Fall 2009

Art History – Christina Ralls ’07, IMDA

Christina Ralls ’07, imaging and digital arts, recently completed a public art project that allowed her to dive into her family history and tell a story about one of the most turbulent moments in Baltimore’s recent history. UMBC Magazine asked her to share that experience: Cold concrete blocks have replaced glass windows and front doors. An abandoned Catholic church casts its ominous afternoon silhouette on the abandoned intersection at Eager and Valley streets. Many would say this sight is a familiar one in East Baltimore today, but this visit was different for me. It was my first day as community… Continue Reading Art History – Christina Ralls ’07, IMDA

two lacrosse players go head to head Umbc lacrosse players lacrosse stick in front of other player

At Play – Fall 2009

Discovering Japan When UMBC men’s lacrosse team returned from an 11-day trip to Japan to play in the 2009 International Friendship Games, they came back with more than an undefeated record in the competition. They also returned with a sense of what makes Japan unique and a camaraderie that spanned cultural divides. Members of the team opened up a window on their journeys in Japan with postings during their trip at The UMBC Dawg Blog. “A trip to Nagoya Castle,” wrote Alex Hopmann ’09, business technology administration, “was capped with a trip to the gift shop to purchase rubber nunchucks… Continue Reading At Play – Fall 2009

Center of Attention – Andre Gudger ’99, ISM

Ask Andre Gudger ’99, information systems management, how he recalls his undergraduate years at UMBC, and he sums it up in a single word: “intense.” Gudger remembers a swirl of study and ambition at the core of his college experience. “There were a lot of classes, a lot of books, a lot of push to achieve,” he says. Intensity also defines Gudger’s approach to the business of information technology and its applications in business and government. Gudger is the CEO of Solvern Innovations, a company he founded in 2003 to help corporate executive and public servants cope with various opportunities… Continue Reading Center of Attention – Andre Gudger ’99, ISM

Charmed City

You might know John Strausbaugh ’74, interdisciplinary studies, from the books that he’s written on odd and controversial topics – including Elvis culture (E: Reflections on the Birth of the Elvis Faith), boomer rock (Rock ‘Til You Drop: The Decline From Rebellion to Nostalgia), blackface (Black Like You: Blackface, Whiteface, Insult & Imitation in American Popular Culture) and the sissification of America (Sissy Nation: How America Became a Culture of Wimps & Stoopits). But Strausbaugh’s been influential behind the scenes in contemporary journalism as well. As the editor of New York Press in the 1990s and the early part of… Continue Reading Charmed City

Discovery – Fall 2009

Austen in Motion UMBC’s annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day (or URCAD) is always a date circled in red on the university calendar – and for good reason. This past April 22, more than 180 students in 28 majors – ably mentored by the university’s faculty – presented their scholarly work at locations across the UMBC campus. At times, the work presented by undergraduates finds its energy by crossing over disciplinary boundaries. Such was the case with “Letters from Jane: A Tribute to Jane Austen,” a project conceived by Hannah Mary Rzasa ’10 and mentored by Doug Hamby, a… Continue Reading Discovery – Fall 2009

Fund-Amental Leader – Gustavo Matheus ’90, biological sciences

Over the past decade, Gustavo Matheus ’90, biological sciences, has demonstrated his pride in UMBC in a most tangible way: helping to persuade his fellow alumni to give back to the university. Now UMBC is giving something to Matheus: its 2009 Outstanding Alumni Award for Distinguished Service to the university and it’s alumni. Matheus has a successful health law practice in Rockville. But he has also spearheaded a number of alumni projects at UMBC, including mentoring young alumni who helped create the university’s Esperanza Endowment Fund – which supports UMBC students of Latino or Hispanic ancestry and/or students committed to… Continue Reading Fund-Amental Leader – Gustavo Matheus ’90, biological sciences

Killer Mix Tapes Cont’d

After spending the summer jamming on guitars in their living room together, Professor Morin and his son, Nick, traded mix tapes to commemorate the experience. They worked on their lists separately, but clearly have some similar tastes. (All tracks link to Amazon.com) Mix tape for Nick Morin From Dad (2009) by Professor Joseph “Skip” Morin Track 1: “Funk #49” by James Gang Track 2: “(Night Time Is) The Right Time” by Ray Charles Track 3: “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” by The Temptations Track 4: “Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands” by Bob Dylan Track 5: “One Mint Julep” by The… Continue Reading Killer Mix Tapes Cont’d

How To Make A Killer Mix Tape

With Joseph “Skip” Morin, Associate Chair & Lecturer, Music In the 2000 hit film “High Fidelity,” romantically challenged record-store owner Rob Gordon discusses his own torturous process of making the perfect mix tape for a girl: “The making of a great compilation tape, like breaking up, is hard to do and takes ages longer than it might seem. You gotta kick off with a killer, to grab attention. Then you got to take it up a notch, but you don’t wanna [overdo it], so then you got to cool it off a notch. There are a lot of rules.” Sound… Continue Reading How To Make A Killer Mix Tape

Over Coffee – Fall 2009

Establishing a legacy that spans generations is important for a school that is only 43-years-old – and one father and son team has created such a legacy as student-athletes at UMBC. John Goedeke ’79, economics, was one of the school’s better-known basketball players in the late ’70s, when he was a two-time academic All-America selection and a seventh-round selection by the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks. He is now a senior vice president in the treasury management division of Sandy Spring Bank. Kevin Goedeke ’10 has been a key member of the men’s lacrosse team in the last two years, helping the… Continue Reading Over Coffee – Fall 2009

Pedal Power

Two weeks after completing a grueling bicycle race that ran from Oceanside, Calif. to Annapolis, Adam Driscoll ’04, information systems, is still waiting for sensation to return to his fingertips. Driscoll’s hands are still numb from gripping the handlebars of his Cannondale geared bicycle for a week. But he says that the lack of feeling is a small price to pay to take first place in the two-man division of the 2009 Race Across America (RAAM) – a 3,000-mile contest which they won in a time of seven days, one hour and 33 minutes. The other member of the winning… Continue Reading Pedal Power

The Best of Both Worlds

How a decade-long battle over bwtech@UMBC Research and Technology Park created a thriving link between campus and business and a dedicated green space for research and teaching. By Richard Byrne ’86 When a new wooden footbridge linking UMBC’s main campus to the university’s bwtech@UMBC Research and Technology Park and its Conservation and Environmental Research Areas (CERA) opened earlier this year, the walkway represented more than a convenient new path between previously disconnected areas of campus. The new bridge also links UMBC’s larger efforts related to commerce and sustainability back to campus. The research park has capitalized on the opportunities presented… Continue Reading The Best of Both Worlds

The News – Fall 2009

Top Dawgs “We’re Number One! We’re Number One!” It isn’t often that UMBC President Freeman A. Hrabowski, III’s “State of the University” address is interrupted by an impromptu chant. But this year’s speech – given on Aug. 20 – was something different. Local media flocked to cover the address, and the crowd packed into the University Center was bursting with school spirit. The press attention and pride was in response to news that the editors of U.S.News & World Report’s “America’s Best Colleges” guide had released only hours before: UMBC was ranked in the top spot for national universities in… Continue Reading The News – Fall 2009

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