Student Spotlight: Katrina Cooper
Katrina Cooper Follows in Her Father’s Footsteps
Date Posted: July 29, 2010
With parents who were active duty in the United States Air Force, Katrina Cooper grew up traveling all over the world. She developed a keen interest in learning about the unique histories of the many places she lived and visited. Read more...
Faculty Focus: Holly Ridgeway
Holly Ridgeway Epitomizes Career and Academic Success
Date Posted: June 10, 2009
Holly Ridgeway went from U.S. Department of Justice to a UMUC student to a UMUC adjunct faculty member teaching Information Systems Management. She credits her students with inspiring her to keep her classes engaging and relevant. Read more...
Faculty Focus: Sylvia Palm
From Robots to Real Disasters, Sylvia Palm Finds New Ways to Inspire
Date Posted: October 27, 2010
BAE Systems' Director of Business Process Improvement Sylvia Palm knows that helping students find passion in their school work takes a little innovation. Read more...
Faculty Focus: Joan Bevelaqua
Joan Bevelaqua Brings Artistic Expression to UMUC
Date Posted: October 28, 2010
Joan Bevelaqua is not only a respected and well-liked collegiate professor of art at UMUC, she is also an accomplished artist who has widely exhibited her work throughout Maryland, D.C., and Virginia for the past 15 years. Read more...
Alumni Spotlight: Mark Banash
Mark A. Banash—Making the Possible Profitable
Date Posted: November 2, 2010
Every day, it seems, the worlds of science and science fiction draw closer together. But for every innovation that makes its way into our daily lives, a dozen others vanish into the daunting divide between the research laboratory and the assembly line... Read more...
Faculty Focus: Majella Stevenson
Military Missions in the Middle East by Day; Math by Night Adjunct Faculty Member Majella Stevenson Shares Her Story
Date Posted: August 10, 2010
School probably isn’t the first thing soldiers think of when they go on deployment to the Middle East. However, a recent education contract with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) may change that for U.S. soldiers. Read more...
Faculty Focus: Alyson Muff
Alyson Muff Inspires Her Students With Humor and Encouragement
Date Posted: August 10, 2009
Alyson Muff gives her students the confidence and humor they need to succeed in her classes. Read more...
Alumni Spotlight: Jonathan Moreno
Jonathan Moreno overcomes many adversities to earn his bachelor's degree.
Date Posted: August 10, 2010
Jonathan Moreno was looking forward to a long career in the U.S. Army when he was injured in combat. Facing the end of his military service, Jonathan prepared for civilian life by earning his BS from UMUC. Read more...
Student Spotlight: Mark Bigelow
From Darkness to Hope: A Near Death Experience Drives Mark Bigelow to Pursue His Degree
Date Posted: July 29, 2010
In 2005, Mark Bigelow suffered a vicious attack from a baseball-wielding madman. He survived against all odds, and is using his second chance to pursue his bachelor's degree and a bright future. Read more...
Alumni Spotlight: Ronald Washington
To Iraq and Back, Ronald Washington Earns His Degree in Fire Science
Date Posted: August 10, 2010
Ronald Washington earned his BS in Fire Science while working as a contracter in Iraq. Back in his home town in Louisiana, Washington now has the credentials to suceed in his competitive safety field and is eligible for a promotion. Read more...
Student Spotlight: Sarah English
Twenty Years After Her Initial Attempt at College, Sarah English Is Preparing to Graduate With Honors
Date Posted: July 29, 2010
The old adage “it’s never too late” couldn’t be truer for Sarah English. More than 20 years after her initial attempt at college, Sarah—a 56-year-old mother and grandmother of two, gave college a second chance. Read more...
Faculty Focus: Tom Locke
FBI Veteran Tom Locke Inspires New Law Enforcement Leaders in the Classroom
Date Posted: August 10, 2009
Tom Locke brings first-hand experiences to his criminal justice courses. A 32-year veteran of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Locke was on the front lines of law enforcement as an investigator and administrator. Read more...
Faculty Focus: Ben Stevenson
Ben Stevenson Takes Students Inside the Corrections Field
Date Posted: October 22, 2010
School of Undergraduate Studies professor Ben Stevenson brings his work as a Correctional Specialist III for the Montgomery County Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to center stage at UMUC. Read more...
Alumni Spotlight: Karren Pope-Onwukwe
Karren Pope-Onwukwe: Embracing Change for the Better
Date Posted: October 26, 2010
When Karren Jo Pope-Onwukwe flashes you her broad smile, it’s probably easier to picture her as the high school teacher or flight attendant that she used to be than it is to see her as the well-known lawyer she is today. Read more...
Faculty Focus: Patti Wolf
Patti Wolf's Quilts are a "Comfort" in More Ways Than One
Date Posted: October 27, 2010
A UMUC instructor since 1999, Patti Wolf teaches Information Systems Management, a program that emphasizes logic and structure. But when she’s not at her “day job,” Patti’s creative side is unleashed. Read more...
Faculty Focus: William Sondervan
William Sondervan’s Quest to Put Troubled Teens Back on Track
Date Posted: October 20, 2010
In his long career in corrections, William Sondervan has met some of the world’s most infamous criminals. While he describes these encounters as “interesting,” they don’t constitute the defining moments of his career. Read more...
Alumni Spotlight: Peter Ollodart
UMUC graduate Peter Ollodart is behind the scenes at Microsoft battling to make the Internet safe for the whole family.
Date Posted: November 2, 2010
For many, surfing the Web is something as common—and casual—as jumping in a car to run an errand or commute to work. But there are hazards in cyberspace, just as there are in rush hour traffic, and safety demands vigilance. Read more...
Alumni Spotlight: Erika White
Through Many Jobs, Erika White Achieves Her AA, BS and Moves on to Her Master’s
Date Posted: July 10, 2009
Erika White transformed from an average high school student to a high-achieving UMUC student with a 3.4 GPA, appearances on the Dean’s List and three honor society memberships. Read more...
Student Spotlight: Joe Beimfohr
Joe Beimfohr’s Inspirational Will to Succeed
Date Posted: October 26, 2010
Joe Beimfohr was deployed to Iraq in January, 2005. Just six months later, on July 5, he was severely wounded when an IED, more commonly known as a “roadside bomb,” exploded on his patrol north of Baghdad. Read more...
Veronica Canadas's Journey to Earn a Master’s Degree
Accounting Major Didn't Let a Civil War and Language Barrier Stop Her
Date Posted: April 3, 2009
As a decade-long civil war raged around her, University of El Salvador student Veronica Canadas was forced to make a difficult choice. Veronica, a law school student at the time, recalls the devastating circumstances she faced in early 1980s El Salvador. Read more...
Alumni Spotlight: Toyshika Epps
Online Classes Helped Toyshika Epps Fulfill a Family Dream
Date Posted: August 5, 2010
Motivated by her parents, Toyshika Epps never gave up on her dream of earning a bachelor's degree. She became the first in her family to graduate from college and now has a job she truly loves. Read more...
Faculty Focus: Robert Dean
Robert Dean’s Students Experience Real-Life "Law and Order" in the Classroom
Date Posted: August 10, 2010
Veteran prosecutor Robert Dean, JD, brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to his criminal justice classes at UMUC. Read more...
Faculty Focus: Jimmy Jones
Jimmy Jones Adds a Human Touch to Information Systems Management
Date Posted: August 10, 2010
Jimmy Jones teaches his Information Systems Management students real-life skills and lessons. And his volunteer work in Washington, D.C., and Nicaragua helps him demonstrate the importance of giving back. Read more...
Faculty Focus: Stefan Sittig
Stefan Sittig Brings Boundless Energy and Enthusiasm to the Classroom
Date Posted: October 20, 2010
As a professor of humanities and theatre for UMUC, it’s no surprise to find that Stefan Sittig is creative and outgoing. What’s striking is Stefan’s unbridled passion about the subjects he teaches and the students he instructs. Read more...
Faculty Focus: Chuck Sterin
Multi-Talented Professor Chuck Sterin Makes Education a Multimedia Experience
Date Posted: October 27, 2010
Years ago, when Chuck Sterin was asked to author two courses at UMUC—COMM 300 Communications Theory and COMM 400 Communication & Media Law, he thought he would merely be authoring the courses, then teaching the test versions. Read more...
Faculty Focus: David Johnson
Dr. David P. Johnson Grows and Excels With UMUC
Date Posted: October 20, 2010
Dr. David P. Johnson, a UMUC faculty and staff member, credits much of his success to the university he has grown up with—UMUC. Read more...
Faculty Focus: Sharon Pinder
Advocate for Small and Minority Businesses: Sharon Pinder's Amazing Accomplishments
Date Posted: October 25, 2010
As a UMUC School of Undergraduate Studies faculty member, Sharon Pinder makes a significant impact on her students worldwide. But her accomplishments extend far beyond UMUC. Read more...
Alumni Spotlight: David Copeman
Alumnus David “Scoop” Copeman Looks Ahead to a Bright Future
Date Posted: October 28, 2010
David “Scoop” Copeman, a highly decorated Navy Seal Senior Chief, began his UMUC master’s degree in Computer Technology with an ambitious goal—to graduate and retire by May 2008. Read more...
Student Spotlight: Kenyatta Robertson
Kenyatta Robertson’s Inspirational, Indomitable Spirit
Date Posted: October 28, 2010
Being a military spouse has its share of challenges. Frequent moves and unpredictable schedules are the norm. But somehow Kenyatta Robertson—a military wife, mother of four, and UMUC graduate school honors student—makes it look easy. Read more...
Faculty Focus: Thomas Huelsmann
Thomas Huelsmann Brings Distance Education Within Reach
Date Posted: October 27, 2010
UMUC’s Master of Distance Education (MDE) program is designed for students who want to gain expertise in managing the distance education enterprise within business, government, educational and non-profit sectors. Read more...
Student Spotlight: Courtney Tipton
Courtney Tipton Keeps It All Together by Planning Ahead
Date Posted: March 2, 2010
Courtney Tipton misses her eight-year-old son’s weekend basketball games—she works on the weekends—but always finds creative ways to show up for her duties in life, work and school. Read more...
Alumni Spotlight: Kevin Ward
Passed Over for a Promotion, Kevin Ward Decides to Finish His Bachelor's After 25 Years
Date Posted: July 10, 2009
Passed over for a promotion, Kevin Ward decided to finish his bachelor's after 25 years. Ward credits his perseverance, coupled with the faculty at UMUC, as integral to completing his degree in Management Studies. Read more...
Faculty Focus: Laureen Marchand
Laureen Marchand: Guiding Students through Gateway of Information
Date Posted: October 21, 2010
UMUC graduate students have at least one thing in common—they are required to take UCSP 611, Introduction to Graduate Library Research Skills. It is only natural that this important gateway course is taught by Laureen Marchand. Read more...
Faculty Focus: Inez Giles
Dr. Inez Giles Weaves Many Interests into Her Life
Date Posted: October 21, 2010
Dr. Inez Giles’ career at UMUC spans more than two decades. During that time, she has instructed classes in everything from basic computing, to education, to human resource management, and currently holds course chair and exam chair positions, as well. Read more...
Faculty Focus: Robert Beauchamp
Robert Beauchamp Promotes a Growing Environment at UMUC
Date Posted: October 20, 2010
Dr. Robert Beauchamp has overseen many advancements in UMUC’s environmental management program. Read more...
Faculty Focus: Michele Washington
Michele Washington Cooks Up Great Educational Experiences
Date Posted: October 20, 2010
Since 2000, Michele Washington has enjoyed teaching information systems management classes as an adjunct professor at UMUC. Read more...
Alumni Spotlight: Eric O'Leary
Eric O’Leary’s Innovative Ideas for Improving His Montana Hometown
Date Posted: October 26, 2010
UMUC - Europe alumnus Eric O’Leary is running for Chief Executive of his hometown, Butte, Montana, a region, long-plagued with environmental and economic concerns. Read more...
Faculty Focus: Konstantin Mekhonoshin
Faculty Member Konstantin Mekhonoshin Applies the Business of Dance to UMUC
Date Posted: October 27, 2010
Konstantin Mekhonoshin has taught business courses at UMUC since 2004—first while he attended George Washington University in the U.S. for a year, and then from his hometown in Irkutsk, Russia. Read more...
Faculty Focus: Robert Goodwin
The Future in the Far East
Date Posted: October 20, 2010
Robert Goodwin is UMUC's resident expert on China—One of the world's most dynamic business environments. This is his story. Read more...
Faculty Focus: Maurice Hladik
Maurice Hladik Brings Energy to the Educational Experience
Date Posted: October 27, 2010
When Maurice Hladik ran into his friend and colleague Jane Ross in Seoul, Korea, he couldn’t have imagined how the course of events would ultimately unfold. Read more...
Faculty Focus: Dawn Smith
Dawn Smith Brings Adventure to the Virtual Classroom
Date Posted: October 27, 2010
Dawn Smith has been teaching undergraduate computer information technology at UMUC for two years now, but says she’s been working in and teaching technology nearly all of her adult life. Read more...
Alumni Spotlight: Jarod Harris
Jarod Harris Shares Technology with Tanzania
Date Posted: November 2, 2010
Jarod Harris knows computers. He knows how they work and how they can benefit a person, a school or even a community. Read more...
Alumni Spotlight: Sudha Rajput
Sudha Rajput’s Never-Ending Love for Learning
Date Posted: August 10, 2010
Eighteen years after earning her bachelor’s degree, Sudha Rajput was ready to resume her love for learning. Read more...
Faculty Focus: Penny Sima
Penny Sima is Dedicated to Lifelong Service
Date Posted: October 28, 2010
While serving in Afghanistan, UMUC graduate Penny Sima witnessed nonprofit organizations in action. Read more...
Student Spotlight: Karissa Poe
Karissa Poe Pursues a Double Master’s Degree Online
Date Posted: July 29, 2010
As a full-time working mother and military spouse, hectic days and frequent moves are a way of life for Karissa Poe. Read more...
Faculty Focus: Subash Bijlani
Linking Lives and Business With a Global Perspective
Date Posted: October 26, 2010
Subash Bijlani brings more than business savvy to UMUC—he brings an award-winning international perspective. Read more...
Student Spotlight: Steve Quillin
Elite Marathon Runner Transitions from Golf Course Management to Business with UMUC MBA
Date Posted: July 29, 2009
MBA student Steve Quillin balances working full-time at a golf course, his MBA courses and schoolwork and his personal life, all while training as an elite marathon runner. Read more...
Faculty Focus: Bill McCaffrey
Teaching to Learn in China: Bill McCaffrey’s Life-Changing Experience
Date Posted: October 28, 2010
The faculty members at UMUC are not only experienced professionals, they are also vibrant, dynamic people with a passion for education. Read more...
Alumni Spotlight: Barry C. West
The 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.
Date Posted: August 10, 2010
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, Barry is one of the youngest chief information officers (CIOs) of a government cabinet-level department. Read more...
Student Spotlight: Sayed Zafar Hashemi
Student Prepares Afghanistan for a New Generation of Leaders, Is Interviewed by PBS
Date Posted: July 29, 2010
After spending his childhood in Afghanistan and weaving carpets as a teenager in Pakistan, 24-year-old Washington, D.C., radio show host Sayed Zafar Hashemi has traveled many miles and crossed countless boundaries. Read more...
Alumni Spotlight: Besa Sadiku
Besa Sadiku Follows Her Dreams to the “City of Hope”
Date Posted: August 5, 2010
Born and raised in Kosovo, Besa Sadiku didn't expect to earn a college degree. After being displaced to a refugee camp, her dreams of an education became real. Today, has she two degrees and a certficate. Read more...
Student Spotlight: Erika Sides
Erika Sides Goes Above the Call of Duty for Operation School Supply
Date Posted: December 2, 2008
Specialist Erika Sides, an active-duty servicemember and UMUC student currently deployed in Iraq, has gone above and beyond her normal call of duty to help the young students of Iraq. Read more...
Faculty Focus: Catherine Campbell
Near and Far, Catherine Campbell Stays Connected to UMUC
Date Posted: August 10, 2009
Faculty member Catherine Campbell’s rich and active history with UMUC began with a teaching position in Maryland in 1989. Since that year, she has contributed in many capacities to the university’s School of Undergraduate Studies (SUS). Read more...
Alumni Spotlight: FBI
UMUC Alumni and FBI Agents—Their Success is No Secret!
Date Posted: October 20, 2010
Their secret identities cannot be revealed, but their achievements can be broadcast for all to admire. These four FBI agents are UMUC alumni who all say that their rise to top was boosted by a UMUC education and degree. Read more...
Faculty Focus: Kevin Murphy
From Gunsmoke to the Shores of Japan: Kevin Murphy Builds a Fascinating Career One Story at a Time
Date Posted: October 21, 2010
Where television left off, Kevin's imagination took over. To calm his sister's concerns for their heroes, he would whisper episode endings to her as she drifted off to sleep. Out of brotherly kindness—or perhaps fate—he became a storyteller. Read more...
Alumni Spotlight: Kulsum Malik
From Rebel Reader to Alumni Achiever: Kay Malik Overcomes Obstacles to Succeed
Date Posted: October 25, 2010
Kulsum (Kay) Malik was told as a girl that books would poison her mind, but she didn’t let that stop her from reading. Read more...
Alumni Spotlight: Chris Jensen
Jensen Gives His All for a "Green" Degree
Date Posted: October 28, 2010
While pursuing his MS in environmental management at UMUC, Chris Jensen had two heart attacks, four stents, and an angioplasty—but this didn’t stop him from reaching his goal. Read more...
Alumni Spotlight: Richard Prather
Richard Prather Earns Three Degrees While Serving His Country
Date Posted: August 10, 2010
Military careers are known for their many rigorous demands, but imagine how taxing it would be to earn three degrees while moving around the world with a wife and two children and working 60-hour weeks as a Navy paralegal. Read more...
Alumni Spotlight: Reginald Daniel
Reginald Daniel—Starting at the Finish Line
Date Posted: October 26, 2010
Modeling himself after a fictional advertising executive was just the first in a series of steps that would allow Reginald Daniel to retire at age 44 and dedicate his time and energy to trying to making the world a better place. Read more...
Alumni Spotlight: Arthur Tyler
From the Streets of D.C. to the Halls of Academe
Date Posted: October 20, 2010
Anyone who doubts the transforming power of education should talk to Arthur Tyler. Read more...
Faculty Focus: Art Huseonica
Art Huseonica Aims High
Date Posted: August 10, 2009
Whether escaping a resurgence of magma from a volcano or climbing one of the world’s most dangerous mountains, Art Huseonica is no stranger to adventure. Read more...
Alumni Spotlight: Celene Parker
Active Alumna Celine Parker Gets the Most Out of Her UMUC Experience
Date Posted: October 28, 2010
UMUC alumna Celine Parker can often be found on-the-go, which is why her ever-evolving career at the Library of Congress is a great fit. An employee since her teens, Celine has steadily advanced within the organization. Read more...
