News Updates and Briefs

Joseph Sheppard Comes to UMUC

Rene Sanjines (left), fine arts technician, and Sanjay Cattungal, student worker, position internationally acclaimed Maryland realist Joseph Sheppard's 1999 painting Halloween in UMUC's Arts Program Gallery on the lower level of the Inn and Conference Center. Sheppard's 1994 bronze sculpture, Lady in a Chair, is on the right. An exhibition of Sheppard's works opens with a reception on November 17, 2002, and runs through March 16, 2003. For more information, visit the Web site.

UMUC Establishes Scholarship Funds for First Responders

By Andrea Martino

In the wake of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and in honor of the heroism displayed by fire, rescue, and public safety personnel, UMUC's National Leadership Institute (NLI) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the professional association for senior fire and emergency service leaders around the world, have joined together to establish scholarship funds for the leadership training of fire chiefs and chief fire officers.

Scholarship recipients will participate in NLI's internationally acclaimed Leadership Development Program®. During the week-long leadership seminar, participants will engage in experiential learning exercises, receive feedback from various assessment tools, develop their coaching and mentoring skills, and participate in confidential, one-on-one executive coaching sessions.

"The current level of responsibility placed upon leaders of the fire service demands a skill level and expertise which is unparalleled in any other kind of organization. In the fire service of the 21st century," said Randy R. Bruegman, fire chief of Clackamas County Fire District No. 1, in Clackamas County, Oregon, "the nature of threats may have changed, but the need to rely upon highly trained, skilled individuals dedicated to protecting their communities never will."

For information about contributing to the funds, call the University's Advancement Office at 240-684-5100.

UMUC Kicks Off Maryland Charities Campaign

Paula Reed (center), chair of this year's Maryland Charities Campaign and director of University Outreach Marketing, talks with Jan Bresch Mahrer (left), director of development and public relations for The Children's Inn at NIH—one of the beneficiaries of this year's fundraising campaign—as Kathleen Taff (right), of Course Development, looks on. UMUC kicked off the campaign, entitled "Building Better Communities—2002gether," on November 6, 2002, with a mid-morning coffee break. This year's goal is to raise $25,000. The campaign will run through December 12, 2002. For more information, contact Paula Reed, chair of this year's campaign, via e-mail at preed@umuc.edu or by telephone at 240-582-2519.