LaMar Davis, director of The Choice Program at UMBC, visited Midday with Dan Rodricks on September 11 to remember four Choice Program participants who were killed in Baltimore this year and discuss youth violence. The Choice Program works with youth who have been in contact with the juvenile justice system, providing intensive mentorship and teaching job skills.

Davis also wrote an op-ed in The Baltimore Sun about the tragic deaths and called for holistic interventions to combat youth violence.

Click here to listen to the interview and here to read the op-ed.

An article published September 7 in The Philadelphia Tribune discusses the case of U.S. Rep. Chakka Fattah, a ten term representative from Philadelphia who is facing corruption allegations, charges and guilty pleas surrounding his family. George Derek Musgrove ’97, history, associate professor of history, is quoted in the article and discusses the case of Fattah Sr. and his son, Fattah Jr., explaining that children of Black political families often go into businesses connected to their parents’ political power.

“There is a much higher percentage of white political families that produce their wealth from non-government related private businesses than there are Black ones,” Musgrove told The Tribune. “The children of many Black political families reproduce their class position by going into business[es] that are somehow connected to their parents’ political power. This may make them more susceptible to investigators looking for influence peddling.”

Musgrove added: “These young men grow up with the privileges associated with their parents’ status and take them for granted. Their children did not necessarily have an organic connection to these communities and that can sometimes lead them to use these communities for their own gain. They tend to have the same opportunities for graft afforded their white peers but not the same political protections.”

To read the full article in The Philadelphia Tribune titled, “Fattah not the first Black political family with money troubles,” click here.

Julia Ross, Dean of the College of Engineering and Information and Technology received an NSF $3 million grant for engineering education.

In this study UMBC will partner with the Baltimore County Public School System to implement a professional development model that incorporates engineering curriculum in high school biology and technology classrooms.

MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY major?

Well, you're in for a treat! The Office of Undergraduate Education here at UMBC helps students of ALL majors get involved in studying relevant topics that they are most passionate about or interested in.

This process provides tons of networking experience, meaningful relationships, opportunities to intern and travel places, and well as potential monetary benefits!

If you are wondering about ways to deepen your learning experience or ways to set yourself up for future success, give it a shot! You'd have your very own personalized research project, mentor, student profile, etc. AND more items to put on  your Resume'.

Come out to our HOW TO GET STARTED IN RESEARCH Workshop on Monday, September 22 at 12 noon in Lecture Hall 3 for more info!!

Clink the link provided to see what other students in your major have done! You've got nothing to lose but EVERYTHING to gain.