You are invited to attend a workshop on the “Secrets of the Faculty Interview,” coming to UMBC’s Campus, Friday, August 20, 2010, 10:30 AM, The Commons, Room 331.

Speaker: Dr. Philip Rous, Dean of the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences.

Our Dissertation House Resource page has been updated with references for many of the books that we display during our workshops along with links that can be used for the job search. http://dissertationhouse.wordpress.com/resources/

Going the Distance

UMBC students often take their learning experience out of the classroom by interning at local companies, discussing ideas with visiting scholars, or doing service in the community.  For some students, prestigious awards help them to take their studies even farther: across the globe as they pursue opportunities in other countries.

This year, three recent students were awarded Fulbright awards to research or teach in other countries, while two current students received Boren scholarships to study in countries that are important to U.S. security interests.

Jessica Sadler ’09, English, Anna Gitterman ’10, biological sciences, and Michele Ko ’10, music, were awarded Fulbright fellowships for the 2010-2011 academic year.  Sadler and Gitterman will be teaching English, Sadler in Thailand and Gitterman in Argentina.  Ko will be going to Italy to study an obscure period of flute performance.

“Without a Fulbright Scholarship, working in another country would be a lot harder and less secure,” said Sadler.

“UMBC students are very competitive for Fulbright awards,” said Brian Souders, associate director of study abroad in the office of international education services.  Across the country, only about one in four students who apply for a Fulbright award receives one.  This year, three of UMBC’s four applicants were awarded the prestigious scholarship.

“When I found out I had received the Fulbright, I was at a part-time job, driving around in a golf cart. I almost drove into a lake when my mom told me over the phone,” said Ko. Her research goal is to resurrect the flute concertos of the Neapolitan Period.

Gitterman hopes that her experience in Argentina will improve her Spanish language fluency. “I am currently applying to medical schools and believe that understanding Spanish is an incredible skill as a physician. During a shadowing experience at a local hospital I witnessed the devastating effect a language barrier has on the relationship between a physician and patient,” she said.

In addition to UMBC’s Fulbright awards, two students were awarded Boren scholarships. The purpose of the Boren scholarship is to help fund language-intensive study abroad experiences for undergraduates in countries that are strategically important to national security.

“It helps students to study and become more familiar with languages in non-traditional study abroad areas,” said Souders.

Vivian Ekey, ’11, political science and modern languages and linguistics, will be studying Portuguese in Brazil and working on an independent research project on Afro-Brazilian Politics. “I’ve always been fascinated by Brazilian culture and how it is marked by a confluence of cultural influence,” she said.

Priyanka Oza, ’11, health administration and public policy, will be studying Hindi in India.  She hopes that studying in the country will help her to explore her Indian heritage, and while there she will be doing an internship and directed research project related to public health issues.

“India and the United States share similar health care concerns,” she said. “By studying such issues in India, I will be better prepared to deal with health care issues in the U.S.”

(7/23/10)

Food is a basic necessity of life and so it should come as no surprise that a large number of colleges and universities across North America have begun to recognize food as an important component in campus sustainability as well. More than 100 higher education institutions have established community gardens on campus. With names ranging from SLUG (Student Led Unity Garden at The University of Portland) and VEGI (Vanderbilt Educational Garden Initiative, Vanderbilt University) to "The Burning Kumquat" at the Washington University in St. Louis and "The Forge Garden" at Santa Clara University, these gardens invite many and varied participants, and develop communities that cultivate knowledge of place, along with numerous bushels of tomatoes, snap peas, corn, beets, carrots and other delectable veggies.

Students at the University of New Hampshire harvest fresh salad greens at the UNH Organic Garden.

Often run by active student organizations like the UNH Organic Garden Club, community gardens oftentimes incorporate blogs and social networking systems into their operation, and sometimes hire qualified individuals to lead the initiatives. This ‘growing’ trend may help to lay the groundwork for a future where a network of farmers’ markets, food co-operatives, CSA (community supported agriculture) farms and community gardens will greatly reduce average food miles, and help us transition to a more sustainable food system.

Recognizing the connections between gardening and sustainability, AASHE’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) includes a “tier two” credit for campuses that have an on-campus garden in the co-curricular education section of the rating system.

To see a list of campuses with community gardens please visit this new (AASHE members-only) resource: Campus Community Gardens.

Oatmeal creation!

My favorite meal of day? Breakfast. My favorite breakfast item? Oatmeal. I am sure everybody is already familiar with the health benefits of oatmeal. But in case you are not, a bowl of oatmeal is full of iron and complex carbohydrates that fuel your body the rest of the day. Oatmeal can also reduce the risk of heart disease and type II diabetes. In addition to its nutritional values, oatmeal is also easy and fun to make for breakfast.

Yes, making a bowl of oatmeal in the morning can actually be a project to produce a concoction of creativity and originality, something uniquely you.  For those of us who love to cook, it soothes the yearning for the freedom of working in our own kitchen at home. Moreover, this creative power breakfast is essentially effortless. Making oatmeal is like making salad. You can dress it up easily with your favorite nuts, fruits and spreads. Here are some unique combinations found on mrbreakfast.com (with my healthy modifications)

Almond Joy Oatmeal:
-Unsweetened coconut
-1 tablespoon of Nutella
-Almonds, Walnuts, or Semi sweet dark chocolate chip.

Honey/Cream Pineapple Oatmeal:
-Dried pineapple, chopped
-Honey/vanilla yogurt
-Cinnamon

Here is one of my personal combinations:
Banana and Almond butter Oatmeal with Flax
-1 tablespoon of Almond Butter
-1 banana, sliced
-1 tablespoon of grounded flax or flax seeds

Banana and Almond butter Oatmeal with Flax

Microwave 4-5 minutes with water or milk.Making your own creation can be exciting, but be sure to always keep an eye for health. Don’t use too much of anything that is too sugary (this means fun size Reese, Twix or Snickers. I know, it hurts.) Keep in mind that you are trying to maximize the nutrients in your breakfast, not inventing a new kind of dessert. Challenge yourself and create your favorite flavors through healthy alternatives. As for your Reese lovers out there, How does Peanut Butter and Nutella Oatmeal for breakfast sound?

UMBC’s grad students stated that they enjoyed the Dissertation House experience and were pleased with their progress. The week included discussions by the counseling center, an elevator pitch exercise, a writing exercise, and mini-lectures on organization and working with your advisor.  The next Dissertation House will be held at the University of Maryland College Park from tomorrow until Friday.

Students from Gerontology, Information Systems, and Psychology participate in a goal-setting exercise on Day 1 of the UMBC DH.

All students at the UMBC Dissertation House enjoy a daily buffet lunch in UMBC's Skylight Room.

Each mini-lecture includes discussion and feedback. Mini-lectures are scheduled daily between 9 and 10 AM, and between 1 and 2 PM. These students are from Electrical Engineering, Chemistry, and Psychology.