All posts by: UMBC News Staff

Mary Volkman ’92, English, is a Baltimore native who writes fiction under the pen name “Margo Christie.” Her first novel, These Days: A Tale of Nostalgia on Baltimore’s Block, relies not only on the author’s time working in show bars on the city’s most notorious stretch of real estate (right under the shadow of City Hall, hon) in the 1970s and ’80s, but also in her careful attention to the reminiscences of those who’d been there during the heyday of burlesque just after World War II.

But Margo Christie wrote the book. So let her tell it:

It’s often said first novels are autobiographical, inspired by the author’s coming-of-age and family of origin. Just as often, it’s said the best literature rises out of adversity. When I sat down to write a first novel, I was a step ahead of the game, having lived a tough life, and having not one, but two, families upon which to build my colorful characters. The first was, naturally, my family of origin – which included an alcoholic, disabled dad, nostalgic for his finer days; and a jazz musician grandfather, rumored to have played trumpet in “houses of ill repute.”

Continue reading “Life on the Edge (With a Safety Net)” →

Congratulations to these UMBC alums whose accomplishments have been recognized both inside and outside of UMBC. Take a moment to see what they have been up to!

Recently, Corey Fleischer ’05, ’08 M.S., mechanical engineering, was featured in the Baltimore Sun. The paper noted that Fleischer, co-founder of the Baltimore Foundery, partnered with Gene Shirokobrod, doctor of physical therapy, to create the ARC, a product to relieve back and neck pain and retrain muscle.

The two developed a prototype of the ARC, a half-circle made of plastic that sits between the user and a chair or can sit underneath someone’s neck while they are lying down, using a blend of the latest hot entrepreneurial strategies — 3-D printing, crowdfunding, and the makerspace.

Read the full article.

Dr. Elliot Lasson ’87, psychology, was recently profiled by the Baltimore’s CBS affiliate. In the interview, they discuss Lasson’s work as the executive director of Joblink – a non-profit organization tasked with the exciting feat of employing Baltimoreans. They also discuss his involvement at UMBC as a psychology professor and his work as a member of Governor O’Malley’s Workforce Investment Board.

Read the interview.

Michael Kettelberger ’10, political science, recently joined WBOC16/FOX21 in Salisbury, MD, as a news producer. According to the article, Kettelberger has spent a lot of time on Maryland’s Eastern Shore and is looking forward to calling it home.

Micheal graduated with a master’s degree in journalism from the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland in May of 2014. While at Maryland, he was a member of Capital News Service as a reporter, anchor, and producer. Micheal also spent a semester studying abroad at the American University in Cairo, Egypt.

While at Maryland, Micheal was a founding member of the National Press Photographers Association chapter at the University of Maryland, and at UMBC he served as President of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

Read the announcement.