Eric Dyer, associate professor of Visual Arts, will be among six artists featured in an exhibition at the Baltimore Museum of Art that celebrates the winners of the 2014 and 2015 Baker Artist Awards. The exhibition opens Wednesday, September 16 and closes Sunday, November 15, with an opening reception on Thursday, September 17. Professor Dyer was the recipient of the 2015 Mary Sawyer Baker Prize, which included a $25,000 cash award. Read more about the exhibition here and the Baker Awards here.

Dyer’s creations explore a variety of cyclic ideas and themes through zoetrope-like sculptures, several of which can be viewed on the Baker Awards website. During the month of July, his work was featured in Times Square in New York City, where from 11:57 until midnight his work Copenhagen Cycles Journey swirled across electronic billboards — read more here. His artwork has also been exhibited worldwide at events and venues such as the Smithsonian National Gallery of Art, Ars Electronica, the London International Animation Festival, and the Cairo and Venice Biennales. He has been honored as a Fulbright Fellow, Sundance New Frontier Artist, Creative Capital Artist, and Guggenheim Fellow.

The campus community is invited to the inaugural gala fundraising event for the David W. Smith Scholarship for Vocal Arts. This fund seeks to honor the memory of David W. Smith, an extraordinary singer and a brilliant and dedicated UMBC professor, through its support of young singers pursuing degrees at UMBC. The event will be a concert featuring the amazing bass-baritone, Simon Estes, as well as David’s beloved Camerata and UMBC alumni. A small reception will follow the concert.

The first half of the program will feature a collaboration of alumni, faculty and staff who worked with David Smith and will include art song, operatic selections, and spirituals as well as selections sung by the UMBC Camerata under the direction of Dr. Stephen Caracciolo. Dr. Estes, with Maestro Ed Polochick at the piano, will present the second half of the concert.

Since winning the Bronze Medal in Moscow’s Tchiakovsky competition in 1966, Dr. Estes has performed with 84 of the major international opera companies around the globe.  In high demand as a recitalist and orchestral soloist, he has appeared regularly with over 115 orchestras and is most associated with the roles of King Phillip in Don Carlo, Wotan in Wager’s Ring Cycle, Porgy in Porgy and Bess, and title roles in Boris Godunov, The Marriage of Figaro, and MacBeth.

$100 General Ticket ($25 FMV)
$50 Alumni/Student Ticket ($25 FMV)
Online ticket sales (click here) will close at midnight on September 24. (Some tickets might still be available through the music office or at the door. Please contact the Music Office after September 24 at 410-455-2942. For additional information, please contact Lisa Cella at cella@umbc.edu.)

Funds raised will be administered by the UMBC Foundation for the benefit of UMBC Music. Proceeds from the event will benefit the David W. Smith Scholarship for Vocal Arts. Your contribution above the Fair Market Value (FMV) may be tax deductible.

Click here for complete information.

University Health Services is providing flu shots for students, staff and faculty on Thursday, September 24, and Friday, September 25.

The cost of the flu shot is $20.00. Payment can be made by cash, check, UMBC campus card, or billed to your insurance. UHS will provide the vaccines until supplies run out. Please bring your UMBC red ID campus card.

Details on Flu Shot Clinics:
Thursday Sept. 24, 12 noon - 6 pm - The Commons Main Street

Friday Sept. 25, 10 am - 2 pm - The Commons Main Street

If you cannot make it to the clinic days, you are welcome to come to University Health Services to receive your flu shot.  University Health Services is open Monday - Friday from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm and located on the ground floor of Erickson Hall.  UHS also accepts credit/debit cards as a form of payment at the Health Center.

To make an appointment, or for questions or concerns contact University Health Services at (410) 455-2542.  

In a ranking of the nation’s community colleges, WalletHub asked experts about changes in the higher education landscape. Sarah Jewett, executive director of the STEM Transfer Student Success Initiative, spoke about whether community colleges should focus on preparing students for the workforce or a four-year institution.

“Both community colleges and universities can benefit from collaborative inter-institutional partnerships in which everyone shares the responsibility for helping students to develop a robust and realistic set of academic and career options,” Jewett said. “Early exploration of majors and fields, active participation in experiential learning opportunities, sustained development of  goals and plans, and transitional support can enhance the success of all students.”

Read Jewett’s response on WalletHub.