Psychology alumna Lynn Roberson ’73 will become the first woman president of the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association this June, and will become the seventh woman president of the Atlanta Bar Association this May, her law firm reports.

According to a press release issued by Roberson’s firm, Swift, Currie, McGhee & Hiers, LLP, of Atlanta:

Ms. Roberson has held many positions over the years with the Atlanta Bar Association which include serving as an elected member of the Board of Directors for the Litigation Section from 1999-2006 and serving as its chair in 2004-2005, during which time the Litigation Section was awarded the bar’s Pro Bono award. Ms. Roberson served as Chair for the Atlanta Bar CLE Board of Trustees from 2005-2006. The Atlanta Bar Association presented its Pro Bono Award to Lynn M. Roberson, chair of the ACLE executive board, at its 2005-2006 Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon. She served as a member at large of the Atlanta Bar Board between 2005-2009, served on its Judicial Campaign Conduct Committee from 2005-2006 and was on the Executive Transition Committee in 2007-2009. She served as Treasurer from 2009-2010, secretary from 2010-2011 and is currently serving as President Elect to the largest voluntary bar association in Georgia.

Ms. Roberson is also a member of the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association. She currently holds the position of Executive Vice President and this summer will become the first female president of the organization which was established over 40 years ago.

Photo by Mike Rote/Lockheed Martin Corp.

Alumna Stephanie Hill ’86, computer science and economics, makes a strong argument in favor of educating a new generation of female engineers in a guest essay appearing today in College Inc., a Washington Post blog focusing on higher education.

In her essay, Hill — who is president of Lockheed Martin’s Information Systems & Global Solutions-Civil division — discusses the impact her experience at UMBC made on her decision to pursue a career in engineering.

“Are you sure you want to be a software engineer? You are such a people person. Won’t you be stuck working alone, staring at a computer for hours on end?”

Those were the questions that my sister asked as I declared my intent to pursue a software engineering degree at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). She was right – I am a people person. In fact, in high school I intended to pursue a career in psychiatry. But a college elective course – in COBOL programming – peaked my interest like nothing before. And with wonderful mentors who provided me a glimpse into various career opportunities, I shifted gears, full speed ahead into the world of engineering.  I have not looked back since.

The essay points to a recent report by the Congressional Joint Economic Committee that says while women make up a “growing share of the college-educated workforce, only 14 percent of engineers are women, as are just 27 percent of individuals working in computer science and math positions.”

Read the full essay here.

Photo by Avelino Maestas.

Nearly 200 alumni and friends enjoyed a night of wine, food and an incredible view of the Baltimore skyline at the 7th Annual Wine Tasting at the Legg Mason Tower in Harbor East April 27. The Chapter of Young Alumni hosted the event.

The night — which included a silent auction, raffles, and a showing of artwork by current students — raised $3,648 for student scholarships, said Cindy Greenwood, Alumni Programming Coordinator.

“It’s so nice to be able to have such a beautiful event, and to know that you’re helping students at the same time,” she said. “We were really pleased with the whole thing.”

The silent auction brought in a wide selection of prizes, including a Charm City Cakes package, an Annapolis inn getaway and a lunch with UMBC president Freeman A. Hrabowski, III.

The evening also brought with it a spot of romance, as 2005 alumnus Dominick Campbell, computer science, proposed to his girlfriend, Allison Fisher, high above the sparkling city. (She said yes!)

View more photos of the evening here.

Photo by Avelino Maestas.