All posts by: Magazine Editor

Howard as “Christian Fleetwood,” Civil War soldier

Sometimes, recent grad Roderick Howard II ’10, acting and media communications studies, just isn’t himself.
But, that’s the life of an actor — especially one, like Howard, who portrays multiple roles with the Maryland Historical Society Players. One day he’s Christian Fleetwood, a free black man who fought in the Civil War and received a Medal of Honor for bravery. The next he’s Charles Ball, a sailor in the War of 1812.
Howard loves bringing history to life. He and other MHS Players were profiled in a recent story in the Hagerstown Herald-Mail. Read it here.
For Howard, who has been with MHS since 2011 and who recently took on additional duties as a teacher for school programs, especially at the elementary and middle school level, it is exciting to teach as an actor.
“I enjoy the people I work with; the opportunity to expand my knowledge in American history, especially Maryland history; and the honor to portray a historical figure (Fleetwood) who, hopefully, will become even more of a well-known figure amongst those who consider Maryland to be their home, especially African-Americans,” said Howard.
“I also enjoy the opportunity to interact with visitors of the Maryland Historical Society and audiences of our outreach performances. It’s always a pleasure to hear how much they enjoy our performances and/or tours; how interested and knowledgeable they are with history; and stories about how historical events have directly impacted their lives or their loved ones.”
And the job has proved just as educational for Howard, he says.
“My work there has certainly opened my eyes. As an African-American, I have grown an even greater appreciation for those before me, who proudly and willing fought for the liberties and freedoms of America, despite being denied those same liberties and freedoms in their own country.”
Read more about the Maryland Historical Society Players and their schedule of appearances here.

Greg Cantori ’85, geography, will take the helm of Maryland Nonprofits, on October 1, the organization reports.

From the Maryland Nonprofits website:

Greg brings an impressive record of leadership experience to the position – as the CEO of two nonprofit organizations and key leadership roles in the region’s foundation community. He began his career as a Senior Cartographer at the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (formally known as the Defense Mapping Agency), where he helped support our forces during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He then joined the nonprofit sector, serving seven years as Executive Director of the Light Street Housing Corporation, where he implemented a comprehensive vision of “homelessness to homeownership.” Moving to the philanthropic community, he directed the general operations of the Marion I. & Henry J. Knott Foundation for 12 years. He served as an advisor to many nonprofits including the Bearman Foundation, as President of One Less Car, and as a boardmember of the Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers. Most recently he served as the Executive Director of the Downtown Sailing Center.

Read stories about the appointment in:

• Baltimore Business Journal
• The Washington Examiner
• Maryland Reporter

Cantori is the son of Lou Cantori, late professor of political science, and brother of Eric Cantori ’86, computer science.

Alumnus musician “Leify Green” (Leif Huber) ’10, economics and modern languages & linguistics, will play a concert in Washington, D.C., next month to support Amnesty International. The Leify Green Conspiracy will play at Axum’s Lounge on October 12.

For more information about the event, click here.

The concert will specifically support the Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) and the
General Agriculture and Plantation Workers Union’s (GAPWUZ) work to support
the civil and human rights of all Zimbabweans through grassroots activism.

“I believe in supporting human rights and those who struggle to defend them,” said Green. “That belief was a major influence in my decision to study Economics and Modern Languages in Cultures at UMBC, where I focused largely on economic development, particularly in Latin America. I am proud to play in support of Amnesty International and excited that my music is being used to further a cause I believe in.”

Since 2010, The Leify Green Conspiracy has independently released an EP, Give
Me A Push (recorded in UMBC’s own studios), that has sold over 1,000
copies. The band also includes former UMBC student Luke Solomon. Green has toured the United States extensively as a solo act. His latest single, Sweet On The Phone, will be available on iTunes and other digital stores on October 8th. For more information about the band, click here.

What’s it like adjusting to life as a professor?

For language, literacy and culture Ph.D. grad Karsonya “Kaye” Whitehead ’09, it was just as much about embracing a new sort of teaching — the Jesuit educational traditions upheld by her employer, Loyola University Maryland — as the challenges found in the everyday classroom. A member of Loyola’s full-time communications faculty since 2009, Whitehead was recently interviewed by the university about her experiences so far.

Read the full story here.

Whitehead earned her bachelor’s degree in history from Pennsylvania’s Lincoln University and her M.A. in international peace studies from the University of Notre Dame. She answered some additional questions about the professor’s life for UMBC’s Alumni Blog.

Q:  As a relatively new Ph.D. grad, what has it been like adjusting to your new work?

A:  One of the things that I enjoyed the most about my doctoral program was working so closely with my dissertation committee. I had both the support and the ear of five very accomplished scholar teachers who were committed to my success. They read every word that I wrote, listened when I felt overwhelmed, cheered for my every accomplishment, and believed in me even during the times when I could not believe in myself. My co-chairs were Drs. Christine Mallison (LLC) and Kriste Lindemeyer (former chair of the History department) and my committee members were Drs. Michele Scott (History), Cristel Temple (former associate professor in Africana Studies) and Debra Newman Ham (History, Morgan State). My biggest adjustment has been adjusting to the fact that I am now the teacher scholar and that I must do for others, what was done for me. I miss my committee and there are days when I miss being the student (who could focus only on myself) rather than the professor (as I must look outward to ensure that my students are learning and growing and are not being left behind).

Q:  What has been your most surprising discovery so far?

A:  I am constantly amazed by how much I enjoy teaching at a Jesuit university. I was first introduced to the Jesuit teachings when I was in graduate school at the University of Notre Dame. I was living in the “Peace House,” while I was working on my masters in international peace studies (fourteen graduate students in the peace program—students were from all around the world with no more than two from one country—were selected every year to live in the peace house and to actively work on building and maintaining a peaceful community. It was a yearlong commitment and it forced us to listen to one another and to bear one another’s burden. We had a white and a black student from South Africa, a student whose mom was Jewish and her father was Palestinian, students from China, Korea, Vietnam, Russia…) and someone mentioned that the Jesuits were committed to promoting peace when peace was an option and protesting when it wasn’t. I had never really heard of the Jesuits but I was familiar with protest and resistance and I was interested in hearing more about this group that did both and that did them in the name of love.

Since arriving at Loyola, I have immersed myself in the culture. I have gone on an Ignatian Pilgrimage, visiting all of the places in Spain and Rome where St. Ignatius developed the Jesuit teachings; I have participated in an Ignatian pedagogy class, where I learned how to infuse Jesuit teachings into my classroom; I have attended the Collegium program, a week-long retreat for faculty members from Jesuit and Catholic universities; and I have worked with a Jesuit priest to learn about the Examen process of daily meditative reflection and discernment. I enjoy being at a place where we take seriously the idea of cura personalis – the care of the entire student. We are concerned about them as people and we want them to think seriously about what they have to offer the world and how they can make a difference in whatever field they choose to enter.

Q:  And what advice might you give to current UMBC students looking to begin careers as professors?

A:  I am going into my fourth year and what I value the most about my colleagues is the feeling of collegiality and community. Loyola is a good fit for me and for my family. I like the way the school values both teaching and scholarship. For students that are considering becoming a university professor, I would advise them:

• Find a campus where they can see themselves working at everyday for the next 20+ years (even if they are not planning to stay that long, the field is always changing and you have to gauge when to make a move to another university, so just in case…)
• Find a department where they have a connection with the other professors (they will be your campus family and you will need them to support your annual reviews, your tenure package, your teaching…)
• Find a university whose mission fits with the way that you see the world; if you want to focus solely on research then look only at R1 universities and if you want to focus on both your teaching and your research – look for places like Loyola.

Earlier this week, I left class, walked across my campus, and realized how much I love being a university professor. I get paid to make an impact on the lives of the next generation; to think deeply about issues that are important to me; and to be engaged in the world around me!

Maggie Lebherz ’08, modern languages and linguistics, was featured in a recent Baltimore Sun article about the evolution of olive oil. The owner of an olive oil shop in her native Frederick, Md., Lebherz shared her thoughts on the way the public has embraced the versatile oil in their cooking.

Read the full article in the Baltimore Sun.

Lebherz also shares her recipe for lemon olive oil cake with wild blueberry icing.

In an interview with UMBC Magazine in Fall 2011, Lebherz explained how she decided to pursue her business, Lebherz Oil & Vinegar Emporium (LOVE), and how she fell in love with olive oil while visiting Salamanca as an exchange student:

“Tasting fresh olive oil added an entirely new dimension to it, and I also learned about the health benefits of olive oil,” she says. “I had never had true balsamic vinegar, and even the best ones on the market here could not compare to what I had in Spain.”

Read the UMBC Magazine story here.

When UMBC political science professor Carolyn Forestiere moved to Catonsville, she and her husband knew they wanted to fill their new home with local art. After thinking about it some more, they decided to take their curatorial endeavor up a notch — and open their home as a part-time gallery.

Their first show, “UMBC Through the Lens,” will feature five UMBC visual arts alumnae — Brittney Danielle ’12, Chrystal Smith ’12, Marlayna Demond ’12, Stephanie Ellis ’12, and Kimberly M. Haines ’12 — who will present photography related to their time as students at UMBC.

Forestiere said she was pleased to have five “wonderful photographers,” explaining she hopes “that the artists will receive exposure and further their professional credentials.”

The first show will be on Friday, October 5th, from 5 to 7 p.m. Read more about the show and get the gallery address here. The community is welcome.