umuc achiever magazine, fall 2006

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the magazine of university of maryland university college

Achiever | 2 | University of Maryland University College www.umuc.edu | 3 | Achiever

Dear Friend:

At UMUC, our focus is you.

Our curriculum is developed

with you in mind—your wants,

your needs, your opportunities,

your challenges. Our faculty

members are professionals as

well as academics and know the importance of practical instruc-

tion rooted in the realities of the workplace. Our quality secures

your investment.

I’m proud of that focus at UMUC. I think you’ll see evidence of it

in this issue of Achiever. Here, you’ll read the story of Dr. Robert

Goodwin, who comes to his UMUC classroom with more than 30

years of international corporate experience in China, one of the

most dynamic business environments in the world today. You’ll

read about Barry West, 44, who used our graduate-level executive

CIO certificate program to accelerate an already fast-rising career.

(When he isn’t overseeing his $1.5 billion budget, he also teaches

at UMUC.) And you’ll find a fascinating description of our inves-

tigative forensics program, one of our newest undergraduate

majors and the steppingstone to a vital new career field.

Those are just a few examples of how UMUC works to bring your

goals closer and make your dreams come true; you’ll find dozens

more in “Class Notes,” “News Updates and Briefs,” and “Faculty

Kudos.” I trust that you’ll come away with a better understanding

of this dynamic university, its mission, and the opportunities it

provides.

Most importantly, I hope that you think of UMUC first when it’s

time to launch a new career, dust off your résumé, or upgrade

your skills. I hope that you support UMUC—by donating to our

Annual Fund and our many scholarship programs and also by

spreading the word to your friends and family. I hope that some

of you even consider sharing your knowledge and experience by

teaching at UMUC.

After all, UMUC is your university—one of which you can be

deeply and justifiably proud.

Sincerely,

SUSAN C. ALDRIDGE

PRESIDENT

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

View from the Top

COVER PHOTOGRAPH: COPYRIGHT © 2006 BY MARK FINKENSTAEDT.

18

COPYRIGHT © 2006 BY DANUTA OTFINOWSKI

Features

8 To Catch a Criminal

16 Excerpt: A Wartime Sequence

18 Barry West’s Meteoric Rise

22 Class Notes

26 Stay Connected

COVER STORY

The Future in the Far East

Robert Goodwin is UMUC’sresident expert on China—

one of the most dynamic businessenvironments in the world.

This is his story.

News and Updates

4 Kushner Receives the Marie Curie Award

4 Lech Walesa Visits UMUC

5 Middle States Gives UMUC a Thumbs Up

6 Patz Receives UMUC President’s Medal

6 Women’s Conference Brings Alumnae andStudents Together

6 UMUC Virtual Dragons Bring Home Gold

12

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COPYRIGHT © 2006 BY MARK FINKENSTAEDT

ILLUSTRATION © 2006 BY LOU BEACH

Susan C. Aldridge, President

Marilyn Eisenstadt, Director of Communications

Chip Cassano, Senior Writer and Editorial Director

Cynthia Friedman, Art Director

The Achiever is published three times a year by Marketing andCommunications at University of Maryland University College,Adelphi, Maryland. Call 240-582-2509 with your comments and suggestions or send e-mail to [email protected]. University of Maryland University College subscribes to a policy of equal education and employment opportunities.

Prepared for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education

S E L F - S T U D Y

Spring 2006

Achiever | 4 | University of Maryland University College

News andUpdates

those who could do it,searched for funding, andbrought it to the fore. Nowhis company, SecondOpinion, practices telemedi-cine in 17 countries. Anothercompany, Second OpinionUSA, offered postoperativecare via telemedicine butcouldn’t win the support ofU.S. insurance companies.

That hasn’t discouragedKushner, who has gone onto explore the possibilitiesof robotic surgery (forprostate and cardiac sur-gery), possibilities that hesays are now “coming ofage.”

Kushner, who once prac-ticed at Anne ArundelMedical Center andWashington Hospital Centerand taught at Johns HopkinsHospital and GeorgeWashington University, hasno regrets a decade afterleaving the operating room.In fact, he has become thequintessential entrepreneurand philanthropist.

He served for six years as amember of the AmericanCollege of SurgeryCommittee of EmergencyTechnology, and he’s involvedwith Tulane University’s alum-ni association board, wherehe’s also been helping theschool recover from the dev-astation of Hurricane Katrina.At the same time, he’s help-ing another alma mater—Britain’s University ofSheffield—with a fundraisingcampaign.

Meanwhile, he’s building yet another company—American Opportunity Portal(www.americanopportunity-portal.us)—which works tobring companies to Americato hire Americans.

“It’s the reverse of out-sourcing,” explained Kushner,who has traveled the globe

looking for partners. “We helpwith contacts, help find con-tracts, and execute businessplans.”

Somehow, Kushner stillmakes time for one moreimportant task: teaching.Twice a term, he can be founddelivering guest lectures atUMUC. And what’s his advicefor today’s students?

“I tell them to prepare forthe unexpected,” he said,“because things happen in

KUSHNER RECEIVESTHE MARIE CURIEAWARDBY CELESTE RYAN

Jack Kushner, a 1990 graduateof University of MarylandUniversity College (UMUC),received the Marie CurieAward at Oxford University inEngland in July 2006.Kushner, a neurosurgeonturned businessman, waschosen for his contributionsto neurosurgery and theemerging field of medicaltechnology.

“It’s a validation of whatI’ve been doing the past 10years,” Kushner said simply.

After almost 30 years as asurgeon, Kushner, fed up withthe bureaucracy of medicalinsurance companies,enrolled in UMUC as a gradu-ate student in 1987 and ulti-mately earned a Master ofGeneral Administration. In thecourse of his studies, hethought of merging medicinewith technology; after gradu-ating, he began to explore thepossibilities offered bytelemedicine—the practice ofmedicine through electronicmeans.

Kushner established andsold two businesses—a med-ical transcription companyand a company that taughtphysicians how to switchcareers. In 2001, he started abusiness with surgical simu-lators, a new way to teachdoctors surgery.

“Surgical simulation usesvirtual reality so doctors areable to practice surgerybefore they actually do it,”Kushner explained. “It wasnonexistent at the time; noone was doing it.”

That didn’t seem to botherKushner, who searched for

life and in the environmentover which we have no con-trol and about which we cando nothing. I tell them thatthey’re doing the right thingby going to UMUC and get-ting another degree. I tellthem they need to thinkabout what they’ll do if theylose their job, change jobs, oraren’t happy with their jobs. Itell them to make a decision,go forward, and don’t lookback.”

MIDDLE STATES GIVESUMUC A THUMBS UPBY BETH BUTLER

On June 22, 2006, The MiddleStates Commission on HigherEducation acted to reaffirmUMUC’s accreditation and tocommend the university forthe quality of the self-studyreport developed in prepara-tion for the accreditation

review. UMUC has beenaccredited by Middle States—the regional accrediting bodyfor colleges and universitiesin the mid-Atlantic region—since the university wasfounded; the current accredi-tation is valid through 2015.

“[Accreditation],” saidUMUC President SusanAldridge, “serves as a seal ofapproval for the institutionand an assurance to the stu-dent that the institution will

live up to its promise todeliver a quality educa-tional experience basedupon a common set ofstandards.”

Besides reaffirmingaccreditation, the com-mission’s evaluationreport identified 51 significant accomplish-ments that UMUCdemonstrated acrossthe 12 standards onwhich it was judged. Itwas a fitting culmina-tion to more than twoyears of preparationunder the guidanceof co-chairs LawrenceLeak, vice provost, academicaffairs, and Kimberly Kelley,vice provost and dean, aca-demic support services, com-bined with the efforts of morethan 80 members of theUMUC faculty and staff, state-side and abroad, who servedon a series of committees andsubcommittees.

The committees’ work wasdocumented in a 140-pageself-study report, which wasdelivered to the Middle Statesevaluation team in December2005. The team, headed byJoseph Moore, president ofEmpire State College, fol-lowed up their review of thedocument with on-site visitsin March and April 2006. Tworepresentatives visitedEurope and two others visitedAsia before the entire 10-member team came toUMUC’s Adelphi, Maryland,headquarters, where they metUMUC staff and faculty inindividual and small-groupmeetings and an open forum.At the end of the visit, Mooreprovided a preliminary reportof the team’s findings.

In his summary remarks,Moore first acknowledgedUMUC’s leadership position indistance learning and went on

to commend UMUC’s admin-istrative structures and lead-ership—particularly in thesmooth transition from aninterim presidency—as wellas its solid budgetary process,commitment to assessment,development of faculty roles,and efforts in developingshared governance.

Moore also noted thatUMUC’s excellence itselfbrought challenges. “Webelieve that with your . . .growing and deserved repu-tation, the expectations ofservice to this state and itsincreasingly diverse popula-tion are going to very muchadd to the demands onUMUC. That’s a consequenceof a job well done,” he said.

At the conclusion of thevisit, Aldridge wrote, “While I have been part of the re-accreditation process atUMUC only in the past twomonths, I take enormouspride in our success. . . . Wetook a very thorough look atourselves, wrote an honestevaluation of our progressand plans, and had thatvision confirmed by the visit-ing team.”

Walesa Visits UMUC, Challenges U.S. to Moral, Political, Economic Leadership

BY ALLAN ZACKOWITZ

NOBEL LAUREATE LECHWALESA—Poland’s firstdemocratically electedpresident—visited UMUCMarch 29, 2006, as a fea-tured guest in the universi-ty’s Academic SpeakerSeries. Speaking in hisnative Polish through aninterpreter, Walesa dis-cussed, “Democracy: TheNever-Ending Battle.” Hecaptivated a standing-roomonly audience with his first-hand perspective on history,telling the story of his ownrise from an unknown elec-trician in the Gdansk ship-yards to an organizer of the

1980 strike that led to free labor unions in Poland and even-tually to the forefront of the Solidarity movement that ledPoland out of communism in 1989. His actions are oftencited as instrumental in the fall of communism in Europeand the end of the Cold War, and he was awarded the NobelPeace Prize in 1983 and elected president of Poland in 1990.

At UMUC, Walesa looked more like a kindly, gray-hairedgrandfather than the fiery revolutionary who twiceappeared on the cover of Time magazine in the 1980s, andhis wry and often self-deprecating humor drew repeatedlaughter from the audience. He modestly attributed muchof his success to fate and a confluence of circumstances,including the strong independent spirit of the Polish peo-ple who survived World War II, the election of a PolishPope, certain reform-minded—if bungling—Soviet leaders,and his own determination to continue trying in the face ofmany failures.

Turning serious and shifting his focus to the present,Walesa argued that no other generation has had the opportu-nity that the current generation enjoys in the new millennium.Recognizing that many 20th-century institutions don’t work as well in the 21st century, he suggested that it is up to theUnited States—the only remaining superpower—to helpchoose the best solutions and provide the right platforms formaking peace and prosperity a real global possibility. He chal-lenged the United States to move beyond mere military lead-ership and provide the wise and just economic, political, andmoral leadership the world really needs. He went on to out-line some of the major questions that America should ask tohelp “arrange” the world and warned that, “if you do not act,others will arrange the world for you.”

After his talk, Walesa took several questions from the floorand then stayed to mingle with the crowd at a reception heldin his honor. His status as a historic icon was in clear evi-dence as admirers crowded around to shake his hand andpose for photographs. Some even brought vintage Solidarityposters for him to autograph.

To view an archived webcast of Walesa’s address, visithttp://polaris.umuc.edu/cvu/mmedia/events/walesa.ram.

www.umuc.edu | 5 | Achiever

SAVE THE DATE

Mary Robinson, the firstwoman president ofIreland, will discuss“Human Rights and Ethical Globalization”in the next featured event in the UMUC AcademicSpeaker Series, November 1, 2006. Robinson, whoserved 1990–1997 as Ireland’s president, has morerecently served as the United Nations HighCommissioner for Human Rights. She has spent mostof her life as a human rights advocate and currentlychairs the board of the Ethical Globalization Initiative.

For more information and event details, visitwww.umuc.edu/events.


News andUpdates

insights with current womenstudents in undergraduateprograms.

UMUC President SusanAldridge welcomed the groupand thanked those who cameas “mentors to provide wisecounsel and support” to thestudents. “You are givingback in ways I hope that allthe people who are buildingtheir careerscan give backsome day,” shesaid.

In her keynoteaddress, Mooredescribed herown careerpath, explainingthe decision-making processshe followed inmaking careerchanges. When-ever she could,Moore said, shegave advice andhelped others.“Helping othersmade otherswant to helpme,” said Moore.

The panelistsat the confer-ence were allUMUC alumnae. AnnaDoroshaw, manager of lead-ership development pro-grams for the Department ofVeterans Affairs, spoke about“intrapreneurship”—develop-ing an idea inside an organi-zation. “Find out what needsto be done and do it,”Doroshaw said.

Shondraya Grant-Levy, asenior budget analyst with theIRS, talked about personalmissions and said “a strategicplan is your road map to suc-cess. How will you know youhave reached your destinationif you don't know where it is?”

Constance MacDonald,manager of strategic

Susan Aldridge.Recalling her

idea to create thisinnovative collec-tion, Patz told thecrowd, “My dreamwas to create agallery that wouldhouse and cele-brate Marylandartists.” Throughher passion for artand dedication tocultivating relation-ships with artistsacross Maryland,UMUC hasamassed a collec-tion of more than350 pieces.

“The President’sMedal . . . represents not somuch my accomplishments,but the graciousness and gen-erosity of the artists with whomI was in touch,” Patz said.

Patz concluded her remarksby urging the graduates to

embrace and follow theirdreams—an approach to lifethat she has practiced foryears.

“If you can believe in it,you can achieve it. It all startswith a dream,” said Patz.

WOMEN’S CONFERENCE BRINGSALUMNAE AND STUDENTS TOGETHERBY CAROL KAGAN

UMUC hosted it’s third annualWomen’s Career DevelopmentConference April 1, 2006, fea-turing a keynote address byUMUC alumna Ovetta M.Moore, director and chiefinformation officer of theMaryland State Departmentof Business and EconomicDevelopment. This year’s pro-gram—“Career Development:Within and Beyond theOrganization”—focused ondifferent career developmentpaths for women in today’sworkplace and broughttogether UMUC alumnae,undergraduate and graduatefaculty, and staff to share personal experiences and

accounts for space controlsystems at Integral Systems,Inc., discussed strategic risk-taking by sharing her careerdecisions, while ClarissaPeterson, chief people officerat U.S. of DLA Piper RudnickGray Cary, addressed strate-gic networking and encour-aged women to seek outemployers that offer pro-

grams thataddress theirneeds.

“It was grati-fying to hearspeakers affirmwhat we teachin managementcourses—thatthe motivationto work hardand do well is not alwaysabout thesalary,” saidDiane Bartoo, a professor in UMUC’sGraduateSchool ofManagementand Techno-logy. Bartoosaid that it wasespecially

rewarding to hear alumnaetalk about their personal andprofessional journeys andabout the importance of thepart their UMUC educationplayed in their success.

“Alumnae are perhaps themost powerful and importantrole models for our studentsand I appreciate their willing-ness to participate in this con-ference and support our stu-dents,” said Mary Ellen Hrutka,dean of UMUC’s School ofUndergraduate Studies. “Ihope our current students willbe inspired to continue theireducation and eventuallybecome mentors for studentswho follow them.”

PATZ RECEIVES UMUC PRESIDENT’S MEDALBY AMANDA AGATSTEIN

Doris Patz—founder of theUMUC Maryland ArtistsCollection—received the pres-tigious UMUC President’sMedal during the May 13,2006, commencement cere-mony at the Comcast Centerin College Park, Maryland.This award, bestowed only inspecial recognition of out-standing service to the univer-sity, was presented to Patz forher efforts, dating back 25years, to make personal con-tact with Maryland artists onbehalf of the collection.

“At the tender age of 94, Ihave finally donned cap andgown for a college gradua-tion,” Patz declared proudly,following a heartfelt introduc-tion by UMUC President

Doris Patz received the prestigious UMUC President’sMedal at commencement on May 13, 2006.

UMUC alumna Ovetta M. Moore,director and chief information officerof the Maryland State Department ofBusiness and Economic Development.

BY CHIP CASSANO

The UMUC Virtual Dragons won gold and bronze medalsMay 20–21, 2006, in the 250-meter and 500-meter cate-gories, respectively, of the 2006 Dragon Boat Festival races.This marks the fifth consecutive year that UMUC has partic-ipated in the colorful races and the second year in a row

Knowledge IsPower; Share ItTeach for UMUC—Part-Time, Full Time, Anytime

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that the Virtual Dragons havebrought home a gold medal.

Each year, dragon boat races areheld around the world as a way tointroduce Chinese customs to othercultures. The tradition commemo-

rates the death of Chu Yuan, a poet and minister of stateduring the Chu Dynasty, who protested a corrupt govern-ment and was stripped of his office. He wandered thecountryside, dejected, and eventually fell into a river. Whenlocal fishermen realized what had happened, they racedout in their boats to try to save him, beating drums toscare off the fish they thought would eat the poet’s body.This scene is reenacted every year during dragon boatraces worldwide.

“We’re very proud of the three teams that representedUMUC in the 2006 Dragon Boat Festival races,” said UMUCPresident Susan Aldridge. “These teams are made up ofUMUC staff, faculty, alumni, and friends who represent theteamwork and spirit that makes UMUC great. I hope thateveryone sends them many thanks and congratulations.”

The 2006 UMUC VirtualDragons celebrate theirsecond gold-medal per-formance in as many years,placing first in the 250-meter category.

UMUC VIRTUAL DRAGONS BRING HOME GOLD AND BRONZE IN 2006


BANG! A gunshot sounds and a bullet smashes throughthe heads of two mannequins seated back-to-back, splashing redand blue paint spatter across the tabula rasa of the laboratory wall.

Gil Grissom puts down the gun and holds up a photo of the blood spatter from an actual crime scene for compari-son. The patterns match almost perfectly, and he turns to Sara and, with a dramatic flourish, informs her that thereis a simple reason that she found only one DNA type in the bloodstains from the crime scene: the two victims wereactually twins.

And the credits roll.

As any fan of the procedural crime drama CSI knows, a mere double murder mystery is no match for leadforensic scientist Gil Grissom and his team. Grissom—the witty, hard-nosed leader of the Las Vegas, Nevada,crime scene investigation unit—does it all, from arriving first on the crime scene and collecting fresh evidenceto sleuthing out the single, apparently inconsequential clue that cracks the case.


ToCatch a

Criminal

UMUC students learn to

uncover the hidden secrets

of crime scenes with

investigative forensics.

By Amanda Agatstein

Illustration by Lou Beach

But in the real world of forensics, you rarely find a Gil Grissom;instead, you find an army of professionals working together toinvestigate and solve crimes. Unlike CSI, real-world investigativeforensics thrives on the dynamic interplay between many differentpeople—law enforcement officers, forensics experts, litigators, andothers, each with a range of specializations. Most have back-grounds in criminal justice, laboratory science, or computer sci-ence, but all use their unique skills to analyze a wide variety ofevidence found at crime scenes.

Now, thanks to a new undergraduate degree program in investigativeforensics, UMUC students can prepare for a career on the investiga-tive side of criminal justice. Graduates can work as crime sceneliaisons, laboratory technicians, police officers, detectives, and specialagents in criminal investigation units. Careers are available outside oflaw enforcement, too, as investigators for insurance companies.

While a background in biology or chemistry is a plus, the programdoes not require a scientific background. In fact, Susan Blankenship,a forensic scientist with the Hagerstown police department, is developing a new investigative forensics lab class, CCJS 325Criminalistics Laboratory, geared specifically toward non-scientists.

“I’ve been teaching for many years, and whenever I assign a labproject, everyone groans,” said Blankenship. “Some people hateand fear science. Not everyone’s brain works that way. This labclass was designed specifically to prevent students from feeling

THE SIMULATION GAME UMUC’s new and award-winning virtual crime scene simu-lator (above) awards points to students when they identify key pieces of evidence. Thesimulator allows students to replay scenarios and investigate different scenes—a vastimprovement over models (bottom right) from the 1950s, which only offered one set of cir-cumstances and evidence. Students can also identify suspects from a virtual lineup (topright). These “suspects” just happen to be UMUC course developers who built the game.

www.umuc.edu | 11 | AchieverAchiever | 10 | University of Maryland University College

To help students improve their investigative technique,Blankenship also worked to develop a “virtual crime scene”—a computer game instructors use to teach students to collect thebest evidence from a range of possible crime scenes. The game—which won the Association for Continuing Higher Education(ACHE) Creative Use of Technology Award—provides a scenario,including basic information about the victim and the location of the crime scene, as well as simulated images of the scene.“[Forensic scientists] need to collect evidence, but they can’t col-lect everything. If you took everything from a crime scene, theevidence technician would kill you! [Students must learn] to pickwhat has value,” said Blankenship.

In the game, students earn or lose points based on their selec-tions, then write a report analyzing their findings. Because formany students the game is their first encounter with a crimescene, Blankenship thinks it’s a great way to help them slowlylearn the ropes of criminal investigation.

“With the game, they can mess up and start over,” said Blankenship.“They can practice. Of course, that is not real life. But they willlearn the best way to collect evidence, so that when they’re out thereworking, they’ll have a real basis for how to handle the situation.”

The game and lab assignments help students focus on the realityof investigative forensics. And although it might not be quite asglamorous as the life depicted on CSI, graduates will enjoy astrong sense of camaraderie between scientists and law enforce-ment officers instead of the animosity they frequently see on thetelevision show.

“The thing I really don’t like about CSI is the way the [forensic sci-entists] treat the detectives,” said Blankenship. “It’s like they’re ondifferent sides! That’s not how it really is; we all work together toget the same result and most of us are actually friends.”

Other investigative forensics courses—most of which are adaptedfrom UMUC’s current criminal justice curriculum—walk studentsthrough other aspects of criminal investigation and theory. Manyof the courses explain the legalities of the investigative process,with a focus on the ins and outs of the U.S. Constitution.

“Anyone going into law enforcement needs to first understand theconstitutional basis of forensics,” said Laura Gwinn, prosecutorand chief of the Prince George’s County violent crimes unit.Gwinn is developing CCJS 234 Criminal Procedure and Evidencein an online format for the criminal justice program. “They needto know about search warrants and how to use evidence. Theyneed to be able to go into court and testify as an expert. To dothat, they have to understand criminal investigation and its con-stitutional parameters.”

Gwinn’s online course will prepare students to take on real-lifecases. By providing scenarios that investigators encounter on adaily basis, students will learn the legal methods of conductinginvestigations. They will study real search warrants before creatingtheir own—warrants that must be legally viable and able to holdup in court.

According to Gwinn, this trial-and-error approach to learning is thebest way to give students a feel for what investigation is really like.“You can’t just tell them how to do everything; not everything ininvestigation is black and white. They have to figure things outbased on the information they are given. This way, they learn howit’s really done on the street. And then, when they are out theresolving crimes, they’ll know how to process new situations as theyoccur. And that’s when they’ll say, ‘Thank you, Ms. Gwinn!’”

overwhelmed by scientific facts or big words.” The lab focuses onteaching the methods for analyzing criminal evidence, includingfingerprints, handwriting, footwear impressions, and blood pat-terns. Experiments build on theory students learn in CCJS 320Introduction to Criminalistics, a prerequisite for the lab.

“The great thing is that they learn the Henry Classification of fin-gerprinting [see sidebar, p. 11] in Introduction to Criminalistics,and then they come to this class and actually go through the sys-tem themselves—lifting prints, dusting, and comparing them inthe lab,” said Blankenship.

Students also learn how to analyze patterns of blood spatter at acrime scene—evidence that can tell a trained investigator agreat deal about what actually happened at the scene. Studentslearn to take a blood-like substance—either a combination ofpaint and water or expired animal blood—and drop it on thesame type of surface it landed on during the crime. They alsolearn to simulate different kinds of trauma to help understand chaotic and sometimes seemingly random events.

“We hit bloody sponges with baseball bats to simulate how bloodspattered,” said Blankenship. “We apply the laws of physics tounderstand the angle and speed of the impact, which can also tellus where the assailant was standing and if anything has since beenmoved at the scene. Yes, they have to use a little science—butthey also get to pound on a sponge with a bat!”

THE HENRY CLASSIFICATION FOR FINGERPRINTING

Until the late 19th century, the onlyways to identify a criminal were byfinding eyewitness accounts or com-paring physical measurements. Bothtechniques were unreliable and oftenled to mistakes.

In 1896, Sir Edward Henry created anidentification system based solely on asuspect’s fingerprints. Henry’s classifi-cation system assigned a value to eachindividual finger. Fingers one and two—the right thumb and index finger—helda value of 16; fingers three and four—the right middle and ring finger—held a value of eight; and so on.

Whenever a fingerprint contained awhorl pattern, the correspondingvalue was added to the base value ofone. Henry used a fraction-type pri-mary classification, which took theaccrued values of the even-numberedfingers as the numerator and theaccrued value of the odd-numbered

fingers as the denominator.According to Henry’s system, a person with the finger-

print patters loop, loop, arch, whorl, loop on the right handand whorl, loop, whorl, loop, loop on the left hand wouldhave a fingerprint classification of 15 over one. A personwith no whorl patterns would have a primary classificationof one over one. This classification system, which allowedfor 1,024 primary groupings, was instituted in India in 1897and was in worldwide use by the early 20th century.

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ROBERT GOODWIN IS UMUC’SRESIDENT EXPERT ON CHINA—ONE OF

THE WORLD’S MOST DYNAMIC BUSINESS

ENVIRONMENTS. THIS IS HIS STORY.

BY CELESTE RYAN

PHOTOGRAPHS BY

MARK FINKENSTAEDT

THE

FUTUREIN THE

FAR EAST


obert Goodwin’s firsthand understanding ofAsian culture dates back to the 1960s, whenhe served a three-year stint in the PeaceCorps, doing development work in a smallvillage in rural Thailand. “It taught me how

to live in a different culture,” he recalled. “I think my experi-ence there influenced me more than I realized at the time.”

He headed home to study international law, but his fascinationwith the Far East continued. Though he began his law careerwith the U.S. government, he eventually founded a law firm withclients who were doing business with overseas companies.

When the opportunity came in 1978 to return to Asia, hetook it. At the time, Goodwin was assistant general counsel forinternational trade and emergency preparedness for the U.S.Department of Energy. He traveled to China with a delegationled by then-Secretary of Energy James Schlesinger.

“I was the legal official on the trip,” said Goodwin. During thetour, he noticed how focused the Chinese were on developingtheir country—which was only then opening to foreign busi-ness—and how interested they were in new ideas and interactionwith foreign companies. “I thought it would be a fascinatingplace to do business, so I looked for opportunities,” Goodwinsaid. Thirsty for knowledge, he studiedthe country, researching its law and talk-ing to Chinese and international lawyersabout the changing nature of the Chineselegal environment. Though unable tospeak or write Chinese, he soon madeconnections in China and other coun-tries like Thailand, Japan, and Mexico,where his clients needed his expertise.

In 1981, Goodwin met two NewYorkers—Roberta Lipson and ElyseSilverberg—who shared his passion forChina. “They went to China to studyand decided to stay and start a compa-ny,” he explained. That company wasChindex International, Inc., a medical-equipment sales company. Goodwinsoon began handling all of Lipson’s andSilverberg’s contracts and other legalwork. As the company grew, so did theirlegal needs, and Godwin joined Chindexfull-time in 1992, becoming one of thefour people who managed the fledglingcompany.

He also served as a board member andwas on hand two years later for the com-pany’s initial public offering. At the time,

Chindex had $8 million in annual revenues. Today it trades onthe NASDAQ and has annual revenues of $100 million.

From his vantage point at Chindex, Goodwin witnessed first-hand China’s evolution from a government-dominated businessenvironment to a private sector one. “They’ve come a long way,”he said. “When I began working there, business was totallystate-run.” Though still powerful, China’s government todayonly runs about a third of the businesses. “I’ve seen a change inattitude, in the social structure, and in how so many of the peo-ple have moved from largely rural areas to urban areas,” saidGoodwin. “They’ve had to adapt to rapid change because theeconomy is growing an average of 10 percent each year, andthat’s been true for many, many years now.”

Goodwin said that China—where Chindex operates hospitalsand clinics in Beijing, Shanghai, and beyond—is being touted asthe production center of the world. “They produce many of theworld’s electronic goods, clothes, and toys. Their next goal isautomobile production.”

That makes China a prime focal point of business opportu-nity now and in the years ahead, and it makes Goodwin aprime asset in UMUC’s Graduate School of Management andTechnology, where he accepted a full-time position as program

director for international management inthe business and executive programsdepartment after serving for 15 years as anadjunct faculty member. He brings morethan 35 years of experience to the job,including more than a decade asChindex’s executive vice president andgeneral counsel (he still works as a con-sultant with the company).

At UMUC, his goal is to work with hiscolleagues at the graduate school to helpteach business students to think globallyand have the ability to flourish in a foreigncountry. He believes his international expe-rience greatly enhances his ability to teach.“Along the way, I’ve picked up a certainamount of knowledge on the economy, thecountry, and on the people and how theythink and react to things,” he said. That isimportant, he continued, because “theworld is globalizing, and to be successful inbusiness, you need to be quick on your feetand know how to deal with a culture differ-ent than your own.”

He emphasized how his various interna-tional careers have given him experience inmanaging a company and dealing with the

different regulatory issues characteristic of international business.At the same time, they’ve helped him learn to manage people ina cross-cultural environment.

“When doing business in a foreign country, you oftenapproach it from your point of view,” said Goodwin. “But ifyou’ve really absorbed another culture, you can see it from theirs.”

Problem-solving for people with different points of view wasa daily factor in Goodwin’s work at Chindex. “I could see it ine-mail from employees every day,” he recalled. “The types ofproblems that arise with 1,000 employees in a foreign countryare multiple and very complex. They thought about problemsin different ways and solved them in different ways.”

To teach his students to succeed in similar environments,Goodwin draws from those situations. “I use examples from myexperience, including the problems I’ve faced in the real world,”he explained. In addition, he and colleagues are making contactsand taking students on trips overseas to work on projects withstudents from foreign universities. One group recently returnedfrom Argentina while another was on its way to Budapest. Aproject in India is planned, and of course Goodwin is workingon a trip to China.

“Rather than just looking in from the outside, we want studentsto gain from experience,” he said. “We want UMUC to becomeknown as a truly global university. We’re well on our way.”

R

“RATHER

THAN JUST

LOOKING IN

FROM THE

OUTSIDE,

WE WANT

STUDENTS TO

GAIN FROM

EXPERIENCE.”


Cousin Eric clambers through the back fence in his gasmask. He’s Mickey Mouse. That’s a trick to fool theGermans. I’ve got Donald Duck. Grandma says they’rein the flicks . . . in the flicks . . . in the flicks . . .

“Will I like the flicks, Grandma?”

“Aye, I daresay!” She says. “Though it’s nobbutsilliness . . .”

��

Back kitchen cold . . .

Snow falls, big flakes, out of the hazed dark. I’ve got theback door open to watch it build on the back step.“Gives me rheumatics just to look at it!” Grandma says.Toc toc toc . . . I make the brown stool wobble. Flamehisses in the mantle. The garden hisses, crackling withsnow. It goes on forever, too far to think about, on andon . . . toc toc toc toc toc . . .

Near and far . . .

Little thud of Uncle Hugh’s bike down the passage.How do we know it’s him? He’s on his way. Stampstamp stamp around the water tank, boot on back step,legs go past . . .

“Roy . . .” he says. Roy. My name.

“Set thee by t’fire, Hugh!” Mam says. She speaks likethat to Uncle Hugh. We all speak like that to UncleHugh. We speak like Grandma. Mam doesn’t speak likethat to me. And Grandma says: “Not fit fer a dug!” Toctoc toc. I laugh. Not fit fer a dug. That’s Grandma!

“Eh, Hugh,” Aunty Kitty giggles, “is it true you’ve put astump o’ candle in your bikelamp?”

Cheaper than a battery. Toc toc toc uneven on the kitchenflags. Clink of cups and teapot, cup of tea for UncleHugh, I don’t mind if I do, ha ha . . .

Black grate, little fire . . .

“Are you sure you want to out the’ere in’t kitchen, love?”asks Aunty K, bending her nose towards me. Toc toc toc Inod. She pulls the door, not shut, though, not quite shut.

“No need to pull t’bloomin’ blind, anyroad,” says Mam.“It’s better than a blackout, this, isn’t it?”

A plane, high up inthe dark, throbs,throbs.

“That on’s lost!” UncleHugh says. “Heinkelone one one by t’sound on it!”

“Be ’ome!” saysGrandma. Aunty Kittylistens with her eyes,swaying inside herarms. Lost. Looking for Liverpool docks.

The grass is long. I can’t go.

“Go on!” Mam says. “He’s an American. They’re nice.Say, Have you got a stick of gum, chum? and he’ll give yousome chocolate. . . .”

Why will he give me chocolate if I ask for a stick ofgum?

Anyway, the grass is long. He smiles at me, leaning overthe wall. The grass is long. I can’t go.

��

A morning, a bright day in our backyard, everybody outenjoying sunlight. Then flashes of tracer in the sky: aMesserschmidt flees toward the sea with a Spitfire after it. . . a Spitfire or a Hurricane, nobody’s sure . . . but it’sone of ours.

“Be off!” Grandma shouts, shaking her fist at the sky.“Be off wi’ you! Let honest folk alone!”

The mothers are cheering in the backyards, and I watch thelong wisps of white smoke slowly dying against the blue.

Snowflakes settle on my shoes. I’m thinking aboutmatches, the matches that burn in Liverpool and thefire in Uncle Hugh’s hands. . . .

“It’s a long road to the marshes, and you have to put som-mat in your stomach.” (Mam says this, handing himsomething on a plate.) That’s where he goes, Uncle Hugh,up Ralph’s Wife’s Lane, riding his bike to the guns. Therest of them scoot off when they see him coming with thatstump of candle in his bikelamp, for he looks like a ghost,he rides that slow. They think it’s Ralph’s wife with herlantern, still looking for Ralph after a hundred years. . . .

“You can come aht nah,” he shouts. “It’s only me wi’ astump o’ candle in me bikelamp. . . .”

Aunty Kitty laughs, she rocks and laughs. . . .

“They’re more scared o’ Hugh wi’ his stump o’ candlethan they are o’t Nazis. . . .”

His cousin burned to death. They were little. Right infront of his eyes. Her dress went in the fire, long dressesthey wore back then, right in the fire. It was in the par-lor. He caught hold of it and tried to squeeze the flamesout of it, like wringing out the washing. But he couldn’tsave her.

And now he sits there, saying nowt, leaning his elbowson his knees, fire showing through his hands. And out-side the snow . . . one one one forever . . .

Never do I have to go to bed.

��

Roy Watkins has taught English for UMUC Europe since 1975.This excerpt is from a longer work, entitled Simple Annals, partsof which have been published elsewhere.

The Constellation staff will accept submissions for the 2007–08issue of the journal September 15–December 15, 2006. For sub-mission guidelines or to be added to the Constellation mailing list,send an e-mail to [email protected]. Download a copy of the journal as a PDF file at www.umuc.edu/constellation (youwill need Adobe Acrobat to view it).

BY ROY WATKINS

WA R T I M E

S E Q U E N C E

A AN EXCERPT FROM UMUC’S LITERARY JOURNAL,CONSTELLATION: AN INTERNATIONAL LITERARY REVIEW


THE RUMORS ABOUT

BARRY C. WEST ARE NOT

TRUE. He is not younger than

every computer owned by the U.S.

Department of Commerce.

But at age 44, West is one of the

youngest chief information officers (CIOs) of a government cabinet-level

department. He earned that distinction when he took over as CIO at

Commerce in June 2006. And if you’re wondering if someone so young is

up to the task of managing an office that oversees an annual budget of

approximately $1.5 billion a year, you only have to take a look at West’s

résumé to be reassured that he is.

West moved to his new post at Commerce after serving for the three

previous years as CIO and director of the IT services division of the

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the

Department of Homeland Security. FEMA’s information systems were

severely tested in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and West was at the

THE STORY OF HOW AN AIR FORCE METEOROLOGY WHIZ ROSE

TO A CIO’S POSITION, OVERSEEING A $1.5 BILLION BUDGET, IN

A CABINET-LEVEL GOVERNMENT AGENCY—ALL BY THE AGE OF 44.

BARRY WEST’S

METEORIC RISE

BY ALLAN ZACKOWITZ

PHOTOGRAPHS BY

DANUTA OTFINOWSKI


forefront of the efforts to maintain the reliability and expand thereach of the agency’s critical information management capabili-ties, both during and after the hurricane that struck the U.S. GulfCoast region in August 2005.

Prior to joining FEMA, West held a number of high-level gov-ernment IT posts, including with the National Weather Service,the U.S. General Services Administration, the U.S. CensusBureau, and the National Technical Information Service. He start-ed his government career as a weather specialist in the U.S. Air

Force, where he was named Weather Specialist of the Year. His ITcareer dates back to when he worked for Tab Books, Inc., and ledthe company’s effort to convert from a manual information storageoperation to a completely automated data management system.

According to West, however, the job of today’s CIO isn’t justinformation technology and data and computer systems. Newlegal requirements for corporate and government accountabilityhave drastically changed the CIO’s role.

“The new breed of CIO has to be more of a business leaderthan a technical person,” said West. “The CIO has to be astrategist who can sit down at the table with other executivesand hash out the corporate implications of personal privacylaws, Sarbanes-Oxley, Gramm-Leach-Bliley, and a growingnumber of other state and federal acts. On the government

side, we’ve got new mandates, too, such as the Klinger-CohenAct, the E-Government Act, the Paperwork Elimination Act,and a bunch of others.”

With a Bachelor of Science in information systems fromNorthern Michigan University and a Master of Science inAdministration from Central Michigan University, West certainly has the educational foundation to handle the IT part of his job. But he credits his UMUC programs with providingmuch of the preparation he needed to tackle the CIO jobs, first at the National Weather Service and FEMA, and now atCommerce. He earned his UMUC Executive Master of Sciencein information technology at the university’s Shady GroveCenter in Rockville, Maryland, and in 2002 he completedUMUC’s chief information officer executive certificate pro-gram—a recognized program offered through the Federal CIOUniversity, which is administered by the GSA.

“The CIO program really laid out the competencies needed tobe a government CIO,” West explained. “I learned that the mostimportant requirements are to be an excellent communicator and

CO

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RIG

HT

© 20

06 BY

DA

NU

TA O

TFIN

OW

SK

I

listener, have the strength to be a leader, and then be a technicalperson when necessary.”

A native of Smithburg, Maryland, West said he had always beena “big Maryland fan,” so UMUC—and its convenient ShadyGrove location—was a natural choice for his advanced learningneeds, especially with the demanding schedule he keeps. In addi-tion to his “regular job” duties, West has managed to have abroader impact on federal IT, working with the full scope of tech-nology all across the government. He was instrumental in devel-oping FirstGov.gov, the government’s official Web portal, andassumed a leadership role in the government’s early public-keyinfrastructure (PKI) efforts.

West also lectures throughout the country and, for the pastthree years, he has served as an adjunct assistant professor inUMUC’s Graduate School of Management and Technology,teaching the capstone course in the project management special-ization of the Master of Science in technology management pro-gram. He also serves on a UMUC advisory panel set up by theprovost, and two years ago he was asked to sit on the State ofCalifornia Information Technology Council—by the personalinvitation of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

As if all that wasn’t enough to keep one person busy, West ispresident of the nonprofit American Council for Technology(ACT), whose mission is to bring together leaders in government,industry, and academia to improve the acquisition and use of ITresources in the government.

“ACT provides a place for the free exchange of informationand concepts that can help improve the overall technology indus-try,” West said. As ACT president, he is also the U.S. representa-tive to the International Council for IT in GovernmentAdministration (ICA), the major international organization ofgovernment IT officials.

Interviewed during the hectic transition period between CIOpositions, West volunteered that his plans and goals going intothe Commerce Department are not significantly different fromthe plans and goals he pursued during his tenure at FEMA. Hispriorities remain IT security and integrity, program registration,system certification and accreditation, an enterprise architectureprogram, and advancement of the e-government initiative. Hewill also, of course, be responsible for ensuring that the depart-ment’s programs make full and appropriate use of all availableleading-edge technologies to carry out its mission, by improvingproducts and services at the lowest cost.

When asked how his new job at Commerce would differ fromhis old position at FEMA—the descriptions are similar—Westreplied, “At FEMA, my budget was $81 million. At Commerce, itwill be $1.5 billion. I think that alone will be enough of a differ-ence to keep things interesting.”

THE NEW

BREED OF CIO

HAS TO BE

MORE OF A

BUSINESS LEADER

THAN A

TECHNICAL

PERSON,”

SAID WEST.

“


CLASS NOTES

John McGee ’70Montgomery, Alabama,wrote, “My UMUC degree

and subsequent master’s degree prepared mewell for stewardship opportunities in a 38-yearfederal financial management career, whichincluded tours of duty as base comptroller forthe Naval Air Station Bermuda, Naval StationIngleside, Navy Support Facility Diego Garcia,Naval Air Station Pensacola, and NavalSupport Activity Bahrain, following service as a staff accountant in the office of theComptroller of the Navy.”

Nathaniel Alston ’77Columbia, Maryland, earned his degree with aspecialization in criminology and criminal jus-tice. He wrote, “My UMUC degree helped meto get my position in 1977 as director of publicsafety at Bowie State University.”

Terry L. Williams ’81Temple Hills, Maryland,currently serves as the

administrative officer for the Terrorism RiskInsurance Program in the U.S. Department ofthe Treasury.

Bruce Allen Koehler ’82Franklin, North Carolina, went on to earn aMaster of Public Administration in 1989 andretired from the U.S. Air Force in 1993. Henow owns his own computer services companyand enjoys his time in the mountains of west-ern North Carolina.

Patricia Toregas ’84 & ’91Pasadena, Maryland, earned both her undergrad-uate and graduate degrees from UMUC whileraising four children and pursuing a demandingcareer in the telecommunications industry. Sheretired from Verizon after a 32-year career andhas served on the Alumni Association board invarious capacities for about 10 years, including aterm as president. She wrote, “UMUC has beenso good to me I can’t seem to leave!”

David C. Meeks ’85Colorado Springs, Colorado, was recently pro-moted to assistant vice president of businessand finance at Transportation TechnologyCenter, Inc., a transportation engineering andresearch firm specializing in full-scale rail vehi-

cle testing. He is responsible for all of the com-pany’s business and finance functions.

Charles “Chuck” Doig ’89San Antonio, Texas, a retired U.S. Air Force master sergeant, currently works for Booz AllenHamilton’s San Antonio office as an associate. Hewrote, “The educational opportunities affordedme by UMUC Europe helped me achieve greatsuccess, both in my Air Force career and in mycareer since retiring from the Air Force.”

Janice Reilly ’90Bethesda, Maryland, wrote,“UMUC allowed me to

enhance my career in the career managementconsulting business. I gained many new alumnifriends who have become a part of my life. And I had the honor of serving as president of theAlumni Association, in which I am still active.”

Cheryl Adams ’91Marriottsville, Maryland, is interested in inter-national business and travel, as well as real estateinvestment. She wrote, “My involvement inthese different industries has offered me exten-sive global experience and opportunities. MyUMUC professors were interested in seeing mesucceed in higher education, and their encour-agement and good teaching skills were motivat-ing. I am proud to be a UMUC alumnus.”

Pamela Carroll Axsom ’91Charlotte, North Carolina, recently graduatedwith honors from Troy University, where sheearned a master’s degree in public administra-tion and was inducted into the Pi Alpha AlphaNational Honor Society for public administra-tion and policy on June 10, 2005. She workedfor North Carolina as a probation and paroleofficer and hopes to be a doctoral candidate inpublic policy at the University of NorthCarolina, Charlotte, in the fall of 2006.

William Kevin Fisher ’92Manchester, Tennessee, graduated from theUniversity of the South, with honors, in May2005, earning a Master of Divinity degree. He is currently enrolled in the PhD program in religion and personality at Vanderbilt University.

James Barnes ’93Boise, Idaho, finished his BS in Guam andwent on to earn an MS in management from

Baker University in Topeka, Kansas. Hereturned to school and earned a second BS, this one in computer science, from WebsterUniversity in St. Louis, Missouri. He is nowretired from the U.S. Coast Guard and worksat the veterans hospital in Boise, Idaho.

Russell L. Knight ’94Pasadena, California, received his PhD in artifi-cial intelligence from UCLA in 2005. He cur-rently works in artificial intelligence researchfor NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory inPasadena, California.

Kenneth McClure ’94 Pensacola, Florida, wrote, “I would not havebeen able to complete my four-year degreewithout UMUC. My job and responsibilities inthe military prevented me from taking the lastyear of classes, but distance education gave methe chance I needed. I regularly recommend theprogram to others who need the same flexibilityin their schedules.”

Mary L. Hindal ’95Saint Helens, Oregon, graduated in June 2004with a master’s degree in speech languagepathology from Portland State University. Shenow works as a speech pathologists with adultswho have neurological injuries due to stroke ortraumatic brain injury. She wrote, “Graduateschool was very demanding, but I was well prepared, thanks to UMUC!”

Gloria Brooks ’97Riverdale, Maryland, wrote, “UMUC’s gradu-ate track in human resource management hasbroadened my knowledge of human resources,as well as of the general business environment.Courses in strategic planning and the manage-ment project helped improve my long-rangeplanning and implementation skills, which arecrucial to my career in human resources. It’s agreat program, and I highly recommend it forthe full-time working adult.”

Dennis Norwood ’98Chattanooga, Tennessee, graduated fromUMUC and retired from the U.S. Air Force in1998. He returned to Chattanooga and went to work for UnumProvident Corporation forthree years as a senior business learning partner.He is currently manager of the Police

Information Center and Teleserve Unit of theChattanooga Police Department. He has servedas president of the Tennessee District ExchangeClubs and is a volunteer field representative forthe National Exchange Club. He is married toDelores Beery-Norwood.

James A. Allender ’00Oakland, Missouri,retired from the U.S. Air

Force in 2001 and moved to Missouri, wherehe began working for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)—a U.S. Depart-ment of Defense agency—as a satellite imageryintelligence analyst. He wrote, “My UMUCdegree was one of the main reasons the agencyhired me. I feel as if every day I’m using theskills and knowledge I acquired from UMUC.My degree is much more than just bookknowledge. The faculty and staff helped me todevelop analytical skills that I’m putting to usein continuing to serve my country.”

Adil Baloch ’01Germantown, Maryland, recently passed theuniform CPA examination from the MarylandBoard of Public Accountancy.

Latashia Kuhl ’01Copperas Cover, Texas, is currently pursuing an MBA in the management track at NOVASoutheastern University in Fort Lauderdale,Florida. She served on active duty in the U.S.Army from 1998 until the spring of 2006 as amental health technician.

Timothy Kevin O’Linn ’01Choctaw, Oklahoma, completed his secondtour of duty—in June 2006—with OperationsIraqi and Enduring Freedom; he also partici-pated in combined joint task force Horn ofAfrica operations. He has completed about halfof the requirements of a dual master’s degreeprogram from Embry-Riddle AeronauticalUniversity.

Philippe Vélu ’01Levallois, France, earned his master’s degree ininternational management and business admin-istration and wrote, “UMUC helped me gainthe knowledge required to run an internationalbusiness.”

Andrew H. Lowe ’02College Park, Maryland, recently became an information security officer with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency inWashington, D.C. He wrote, “I’m not apaper pusher. I also lead a team in conduct-

ing risk assessments and technical vulner-ability assessments. I took most of my classeson-site and was grateful for all the accommo-dations provided to me as the only deaf student in the room. I miss my professors and classmates.”

Make a DifferenceToday and TomorrowGive a gift to UMUC.

At UMUC, your dollar goes farther and does more to improve the lives ofdeserving men and women—and to strengthen the very fabric of society—in Maryland, across the United States, and around the world.

At UMUC, we focus on real-world challenges and practical solutions.

◗ Innovative programs like Better Opportunities Through OnlineEducation, along with our wide variety of scholarship options, offer low-income workers and others access to the American dream.

◗ Our award-winning National Leadership Institute offers the pro-fessional development tools and coaching that today’s leaders need to succeed.

◗ Our acclaimed online coursework and flexible scheduling options puthigher education within reach of anyone with Internet access.

◗ Our careful research identifies the needs of the job market—in vitalfields like homeland security management, investigative forensics, information assurance, health care administration, and project manage-ment—and our quality coursework positions our students to respond.

UMUC makes a difference in the lives of men and women everywhere.

You can make a difference, too, today and tomorrow. Your tax-deductiblegift can help UMUC continue to lead, grow, and innovate. Call now ormake a convenient and secure donation online.

800-888-UMUC ext. 5100 • www.umuc.edu/donate

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s


CLASS NOTES

George E. Ruff ’03Conway, South Carolina, has taken UMUCclasses in Canada, the Philippines, and theUnited States. He wrote, “UMUC is helping merealize my dream of completing my undergradu-ate degree—which I began 38 years ago. AndUMUC is a great university to work for; the pastnine years with UMUC have been great!”

Pamela Stokes ’03Greenbelt, Maryland, was born in Washington,D.C., and raised in Columbia, Maryland. Sheearned her undergraduate degree in criminolo-gy and went on to earn an MS in management,with a concentration in interdisciplinary stud-ies, and an MBA in management, as part ofUMUC’s dual-degree program. For the past 14years, she has worked in the fields of criminolo-gy, social science, substance abuse, and per-formance management. Currently, she serves onthe UMUC Alumni Association Board ofDirectors as vice president for outreach andchapter development.

M. June Taylor ’03Suitland, Maryland, returned to college afterdropping out to raise a family. She earned a BSin business administration and computer studies.She wrote, “Going to UMUC has helped meachieve my goals by offering evening, weekend,and online courses for degree-seeking adults suchas myself.”

Letria Hall ’04Clinton, Maryland, graduated from UMUCwith a BS in computer studies and a minor incriminal justice. She has since accepted a posi-tion in the federal government and taken classesto complete her master’s degree in January 2006.

Loraine K. Hunsaker ’04Stafford, Virginia, published a novel, her sec-ond, in June 2006. She wrote, “The degree Iearned from UMUC led to my becoming net-work coordinator for Dr. Dee Preston-Dillon, asandplay therapy instructor. This part-time joballows me to further my work on my writingwhile connecting with others in the field of psy-chology. I invite other UMUC graduates to visitmy Web site and blog—www.lkhunsaker.com—and drop me a note. I would love to reconnectwith those in any of my classes and make newconnections with others.”

Erica Sansbury ’04Takoma Park, Maryland, graduated in May2004 with a BS in gerontology and is nowworking on her master’s degree in education.She hopes to graduate in May 2007. She wrote,“I have two beautiful daughters—Monique,seven, and Dottie, 19 months—and I wouldhave never been able to do this without thewonderful teaching in the online classrooms atUMUC. I love UMUC.”

Amber Allen ’05Indian Head, Maryland, wrote, “AttendingUMUC has given me the chance to be who Iam in my professional life while taking intoconsideration my family life. I would not havebeen able to finish my bachelor’s degree withoutthe help and support of this university. I appre-ciate and will always recruit others to UMUCto further their personal and professional goals.”

April Beckett ’05Chapmanville, West Virginia, serves as abereavement coordinator with Dignity Hospiceand also works as a substitute teacher and home-bound instructor in Logan County, WestVirginia. She wrote, “I majored in psychologywith my elective hours in education. When Iarrived in West Virginia, I applied for andreceived my K–6 teaching certificate. With myeducational background, I have the opportunityto provide some psychological support with thehospice and also to teach. It’s great! Thank you.”

Fernando Bonilla ’05Shangrila, Uruguay, took classes from UMUCEurope and Asia, earning an AA in businessand management and certificates in accountingand management. He is currently pursuing acareer as an auctioneer and valuer.

Elizabeth Heath ’05Willow Spring, North Carolina, wrote, “Greatnews! I completed my bachelor’s degree fromUMUC in August 2005 and decided to beginworking toward my graduate degree. I beganclasses in the spring of 2006. I’m so thankfulfor UMUC. Without the opportunity to takeclasses online, I would never have been able toachieve my educational goals.”

Iliana M. Hernandez ’05Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, started her studiesin Spangdahlem, Germany, where her husband

was stationed for five years. She majored incriminology and criminal justice and is nowpursuing a master’s degree in education, alsofrom UMUC. She hopes to finish that degreeand become a teacher in Texas.

Quintina J. Mckinney ’05Germany, wrote, “I am a wife and the motherof three, so being able to attend school was achallenge. UMUC helped me out throughonline education. Not only was I able to earnmy AA, but I also received my BA in humani-ties. UMUC offered all of the classes I neededand the professors were well-prepared andsharp. UMUC is a wonderful school. I reallyenjoyed my time there.”

Theresa Poussaint ’05Washington, D.C., earned a BS in communi-cations from UMUC and chose to return forgraduate studies because of UMUC’s reputa-tion as a leader in online education and atrendsetter in distance learning. She wrote,“UMUC also fit my lifestyle—working full-time as a loss prevention analyst withHMSHost and raising my two daughters,ages 10 and 17. While I was earning myMBA, like many UMUC students, I was alsoworking and balancing personal responsibili-ties. Along the way, I acquired a wealth ofknowledge through networking and volun-teering. I serve as president-elect of theUMUC Alumni Association and mentor in

UMUC’s MBA program. My past positionsinclude vice president of the AlumniAssociation’s communications committee aswell as of the outreach and chapter develop-ment committee. The experiences I havegained as a student and volunteer for theAlumni Association are invaluable and havegiven me the opportunity to grow and meetso many great people.”

Michelle M. Riesser ’05 & ’06Virginia Beach, Virginia, is the owner and cre-ative director for Michelle Riesser Events. Hercompany specializes in full-service planning forweddings and corporate events, serving thesoutheast United States, including Washington,D.C., and Maryland. Her Web site iswww.michelleriesserevents.com.

Quentin B. Jackson ’06Germany, wrote, “UMUC has allowed me tokeep my business and interpersonal skills cur-rent. Also, it has broadened my views of ourglobal society. What a great vantage point tohave!”

Bernard Naft ’06Nashville, Tennessee, wrote, “At UMUC, Iam pursuing a BA in communication studies.I also hold two technical associate’s degrees.My pre- and post-conferment interests are inwhite papers with aerospace industry subjectmatter.”

Are you thinking about embark-ing on a new career or advanc-ing in your current field? If so,now may be a good time tocheck out all the new programsand courses offered at UMUC.We’re constantly updating ourprograms to give you the toolsyou need to succeed in today’scompetitive job market andglobal economy. Explore thenew ways UMUC can help youwrite your own success story.

◗ Three new majors—investigative forensics, lab management,and political science—expand an already extensive selectionof undergraduate degree programs.

◗ Three specializations—homeland security management, information assurance, and project management—tailor ourpopular master’s degree programs for today’s vital careers.

◗ More than 80 career-enhancing undergraduate and graduate certificates—in everything from accounting to the brand-newglobal management—are perfect for part-time students.

◗ Plus, our award-winning National Leadership Institute (NLI) offers mid- and senior-level managers the leadership develop-ment programs and executive coaching they need to compete and win in business today.

800-888-UMUC • www.umuc.edu/yourstory

Write Your Own Success StoryAT U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A R Y L A N D U N I V E R S I T Y C O L L E G E

Faculty Kudos

DIANE FINLEY , who teaches psychology in UMUC’s School of UndergraduateStudies and also serves on the faculty of Prince George’s Community College, wonthe Two-Year College Teaching Excellence Award of the Society for the Teachingof Psychology. Finley received the award, a plaque, and a check for $750 onAugust 12, 2006, during this year’s American Psychological Association (APA)Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana. The teaching award winners will also beannounced in the October 2006 issue of Teaching in Psychology.

MELISSA KLEMENS , who teaches in UMUC’s computer information systemsand technology program, ascended to the bench as an administrative law judge inthe District of Columbia in June 2006.

BARBARA PUFFER , who teaches communications courses online in UMUC’sSchool of Undergraduate Studies, is a public relations consultant and communityleader on a major communications portal—www.communitelligence.com. A numberof students from her JOUR 331 Public Relations Techniques course were promin-ently featured on the site, sharing their picks for best-practice honors in persuasivepublic relations campaigns among well-known organizations and companies.

STAY CONNECTEDActivate your FREE MEMBERSHIP in the UMUC Alumni Association

The University of MarylandUniversity College (UMUC) AlumniAssociation, founded in 1990, iscommitted to fostering a lifelongrelationship between its membersand the university community. TheAlumni Association provides youwith opportunities to stay connect-

ed with fellow alumni, students, and faculty through volun-teer service, social events, and philanthropy. Benefit pro-grams and resources include career services, affinity partnerdiscounts, special alumni events, on-site library access, andchapter activities.

Membership is free and open to all UMUC alumni.

Go to www.umucalumni.org to activate your membership.

You’re eligible for the following alumni benefits when you join:

Free Subscriptions and Access■ Free subscription to UMUC’s magazine, Achiever.

■ Access to career and mentoring services through UMUC’s

Office of Career Services.

■ On-site access to computer labs at UMUC sites throughout

Maryland.

■ Access to the Campus Recreation Center at University of

Maryland, College Park.

Affinity Partner Discounts■ UMUC Alumni Association members are entitled to a

discount on GEICO’s already low rates for auto insurance. Call

GEICO for a free rate quote at 800-368-2734.

■ Alumni Association members can join State Employees

Credit Union of Maryland, Inc. (SECU). National studies show

that credit unions consistently offer lower loan rates and

higher savings account interest than banks and other

financial service providers. Credit unions charge fewer

fees, too.

■ Receive a discount on rooms and meals at the UMUC Inn

and Conference Center in Adelphi, Maryland.

Other Special Services■ Receive special invitations to UMUC-sponsored events,

like our popular speaker series and artist receptions.

■ Apply for Maryland license tags displaying the UMUC

logo for cars registered in Maryland. Call 301-985-7306

for an application.

■ Purchase a UMUC class ring from Herff Jones at

800-631-0392.

GET INVOLVED!The Alumni Association allows those individuals whobelieve in the mission and goals of UMUC to play an inte-gral role in sustaining the university’s competitive advan-tage. Many alumni volunteer groups work with the Board ofDirectors to support UMUC and Alumni Association activi-ties. You can choose to volunteer in a variety of ways.

Mentoring ProgramsALLIES MENTORING PROGRAM: The Allies MentoringProgram is designed to assist students who transfer toUMUC from local community colleges. It provides a“human touch” to students during their first term so thatthey feel supported by and connected to UMUC and learnthe traits that create successful university students. Eachmentor is matched with a small group of three to five students. Mentors are asked to facilitate discussions amongmentees via weekly group e-mails for 10 weeks. Orientationis provided.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Have you moved? Married . . . or remarried? Started a new job?Won an award? Share your good news with the UMUC community.

Complete the form below and return it today—with a recent photo-graph, if possible—or visit www.umucalumni.org, click on “StayConnected,” and complete the Stay Connected form. We’ll updateyour records and you just might see your name in a future issue ofAchiever magazine. (Entries may be edited for length and style.)

Yes, I want to stay connected and receive e-mail notices of alumnibenefits, services, and future events. Add my contact information tothe Alumni Association’s mailing list.

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No, I do not want to stay connected. Do not add my contactinformation to your mailing list.

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M Y N E W S :

Mailing address: UMUC ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, UC 310, 3501 UniversityBoulevard East, Adelphi, MD 20783-8008

NEW STUDENT WELCOME PROGRAM : Alumni volunteerscall to welcome newly enrolled students who are begin-ning their studies at UMUC. This has proved valuable forboth new students and alumni alike. Volunteers are askedto call 20 to 25 students during a two-week period, begin-ning several weeks after the start of the fall and springterms. Orientation is provided.

Alumni CommitteesAlumni committees meet monthly to plan and assist inimplementing activities that support the goals outlined inthe Alumni Association’s strategic plan. Committee mem-bers serve a one-year term and may choose to serve addi-tional terms. Committee volunteers are a primary sourcein the selection of new members of the AlumniAssociation Board of Directors.

CAREER AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEEdevelops programs—including career seminars, mentor-ing programs, and job resource assistance—to help UMUCalumni and students with their professional development.

COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE coordinates with staff andother committees to increase alumni and business commu-nity awareness of association programs and successes.

OUTREACH AND CHAPTER DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEEpromotes the interests and welfare of UMUC and developsprograms and events that enrich the professional, cultural,and personal lives of alumni while representing alumniinterests and concerns.

STUDENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE helps students, alumni,and the academic community enjoy a successful UMUCexperience and an enhanced relationship among the univer-sity populations by providing opportunities for growth anddevelopment, information exchange, and easy interaction.

Stay connected . . . join today!www.umucalumni.org

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGEOFFICE OF ALUMNI RELATIONS3501 University Boulevard EastAdelphi, Maryland 20783-8008Phone: 800-888-UMUC ext. 5125 or 240-684-5125FAX: 240-684-5120

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PERMIT #43501 University Boulevard EastAdelphi, MD 20783-8080 USA800-888-UMUC ■ www.umuc.edu

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Save the Date!

Friday, February 9, 2007

Join us for the inauguration of Susan C. Aldridge,fifth president of University of Maryland University College.

Presidential inauguration in the morning; black-tie inaugural gala in the evening.

umuc achiever magazine, fall 2006

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