REMINDER: TODAY AT NOON: CDCL's Pivotal Moments

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 11:41:14 -0400

Reposted from our partners from the Center for Democracy and Civic Life. Original Post to RSVP can be found here.

20 years ago, on September 11, 2001, coordinated terrorist attacks in the U.S. killed almost 3,000 people.

Pivotal Moments: Memories of UMBC’s Response to 9/11 will offer a glimpse into the experiences of members of the campus community in the hours and days following the attacks. People who were at UMBC in September 2001 will share their stories of how they responded individually and collectively, and reflect on the lasting impact of these events on UMBC.

Panelists are:

Freeman Hrabowski, President, UMBC

Diane Lee, Director, Wisdom Institute, UMBC

Brett McKenzie, ‘04, Senior Content & Community Manager, Foresight Commercial Insurance

Tom Moore, Director, Arts and Culture, Institutional Advancement, UMBC

Karim Said, ‘04, ‘07, ‘13, Chief Information Security Officer, NASA Headquarters

​​RSVP by clicking the green "Going Virtually" button below.

Note: This event will be recorded.

This event is hosted by the UMBC’s Center for Democracy and Civic Life in partnership with Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion, and Belonging (i3b), Off-Campus Student Services, and the Wisdom Institute.

About the panelists:

Freeman A. Hrabowski, III, (he/him) has served as President of UMBC since 1992. His research and publications focus on science and math education, with special emphasis on minority participation and performance. Alongside philanthropist Robert Meyerhoff, he co-founded the nationally recognized Meyerhoff Scholars Program, which is open to all high-achieving students committed to pursuing advanced degrees and research careers in science and engineering, and advancing underrepresented minorities in these fields. Dr. Hrabowski was named one of America’s Best Leaders by U.S. News & World Report, one of America’s 10 Best College Presidents by TIME Magazine, and one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World”. In 2012, President Obama named Dr. Hrabowski to chair the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans. Dr. Hrabowski serves as a consultant to the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the National Academies, and universities and school systems nationally. He also serves on the boards of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, France-Merrick Foundation, Marguerite Casey Foundation (Chair), T. Rowe Price Group, The Urban Institute, McCormick & Company, and the Baltimore Equitable Society.

Diane Lee (she/her) is currently director of The Wisdom Institute, UMBC’s association for retired staff and faculty. Previously, she was a member of the Education Department and Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs. As a faculty member she taught graduate courses including Human Learning and Cognition and The Study of Teaching. While serving in the UMBC administration she co-taught a First-Year Seminar with Jill Randles titled Turning to One Another: Beliefs and Behaviors. Dr. Lee was selected Presidential Teaching Professor 1997-2000, is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Golden Key honor societies, and was named as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women in 2009.

Brett Ashley McKenzie (she/her) graduated from UMBC cum laude in 2004 with an honors degree in English and minors in History and Writing. Brett held positions at The Retriever Weekly for her full four years at UMBC, including as Editor-in-Chief her senior year. Upon graduation, Brett went to work for then Senator John Kerry's presidential campaign as a media relations operative, and has continued her career in communications, marketing, and public relations ever since. Working for then-President Obama's re-election only six weeks after the birth of her daughter was a highlight. Today she is a Chicago-based mom to Sophie (9) and Nathan (5), the senior manager of content and community for Foresight Insurance, and a board member for Baltimore-based Capoeira Social Project, which was founded by fellow class of '04 alum Justin West.

Tom Moore (he/him) is Director of Arts and Culture in Institutional Advancement, a position he has held since arriving at UMBC in 1995. Over the past 26 years, he has raised the profile of UMBC's arts programs through media placements in outlets such as The New York Times and National Public Radio, stewarded the university's presence at events such as Light City and the Spark Gallery, and cultivated relationships with donors and thought leaders in the Baltimore arts community. He helped plan UMBC's 30th, 40th and 50th anniversary events, participated in the design of the Performing Arts and Humanities Building, and led the production of The Salons at UMBC, a series of cultivation events. Recently, he was instrumental in the launch of the Catonsville Arts District and serves as the chair of its advisory board.

Karim Said (he/him) is a self-described professional computer nerd and Deputy Chief Information Security Officer at NASA. He’s a triple UMBC alum: B.S., Computer Science, ’04, M.S., Information Systems, ’07, M.S., Human-Centered Computing, ’13. He lives in DC and visits the UMBC campus to run the loop, which is still his favorite spot for a quick two-mile workout with a heavy dose of nostalgia. Karim worked for Residential Life with the Erickson Hall front desk staff, played club lacrosse, and was involved in the Student Government Association.