Hosted every five years by the UMBC Chapter of Black and Latino Alumni (CBLA), the Legends of Excellence Awards Brunch honors the achievements and contributions of faculty and staff who have made a significant impact on the lives of UMBC’s black and Latino students. In the weeks leading up to this year’s event, we’ll be profiling each of this year’s honorees here on our blog. Read on for today’s bio…

Simmona Simmons ’74, American studies, started working as a technician at the Albin O. Kuhn Library and Gallery in 1966, the very same year UMBC opened its doors to students across Maryland. After earning her degree, she was UMBC’s only African American librarian in the university’s earliest days, and many young minority students saw her as a role model and inspiration.

Now the Service and Special Projects Librarian at UMBC, she has served in several capacities over the years, including Head of Circulation, Head of Reserves, Head of Serials, and Head of Reference. After completing her bachelor’s degree in American studies here in 1974, she earned a master’s of library and information science from the University of Maryland at College Park in 1976, as well as a second master’s degree in American studies.

Ms. Simmons serves as the library liaison to the Department of Africana Studies, and is also a former adjunct faculty member at the University of Maryland’s College of Information Studies, has contributed to several academic publications, and has served on the Board of Trustees for the Anne Arundel County Public Library and the Oncology Foundation of Maryland and the District of Columbia. She has contributed to such scholarly publications as the Handbook of Black Librarianship, Notable Black American Women, and The Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music, and written the essay “It’s a Personal Thing” for Library Mosaics.

While her current role involves outreach to faculty, Ms. Simmons says she has “always loved” working with students: “As they discover new information and as they mature, it is exciting to contribute a small part to their success.” She is remembered by former students for her grace, modesty, and for being an inspiring presence within the library’s halls.

Tickets for the Legends of Excellence event on Saturday, May 6, are still available here.  We hope to see you there!

By: Lauren R. Barrett

There are two types of storytellers: those who recall a story with elaborate details and in-depth analysis of people, places and things (sometimes so long you forget where the story began)...and then there are storytellers who are brief and succinct in their delivery, hitting only the essential points and eliminating extraneous detail so that the "point" is the focus. In order to successfully respond to behavioral interview questions, you must strike a balance between the two!

Behavioral questions are the core of the interviewing process as they illustrate who you are beyond the page. Sharing too much information weighs down your response, and not sharing enough leaves the interviewer with only a sketch instead of a clear image. The Career Center advocates using the STAR approach in responding to behavioral questions, which ensures that you share enough about your anecdote to paint a picture, and leaves out superfluous information. 

"S" frames the situation or scenario, "T" details the task at hand, "A" prompts for your specific actions, and "R" concludes with the outcome of the situation. Using these four items as a checkpoint in sharing your behavioral examples will help you gain a sense of the appropriate amount to share in answering a behavioral question. You can practice your responses with this in-depth list of behavioral questions compiled by The Vault! Want more information or coaching on how to use STAR? Come to the Career Center for an Interview Preparation appointment!

Students and Alumni -- Have you used STAR to respond to behavioral questions? How has this strategy been effective for you in your interviewing preparation? Any other strategies that you support or use? Let us know in the comments below!

22 Behavioral Interview Questions Big 4 Firms Ask: 

http://www.vault.com/blog/interviewing/22-behavioral-interview-questions-big-4-firms-are-asking-now

Once again, the time has come for our Entrepreneur Panel, tomorrow Wednesday, April 12 from 19 - 1 pm, in University Center 312. We have three amazing people who will be coming to talk about their adventures as entrepreneurs, so bring questions! We can't wait to see you!

Alex Chizhik ‘97, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, VIMRO, LLC--University of Baltimore, School of Law, J.D.; University of Maryland, Baltimore County, B.A., Economics, Double Minor, Finance and International Affairs

A simple telephone call in 2005 from a friend asking for advice led Alex to joining his friend’s startup as a Partner and Employee #2. 12 years later, as the company grew from 2 people to 50, and over $10M in revenue, Alex says he can’t imagine doing anything else. VIMRO provides professional services in the IT infrastructure space working within datacenters and wide and local area commercial networks.

Rob Deford ‘93, Owner and President, Boordy Vineyards-- Loyola University, MBA; University of Maryland, Baltimore County, B.A., Geography

Rob Deford is a twelfth generation Marylander with over forty years of experience in the wine industry. He studied viticulture and enology at the University of California at Davis from 1979–1980. Upon returning to Maryland, Rob assumed the role of president and winemaker of Maryland’s historic Boordy Vineyards. Under Rob’s guidance Boordy has gained a reputation as a leader in the regional wine movement in the mid-Atlantic, through one of the most exciting and challenging periods for the American wine industry.

Kara Redman, CEO, Backroom

Kara is an ex-full service agency strategist who needed a better way to do great work. So she founded Backroom in 2014, where they use deliberate process to build brands and web technology that empowers the visionary people who work with them to go out and do big things. She believes that how they get there is just as important as where they end up, and the best products come from intimate collaboration with clients and constant iteration. At Backroom, they help companies with real substance live up to their potential, and build incredible relationships in the process.

Co-Sponsored by the UMBC Career Center