All posts by: Magazine Editor

Autism rights activist Ari Ne’eman ’10, political science, was interviewed recently by Al Jazeera about the role of mental illness in the U.S. gun control debate. While still a student at UMBC, Ne’eman co-founded the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), an advocacy organization run by and for Autistic adults seeking to increase the representation of Autistic people across society.

Watch the video interview from Al Jazeera here.

In a 2009 interview with UMBC Magazine, then student Ne’eman stated:

“I feel like I’ve set up a good foundation,” says Ne’eman, of both his advocacy and his education. “As long as I stick to my ideals, the core values that I hold, I’ll be able to continue to make a difference. That’s really what I’ve always aimed to do.

That same year, President Obama nominated Ari to the National Council on Disability, a federal agency charged with advising Congress and the President on disability policy issues. Read the UMBC Magazine story here.

Alumni Association – International, a Maryland-based group created to support alumni relations programs within the University System of Maryland, presented a $4,000 check to the UMBC Alumni Association Board at the board’s quarterly meeting last week.

AA-I president Janice Batzold, pictured left, presented the check to Alumni Board president Bennett Moe ’88, visual and performing arts.

The money will be incorporated into the Alumni Relations budget toward new alumni initiatives, said Alumni Relations director Stanyell Bruce.

Turns out UMBC alumnus-turned-celebrity-chef Jeffrey “Duff” Goldman ’97, history, is not just a stellar cake baker, but also an auto enthusiast. In an interview with MotorTrend.com, the “Ace of Cakes” star talks about his lifelong love for all things car.

As he tells Motor Trend reporters:

“I am a freakish gearhead,” he says, sitting at a table in Cakemix, which allows people to decorate their own cakes and cupcakes. “I will take your car apart and put it back together. I can totally do that.”

Read the full story in Motor Trend here.

Goldman, who most recently created a six-tier cake for President Obama’s inauguration, was named an Outstanding Alumnus of the Year by UMBC in 2009.

Rick Foster ’73, M.S., mathematics, will retire from his position as chief actuary at the Center for Medicare and Medicade Services next month, having spent nearly two decades influencing our nation’s healthcare at the top level.

The New York Times wrote about Foster’s career and retirement, saying he is known for “his fierce independence,” and that he has been “an influential voice on Medicare, Medicaid and the new health care law.”

Read the New York Times story here.

Healthcare-focused MedPage Today profiled Foster here.

Foster, who was named an Outstanding Alumnus of the Year by UMBC in 1997, has been voted one of the 100 most influential people in U.S. healthcare by readers of Modern Healthcare magazine from 2007 to 2011. Prior to his work with CMS, he served as Deputy Chief Actuary for the Social Security Administration for 13 years.

Charm City Cakes, owned by UMBC alumnus Jeffrey “Duff” Goldman ’97, history, will bake the official cake for President Obama’s Monday inauguration, the Baltimore Sun reports.

Read the story here.

According to the story, the bakery will create a six-tier cake, with each layer representing a branch of the United States military. Tier flavors will include red velvet, lemon poppy seed, pineapple coconut, and pumpkin chocolate chip.

Goldman, former star of the Food Network’s “Ace of Cakes,” was named an Outstanding Alumnus of the Year by UMBC in 2009.

Read a UMBC Magazine article about Duff’s rise to fame.

Charm City Cakes, owned by UMBC alumnus Jeffrey “Duff” Goldman ’97, history, will bake the official cake for President Obama’s Monday inauguration, the Baltimore Sun reports.
Read the story here.
According to the story, the bakery will create a six-tier cake, with each layer representing a branch of the United States military. Tier flavors will include red velvet, lemon poppy seed, pineapple coconut, and pumpkin chocolate chip.
Goldman, former star of the Food Network’s “Ace of Cakes,” was named an Outstanding Alumnus of the Year by UMBC in 2009.
Read a UMBC Magazine article about Duff’s rise to fame.

Every so often, we’ll chat with an alum about what they do and how they got there. Today, we’re talking with Rhea Marasigan ’03, information systems management (with a dance minor) about what it’s like to juggle careers in graphic design and dance.

Name: Rhea Marasigan (A.K.A. “Ria DeCastro” on stage)
Job:  Graphic Designer, Dancer
Employers:  Spectrum Brands HHI and RheeDesigns (Marasigan’s side-business)
Based in: Los Angeles, California

Q:  You recently were featured on a dance webcast called DancePlug (click here to view)…what has been the highlight of your dance career thus far?

A:  The highlights of my dance career thus far since moving to Los Angeles, California are:

1. Having the opportunity to dance alongside professional dancers and work with NappyTabs (Napolean and Tabitha D’umo of SYTYCD) on the set of 5 episodes of the Fox Show “MOBBED;”
2. Being a background dancer extra on both Mandy Rain and Angelique Sabrina‘s music videos, and;
3. Being able to back-up dance for Jazzlyn Marae for one of her performances. I would have never thought I’d EVER get an opportunity to do anything like this from just moving here from Baltimore three years ago but I know NOW that “Anything is possible.”

Q:  What is your favorite aspect of dance?

A:  When I went to UMBC back in 2000-2003, I took ballet, modern & jazz to learn the basic techniques to shape me into a better dancer. I am a better hip hop dancer because of it. I started late in the game at the age of 20 to pursue dance to where I’ve been on many MD dance teams (Fusion Dance Team, Dance Express, Charm City Cabaret) and now I’m starting to do that here in LA. I’m currently on Electric Crew where we are getting ready to perform in Disneyland in February and a Core dancer for a flashmob company called Dance Mob Nation.

My favorite aspect of dance is just being on a dance team that loves to dance, and have fun with no drama. The dance community here in LA is just that. There are a lot of dancers trying to make it here and there is an outlet for those dancers to come together and just dance. It can get competitive in the professional dance industry but if that’s NOT your cup of tea, you can still find other awesome outlets in the LA dance community to perform, compete, etc.

Q: Where do you hope to be in five years, dance-wise?

A:  In five years, I hope to still be dancing and performing or at least still taking dance classes. I have to say that I am now content with where my dance career has been. My focus is now on my design career.

Q: Tell us about your career in design. Does it ever intersect with your dance career?

A:  I’ve been a graphic designer for 13 years now (a freelance graphic designer — at RheeDesigns — on the side for 8 of those years) and I am continuing to learn and expand my skill sets. I am now looking into the film industry to start as a graphic designer to get my foot in the door but I’d love to delve into film editing and/or being an FX artist. I finished taking a film editing class this past fall and am now awaiting next fall 2013 to take After Effects.

I am dedicated to my work as a graphic designer so whenever there is a possible dance opportunity, I make sure it doesn’t affect that aspect of my life. I’ve been fortunate to be able to juggle both careers simultaneously and seamlessly. My full-time job supports my dance career so whenever I have a gig, I can always make arrangements so that both sides have a happy medium. But, of course, I can’t say “yes” to everything so I DO pick and choose the gigs that I want.

All in all, I am loving life right now doing 2 of my favorite passions and living in California where there is always an opportunity to get into.

Q:  How did your UMBC experience help shape who you are today?

A:  I loved my experience of the three years I was at UMBC. UMBC keeps up with the trends, technology and truly cares about their students and their goals. Even though I got a B.A. in information systems with a modern dance minor, UMBC still shaped me into what I am today. I learned that it takes hard work and dedication to get what you want in life and that resonated in me.

I remember in 2002 winning a UMBC dance competition against some boy break dancers and that in itself made me believe that dance was something I wanted to do in life. I loved that UMBC has specific events & clubs on campus that its students can take part in. It allows for students to get out and try new things, meet people and have fun doing it.

Learn more about Rhea’s design here, and her dance here.

“Bittersweet.”

That’s how Kyla McMullen ’05, computer science, describes what it feels like to be the first African American woman at the University of Michigan to graduate with a Ph.D. in computer science.

– Read an interview with McMullen in NBC’s The Grio here.

“I don’t think there’s anything special about me,” says a modest Kyla, who recently started a new job as an Assistant Professor in the Human-Centered Computing division of Clemson University’s School of Computing. She explains that while it’s nice to be recognized as a “first,” her accomplishment points out a sad reality: not enough women and minorities are pursuing advanced degrees in computer science. Out of the more than 1,400 Americans who received Ph.Ds in computer science from 2010-2011, less than a quarter were female, and a mere 1.2 % (or 16 people) were African American, according to the latest Computing Research Association (CRA) Taulbee Survey. It’s a good thing staggering statistics like that didn’t deter Kyla, who finished her doctorate at Michigan in 2012.

Kyla’s passion for computer science started early and was nurtured throughout high school. “When I was little, I always liked gadgets,” she says. She remembers being fascinated by her family’s first computer because it seemed like magic. She admits to staying up all night, clicking through file folders, trying to figure out how it worked. Luckily for Kyla, her high school in her hometown of Oxon Hill Maryland had a special computer science track. This meant exposure to curriculum that most high schools lack, and the opportunity to take courses in computer programming and engineering early on.

It paid off. One day, Kyla was sitting in calculus class when the guidance counselor called her to his office. She thought she was in trouble, but he actually wanted to recommend that she apply for UMBC’s Meyerhoff Scholarship program.

“It was an excellent opportunity,” says Kyla of the program (she was a member of the 13th cohort). Though tough, Kyla credits the program’s sense of community and her mentors as crucial ingredients of her success. She remembers her time at UMBC fondly; especially the hours spent burning the midnight oil with her two study buddies, Aimee Strang ’05, computer science, and Nwokedi Idika ’05, computer science (who is now, coincidentally, the first African American to get a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Purdue University).

As graduation neared, Kyla knew that she was bound for graduate school. She also knew that Michigan was the last place she wanted to live. But, at the insistence of Keith Harmon, then the Assistant Director of the Meyerhoff Scholars Program, and Lamont Toliver, late Meyerhoff Scholars Program Director, she reluctantly made the trip to tour the University of Michigan, where she promptly fell in love.

Here, the graduate students were happy and invested in one another’s success—an atmosphere that mirrored that of UMBC, she says. That, coupled with the school’s high reputation for computer science, made her decision to study there a no-brainer. “My time at UMBC prepared me very well for Michigan.”

At Michigan, Kyla explored a little before finding her niche. Drawn to the human aspect of artificial intelligence, she joined the intelligent systems group. Then, in 2007, while pursuing her Master’s, she began working on educational software that taught kids how to make relationships between objects. One of her favorite parts, she admits, was getting to know the kids in the classroom before testing out the software.

After that, Kyla discovered spatial audio. Her research involved constructing virtual environments navigable by sound alone. “It’s like searching for a cell phone in the dark,” explains Kyla, who has worked with the Naval Submarine Medical Research Lab on her research. The concept, which can be applied to any domain with a spatial component, is especially being considered for workers in dangerous environments.

Another of Kyla’s passions while at Michigan was promoting the sciences within minorities. During her time, she was both the President and the Vice President of The Society of Minority Engineers and Scientists and the Vice President of the Movement of Underrepresented Sisters in Engineering and Science (MUSES). Though, she recognizes the benefit of the groups, she talks about their limited capacity to help. “You can only influence the people who make it in the doors, but not the people who aren’t in the doors yet.”

That’s why Kyla stresses the importance of relatable role models early on. In high school, hers was computer science teacher Mr. Randy Ware, a young and “normal” teacher who challenged the stereotype of what computer scientists are supposed to look like. It was at that point that she realized she didn’t have to look a certain way to study computer science. She could just be herself.

Kyla hopes she can help others comes to this realization, too. She’s happy to be an example for young girls like her. Even now–with a Ph.D. under her belt, and her new job at Clemson—Kyla hopes to be a resource for girls like her. Girls who just need to talk to someone that looks like them.

– by Anissa Elmerraji ’11

This story first appeared on the Computer Science and Electrical Engineering website.

Red Sammy, a Baltimore band helmed by Adam Trice ’04, English, will release its fourth album, “These Poems with Kerosene,” next month with a show at the Windup Space. We asked Trice to talk a bit about life as a musician, and how his study of literature has influenced his work.

Q:  Tell us some of the story behind your band…what type of music do you play? What influences you?

A: Red Sammy is a minor character in Flannery O’Connor’s short story, “A Good Man is Hard to Find” (1955). Our music tends to be gritty, sparse, and deeply emotional. One music reviewer noted that our music attempts to connect with a listener’s mournful regions of the heart and soul. Musically, we fall closely within the Americana/Roots Rock genre. Influences include Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, Neil Young, The Pixies, Lou Reed, Alejandro Escovedo.

Q:  Tell us a little about how your educational background fits in with what you do?

A:  I earned my degree in English at UMBC and a M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing/Publishing from the University of Baltimore. Both degrees provided me with insight and resources to develop as a writer (both lyrically and poetically). Many of our songs have a strong emphasis on word content and poetic form.

Q:  What’s your favorite song and why?

A:  Our latest album titled “These Poems with Kerosene” (due out on February 17, 2013), combines music and the recorded poems of University of Baltimore poet and professor Steve Matanle. My favorite track from the album is titled, “Everything Must Go.”

Q:  What’s it like collaborating with another poet?

A:  Steve Matanle was one of my favorite professors during graduate school. I’m very fortunate to have the opportunity to collaborate with Matanle especially since his hard luck style of poetry blends very well with our music and lyrical content.

Q:  Where would you like to see Red Sammy go from here?

A:  From a songwriter’s perspective, I would like to continue to grow and collaborate with new musicians and poets. In the next few years I would like to have a stronger presence performing as part of academic readings and art performances. It’s much more interesting when collaborating across artistic mediums.

Learn more about Red Sammy and listen to music samples at their website.

Baltimore Dance Project returns to UMBC for its 30th year, featuring the creative work of professors Doug Hamby and Carol Hess, with dancer Sandra Lacy, along with music and dance performances by UMBC alumni. The show will be held on February 7 in the proscenium theatre in UMBC’s new Performing Arts and Humanities Building.

Expanding dance with visually stunning, inter-disciplinary and collaborative works, BDP brings together company alumni, new dancers, visual artists and live musicians, and features dances with interactive sound, video and spoken text.

The performance will feature two world premieres:

• “Common Axis 13,” a Hamby/Hess collaboration for ten dancers, blending movement with video images and live video feeds, created and mixed live, with sound performed professor Timothy Nohe, and featuring UMBC alumnae Renee Barger ’99, visual & performing arts, Jen Dobbins ’06, dance, and Desiree Koontz-Nachtrieb ’08, history, ’11, dance.
• “If I Told Him,” by Hamby features student Jeffrey Mensah creating a live soundscape designed by Ferdinand Maisel.

Come see Sandra Lacy perform her solo “Once Again,” and award-winning duet “Out to Play,” with Adrienne Clancy.

Jen Dobbins performs Hess’ “Persona,” with a tiny wireless surveillance camera.

Angel Chinn ’08, dance, returns to BDP to perform Hamby’s “Construction #2,” in honor of American composer, John Cage’s centennial year, performed live by percussionist Tom Goldstein and UMBC Department of Music alumni.

$20 general admission, $10 students and seniors, $7 UMBC students. To order tickets in advance by credit card, purchase online through MissionTix. Patrons who prefer to pay cash or check at will call may make a reservation by calling 410-455-6240.