How To – Summer 2016

Aug 16, 2016 / 4 minutes of reading

Transform a Farmers Market Food Cart into a Restaurant —With Steve Chu ’12, economics, Nikhil Yesupriya’13, biology and English and Ephrem Abebe’13, information systems It all began during Spring Break 2010. Steve Chu, Nikhil Yesupriya, and Ephrem Abebe were building low-income houses for Habitat for Humanity. As they worked together, they discovered they had a shared passion for making, and eating, good food. “Cook nights” followed when the three men came back to UMBC. The trio played with ingredients and dishes from every conceivable culture. “UMBC is such an incredibly diverse community, and we had a great time with our… Continue Reading How To – Summer 2016

Discovery – Summer 2016

Aug 16, 2016 / 5 minutes of reading

Magic Beans Like many students before him who have studied in the Albin O. Kuhn Library, Joseph Hyman ‘11, mechanical engineering, found himself craving a fresh, hot cup of coffee to help the pages fly by. Hyman pondered how to satisfy that immediate need for caffeine: Wouldn’t it be great if a travel mug could brew its own coffee? So he set out on a search for this mug of his dreams. When he discovered that that no one was manufacturing that mug of his dreams, he decided to create it himself – along with a talented team of UMBC engineering students… Continue Reading Discovery – Summer 2016

Back Story – Summer 2016

Aug 16, 2016 / 4 minutes of reading

Interdisciplinarity has always been part of the UMBC landscape. But where is it headed? UMBC Magazine asked Carole McCann – special assistant to the provost for interdisciplinary activities and a professor and chair of gender and women’s studies – and Stephen Freeland, director of UMBC’s interdisciplinary studies program, to address interdisciplinary work at UMBC today. UMBC Magazine: UMBC seems to have interdisciplinarity in its bloodstream. Carole McCann: I actually would say “and in its bones.” A number of units at our founding were structured to be interdisciplinary. As just one of many examples, American studies was one of UMBC’s foundational… Continue Reading Back Story – Summer 2016

At Play – Summer 2016

Aug 16, 2016 / 5 minutes of reading

Family Guy Don Zimmerman coached championship men’s lacrosse teams at Johns Hopkins University, and his arrival at UMBC in 1994 took the program to new levels of success. But as he retired from the head coaching position on July 1, Zimmerman said the relationships built inside and outside the lines – with those he worked with and coached – are what he’ll miss more than anything else. “When I look back at my career, it has really been all about the people,” says Zimmerman. “The players, their families, my assistants. You really become a family where everybody is working together.”… Continue Reading At Play – Summer 2016

Alumni Stories – Summer 2016

Aug 16, 2016 / 1 minute of reading

Microscope & Meter by Diana Zeiger ’01 Hurdles & Healing by David Glenn Pining For The Past by Caitlin James ’01 Front Row Seat by Richard Byrne ’86

From the Editor – Summer 2016

Aug 16, 2016 / 12 minutes of reading

So You Want to Be a Pioneer? Founding UMBC faculty across disciplines reflect on building a new public university. By Richard Byrne ’86 See Editor’s Note UMBC opened its doors on September 19, 1966. But as concrete was poured and red bricks were laid, founding chancellor Albin O. Kuhn and founding dean of faculty Homer Schamp were also recruiting faculty members for a new research institution. In a 1994 oral history interview conducted by Ed Orser, emeritus professor of American studies, Kuhn observed that adventure and ambition were his key selling points to recruits. “[T]hat was the thing we talked… Continue Reading From the Editor – Summer 2016

The Pursuit Of Excellence

Aug 16, 2016 / 1 minute of reading

From the day UMBC opened its doors, the work of teaching and research has been at the heart of university life. The love of learning has been passed on by the university’s faculty across disciplines in lecture halls, laboratories, office hours, and in the field. We’ve selected some of the best images of a dynamic endeavor of teaching and exploration that has stretched from 1966 to the present day, aspiring not only to excellence but to greater access for all students to the wisdom and understanding that our faculty carry with them.

Bright Futures

Aug 16, 2016 / 11 minutes of reading

UMBC’s growing reputation as a hub for research with powerful impact isn’t founded on the achievements of renowned scholars who have created laboratories or explored the limits of the arts, humanities and social sciences at the university alone. It is also built on a growing number of impressive younger scholars who have found a home for their work at UMBC. The pedigree of the scholars who will propel research and teaching at the university in its next 50 years can be measured in part by the number of early career teaching and research awards these up-and-coming faculty members have received.… Continue Reading Bright Futures

Music To Market

Aug 16, 2016 / 7 minutes of reading

UMBC professors are navigating the startup economy – and finding harmony between research and commerce. By Elizabeth Heubeck ’91 UMBC professor of music Linda Dusman found herself sitting next to UMBC President Freeman A. Hrabowski, III at a UMBC Orchestra concert in 2010. Between movements, she whispered snippets of background information about the music to one of the orchestra’s biggest fans. Because Dusman is a musical composer with a deeply ingrained respect for the traditions of classical concerts, the experience provided a rare “aha” moment. What if there was a way to convey real-time information about the music and its… Continue Reading Music To Market

Want to be a Pioneer?

Aug 15, 2016 / 12 minutes of reading

Founding UMBC faculty across disciplines reflect on building a new public university. By Richard Byrne ’86 UMBC opened its doors on September 19, 1966. But as concrete was poured and red bricks were laid, founding chancellor Albin O. Kuhn and founding dean of faculty Homer Schamp were also recruiting faculty members for a new research institution. In a 1994 oral history interview conducted by Ed Orser, emeritus professor of American studies, Kuhn observed that adventure and ambition were his key selling points to recruits. “[T]hat was the thing we talked about a lot when we were trying to attract original… Continue Reading Want to be a Pioneer?

Up on the Roof – Summer 2016

Aug 15, 2016 / 4 minutes of reading

UMBC President Freeman A. Hrabowski, III, takes your questions. The powerful connection between research and teaching has been a foundation to UMBC’s success. Why is this vital link so important to the university community? What makes this relationship special at UMBC? – Richard Byrne ’86, English When I talk with students and parents, or with donors, or with legislators about the uniqueness of UMBC, I invariably address the relationship between research and teaching at the university. People often want to know why research universities expect their faculty to teach fewer courses than faculty at comprehensive institutions or community colleges. Parents… Continue Reading Up on the Roof – Summer 2016

To You – Summer 2016

Aug 15, 2016 / 3 minutes of reading

My favorite part of this job is telling stories. Writing the story of our founding faculty in this issue is among the most enjoyable tales I’ve told so far. Some highlights for me: * Listening to Robert Burchard, emeritus professor of biology, talk about launching a research lab in the earliest days of the university, with basic equipment at UMBC and the use of more specialized equipment at USDA labs in Beltsville: “The most important thing in my toolkit was a microscope,” he said. “I was asking interesting questions. I adapted.” * Talking with Marilyn Demorest, emerita professor of psychology,… Continue Reading To You – Summer 2016

Summer 2016

Search UMBC.edu