UMBC Alumni Awards

Alumni Awards 2015: Nicole DeBlase ’06, Financial Economics

In the weeks leading up to the Alumni Awards Ceremony, we’ll be profiling each of this year’s honorees in detail here on the blog. Today we’re featuring our 2015 Rising Star alumna, Nicole DeBlase ’06, financial economics.  Nicole DeBlase is an Executive Director at Morgan Stanley, a position she has held since early 2014. Prior to this, she worked her way up the equity research ladder from Baltimore to Wall Street. She started off as an undergraduate intern at the Mercantile Safe Deposit and Trust Company and moved into their rotational analyst program after graduation. When that bank was acquired by PNC… Continue Reading Alumni Awards 2015: Nicole DeBlase ’06, Financial Economics

Alumni Awards 2015: Dr. Lisa Urkevich ’86, Visual and Performing Arts

In the weeks leading up to the Alumni Awards Ceremony, we’ll be profiling each of this year’s honorees in detail here on the blog. Today we’re featuring our Visual and Performing Arts award winner, Dr. Lisa Urkevich ’86, visual and performing arts (music). Dr. Lisa Urkevich is an ethnomusicologist and academic who has been based primarily in Kuwait since 2003. She is a 2015-16 Visiting Scholar at Harvard’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies, and her book, Music and Traditions of the Arabian Peninsula: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar–which is based on years of research conducted in that part of the world–was… Continue Reading Alumni Awards 2015: Dr. Lisa Urkevich ’86, Visual and Performing Arts

Alumni Awards 2015: Dr. Yoon-Ho Kim, Ph.D. ’01, Applied Physics

In the weeks leading up to the Alumni Awards Ceremony, we’ll be profiling each of this year’s honorees in detail here on the blog. Today we’re featuring our Natural and Mathematical Sciences award winner, Dr. Yoon-Ho Kim, Ph.D. ’01, applied physics. Dr. Yoon-Ho Kim is a physicist, researcher, and professor at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) in South Korea. He received his Ph.D. in applied physics from UMBC in 2001 and worked as a Wigner Fellow at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory before starting at POSTECH in 2004. Currently, his research involves the experimental aspects of quantum information and… Continue Reading Alumni Awards 2015: Dr. Yoon-Ho Kim, Ph.D. ’01, Applied Physics

Alumni Awards 2015: Dr. Tara Carpenter

In the weeks leading up to the Alumni Awards Ceremony, we’ll be profiling each of this year’s honorees in detail here on the blog. First up is our Outstanding Faculty Award winner, Dr. Tara Carpenter of UMBC’s own Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Dr. Tara Carpenter is a senior lecturer in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UMBC. Dr. Carpenter developed a passion for teaching as a graduate teaching assistant at Duquesne University, and after she completed her Ph.D., she sought out academic positions that made teaching undergraduates a priority. She was drawn to UMBC’s welcoming campus culture and its enthusiasm… Continue Reading Alumni Awards 2015: Dr. Tara Carpenter

Congratulations to Our 2015 Alumni Award Winners!

Each year, the UMBC Alumni Association celebrates those people who have made outstanding contributions to the University, their fields, and their communities. This year, we extend that honor to the following distinguished alumni and faculty: Engineering and Information Technology: Andre Gudger ’99, Information Systems Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Manufacturing, and Industrial Base Policy, U.S. Department of Defense Natural and Mathematical Sciences: Dr. Yoon-Ho Kim ’01 Ph.D., Applied Physics Professor, Pohang University of Science and Technology Social and Behavioral Sciences: Bryan Kelly ’92, Economics Co-Founder and Managing Partner, The Kelly Group Visual and Performing Arts: Dr. Lisa Urkevich ’86,… Continue Reading Congratulations to Our 2015 Alumni Award Winners!

Highlights from the 2014 Alumni Awards

The long Homecoming Weekend was kicked off in a big way on Thursday, October 9, with the annual Alumni Awards Ceremony. This year, the ceremony was held in the stunning Performing Arts and Humanities Building Concert Hall, with receptions preceding and following the event in the Dance Tech Studio. Those in attendance were treated to speeches by the honorees, as well as lots of smiles and laughter. And of all of the quotes about the night, Director of Alumni Relations Stanyell Odom said it best: “This year’s winners are an outstanding representation of UMBC. All of the members of our community should be proud of their accomplishments… Continue Reading Highlights from the 2014 Alumni Awards

Physician and Long-Term Care Exec Scott Rifkin '81, in Baltimore Sun

Scott Rifkin ’81, biological sciences, a physician and long-term care executive, was interviewed by the Baltimore Sun about his company’s acquisition of a retirement community in Pikesville. The move, says Rifkin, managing partner of Mid-Atlantic Healthcare, is personal: he and his parents still live in the neighborhood surrounding North Oaks retirement community. See the full story here. Rifkin was named a UMBC Outstanding Alumnus of the Year in 1995.

Past UMBC Alumni Award Winners

Distinguished Alumna/us of the Year Award Established in 1988, the Distinguished Alumna/us Award was presented to an alumna/us who has achieved national recognition for excellence in his/her profession or field of endeavor.   This award was presented until 2003. Past recipients were: 2003:    Diane L. Bell-McKoy ’73 2002:    Ram S. Mohan ’92 2001:    Richard Chisolm ’82 and William Whiteford ’80 2000:    Dr. Tayebeh Pourmotabbed ’86 1999:    Robert G. Seasonwein, Esq. ’71 1998:    Charles L. Bevins, M.D., Ph.D. ’76 & ’86 1997:    Dr. Charles A. Taylor, ’73 1996:    Dr. Richard Lytel ’75, Dr. Lauren A. Schnaper ’71 and Peggy Southerland ’75 1995:   … Continue Reading Past UMBC Alumni Award Winners

2010 UMBC Alumni of the Year & Distinguished Service Award Winners

Each year, the UMBC Alumni Association presents awards to honor alumni for their professional and personal achievements and service to the University.   Learn more about our past award winners. ENGINEERING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Michael George ’87, Information Systems, has spent the past 12 years with Amazon.com in Seattle, WA. Mike started his Amazon career as the Director of Systems and Networking Operations. Since then, he has held senior positions that span several functional areas; Director of WW Third Party Platforms, GM/Dir of WW Marketplace, VP of Human Resources, VP of WW Payments, VP of Spoken Word Audio, and now VP… Continue Reading 2010 UMBC Alumni of the Year & Distinguished Service Award Winners

2010 UMBC Alumni of the Year & Distinguished Service Award Winners

Each year, the UMBC Alumni Association presents awards to honor alumni for their professional and personal achievements and service to the University.   Learn more about our past award winners. ENGINEERING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Michael George ’87, Information Systems, has spent the past 12 years with Amazon.com in Seattle, WA. Mike started his Amazon career as the Director of Systems and Networking Operations. Since then, he has held senior positions that span several functional areas; Director of WW Third Party Platforms, GM/Dir of WW Marketplace, VP of Human Resources, VP of WW Payments, VP of Spoken Word Audio, and now VP… Continue Reading 2010 UMBC Alumni of the Year & Distinguished Service Award Winners

2009 UMBC Alumni of the Year & Distinguished Service Award Winners

Each year, the UMBC Alumni Association presents awards to honor alumni for their professional and personal achievements and service to the University.   Learn more about our past award winners. ENGINEERING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Dr. James P. Clements ’85, ’91 & ’93, Information Systems, was recently appointed President of West Virginia University in Morgantown, WVa. He is the first UMBC alumnus to lead a major university. Prior to his appointment, Dr. Clements was Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at Towson University. A TU employee since 1989, he also served as a faculty member, Vice President for Economic and Community… Continue Reading 2009 UMBC Alumni of the Year & Distinguished Service Award Winners

2008 UMBC Alumni of the Year & Distinguished Service Award Winners

Each year, the UMBC Alumni Association presents awards to honor alumni for their professional and personal achievements and service to the University.   Learn more about our past award winners. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD Eric Conn ’85, Computer Science, is an accomplished entrepreneur, executive, technologist, and software engineer and a member of the board of UMBC’s Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship. He is the president and co-founder of Gloto Corporation, which specializes in the design, development, and deployment of innovative products that integrate mobile devices and computers. In 2006 Gloto launched Cellblock.com, which allows users to instantly publish photos and videos from… Continue Reading 2008 UMBC Alumni of the Year & Distinguished Service Award Winners

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