Life Tiffany S. Stephens, B.S. ’05, was appointed Alex D. Tremble Jr., M.S. ’11, was ap- In Memoriam Insurance Co. as vice president and leader acting deputy director of human resources pointed to serve on the National Capital of the company’s long-term-care insurance for Harford County, Maryland, in April. Region Transportation Planning Board’s business in Austin, Texas, in March. Citizens Advisory Committee in January. VIP List Honors UB Richard H. Renoff, B.S. ’49 Maurice “Maury” LaPointe, MBA ’06, was Michael A. Hodge, J.D. ’97, published inducted into the National Junior College Elizabeth I. Best, M.S. ’12, authored Alumni for Their John C. DeLabio, B.S. ’50 the Attorney’s Guide to Crime Scene Athletic Association Men’s Lacrosse Coaches and published her fifth nonfiction book, Fannie Angelos, LL.B. ’51 Investigations in April. Association’s Hall of Fame in May. He played Workplace Bullying and You. Accomplishments for both Anne Arundel Community College William R. Cronin, LL.B. ’52 Glenn M. Sulmasy, J.D. ’97, was appointed David Muncy, J.D. ’12, was named to The and the University of Maryland, College Park. provost and chief academic officer of Daily Record’s 2015 list of 20 in Their Twenties. Congratulations to the alumni who Sidney C. Vachek, CERT ’56 Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Alicia N. Ritchie, J.D. ’06, was promoted to were named among The Daily Amanda Westveld, J.D. ’12, married Scott Richard W. Edwards, B.S. ’58 Island, in March. principal at Miles & Stockbridge in Baltimore Record’s 2015 VIP List for their Plumer in the Netherlands in September. Frank H. Wait Jr., B.S. ’59 in January. commitment to inspiring change Jason Lawrence, M.A. ’99, published his Nairobi Collins, M.F.A. ’13, produced The in their community and their Russell A. Fitchett, B.S. ’64 novel, Last Flight Home, in May. Eliezer Schwartz, MBA ’06, is the director The Riehl Deal Battle of Blue Apple Crossing, a one-act rock tremendous accomplishments of marketing for the Asia-Pacific region for Neil J. Lewis, J.D. ’64 opera showcased in the Baltimore Rock achieved by age 40. SurveyMonkey. Opera Society’s Rock Opera 6-Pack in May. Carroll E. Heckrotte, B.S. ’65 Michael J. Fellerman, He jokes that he’s “becoming an Matthew E. Feinberg, J.D. ’08, was named Michael P. O’Day, J.D. ’01 J.D. ’00, joined Shulman Keenen Geter, B.A. ’13, was named to The Richard L. Friedman, LL.B. ’67 exhibit,” but 95-year-old William 2000s partner at Finkelstein & Feinberg in Chevy Rogers Gandal Pordy & Ecker in Potomac, Daily Record’s 2015 list of 20 in Their Twenties. Jaime W. Luse, J.D. ’02 Eugene F. Herman, LL.B. ’67 K. Riehl, LL.B. ’48, may be one Chase, Maryland, in May. He also was included Maryland, in March. of the few remaining alumni who as a 2015 Rising Star for Washington, D.C., Jessica C. Moore, M.F.A. ’13, is serving as Carlton A. Curry, J.D. ’03 Richard E. Airing, B.S. ’68 Lt. Col. Dennis L. Hager II, J.D. ’00, was president of the board of directors of the can recall a University of Baltimore by Super Lawyers magazine. Kara McKinley Kunst, B.A. ’06 Wayne R. Leppo, B.A. ’71 appointed deputy legal counsel for the American Institute of Graphic Arts Colorado of the 1930s, when he began his Garry F. Farley, B.S. ’89, M.P.A. ’93, B.S. ’09, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in for the 2015-17 term. Christopher W. Roberts, J.D. ’06 William W. Nickel, B.S. ’71 college education. “Back in the is serving as an AmeriCorps volunteer for September 2014. Katherine Pinkard, CERT ’07 ’30s,” he writes in a letter to the UB AARP Experience Corps in Baltimore. Brooke J. Shemer, J.D. ’13, joined Ober|Kaler Robert E. Hoffman, B.S. ’73 Office of Alumni Relations, “a Joyette M. Holmes, J.D. ’01, was named in Baltimore as an associate in April. Talley H.S. Kovacs, MBA ’09 Gerard L. Baxter, B.S. ’74 mother and daughter had a cafeteria the next chief magistrate of Cobb County, William C. Chapman, J.D. ’14, joined Rachel Hirsch, J.D. ’11 Raymond A. Jones, B.S. ’74 Georgia, in March. Leah C. Dempsey, J.D. ’10, in the Howard Street building for Ewing, Dietz, Fountain & Kaludis in Easton, joined the Credit Union Edward N. Button, J.D. ’75 us night school students.” Tanya C. Allen, B.S. ’03, was named a 2015 2010s Maryland, as an associate in February. National Association as senior director of But with World War II raging, Top Nurse by Baltimore magazine in April. Leonard E. Moodispaw, J.D. ’77 Riehl enlisted in the U.S. Army advocacy and counsel in May. Teresa E. Mack, B.A. ’14, published two Havalah M. “Halley” Hetrick, J.D. ’03, books, The InHer Me in May 2014 and This John E. Raine III, J.D. ’77 the day after the Japanese A. Michelle Gomola, J.D. ’10, joined Wright, married Norman P. Hetrick Jr. in Philadelphia Life, He Speaks …, released on CD in June. Imperial Navy attacked a base Constable & Skeen in Baltimore in June. Esther M. Weisman, B.A. ’77 in May 2014. at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and he James R. Durkin Jr., J.D. ’80 Cynthia M. Gage, B.S. ’11, was hired as a wouldn’t return to his studies Brian D. Adkins, B.S. ’05, relocated to digital publishing specialist for the American Roberta Freedman, J.D. ’83 until 1945. “[Then-UB President] Greenville, South Carolina, to work for Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Regional Management Corp. as the director UB Alumni Honored for Commitment to Pro-Bono Legal Services Michael J. Case, B.S. ’87 Dr. [Theodore H.] Wilson sat Durham, North Carolina, in December 2014. down with me and helped me of operations in January. Maureen D. Christian, B.A. ’87 Theresa J. Kallman, M.A. ’11, became the complete the re-entry forms,” he Jeffrey J. Griffin, B.A. ’05, was appointed division director of safety and risk compli- Two alumni received the William Reece Smith Jr. Special Services to Pro Bono Award Mary L. Zikan, B.S. ’89 says. “It’s wonderful how the by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan as director ance for Methodist Healthcare System in San May 9 from the National Association of Pro Bono Professionals for their school has developed—so good of the Governor’s Office on Service and Michael W. Spire, B.A. ’90 Antonio in December 2014. outstanding commitment to and positive impact on pro-bono legal services. work to all of you.” Volunteerism in Baltimore in May. Marcille C. Light, B.A. ’95 Divya Potdar, J.D. ’11, was named to Daniel N. Soderberg, MBA ’05, published William H. “Bill” Dorrill Jr., J.D. ’74 | Nancy B. Grimm, J.D. ’02 Christopher D. Dubiel, B.S. ’99 The Daily Record’s 2015 list of 20 in Their WebExtra his first children’s book, Buckley the Twenties, recognizing honorees’ professional Jennifer Quigley Guido, B.A. ’02, Toothless Beaver, in April. accomplishments and civic involvement. M.P.A. ’08

36 University of Baltimore Magazine www.ubalt.edu/ubmag Fall 2015 37 alumni CLASS NOTES Congrats to our inaugural winner, Angeliki Frangos, M.A. ’04, and thanks for showing off your prize UB AROUND on Twitter! THE GLOBE Check it out: www.ubalt.edu/ubmag The University of Baltimore Magazine’s award- The Quito Her Heart winning, user-friendly website allows you to read by Emily Brungo the latest issue from your desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone. Let us know what you think: Email us at [email protected].

Share a selfie with your copy of the UB Magazine using hashtag #ubalt. We’ll choose one entry at random to win a fun UB prize, and the winner will be announced in the next Find WebExtra bonus content issue of the magazine. online for the fall 2015 issue: Follow UB. Want to stay up to date on the latest news, events and opportunities? Follow us on any or all of our social networks:

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http://www.linkedin.com/edu/ school?id=18565 WebExtra or search for “University of Baltimore” at www.linkedin.com/edu Behind De Guzman, Quito and the surrounding hills are visible from El Panecillo, where visitors can take in “the best view in all of Quito,” she says. Come sail away: Michael Rodriguez, B.S. ʼ94, shows off the MV Cape Washington, a 697-foot cargo ship. www.twitter.com/eubiebee or @eubiebee ative Ecuadorian Alexandra De resources management at Universidad de Guzman, M.S. ’93, admits she Las Américas while raising her teenaged www.instagram.com/ Nexperienced some culture shock daughter and son. She also finds time to Have you traveled abroad eubiebee or @eubiebee when she moved from Quito, the country’s enjoy fabulous vistas like the one from recently and snapped a photo www.instagram.com/ capital, to the United States in 1990 to El Panecillo, a mountain capped with a eubiealumni finish her schooling. Nestled in the Andes statue of the Virgin Mary that offers “the of yourself wearing your UB or @eubiealumni Mountains, Quito sits more than 9,000 best view in all of Quito,” she raves. And, gear? Send your photos to the feet above sea level; at the Inner Harbor, of course, there are the Galapagos Islands: UB Office of Alumni Relations, Baltimore has zero elevation. Baltimore’s “Ecuadorians call them the enchanted 1130 N. Charles St., Baltimore, WebExtra WebExtra Join the conversation and share your UB climate is temperate; Quito’s weather is islands. … They are a treasure … nature at its story by using hashtag #ubalt. Learn more desert-like, with “very sunny days and very very best,” she says. MD 21201 or to alumni@ubalt. cold nights,” De Guzman says. Baltimore’s She is happy to be in her homeland with edu. (And next time you head Spot someone you know? Browse Learn more about UBʼs new Urban (and get some free UB digital swag) at www.ubalt.edu/socialmedia. local delicacy is blue crabs. In Quito? Guinea her family, but occasionally wanderlust overseas, don’t forget to wear through galleries of photos from Farming Association. pig—although De Guzman doesn’t partake. strikes: “I love traveling,” she says. “I want recent alumni events. your UB apparel.) “I like soups—and ceviche,” she says. to go to Dubai (United Arab Emirates). And Back in her homeland since 1993, De to Australia, to see the kangaroos.” Guzman teaches negotiation and human

38 University of Baltimore Magazine www.ubalt.edu/ubmag Fall 2015 39 alumni PROFILE PHOTOGRAPHY: CHRIS HARTLOVE CHRIS PHOTOGRAPHY:

A Powerful Role Model Keenen Geter, B.A. ’13 by Koren Wetmore

Sometimes a single moment can catalyze a program that pairs boys with mentors and life. For Keenen Geter, B.A. ’13, it arrived Oct. features a community-service project and 8, 2011. He was on his way to a University of 16 workshops—held on the UB campus—on Baltimore student government retreat when topics such as financial literacy, college prep, he fell asleep behind the wheel. His car leadership and public speaking. drifted off the highway, flipped and landed They recruited participants through emails, with a sudden jolt. word of mouth and a booth at a local anti- bullying summit. Twenty boys enrolled the first year, and a total of 52 have completed the program since its launch in 2012. “I thought, ‘What if I had died Raised by a single mom, Baltimore native without ever having given Geter chose to help young men because he back to the community?’” understands firsthand the challenges they face and the influences that can help lead them down the right road. “Although she was a single parent, my His injuries were minor, but he recalls mom worked and inspired me to get an edu- sitting in the hospital grappling with the cation, to stay focused and to get a good job significance of the event. “I thought, ‘What if and career,” Geter says. “She also got me into I had died without ever having given back to programs that kept me on a straight path.” the community?’” says Geter, who completed His path has led to accomplishments an undergraduate degree in jurisprudence that include serving as a mayoral fellow for and is now finishing a Master of Public Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Administration degree at UB. as a White House intern under President Barack Shortly afterward, he founded Young Men Obama, as a constituent services representative With POWER (which stands for Purpose, in U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski’s office and, Optimism, Wisdom, Engagement and currently, as a community coordinator in the Responsibility), a nonprofit that helps Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office. Baltimore-area boys in grades 5-9 develop Geter’s future plans include becoming a the confidence and skills needed to become lawyer so he can serve as a legal advocate for responsible young men who contribute to youth or for a government agency. their communities. “I plan on going to law school at the Geter built his team from a trusted circle University of Baltimore,” he says. “So that’s Brothers Ernest, 12, (left) and Caleb Marley, 17, (right) have both worked with of friends who shared his vision and how much I love the University—all my Geter (center) through Young Men With POWER. WebExtra passion. Together, they developed a yearlong degrees will be from UB.”

4040UniversityUniversity of ofBaltimore Baltimore Magazine Alumni Magazine www.ubalt.edu/ubmag Fall 2015 41 NON-PROFIT US POSTAGE 1420 N. Charles St. Baltimore, MD 21201-5779 PAID BALTIMORE, MD PERMIT #4903

a sample of the 1,000-plus flies in Associate Professor Don Haynes’ fishing collection