UMBC has once again been named to theForbes 2018 Best Value College list, a ranking that combines factors relating to quality of education and affordability. While UMBC’s 2017 ranking in the 200 of universities nationwide was strong, on this year’s list UMBC has moved up by an impressive 80 spots, now ranking 118 among top universities nationwide for value.
TheForbes profile makes mention of UMBC’s unique academic offerings, such as game development, Asian studies, and Naval science, balanced with a vibrant student life and athletics. It also notes the bwtech@UMBC research park, and its internationally lauded incubation programs, as an area of distinction, and highlights UMBC’s strong partnerships with NASA, the U.S. Navy, and others.
In addition to this recent honor, UMBC was again named toBusiness First’s 2018 list of top public colleges and universities in the United States.
UMBC ranks as number 54 out of 485 public four-year institutions, based on 22 metrics that assess academic excellence, affordability, diversity, and economic strength, using data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Business First ranks three Maryland colleges and universities among the top 75 public institutions in the nation. The others, in addition to UMBC, include the University of Maryland, College Park and St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
Sophia Lopresti
B.A., Global Studies
Minor: Intercultural Communication
Magna Cum Laude
Hometown: Sterling, Virginia
Plans: Fulbright English Teaching Assistant, Indonesia
UMBC has connected me to some of the most amazing experiences of my life. The Sondheim program and Shriver Center helped me arrange service-learning experiences, both in Baltimore and internationally. The global studies program challenged my perspective on the realities of international development and showed me resources to find international summer experiences. The Grand Challenge Scholars program encouraged me to seek experiences outside of my field. UMBC has given me more resources than I ever could have imagined.
Sophia Lopresti’s UMBC career has been defined by service-learning experiences, in Baltimore and around the world. As a Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar, Lopresti got her start in this work by completing several service-learning practica through the Shriver Center, connecting with local communities, most recently by teaching English at the Esperanza Center. Those experiences helped her envision a path for her future focused on supporting underserved communities worldwide in meeting their own goals and needs.
Lopresti has traveled to Indonesia to serve as a midwife’s assistant, volunteer with the Wadah Foundation (which focuses on supporting women as community leaders), and teach children English. Her involvement with UMBC’s chapter of Global Brigades led her to create an oral health education program for children in Panama. From there, her responsibility grew and she was named campus chairperson for Global Brigades at UMBC, overseeing 104 students as they traveled to Nicaragua and Panama for alternative spring break trips. For her outstanding commitment to service, Lopresti was named a Newman Civic Fellow in 2017.
Beyond her service work, Lopresti recently spent a semester abroad in Sweden, studying peace and development. She has also channeled her interest in problem-solving and creating positive change to her work as a Grand Challenges Scholar and Student Government Association Election Board chair. She was named Outstanding Leader in the Global Studies Program and has just received a Fulbright Scholarship to return to Indonesia after graduation to teach English.
Portrait by Marlayna Demond ’11 for UMBC.
Marie Pessagno B.A., Social Work; B.A., Gender and Women’s Studies Cum Laude Hometown: Harwood, Maryland Plans: UMB School of Social Work
UMBC has helped to prepare me for the real world of professionalism. I have excelled at this school, when I had long ago thought that the possibility of finishing my college career had ended. I was proven wrong, and have since been accepted into graduate school, with the hopes of someday soon continuing on to pursue my Ph.D.
Throughout her academic journey, two inspirations have pushed Marie Pessagno to always do her best: her two daughters. Calling her children the “driving force” for her success, she shares, “I am finishing school so that I can give them the best opportunities in this world that I can.”
Marie Pessagno with her two young children, her “driving force”; photo courtesy of Marie Pessagno.
A social work and gender and women’s studies double major, Pessagno found a home in the UMBC community, particularly within the Women’s Center. There, she met other returning women scholars, and they have provided support and encouragement to one another throughout their UMBC years. Pessagno received both the Charlotte W. Newcombe Scholarships and the Lillian Lynch Scholarship. She has also been recognized for both her academic achievement and service to her field, named a member of the Phi Alpha Honors Society and receiving the 2018 Joan S. Korenman Award for Service in Gender and Women’s Studies.
Marie Pessagno with her colleagues at the Women’s Center; photos courtesy of Marie Pessagno.
After graduation, Pessagno will attend the University of Maryland School of Social Work as an advanced standing student in the Title IV-E program, for future child welfare professionals, with the intention of continuing on for her Ph.D. Pessagno credits her success to the professors and mentors she’s met during her time at UMBC who “are unafraid of pushing, teaching outside the box, and expecting the best from their students.” Portrait by Marlayna Demond ’11 for UMBC.
Flora Kirk
B.A., Ancient Studies
Minor: Political Science
Magna Cum Laude
Hometown: Middletown, Maryland
Plans: Fulbright researcher, Romania
Since I first rubbed True Grit’s nose, UMBC has presented me with unending opportunities to be involved in its vibrant campus life. As my UMBC career shows, whatever plan you have going into your undergraduate career, you will be exposed to enough opportunities here to find yourself in a much different, and better, path.
Flora Kirk’s career at UMBC has been punctuated by a seemingly unending list of internships, student activities, and academic accolades. As an ancient studies major in the Honors College, Kirk credits her department and mentors for providing her with unique opportunities and supporting her success. During her time at UMBC, she has received the Christopher Sherwin Award, Jane and Robert Shedd Award, and William and Martha Christopher Scholarship. She is also a member of Phi Beta Kappa and an Undergraduate Research Scholar.
Already Kirk has pursued her interest in ancient coins through research abroad. In 2015, she traveled to the Roman Baths and worked to catalogue an extensive cache of recently discovered coins. In 2017, Kirk received a grant through the Roman Society to travel to the Great North Museum in Newcastle, UK, for further research. Kirk also received the Jane C. Waldbaum Archaeological Field School Scholarship and traveled to Archaeotek Roman Villa field school in Transylvania, Romania.
Building on her already extensive travel dossier, Kirk will be relocating to Cluj-Napoca, Romania, after graduation as a Fulbright Scholar to conduct research on Roman coinage, specifically on the effect of propaganda as it relates to value.
Portrait by Marlayna Demond ’11 for UMBC.
Mohammad Arif Ul Alam Ph.D., Information Systems Magna Cum Laude Hometown: Quincy, Massachusetts Plans: Research Staff Member, IBM Research
After I successfully defended my Ph.D. dissertation, I had the chance to stand before all of my mentors who made my Ph.D. possible through guidance, help, and criticism. That was probably the happiest moment of my life.
When Mohammad Arif Ul Alam joined the information systems department as a Ph.D. student in 2014, he quickly began to make waves in his field. “Arif showed his prompt understanding of research problems and quick delivery of solutions from the very beginning of his Ph.D studies,” said Aryya Gangopadhyay, chair of information systems department. Within just four months of starting the program, Alam published a paper based on work done in a class project. This was just the beginning for Alam’s academic career as he would go on to publish 17 scholarly articles and be a cited source for over 150 more. He also received three grants from the National Science Foundation to attend conferences and build his professional portfolio. During his Ph.D. program, Alam interned at the Intel Corporation in Folsom, California, and IBM’s T.J. Watson Research Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. While at Intel, he was recognized as a contributor at the CES 2017 conference, hosted by the Consumer Technology Association, as the CEO of Intel presented a demo of his work. Following these back-to-back six-month internships, Alam returned to UMBC to defend his Ph.D. dissertation, setting a departmental record by completing the program in only three years and ten months.
Mohammad Arif Ul Alam after successfully defending his Ph.D. dissertation.
After graduating in December 2017, Alam accepted a research staff member position at IBM in Massachusetts. He is currently working on sensor systems that will monitor health metrics in older adults and he plans to continue inventing prototypes that will help other populations in need of accessible health technologies. Photos courtesy of Mohammad Arif Ul Alam.
K.J. Maura B.A., Sociology Hometown: San Juan, Puerto Rico Plans: Basketball career overseas
We say it every day in the huddle before practice: “together.” The chemistry and the friendships we have built helped us stay focused on our goals. I’m thankful for my teammates and coaching staff. Every single person on the team played a role to help us reach together and I’m proud to call them family.
K.J. Maura’s college journey took a few twists and turns, as he found his path from Puerto Rico to UMBC. Once he put on that Retriever jersey to play for the UMBC men’s basketball team, he immediately got to work making sure he would leave a lasting impact. Maura consistently proved his dominance on the court. He was named the America East Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2018, only the second Retriever to ever earn a major award in the conference. Shortly afterward, he skyrocketed to national recognition through UMBC’s historic run at March Madness. For the first time in NCAA men’s basketball history, a no. 16 seed toppled a no. 1 seed. Maura helped lead the charge, scoring double digits, instrumental in UMBC ultimately defeating University of Virginia, 74-54. After graduation, Maura will continue his basketball career overseas.
K.J. Maura celebrates UMBC men’s basketball win over University of Vermont in the America East championships; photo by America East.
Joseph Sherburne B.S., Financial Economics Summa Cum Laude Hometown: Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin Plans: M.A., data science, UMBC
UMBC has introduced me to so many people who have helped set a path for me when my time here is done and with whom I will have lifetime bonds. It has also given me the two best moments of my life in winning the America East Championship and beating a one-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
Making the decision to travel from Wisconsin to Maryland to attend UMBC is one that changed Joe Sherburne’s life forever. Throughout his career at UMBC, Sherburne has skillfully balanced academics and athletics, excelling and setting records in both. Sherburne was the first UMBC and first America East Conference men’s basketball player to ever be named to the Academic All-America Division I Basketball First Team. An exemplary leader, Sherburne served as a captain for the history-making 2017-2018 men’s basketball team and still maintained his place on the President’s List each semester. After graduating, Sherburne will remain at UMBC to pursue his master’s degree in data science and continue his basketball career with the Retrievers.
Joe Sherburne holding the America East trophy after defeating University of Vermont, 65-62, to cinch the 2017-2018 America East title; photo courtesy of Joe Sherburne.
Jourdan Grant B.A., Media & Communication Studies Hometown: Bowie, Maryland
UMBC has prepared me in the way that the university has a standard in how you carry yourself and really embrace success.
Since coming to UMBC as a freshman, Jourdan Grant has truly put the time in to propel himself and the UMBC men’s basketball team toward greatness. He currently holds the record for playing the most men’s basketball games in UMBC history. He also became the first player in history to play 30 or more games within his first three seasons of competition. Few will be surprised to hear that Grant’s most memorable UMBC moment was in the first round game of the 2018 NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Grant’s exuberance after dethroning no. one seed University of Virginia is showcased for posterity in the NCAA’s culminating “One Shining Moment” video of tournament highlights.
Jourdan Grant, right, pictured celebrating with K.J. Maura after beating University of Virginia in the first round of NCAA tournament play; photo by Ian Feldmann.
Morgan Zepp B.A., English; B.A., Global Studies Minor: Spanish and Writing Magna Cum Laude Hometown: Catonsville, Maryland Plans: Fulbright English Teaching Assistant, Lithuania
UMBC has given me tremendous opportunity to explore my own values and take the initiative to help my community. I have felt like I am able to make change, be valuable, and commit myself to hands-on action, but I have also been given access to an amazing education.
Morgan Zepp grew up in Catonsville, just down the street from UMBC, but she wasn’t always sure UMBC would be the place where she would thrive. Now, as she is ready to receive her degree, she reflects, “Every day I am grateful I came here.” Once she stepped onto campus four years ago, Zepp immediately got to work. She excelled in UMBC’s Honors College and took on two majors: English and global studies. She entered the university as a Humanities Scholar, and became a writing tutor and writing fellow, as well as editor of Bartleby, UMBC’s creative arts journal for students. Jessica Berman, director of the Dresher Center for the Humanities and professor of English, shares, “I think she incorporates all of best qualities of UMBC students and is someone we’d want to honor.”
Morgan Zepp exploring ruins in Peru during a semester studying abroad; photo courtesy of Morgan Zepp.
Perhaps the largest responsibility Zepp has taken on is serving as president of UMBC’s Reach Initiative, launched by fellow UMBC student Isabel Geisler ‘17, global studies. The Reach Initiative offers support to high school girls who are interested in STEM, informing them about available opportunities, connecting them with research experiences, and linking them with supportive mentors. Zepp was recognized for her service, leadership, and work to achieve meaningful change through a France-Merrick Scholarship. While firmly grounded in supporting communities in the Baltimore region, Zepp also has a keen interest in learning about the world, which led her to study abroad in Cuzco, Peru for a semester. Next, she will travel to Lithuania to teach English as a Fulbright Scholar. Portrait by Marlayna Demond ‘11 for UMBC.
After successfully competing for four years as part of the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association, UMBC men’s swimming and diving returned to the America East for the 2017-18 season with a hunger for victory. Their vision became a reality when the Retrievers emerged with the America East championship trophy after four days of grueling competition in Worcester, Massachusetts. With a final score of 1,113 points, UMBC blew second-place team Binghamton out of the water by nearly 300 points. UMBC’s women’s team also made huge strides, bridging a nearly 100-point gap after the first day of competition. Their tenacity paid off, landing them in second place by the end of the meet, only 4.5 points behind New Hampshire. Over the course of the championship, both teams cemented their legacy by breaking multiple UMBC and America East records. Tunisian national champion Haythem Abdelkhalek ‘19, computer science, bested the former men’s 1650 record of 15:31.99 (set by a Retriever in 2006) by staggering 10 seconds, setting a new record of 15:21.41. Emily Vance ‘20, health administration and policy, set a new UMBC women’s 100 back record of 54.50, while also swimming the 200 back in 1:57.61, beating her own previous UMBC record, as well as the America East’s record set in 2011.
UMBC men’s and women’s swimming/diving team 2017-2018
Danish national champion Alexander Gliese ‘19, mechanical engineering, brought home gold and, in the process, set a new men’s 200 back record with a time of 1:45.27. With a solid showing throughout the weekend, Luis Galvan ‘20, health administration and policy and financial economics, set new America East records in both the 100 and 200 breast. Philip Adejumo ‘18, biochemistry and molecular biology, finished his career with a UMBC team record in the 100 fly, clocking a 47.43 to eclipse a record from 2014. The Retrievers posted the only relay record broken during the weekend when the team of Gliese, Jared Vance ‘18, business technology administration, Adejumo and Rattsev, posted a 1:31.11 to break the 2011 Boston University record in the 200 medley relay. The accolades continued as Natalija Marin ‘21, mechanical engineering, and Kai Wisner ‘21, mechanical engineering, received Most Outstanding Rookie awards. Ilia Rattsev ‘20, bioinformatics and computational biology, was named Male Most Outstanding Swimmer and Nikola Trajkovic ‘18, financial economics, was awarded the Dave Alexander Coaches Award for accumulating the most points in the championships as a senior. In additional to purely athletic achievements, Allison Atkinson ‘18, biological sciences, and Connor Ganley ‘18, chemical engineering, were recognized as having the highest GPAs among competing student-athletes and were named the America East Elite 18 recipients. Coach Chad Cradock ’97, psychology, and his staff were named the men’s and women’s Coaching Staff of the Year. “I want to thank our coaching staff for doing such a great job. To be voted coaching staff of the year for both men and women is a such a compliment and a product of their dedication to our program,” Cradock said. Coming off their record-breaking showing at America East, UMBC men’s and women’s swimming and diving traveled to Rutgers University for the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships on February 15, 2018. Gliese again earned first in both the 100 and 200 men’s back, breaking the pool record in the 200 backstroke, and Vance reset her own school record in the women’s 100 back. For more UMBC Swimming and Diving news, see UMBC Athletics. Image: UMBC’s men’s swimming and diving team celebrate a first place win at America East Championships; photo by Greg Cooper.Inset: UMBC men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams; photo by Gail Burton.
The new UMBC Events Center will shine this week as the Retrievers host America East playoff games in both men’s and women’s basketball.
In women’s basketball, UMBC will host UMass Lowell in a first-round game on Wednesday, February 28, 6 p.m., airing on ESPN3. The winner will advance to the America East quarterfinal in Portland, Maine on Saturday, March 3.
The team defeated UMass Lowell in their regular season finale, 61-39. Tyler Moore ‘20, psychology, helped the Retrievers come out of the gate strong with back-to-back triples and Lakiah Sims ‘18, sociology, led the team with 10 rebounds. Laura Castaldo ‘18, health administration and policy, and Brittani Burgess ‘18, media and communication studies, earned 13 and 12 points each, respectively. Just a few days earlier, the team honored seniors Castaldo; Burgess; Sims; Chukwuma Chiamaka ‘18, environmental science; and Carly Harris ‘18, computer science, prior to a game against Hartford.
Ryan Odom’s men’s program will host their first home playoff game in a decade on Saturday, March 3, as one of the top four seeds in the tournament. Tip-off will be at 1 p.m., against a team to be announced soon, also airing on ESPN3.
This year marks the first time in three decades of NCAA Division I play that UMBC has posted 20-win seasons back-to-back. Most recently, the team surged past UMass Lowell for an 82-75 victory on Senior Day, February 24. Forward Joe Sherburne ‘19, financial economics, led the way to that victory with his first double-double of the season, with 21 points and 10 rebounds. After UMass Lowell took the lead in the second half, guard Jairus Lyles, M.A. ‘18, education, put the Retrievers ahead for good, with Nolan Gerrity ‘19, management of aging studies, and guard Jourdan Grant ‘18, media and communication studies, cementing the victory. Seniors Lyles, Grant, and K.J. Maura ‘18, sociology, all played major roles in the Retriever victory, with Lyles scoring 16 points, Grant scoring 9 points (in his 123rd career game, a school record), and Maura scoring 11 points.
Tickets for UMBC’s America East playoff games are available via www.umbcretrievers.com or at the UMBC Event Center box office, with special discounted ticket prices for UMBC students, faculty, and staff.
UMBC’s first-ever Black and Gold Rush Giving Day is setting out to have a major impact, raising funds to support UMBC students today and building community connections for the future. Beginning at midnight on Wednesday, February 28, 2018, UMBC will embark on a marathon day of giving. A first for the UMBC campus, the goal of Giving Day is to secure as many donors as possible in a 24-hour period. With an ambitious goal of 350 donors, UMBC is relying on the entirety of Retriever Nation to make it a reality. “Giving Day is an embodiment of what we’re capable of,” says UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski. “UMBC is over 70,000 alumni strong, with thousands of faculty, staff, family members, and friends who are such an important part of our story. We’re calling on this entire Retriever family to join us in celebration on Giving Day, and to show what we can achieve together in support of our students.” President Hrabowski will take over UMBC’s Twitter account in the midst of the excitement on February 28.
“Black and Gold Rush will be a special day for our close-knit community,” says Joanne Meredith, director of annual giving. “Every gift makes a difference. Deciding how to show our support—whether it’s a gift to athletics, student organizations, or academics—is a wonderful chance to reflect on and share what at UMBC has most impacted our lives.” Thirteen causes have been identified as areas of support for the inaugural Giving Day. Donors are encouraged to choose one or more of these causes to contribute to during the day. One option, the Stay Black and Gold Student Emergency Fund, directly supports students who find themselves in moments of financial stress, who just need a little extra support to complete their degree. This fund embodies the sense of community generosity behind the entire Black and Gold Rush project. “Giving Day represents a wonderful opportunity for the entire UMBC community to show its Black and Gold Pride. By making a gift, thanking someone for their generosity, or sharing stories about the impact that giving has had, everyone can be a part of this exciting event,” says Greg Simmons ’04, vice president of institutional advancement. In honor of Black and Gold Rush, all Retrievers are invited to wear black and gold on February 28. To help support the cause, the UMBC Bookstore will offer 30% off UMBC logo merchandise the day before, on February 27.
Join in the celebration of UMBC spirit on February 28 by stopping by Lower Flat Tuesdays, which will serve as Giving Day headquarters. There, UMBC groups Mama’s Boys, The Stilettos, and Major Definition will perform and WMBC will host a live online broadcast, with plenty of giveaways. Adding some extra energy to the festivities will be a competitive Giving Day ambassador challenge. Over the past several weeks, community members have been signing up to serve as social media ambassadors, boosting awareness about Giving Day across Retriever Nation. During Giving Day itself, participants will be able to watch their progress on a leaderboard to see which ambassadors have helped generate the most clicks and donations for their UMBC causes. Prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers. Whether in class or at the office, walking around Hilltop Circle or studying abroad, all members of Retriever Nation can follow Giving Day live on February 28 on UMBC’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram (@UMBClife), and Snapchat (@UMBClife), and post their own thoughts on why supporting students is such a core UMBC value using #UMBC and #blackandgoldrush.
The UMBC men’s basketball team will bid farewell to the Retriever Activity Center (RAC) on a high note this week. Undefeated at home this season, the team plays one final game in the RAC on January 27 before moving to the new UMBC Event Center for its official opening on February 3. Kickoff events will continue on February 8 as the women’s basketball team takes on Binghamton. In addition to serving as the home for men’s and women’s NCAA Division I basketball and women’s volleyball, this major new UMBC facility will also host to cultural events, concerts, and popular guest speakers. “The completion of the Event Center marks an important milestone in UMBC’s evolution. This venue will provide our athletic teams with an exceptional home base, while also enabling us to host more events focused on the arts, culture, and the life of the mind,” said UMBC President Freeman Hrabowski. “We are delighted that we will now be able to open our doors even more broadly to the community.”
UMBC Event Center Exterior
The opening of the Event Center offers a particularly exciting opportunity for UMBC to bring spring commencement back to campus for the first time in two decades. After outgrowing the RAC, the ceremony was moved to Baltimore’s Royal Farms Arena. The UMBC Event Center, with around 6,000 seats, will offer a large enough space to honor UMBC’s next graduating class in May 2018.
UMBC Event Center Basketball Floor
Spanning an impressive 172,000 square feet, the Event Center will include a practice gymnasium, athletics department offices, state-of-the-art strength and conditioning and academic support centers, a sports medicine suite, multimedia spaces, meeting facilities, and the UMBC Athletics Hall of Fame, which features highlights from the past 50 years. “The move to the Event Center has the entire department, campus, and community energized,” said Tim Hall, director of athletics. “We can’t wait to see how the next chapter in our athletic program’s history unfolds.”
UMBC Event Center Preview
UMBC partnered with Oak View Group Facilities (OVG) to manage the venue and provide ticketing support. “We are thrilled to be working with the university to open and manage the new Event Center,” said OVG’s Tiffany Sun, general manager of the UMBC Event Center. “With the location of the venue and the available space, the Event Center is going to be a great jewel for the university and the community. Our team has an aggressive plan for the space, and we can’t wait to open the doors and welcome everyone into the new venue.”
UMBC Event Center Whirlpool
Two community preview days will take place ahead of the official UMBC Event Center opening. The UMBC campus will have the opportunity to tour the facility and sample concessions on January 31, noon – 3 p.m. The local community is invited on February 1, 4 – 8 p.m., to enjoy tours, family-friendly activities, and light fare. For media coverage of the UMBC Event Center opening, see Fox45, ABC2, The Baltimore Sun, and Baltimore Business Journal. Photos by Marlayna Demond ’11 for UMBC.
The calendar may have flipped to 2018, but there are so many great milestones achieved by the UMBC community to recognize from 2017. Here are twelve top highlights:
1. Rhodes Scholar
Naomi Mburu ’18, chemical engineering, UMBC’s first Rhodes Scholar.
The past year was history-making for UMBC as Naomi Mburu ’18 was named as the first Rhodes Scholar in school history. A chemical engineering major, Mburu is one of only 32 students from across the nation to achieve this prestigious honor. “Rhodes Scholars come from all over the world, but they are unified by a joint passion to make great change in their communities,” says Mburu.
2. Alumni Accolades
Sean Pang and Kavita Krishnaswamy made huge contributions to their areas of expertise. Krishnaswamy photo by Britney Clause ’11.
Sean Pang ’09, English, M.A. ’11, education, has been teaching at Rockville High School since 2011. His commitment to his students hasn’t gone unnoticed as he was named Teacher of the Year 2017 by The Washington Post. “UMBC was not only my home for six years during both my undergraduate and graduate pursuits, but I identify with this university as the place I found my calling,” says Pang. Kavita Krishnaswamy ’07, computer science and mathematics, Ph.D. ’18, computer science, was named both a 2017 Microsoft Fellow and recipient of the Google Lime Scholarship. Krishnaswamy’s research focuses on building a teleoperated mobile robotic prototype that seniors and people with disabilities will be able to control by repositioning their arms and legs.
3. Play Ball
Retrievers celebrate winning the America East championship game. Photo courtesy of America East.
2017 continued to be a year of firsts for UMBC, both in the classroom and on the field. For the first time in program history, UMBC men’s baseball team won the America East championship and played in the NCAA tournament. As a team and individually, 2017 was a year of achievement for the Retrievers. Catcher Hunter Dolshun ’17, health administration and policy, was named America East Tournament Most Valuable Player, and several other players were named to the all-tournament team.
For being so young, UMBC’s Mock Trial team has quickly made a name for itself in collegiate competition. Having outperformed hundreds of other college and university teams since last September, these exceptional undergraduates traveled to the American Mock Trial Association’s National Championship Tournament in Los Angeles in April. The tournament included a select group of only 48 teams from across the United States.
5. Faculty Achievements
Erin Green and Lee Blaney received nearly $1.5 million combined in research grants.
UMBC biologist Erin Green received a five-year, nearly $1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to examine how cells respond to environmental signals at the molecular level. Her work could provide clues to understanding processes as broad as how cancers take hold, the causes of autism, and aging. Lee Blaney, associate professor of chemical, biochemical and environmental engineering, has received a prestigious CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to advance his research on contaminants of emerging concern and their effects on the environment. The grant will support Blaney’s research on pharmaceuticals, hormones, and personal care products in the local Gwynns Falls watershed. Tinoosh Mohsenin, assistant professor of computer science and electrical engineering, and Ting Zhu, assistant professor of computer science and electrical engineering, also received NSF CAREER Awards in 2017.
6. Taking Home Gold
2017 National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition trophy
Cyber Dawgs, UMBC’s Cyber Defense Team, traveled to San Antonio, Texas, in April to dominate the National Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition. The UMBC team defeated nine other regional winners from across the country in a contest to protect their networks from cyber attacks and threats efficiently and effectively to become the winners of the 2017 competition. Cyber Dawgs faculty advisor Charles Nicholas, professor of computer science and electrical engineering, calls the win “my proudest moment at UMBC.”
7. A Growing Partnership
UMBC students volunteering at Lakeland School.
UMBC’s strong partnership with Lakeland Elementary and Middle School has grown steadily over the last five years. The relationship includes professional development for Lakeland teachers; an opportunity for Lakeland students to attend special events; and a math coaching program, where UMBC students travel to Lakeland and work with small groups of students during the school day. The positive results of this program are clearly evidenced by Lakeland’s success on the math portion of the PARCC, Maryland’s state test. A $6 million gift from the George and Betsy Sherman Family Foundation to establish a new Center for Early Learning in Urban Communities will continue to support these efforts at Lakeland Elementary and Middle School.
8. Commitment to Diversity
“It is really important to me to have people of color that I can look up to, come to, and connect with me on that level,” said M’Balou Camara ’15. Photo courtesy of Camara.
The UMBC economics department received a $1.3 million grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to increase the number of students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups who complete highly competitive doctoral programs in economics. This five-year program will support students through scholarships, mentoring, research experiences, and, finally, entry into postgraduate programs specializing in doctoral preparation. UMBC continues to prove its commitment to diversity, having recently been recognized as the nation’s leader in producing African-American undergraduates pursuing M.D.-Ph.D.s, according to new data from the Association of American Medical Colleges.
9. A Peek Behind the Curtain
Behind the scenes of Twelfth Night. Photo courtesy of Gregg Schraven ’97.
This past November, students took the stage to perform the William Shakespeare classic Twelfth Night. Looking at the polished set and flawless costuming, it’s easy to forget just how much effort goes into creating a production of this magnitude. Students worked with faculty to create the sets from scratch—and to design the costumes that would transport the audience back in time to 19th century Russia.
10. Reaching for the Stars
UMBC and NASA Goddard representatives cut a ribbon to dedicate the ESI.
UMBC’s College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences (CNMS) dedicated the Earth and Space Institute (ESI) in September 2017. The research center includes a prototyping lab and operations center. It also acts as a physical home for the interdisciplinary earth and space science UMBC researchers do with support from NASA, NOAA, and other federal agencies, as well as collaborators around the world. “The Earth and Space Institute is our opportunity to reach for new heights,” said CNMS dean, Bill LaCourse.
11. Surgeon General
Jerome Adams swearing in as U.S. surgeon general. Photo from whitehouse.gov.
UMBC alumnus Jerome Adams ’97, M4, biochemistry and molecular biology, was sworn in as U.S. surgeon general on September 5, 2017. The baton was passed by Rear Admiral Sylvia Trent-Adams Ph.D. ’06, public policy, who served as acting U.S. surgeon general beginning in late April. Adams’ focus during his tenure as surgeon general includes tackling the country’s growing opioid crisis.
