Ellen Hemmerly, executive director for bwtech@UMBC, was profiled in Catonsville Patch by reporter Meg Tipper August 12th.

The article covered not only Hemmerly’s background, family life, as well as her work and research at bwtech@UMBC, but her involvement and thoughts on the greater Catonsville community, as well. Speaking on what she would like to see happen in the area’s future, Hemmerly told Tipper that “Catonsville could have a better mix of retail, more mixed use housing, and more activities on Frederick Road.  We could make the business district more attractive than it is.  I also would love for Catonsville and UMBC to be better integrated.  There is so much potential for both.”

TO:         UMBC Faculty and Staff
FROM:    Yvette Mozie-Ross, Associate Provost for Enrollment Management

After 32 years of distinguished service to UMBC, Bobbie Shahpazian will retire on August 31, 2012.   Bobbie began her career with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions in 1977 as part of an all new admissions staff focused on the recruitment of freshmen, international students and incoming merit scholars.  She was soon promoted to Associate Director and after taking a brief sabbatical to travel she rejoined the university as a scholarship counselor.  Bobbie worked with the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office through the early 90’s awarding merit scholarships to incoming students.  She was promoted to Assistant Director of Scholarships and later to the Associate Director of scholarships where she continues to serve our scholars and their families.

Those who have worked with Bobbie know her as a wonderful colleague and consummate professional.  Her deep understanding of the UMBC community has made her an invaluable resource and partner to individuals across the university.   Her energy and commitment to the development of our merit scholarship awarding and scholar programs have helped to build UMBC’s strong academic community.

Throughout the years, she has given tirelessly of herself, dedicating her professional career to the University.  Her commitment to UMBC, our scholars and their families have significantly supported UMBC’s growth and development.  Bobbie has built a distinguished legacy at UMBC that will connect her to the campus long after her retirement.

Please join the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at a reception to thank Bobbie and to celebrate her many years of service to the campus. We will gather on Wednesday, September 19th, 10 am – noon in the Library Gallery. Individuals attending are asked to RSVP by Friday, September 8th to Lu Caldwell at lcaldwel@umbc.edu.

If you would like to contribute toward a gift you may contact Stephanie Johnson at x.51517 by Friday, September 8th.

Maryland universities have been leading the way in getting more students to pursue degrees in science, technology, engineering and math, according to an article published August 10 in the Baltimore Business Journal.

Dr. William LaCourse, Dean of Natural and Mathematical Sciences was interviewed about UMBC’s work to expand the STEM fields. The university has seen natural and mathematical sciences growing 28 percent, and engineering and information technology growing 19 percent from fall 2007 to fall 2011. That represents 488 and 411 students, respectively, compared to a growth of 768 students in the arts, humanities and social sciences.

LaCourse told Gantz that growth in the STEM fields means his college will likely have to add sections in courses like first-year chemistry, along with hiring another professor, finding available space and securing more teaching assistants. However, he sees potential, rather than a problem. The additional course sections could be tailored for a particular degree or somehow provide a more personalized experience.

“We are at the stage where we’re reaching some limits,” LaCourse said. “But this is an opportunity.”

Photo: devanwells.blogspot.com

While The Wire has been referred to by critics as “the greatest TV drama of all time,” its portrayal of Baltimore isn’t exactly an all-encompassing one.  Because despite its reputation, Charm City has a lot that makes it charming: a growing entrepreneurial spirit, top-notch universities, and a pool of untapped talent.

The brains behind Baltimore unWIREd recognize that. “The point of Baltimore unWIREd is to find out what we can accomplish by connecting these points of strength. Together we can create change — developing solutions to critical social problems and make a difference,” explains the website.

From August 24-25, the event brings together innovators, creatives, and government officials to brainstorm and mingle. On Friday there will be a series of “lightening talks” on efforts that are currently underway. Saturday follows an “open campus” model, as participants break into teams and tackle a key social problem. Baltimore unWIREd is followed by Groundwork in September, a hackathon focused on putting these strategies and solutions to the test.

For more information about unWIREd, visit the website.

Baltimore unWIREd takes places from August 24-25 in John Hopkins University’s Maryland Hall.

2 Chronicles 26:1-23 (NIV)

Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. 2 He was the one who rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his ancestors. 3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jekoliah; she was from Jerusalem. 4 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done. 5 He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success. 6 He went to war against the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh and Ashdod. He then rebuilt towns near Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines. 7 God helped him against the Philistines and against the Arabs who lived in Gur Baal and against the Meunites. 8 The Ammonites brought tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread as far as the border of Egypt, because he had become very powerful.
9 Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate and at the angle of the wall, and he fortified them. 10 He also built towers in the wilderness and dug many cisterns, because he had much livestock in the foothills and in the plain. He had people working his fields and vineyards in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil.
11 Uzziah had a well-trained army, ready to go out by divisions according to their numbers as mustered by Jeiel the secretary and Maaseiah the officer under the direction of Hananiah, one of the royal officials. 12 The total number of family leaders over the fighting men was 2,600. 13 Under their command was an army of 307,500 men trained for war, a powerful force to support the king against his enemies. 14 Uzziah provided shields, spears, helmets, coats of armor, bows and slingstones for the entire army. 15 In Jerusalem he made devices invented for use on the towers and on the corner defenses so that soldiers could shoot arrows and hurl large stones from the walls. His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful.
16 But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 Azariah the priest with eighty other courageous priests of the LORD followed him in. 18 They confronted King Uzziah and said, “It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the LORD God.”
19 Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry. While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the LORD’s temple, leprosy broke out on his forehead. 20 When Azariah the chief priest and all the other priests looked at him, they saw that he had leprosy on his forehead, so they hurried him out. Indeed, he himself was eager to leave, because the LORD had afflicted him.
21 King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house —leprous, and banned from the temple of the LORD. Jotham his son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.
22 The other events of Uzziah’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. 23 Uzziah rested with his ancestors and was buried near them in a cemetery that belonged to the kings, for people said, “He had leprosy.” And Jotham his son succeeded him as king.

Isaiah 6:1 (NIV)

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.

Reflection:

“In the year King Uzziah died” - What did the death of King Uzziah mean to Isaiah? To Israel? 2 Chronicles shows King Uzziah started as one of the great kings of Israel – one who was favored by God. But his pride led to his downfall. The year King Uzziah died was a bitter and confusing time for Isaiah and for Israel. God had obviously blessed King Uzziah, and the people put their trust in him. But the one who had lived in obedience to God in his earlier years came to a miserable end. King Uzziah’s death was a painful reminder to Isaiah of Israel’s own hopelessness.

Responding to the Transmission:

What do we do when those we trust fail us and we become disillusioned? For Isaiah, he saw the Lord. Rather than leading to discouragement or despair, may these moments be opportunities for a shift in our life. May we see that we, and those we have trusted, are merely human and instead shift our eyes to the Lord.
What disappointment or disillusionment are we struggling with today? Let’s spend some time praying that we would go from merely seeing the world in its weakness and failures to seeing the Lord.