Real People Profiles: Richard Byrne

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 16:10:00 -0400
real-people-profiles

I’m asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty and staff, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are their responses.

Photo by Teresa Castracane

Name: Richard Byrne

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

Q: How long have you been at UMBC?

A: Five years total: Three as undergraduate (1984-1986) Two as employee (2008-present).

Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?

A: Editor, UMBC Magazine.

Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus?

A: Collaborate with talented design team to create a magazine that tells UMBC's story.

Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?

A: The chance to meet the wonderful alumni, faculty, students and staff of UMBC and hear the amazing things that they are doing

Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?

A: I went to UMBC before UMBC was the honors university it is today. But the faculty, students and academic leadership of that era laid the groundwork for where the university is today. How? Hard work and determination. (So many students worked their way through UMBC in that era.) Focus on academics. (Faculty and academic leaders cared about students; students cared about classes).

Q: Complete this sentence: “I am a big fan of __________”

A: Albin O. Kuhn Library

Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?

A: Favorite spots? The library. Fine Arts. (That was where I learned so much.)

Have to mention a few professors who had a big influence: Emeritus professor of history Robert K. Webb (who will lecture on campus in October); Former UMBC English professors Tom Vargish, Jim McKusick and the late Phillip Landon; English Department's Tony McGurrin.