A. Moon ’99 MFA, Imaging and Digital Arts, multimedia artist and staff member of the Academic Outreach and Engagement Division at Morgan State University, has received a Fulbright Research Award to examine the intersections between contemporary film production in Turkey and practices in the Asian American filmmaking community.

“My research will have two identifiable outcomes, motivated by a need for more open dialogue and cultural exchange, specifically within the area of film, between the U.S. and Turkey: (1) I will organize a screening of work by contemporary Asian American media artists to present in Turkey; and (2) I will curate a program of work by Turkish media artists to screen at venues in the United States.

A cross‐cultural study of Turkish and Asian American film presents the opportunity to examine many topical issues in the field of media studies including global/national identities, cultural memory, and hybridity. Just as Turkey is often described as occupying a peculiar geographic and cultural space that is “neither Eastern, nor Western but both and neither simultaneously” (Arslan, 2011), Asian Americans occupy a similarly interstitial position culturally and racially in contemporary America.”

The MFA Thesis Exhibition, now on display in the CADVC, was mentioned in an article by City Paper‘s Baynard Woods last week. The article highlighted UMBC’s well connected Visual Arts faculty, staff and MFA candidates in relation to the Baltimore arts community. Woods also mentions IMDA candidate Lexie Mountain’s performance piece exhibited at the opening, Fred Worden Cuts A Couch In Half With A Chainsaw.

Read “Art Seen” at City Paper‘s website.

The 2013-2014 Karen L. Wensch Endowment Award for non-exempt staff has been presented to Ms. Jane Gethmann, Assistant to the Chair of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering.

The Karen L. Wensch Endowment Award for Outstanding Non-Exempt Staff honors non-exempt staff who make outstanding contributions in one or more of the following areas: engagement in the UMBC community, dedication to UMBC, performance above and beyond position requirements, personal commitment and persistence to his/her work, excellent problem solving skills, high professional standards, community involvement on campus, and advocacy for non-exempt staff. Awardees have worked at UMBC for at least five years as a member of the non-exempt staff.

Jane Gethmann first came to UMBC in 1971, and over the years has worked in Financial Aid, the Department of Biological Sciences, and the Graduate School. She joined the Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering in 1997, and is known as the glue that holds the department together, going above and beyond her responsibilities.

In addition to assisting the chair and handling administrative and financial duties, Gethmann also takes the lead when additional resources are needed or when she sees a way to increase efficiency in the department. She has served as facilities manager and scheduling coordinator, managed the Computer Science Help Center, coordinated part-time faculty hiring, and created a graduate admissions database. She also managed the installation of a new teaching laboratory, working with faculty and Facilities Management in order to get it up and running by the start of the semester.

A leader and trusted advisor, Gethmann’s vast knowledge of UMBC and departmental procedures as well as her excellent judgment make her invaluable to those she serves. She is a dedicated people person with a helpful and positive attitude. Whether working with faculty, staff, students, or visitors, her goal is to help people solve whatever problem they are facing, and ensure that they have what they need.

Every so often, we’ll chat with an alum about what they do and how they got there. Today we’re talking with Dr. Ting Zhang ’03, M.A., intercultural communications, about her career as an assistant professor at the University of Baltimore and her research into entrepreneurship, aging and economic growth.

Name: Ting Zhang
Job Title:  Assistant Professor
Employer: University of Baltimore

Q:  Tell us a little about how you wound up at UMBC. What’s your background?

A: UMBC’s unique Intercultural Communication program attracted me. I was a student of English and International Business in China before I came to UMBC.

Q:  What is your focus in your career as an Assistant Professor in the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Baltimore?

A: I teach quantitative courses to graduate students of Public Administration and I conduct public policy research on the topics related to entrepreneurship, aging and economic growth. I am also a research assistant professor at the Jacob France Institute where I conduct a variety of labor and economic research projects.

Q: Were there any lessons you learned, in particular, at UMBC that you have carried with you into your work?

A: As a student of Intercultural Communication, naturally I was very much aware of culture diversity and fusion between various cultures. This builds my foundation in believing in the importance of diversity in our economy that contributes to my research interests on entrepreneurship, creativity and economic growth and dynamics.

Q: What has been the greatest success in your career?

A: The greatest success I believe is that I have been so lucky to have the great mentors at UMBC, at George Mason University and at my current work at the University of Baltimore. They have offered enormous and selfless guidance to me.

The greatest progress I have made in my career so far, I believe, is publishing my first book (Elderly Entrepreneurship in an Aging US.. Economy) and it was an early academic effort on such a topic. The empirical research was awarded with the fellowship from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and a paper award in the international Charles Tiebout Prize for Regional Science. The book later on luckily received certain public, media and academic attention.

Q:  Is there a particular class or professor at UMBC who really inspired you?

A: Professor Edward Larkey guided me through my UMBC journey and has kept encouraging me on my progress. He is a great mentor. Professor Fred Pincus also inspired me on the fun from academic research through his teaching.

Q: What advice would you give to students considering UMBC?

UMBC is a very dynamic university with many inspiring professors who have strong academic rigor and who are also caring and approachable. One piece of advice would be to communicate well with the great professors and take advantage of the vast human capital and warm intellectual resources. UMBC is also a great intercultural community. Enjoying the diversity and participating in various multi-cultural activities would be another advice from me.

Every so often, we’ll chat with an alum about what they do and how they got there. Today we’re talking with Dr. Ting Zhang ’03, M.A., intercultural communications, about her career as an assistant professor at the University of Baltimore and her research into entrepreneurship, aging and economic growth.

Name: Ting Zhang
Job Title:  Assistant Professor
Employer: University of Baltimore

Q:  Tell us a little about how you wound up at UMBC. What’s your background?

A: UMBC’s unique Intercultural Communication program attracted me. I was a student of English and International Business in China before I came to UMBC.

Q:  What is your focus in your career as an Assistant Professor in the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Baltimore?

A: I teach quantitative courses to graduate students of Public Administration and I conduct public policy research on the topics related to entrepreneurship, aging and economic growth. I am also a research assistant professor at the Jacob France Institute where I conduct a variety of labor and economic research projects.

Q: Were there any lessons you learned, in particular, at UMBC that you have carried with you into your work?

A: As a student of Intercultural Communication, naturally I was very much aware of culture diversity and fusion between various cultures. This builds my foundation in believing in the importance of diversity in our economy that contributes to my research interests on entrepreneurship, creativity and economic growth and dynamics.

Q: What has been the greatest success in your career?

A: The greatest success I believe is that I have been so lucky to have the great mentors at UMBC, at George Mason University and at my current work at the University of Baltimore. They have offered enormous and selfless guidance to me.

The greatest progress I have made in my career so far, I believe, is publishing my first book (Elderly Entrepreneurship in an Aging US.. Economy) and it was an early academic effort on such a topic. The empirical research was awarded with the fellowship from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and a paper award in the international Charles Tiebout Prize for Regional Science. The book later on luckily received certain public, media and academic attention.

Q:  Is there a particular class or professor at UMBC who really inspired you?

A: Professor Edward Larkey guided me through my UMBC journey and has kept encouraging me on my progress. He is a great mentor. Professor Fred Pincus also inspired me on the fun from academic research through his teaching.

Q: What advice would you give to students considering UMBC?

UMBC is a very dynamic university with many inspiring professors who have strong academic rigor and who are also caring and approachable. One piece of advice would be to communicate well with the great professors and take advantage of the vast human capital and warm intellectual resources. UMBC is also a great intercultural community. Enjoying the diversity and participating in various multi-cultural activities would be another advice from me.