All posts by: UMBC News Staff

Donald Norris, Public Policy, Provides Analysis as Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan Takes Office

In the days surrounding Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s inauguration, Donald Norris provided insight and analysis as to how the Maryland legislature may work with the new governor. Norris, professor and director of UMBC’s School of Public Policy, also reflected on outgoing Gov. Martin O’Malley’s legacy.

Donald Norris UMBC

In an NBCWashington.com article, Norris analyzed the relationship between Maryland’s new governor and legislature: “So if Hogan chooses to fight with the Democrats, it’s going to be an ugly four years,” Norris said. “He won’t get anything accomplished. If he can find ground for compromise and cooperation, then I think things will work out pretty well for both sides. We just have to wait and see.”

In an article in the Herald-Mail, Norris discussed outgoing Gov. O’Malley’s handling of the economy: “He balanced the budget in 2007 and corrected the fiscal deficit,” Norris said. “But then the recession hit.” He added, “he is really a data-driven guy.”

Norris was also quoted in two Washington Post articles in which he discussed Gov. Hogan and former Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown’s gubernatorial campaign: “He didn’t have a compelling narrative. He didn’t give people a reason to vote for him,” Norris said.

To read complete coverage of Norris’s analysis, click below:

“A Big Mystery”: What to Expect from New Maryland Gov. Hogan (NBC Washington)
O’Malley defends legacy in helping rural areas (Herald-Mail)
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s appeal to “middle ground” could revive state GOP (Washington Post)
Anthony Brown, once a rising star in Maryland politics, returns to private life (Washington Post) 
Can Larry Hogan, Maryland legislature cooperate? (Baltimore Business Journal– subscription required)

Sunil Dasgupta, Political Science, in Eurasia Review

In a recent article published in Eurasia Review, Sunil Dasgupta provided analysis on al-Qaeda’s announcement that it is launching a branch in the Indian Subcontinent. Dasgupta, director of UMBC’s political science program at the Universities of Shady Grove, examined why a terrorist group with a substantial presence in the region would need to make a formal announcement about activities in that part of the world.

Sunil Dasgupta

“The answer may be an alarming one,” Dasgupta wrote. “The move may be part of a broader strategy to enlist elements of India’s disenchanted Muslim underclass in the service of the group’s global agenda.”

In his column, Dasgupta discussed how Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) has shifted its focus to a larger, global scale: “What makes the emergence of AQIS significant, however, is that it is the first time a global jihadi organization has explicitly targeted the governments and the people in the region. The entire Indian subcontinent has seen an extraordinary amount of terrorism in the last 35 years, but most of it was home-grown.”

To read Dasgupta’s full analysis in his column “Al Qaeda in India: Why We Should Pay Attention,” click here. The original article appeared in ISN Security Watch blog.

Kimberly Moffitt, American Studies, on The Marc Steiner Show

Kimberly Moffitt, an Associate Professor of American Studies, appeared on twice on WEAA’s The Marc Steiner Show earlier this month to discuss race and representation in film and advertising.

Kimberly Moffitt

On January 8, Moffitt participated in an engaging discussion about the recent films Annie, Exodus, and Top Five, and her personal experience viewing the film Annie with her daughter: “This is a film that really resonates with her, and I think it has a lot to do with us listening to our children that they want to see themselves reflected in society and here is a perfect opportunity for that to happen.”

Moffitt participated in the discussion along with Ray Winbush, Director of the Institute for Urban Research at Morgan State University. To listen to the full segment, click here.

On January 16, Moffitt participated in a discussion on race and representation in Selma, the Golden Globes, and other topics with Kalima Young, Director of the Baltimore Art + Justice Project.

The segment began with a discussion on Ava DuVernay, the director of Selma: “I appreciate her voice and I’m happy that she’s at the table making a stance and telling stories through her lens because it’s not a lens or a set of eyes that we often get to see films through,” Moffitt said. To listen to the full segment, click here.

Christopher Corbett, English, in Baltimore Style

Christopher Corbett, English, recently penned an essay reflecting on the harsh winter months in Baltimore Style.
In the piece, Corbett decries January as the most unloved month, calling it the season of remorse. He writes, “January is really about winter, the bleak midwinter spoken of in the poem and hymn… I do not believe anyone enjoys January. We endure it.”
Click here to read “In the Bleak Midwinter.”

Student Scholarship Q&A: Samantha Carestia, visual arts

Every so often, we highlight the importance of student scholarships by introducing you to the very students they help to succeed. Today, we’re featuring Samantha Carestia ‘15, visual arts (animation), who is a UMBC Grant recipient.

Name: Samantha N. Carestia
Major: Visual arts (animation / interactive media concentration)
Extra Curricular Activities: March of Dimes Walks, The National Society of Collegiate Scholars, creating digital ads for a local restaurant
Scholarships received: UMBC Grant

Q: Why did you decide to attend UMBC?
I decided to attend UMBC because of the Visual Arts degree program, which contains many of the aspects that I find desirable in my major. The visual arts program with the animation/interactive media concentration allows me to focus on both 2D and 3D artwork, made both physically and electronically, and extend the range of tasks I can perform in my desired field. I was also attracted to UMBC because it is an “in-state” school with a very high academic rating. I had looked at other institutions, even attending a different one in my freshman year that offered a large scholarship. I transferred to UMBC when I realized that UMBC had a program that better suited my educational needs.

Q: What’s been the most amazing discovery you’ve made so far as a student here?
I think that the most amazing thing I discovered at UMBC is the instructors. They are very compassionate about what they are teaching and do so in a way that draws you into the subject. They are also so very helpful and accessible when I have a question or a problem. I am also amazed at how kind and active the UMBC community is.

Q: Tell us about a class or club that has really opened your mind.
I feel that [the] course ART 384 — Introduction to 3D Computer Animation — was the class that most opened my mind. This class let me work with 3D modeling, which is something I have always wanted to do. I found I have a knack for it, which is great!

Q: How important is it to you as a student to get scholarship support?
I am the daughter of what some may call “older parents.” My father is retired on Social Security, and my mother’s job is their only other income. They have sacrificed a lot to assist in my college tuition and expenses as best they can so I won’t be saddled with a huge amount of loans when I graduate.With the economy as it is today, there are challenges obtaining employment. A large amount of school loans may make it very difficult to concentrate on my employment search. This scholarship also means a lot to me because it means my parents won’t have to struggle as much in their efforts to help me achieve my goal of a college education.

Q: What are you most proud of accomplishing in your time at UMBC?
I am most proud of my high GPA. I am especially proud of the past two semesters with 6 courses each, and obtaining and maintaining a 4.0 GPA both semesters.

Q: What would you say to the people who provided your scholarship?
I feel it is my obligation to continue doing my very best in my studies to prove not just to myself and my parents, but also to those that believe in me and have helped me that their faith and assistance are not in vain.

Q: What do you hope to do after graduation?
After achieving my goal of a degree from UMBC, I hope to obtain employment at a nearby game-making studio, such as Bethesda, or find a job making web pages for a local firm. I will probably have to prove myself and start from the bottom and work my way up to my ultimate goal.

 Support UMBC student scholarships today!

Roy Meyers, Political Science, on WYPR’s Maryland Morning

Roy Meyers (UMBC)On Friday, January 9, Political Science Professor Roy Meyers appeared on WYPR’s Maryland Morning with Sheilah Kast to discuss Maryland’s budget process for the upcoming year. Meyers was a guest on the program along with The Daily Record Government Reporter Bryan Sears.

Meyers offered insight into what Maryland Gov.-Elect Larry Hogan will encounter with negotiations with the legislature when he takes office next week. He discussed mandated entitlement spending, discretionary spending, and analyzed Maryland’s unique budget process.

“Every year the governor makes a budget proposal. That budget proposal not only includes recommended spending levels for agency operations which the legislature can’t increase, but also asks for changes in those laws. They’re normally packaged in a law called the BRFA- the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act.”

To listen to the full interview and hear Meyer’s in-depth analysis of the Maryland budget, click here.

Lia Purpura, English, in The New Yorker

Lia PurpuraIn its January 19th issue, The New Yorker published a poem by English Writer in Residence Lia Purpura. The text of Purpura’s poem “Probability” is below. An audio recording of Purpura reading her poem can be found here. A link to previous poems by Purpura published in The New Yorker can be found here.

Probability

Most coincidents are not
miraculous, but way more
common than we think—
it’s the shiver
of noticing being
central in a sequence
of events
that makes so much
seem wild and rare—
because what if it wasn’t?
Astonishment’s nothing
without your consent.

Zakaria Fatih, MLLI, Selected as Review Editor of The French Review

Zakaria FatihZakaria Fatih, modern languages, linguistics and intercultural communication, has been selected to the editorial staff of the French Review, the journal of the American Association of Teachers of French. After serving two years as the Assistant Editor, he has been promoted to the position of Review Editor (section: Culture and Society). The French Review “has the largest circulation of any scholarly journal of French and Francophone studies in the world.”

Fatih also recently published an article titled: “The Aesthetics of Fragmentation, or a Way to Read El Maleh” in Expressions maghrébines: Revue de la Coordination Internationale des Chercheurs sur les Littératures Maghrébines. The article is an attempt to read analytically the complex fiction of Jewish Moroccan author Edmond Amran El Maleh, who is also referred to as the James Joyce of Morocco

Gib Mason, UMBC Training Centers, Shares New Year’s Resolutions for Leaders

gib-masonGib Mason ’95, economics, chief operating officer, vice president of finance and administration and director of the Center for Leadership and Innovation at UMBC Training Centers, wrote an article in the Baltimore Business Journal highlighting his top New Year’s resolutions for leaders.

In the article, Mason shared five resolutions he sees as crucial for leaders: increase transparency, embrace vulnerability, develop opportunities to innovate, engage your team, and create shared experiences. “Through my experience, I’ve tried a number of best business practices to increase team productivity and quality of work,” Mason wrote. “The best lesson I’ve learned is for leaders to focus on your teammates — they are the bread and butter of your organization.”

Click here to read “5 New Year’s Resolutions for Every Leader” in the Baltimore Business Journal.

Donald Norris, Public Policy, on WYPR’s Midday with Dan Rodricks, in Bethesda Magazine

Donald Norris UMBCOn December 23, Donald Norris, professor and director of the School of Public Policy, joined WYPR’s Midday with Dan Rodricks for a review of the year’s most significant political stories. Norris, along with Melissa Deckman, chair of the political science department at Washington College, analyzed the results of Maryland’s gubernatorial election, discussed the future of outgoing Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, and other significant national political stories heading into the new year. The full segment can be accessed here.

On January 7, Norris was quoted in an article published in Bethesda Magazine examining the future of the Purple Line under incoming governor Larry Hogan. “He has enormous power to kill it,” Norris said.

He added, “if [Hogan] zero-funds the Purple Line, or the Red Line in Baltimore, then the legislature, through the budgetary process, can’t do anything,” said Norris, while adding: “That said, the legislature has enormous power otherwise—and they can make life so miserable for the governor that he wouldn’t do something like that or if he did, he would be brought right back to be accountable by the legislature.”

To read the full article titled “Supporters Would Have Little Recourse if Hogan Moves to Halt Purple Line,” click here.

Thomas Schaller, Political Science, Op-Ed in the Baltimore Sun

In his January 6 column in the Baltimore Sun, Political Science Professor and Chair Thomas Schaller wrote about his new book “The Stronghold: How Republicans Captured Congress but Surrendered the White House,” published this month by Yale University Press. In his column, he discussed the core argument of his book:

The Stronghold

“My main contention is that the Republicans — and, I suppose, the Democrats too — have reached a point of ideological-institutional confluence. Specifically, in our protracted modern era of partisan polarization and divided government, it makes sense that the more conservative party dominates Congress rather than the presidency.”

In the column, he discussed that the recent history of the Republican party since the era of Bill Clinton contrasts with previous decades when Republicans won seven of ten presidential elections between 1952 and 1988. He analyzed the shift in recent years and its implications for the future of the Republican party:

“Presuming divided government is indeed the new normal, conservatives should prefer that Republicans control Capitol Hill rather than occupy the Oval Office. But whatever its allures, a Republican Party defined by its congressional wing is risky political business for the GOP.”

To read the full column titled “Conservatives better suited to Congress,” click here.

Schaller is scheduled to present a talk on his book at Baltimore’s Ivy Bookshop on Wednesday, February 4 at 7:00 p.m. For more information, click here.

MLLI Faculty Accomplishments For Fall 2014

Ana Maria Schwartz Caballero received the 2014 NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award on Sept. 28, 2014. Photo credit: Baltimore Ravens.

Associate Professor Denis Provencher interviewed Eric Fassin discussing his lead essay from the special issue of Contemporary French Civilization on Marriage Equality in France (Vol 39.3 (2014)). “Interview with Eric Fassin: Au-delà du mariage/Marriage Equality in France.”  H-France Forum, Dec. 2014.

On November 2, 2014, Associate Professor Elaine Rusinko received the John Mihalasky Humanitarian Award from the Carpatho-Rusyn Society. According to its description, “The Mihalasky Award honors those who have dedicated themselves to the cause of Rusyn culture, heritage, and humanitarian aid.”

Ana María Schwartz Caballero, Associate Professor of Spanish and Second Language Education, was honored with the 2014 NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award at the September 28th Ravens versus Carolina Panthers game at M&T Bank Stadium (September 28, 2014). For more information, click here.

Denis M. Provencher co-organized the international symposium, Queer Québec, as part of the biennial American Council of Québec Studies (ACQS) in Montreal, Canada in October 2014. He and co-organizer Dr. Charles Batson (Union College), will guest edit two special issues of the journal Québec Studies (Liverpool UP), on the symposium’s theme, which will appear in 2015 and 2016 respectively.

Dr. Provencher also published a new article: “Stepping Back from Queer Theory: Ethnography, Language, and Sexuality in French Cultural Studies.”/French Cultural Studies/ 25.3/4 (2014): 408-417. This essay is part of the 25th-anniversary special issue of the journal French Cultural Studies on the state of the field and Dr. Provencher’s essay is featured in the last section, which points to future directions in the field.

Dr. Provencher received $1,500 from The Graduate School at UMBC Mini-Grant Program, to organize a series of cohort-based writing workshops for the students enrolled in the M.A. in Intercultural Communication. The workshops will address writing an M.A. scholarly paper, writing in the discipline, and resume & cover letter development and will be held in February 2015.

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