Rebecca Boehling, professor of history and director of the Dresher Center for the Humanities, appeared on Philadelphia’s WIP-AM on Sunday, September 11. She discussed her new book, “Life and Loss in the Shadow of the Holocaust” on the program “Conversations with Peter Solomon.”

In a story entitled “Scientists Hint at Why Laughter Feels So Good,” the New York Times reports on a study that attempts to pin down exactly why laughing until it hurts feels so good.

The study suggests that the pleasure lies in the physical act of laughing. The simple muscular exertions involved in producing the familiar “ha, ha, ha,” he said, trigger an increase in endorphins, the brain chemicals known for their feel-good effect.

Robert Provine, professor of psychology and a noted expert on laughter, said he thought the study was “a significant contribution” to a field of study that dates back 2,000 years or so.

Tyson King-Meadows, associate professor of political science, was elected president of the National Conference of Black Political Scientists (NCOBPS), effective March 17, 2011.

King-Meadows joined UMBC in 2003 as an assistant professor of political science and recently earned promotion to the rank of associate professor with tenure. He is a Faculty Fellow of UMBC’s Honors College and is an affiliate of the UMBC’s Department of Public Policy and the Maryland Institute for Policy Analysis and Research (MIPAR). His service to UMBC includes membership on the Shriver Center Faculty Advisory Board, on the Honors College Advisory Board, on the committee for the Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement Day (URCAD), and on the President’s Commission for Women. He recently became co-chair of the CAHSS Black Faculty Committee as well as chair of the Honors College Advisory Board.

His research addresses legislative politics, racial representation, political parties,
elections and public opinion. He is co-author with Thomas F. Schaller, a colleague in UMBC’s Department of Political Science, of “Devolution and Black State Legislators: Challenges and Choices in the Twenty-first Century” (2006), and he is sole author of “When the Letter Betrays the Spirit: Voting Rights Enforcement and African American Participation from
Lyndon Johnson to Barack Obama” (2011). He was recently nominated to appear in the “People” section of PS: Political Science and Politics, an academic journal published by the American Political Science Association (APSA).

King-Meadows has received prestigious research awards and recognition for teaching and community service. His current projects examine public attitudes about redistricting and the success of black candidates in contests for the U.S. Senate.

Maria Satyshur ’11 is helping keep UMBC and our amazing students in the headlines. This recent grad just published an article in the Arbutus Patch. The article profiles two UMBC students who cycled across the United States to support the fight against cancer. From the article:

Now that summer is coming to an end, most of us are reminiscing about lazy afternoons at the pool or our favorite vacation spot. But UMBC students Omar Bukhari and Adam Gerber are reflecting on their amazing 70-day journey, biking 4,000 miles from Baltimore to San Francisco to help support the fight against cancer with an organization called 4k for Cancer.

Read the full article.

Visit Retriever Net for all the latest alumni news, events, perks and services.

From UMBC Magazine Fall 2011: How to Grow Your Big Idea.  Featuring Dean Bill LaCourse, Vivian Armour, and Gib Mason. Video by Jenny O’Grady.

From President Freeman Hrabowski and Interim Provost Philip Rous

We are delighted to let you know that UMBC has again been recognized as a national leader in innovation and undergraduate teaching in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges guide.

For the third year in a row, UMBC tops the U.S. News ranking of national universities everyone should be watching—a designation recognizing that we consistently find new ways to improve students’ educational experiences.

U.S. News also ranks UMBC fourth on the list of top national universities “where the faculty has an unusual commitment to undergraduate teaching.” UMBC is tied with Yale University and ranks just ahead of Brown and Stanford universities.

Our faculty and staff lead the way nationally, finding new ways to understand and enhance student learning and to engage students in the process of discovery.

For example, the University has redesigned its foundational science, engineering, and psychology courses to promote student engagement. The changes have not only produced higher pass rates, but also have encouraged more students to prepare for careers in these fields. Model scholars programs for undergraduates in the humanities, arts, and social sciences also promote engaged learning.

The culture of innovation at UMBC is possible because of the hard work of our faculty and staff, who strongly support the success of our students, and because of our students, who inspire us every day. This national recognition also results from the support of the Governor, the Legislature, and our alumni and friends.

Thank you for all you do to support UMBC.

UMBC public policy faculty have offered valuable perspectives on local politics in the lead-up to the Baltimore City primary election, appearing in print media as well as on TV and radio. Most recently, Eric Zeemering, a new assistant professor of public policy, spoke about the role of Baltimore’s city council president on WYPR. He noted, “a lot of power can come to an individual through their ability to persuade and lead other people towards decisions. And the council president can exercise that persuasive power both on the City Council as a whole and on the Board of Estimates.”

Donald Norris also appeared on WYPR, discussing the always-contentious issue of redistricting on the program “Maryland Morning” with Todd Eberly, a UMBC alumnus and now assistant professor at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Norris also reflected for the Baltimore Sun on the final push for votes in city’s mayoral primary as well as early fundraising by Howard County Executive Ken Ulman ahead of the next statewide election.

Joseph Schmitz ’80, sociology, a former principal and 20-year veteran within the Harford County Public School System, has been named executive director of high school performance for that system, a press release from HCPS announced.

According to the Harford County Dagger website:

Mr. Schmitz served as assistant principal of Edgewood High School before being promoted to principal of Edgewood High and then Fallston High schools. Prior to his administrative experience, Mr. Schmitz taught at Edgewood High for six years.

“Mr. Schmitz has served in administrative positions at the high school level for 13 years,” said Harford County Superintendent of Schools Robert M. Tomback, who recommended his hiring to the Board. “He will bring the knowledge and experience necessary to be successful in this position.”

Read the full story here.

Read more alumni stories on Retriever Net, UMBC’s online alumni community.

From Freeman Hrabowski and Philip Rous

As the 10th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, the campus is noting the significance of this time in several ways. Our community is remembering the victims and the far-reaching impact of the attacks with a number of campus events designed to support reflection, service, and healing.

For those who may need support, counselors will be available in the Counseling Center from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Monday to talk with people about feelings related to 9/11.

The campus remains vigilant about suspicious activities and threats. The UMBC Police are regularly in contact with federal agencies and receive daily briefings from Maryland public safety officials regarding terrorist activities and threats. Currently, there are no credible threats against any Maryland colleges and universities.

Our campus has an emergency preparedness plan in place, and we encourage you to think about your own personal plans as well. A first step is to make sure that you are signed up to receive University text alerts on a mobile device. To register, please log on to your myUMBC (http://my.umbc.edu) account and click the “alerts” tab at the top.

It has been a big week for UMBC’s social science faculty in the national media. A new feature in the Chronicle for Higher Education highlights UMBC’s Erickson School, noting its success with attracting students to careers in aging services through new and engaging multimedia and interdisciplinary courses. Dean Judah Ronch says the number of students enrolled in aging-related courses at UMBC has grown from 290 to 750 over the past two years. Program graduates have moved on to work in industries from consumer goods to travel and transportation, in addition to traditional sectors like senior housing and medical services.

Also this week, UMBC economic professor Dennis Coates offered his expertise in sports economics for a Washington City Paper story on diminished seating at FedEx Field. Don Norris, public policy department chair, reflected on redistricting in Maryland for the Washington Post, arguing that those managing the process have placed political self-interest ahead of fairness and civic values: “It’s not about good government. It’s not about democracy. It’s about control.”