NOTEWORTHY
Faculty Briefs
Deborah Ford, professor of finance, became the chair of the Division of Economics, Finance and Management in July 2005. Marilyn Oblak, associate professor of management science, stepped down after three years of service.
In August 2005, Oblak and Betsy Yarrison, assistant professor of English and communications design, joined Catherine Albrecht, associate professor of legal, ethical and historical studies, in the Office of the Provost on a part-time basis as Provostal Fellows. Oblak will continue her work as chair of the Lower-Division Education Committee and Yarrison will assist in the development of educational support programs and general education curriculum for the Lower-Division Initiative. She will also work on the UB Policy Manual, including faculty policy sections.
Leigh Goodmark, assistant professor of law, contributed the article "Law is the Answer? Do We Know for Sure? Questioning the Efficacy of Legal Interventions for Battered Women" to the Saint Louis University Public Law Review in 2004. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the National Center for Victims of Crime cited this article in their amici curiae brief to the United States Supreme Court in the Castle Rock v. Gonzales case.
Anne McCarthy, dean of the Merrick School of Business, served as chair and commentator for the first day of the second annual Global Entrepreneurship Monitor conference in Budapest, Hungary, in May 2005. In addition to welcoming Hungarian executives, McCarthy facilitated a discussion about the articles presented during the conference, including research papers about gender differences in entrepreneurial activities.
Lynn McLain, professor of law, testified in support of Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s witness intimidation bills, Senate Bill 188 and House Bill 248, before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee and the Maryland House Judiciary Committee, respectively. McLain was also quoted in the Boston Globe on Feb. 12, 2005, regarding witness intimidation in Baltimore and is currently working with the Maryland Court of Appeals' Rules Committee on a court rule addressing the same issue in civil cases.
Jeffrey Ian Ross, associate professor of criminology, criminal justice and social policy, authored Political Terrorism: An Interdisciplinary Approach, which will be published by Peter Lang in January 2006. His co-edited book Native Americans and the Criminal Justice System will be published in January by Paradigm Publishers. In the past year, Ross has appeared on Larry King Live and The O'Reilley Factor and has been interviewed by local, regional and international radio stations and newspapers. He is currently conducting research on policing in Baltimore and on Supermax prisons.
Debra L. Stanley, associate professor of criminology, criminal justice and social policy and director of the Roper Victim Assistance Academy of Maryland, conducted the second annual training academy for victim service providers in June 2005 at the University of Baltimore. She is currently in the process of developing a more advanced curriculum that will address specific types of crime victimization, victims' rights and victim-related procedures in the criminal justice system. In addition, she will serve as the interim director of the graduate Criminal Justice program while Cindy J. Smith, associate professor of criminology, criminal justice and social policy, is on sabbatical until fall 2006.
In September 2004, the U.S. Congress Coalition on Adoption Institute named Elizabeth Samuels, associate professor of law, an "Angel in Adoption" for her scholarship and advocacy. Samuels also published an op-ed piece on post-adoption contact with birth relatives, was interviewed about adoption legislation in New Hampshire and New Jersey by national and local media and contributed the article "Time to Decide? The Laws Governing Mothers" Consents to the Adoption of Their Newborn Infants? to the Tennessee Law Review.
Merrick School of Business Names Alumna as New Associate Dean
Darlene Brannigan Smith, B.S. ’78, M.B.A. ’80, a former executive administrator and associate professor at Loyola College in Maryland, has been named associate dean for graduate and executive programs for the University of Baltimore Merrick School of Business. This new position within the business school administration will focus on efforts to grow its expanding programs in professional and graduate education, explains Dean Anne McCarthy.
Smith, who spent more than 15 years at Loyola and earned her doctorate at the University of Maryland, College Park, previously taught at the Merrick School of Business in the early 1980s. Her professional background is largely centered on marketing and developing post-graduate business programs.
According to McCarthy, Smith's arrival comes at a time during which the school is gaining recognition for its development of new niche markets in areas such as entrepreneurship, international business and forensic accounting. "We pride ourselves on looking at business and commerce from multiple perspectives," McCarthy says. "Darlene will help us establish the most effective strategy for integrating that into our graduate and executive programs."
As a professor of marketing, Smith has taught at a number of universities—everywhere from The George Washington University and Loyola College to universities in Chile, China, France and Mexico. She has written extensively about marketing for peer-reviewed journals, presented papers at dozens of domestic and international conferences and conducted corporate training programs for numerous organizations.
McCarthy notes that less than one percent of Ph.D.s in the United States began their academic careers at community colleges. As a student, Smith came to UB from Anne Arundel Community College; today, she credits UB with launching her career.
"We are extremely proud of her and are thrilled to have her come home," McCarthy says.
C-Mart Executive Helps Groom Entrepreneurs
Stuart Silberg, B.S. ’71, is a family man.
He made a name for himself as a remarkable businessman through the family business—the renowned Harford County retailer known as C-Mart.
He and his wife, Faye, have raised three children over the years and now have six grandchildren on whom to dote.
And now Silberg, who graduated from UB?s Accounting program and later earned a master's degree in finance from The George Washington University, has committed his expertise and talents to ensure the continued success of his "extended family": the UB community.
In his new position as the first-ever entrepreneur in residence at the Merrick School of Business, Silberg will leverage his wealth of entrepreneurial experience for UB and its students. Drawing upon his experiences as vice president and CFO at C-Mart, a retail operation founded by his brother-in-law—and now run by Silberg's son, Keith—that offers a wealth of goods to consumers at reduced prices and has since become a brand that is ubiquitous in the Baltimore region, Silberg has lofty plans for his role at UB.
"There's a new wave of entrepreneurs out there and we're going to reach them," Silberg says. He wants to develop a "niche market" for UB: an environment in which entrepreneurs learn how to maximize opportunities.
"Every business owner, especially those who must make the weekly payroll, should understand the awesome responsibility they have to those in the organization," Silberg explains. "I want to create a home for students and business owners who want to do more for their chosen venture. What a challenging way for me to give back to the community."
A member of the school's advisory board, Silberg chairs its entrepreneurship council. He has also taught as an adjunct instructor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and has served on a number of local and national boards, including that of the National Sports Museum in New York.
Detective Work by the Numbers
Reacting to significant changes in the marketplace, the Merrick School of Business is ramping up its Accounting program to include a graduate certificate in forensic accounting. This relatively new segment of the accounting profession combines standard bookkeeping skills with those of a detective in order to root out fraud, theft, tax evasion, conspiracy and the like.
The certificate, which comprises more than 12 credits, covers principles in the field, the dissection of financial statements, investigative accounting, and fraud examination and litigation support. Ray Frederick, B.S. ’95, M.B.A. ’97, M.S. ’01 and ’04, graduate adviser for the School of Business, says the certificate has already caught the attention of many students.
"When students find out about it, they see it as a must-do course," he says. "The response has been tremendous."
Thomas Vermeer, associate professor of accounting, says that accounting has become a much more integral and respected part of business operations. That's especially true in the wake of the federal Sarbanes-Oxley Act, a legislative package that compels publicly traded companies to certify their financial statements.
"Accountants were always seen as being in the back room, adding up debits and credits and working on ledger sheets," Vermeer explains. "But with Sarbanes-Oxley, they are needed more than ever. Our financial markets depend on them to ensure that a company's finances are fairly and accurately stated."
The former accountant says that enrollments in accounting classes are up considerably, among both traditional-age and older students. "I like to tell my students that accounting is how they caught Al Capone," Vermeer says. "He didn't pay his taxes.
"A forensic accountant is good to have around when you find out that someone has stolen from you, and you're convinced that even more is missing," he continues.
This branch of the profession was in the spotlight in the wake of Sept. 11, as investigators tracked the financing of the attacks. Examiners also played a key role in tracing the massive fraud perpetrated by leaders at Enron, WorldCom and others.
Vermeer says it is now widely accepted that accountants play a key role in the economy. While their stock isn't as high as those of investment bankers or financial planners, it is climbing steadily.
"A lot of additional responsibility has been placed on business management," he says. "Much of that work goes to accountants. The verdict is still out on whether Sarbanes-Oxley is the best way to go, but the need for accountants to review financial statements is critical—always has been, always will be."
Schaefer Center for Public Policy Celebrates 20th Anniversary
This year marks the 20th anniversary
of one of the University of Baltimore's most well-respected and longstanding
components—the Schaefer Center for Public Policy. An applied research unit within the School of Public Affairs, the center has, since 1985, focused on its
mission of assisting the state's public and nonprofit
sectors through applied research and consulting services that include program evaluation, policy analysis, survey research,
performance measurement and management training.
"The center began with a modest staff and a vision of how to bring University expertise to bear upon the problems faced by decision-makers in government and nonprofit organizations," explains Ann Cotten, M.S. ’86, CERT ’92, D.P.A. ’03, center director.
It wasn't long before the center became both an invaluable element of the University and a vital resource for its clients. Uniquely organized to conduct full-scale professional evaluations of the effectiveness of government programs, the center's services have been retained by the likes of the Maryland Department of Human Resources, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Baltimore Empowerment Zone and the Enoch Pratt Free Library.
"We've also been a major force in the introduction of strategic planning and performance measurement to Maryland state government agencies," Cotten says, noting that center staff members have trained more than 4,600 state managers since 1997.
In addition, the center's survey research operation has grown from pencil-and-paper surveys to a 20-station, computer-aided telephone interviewing lab complemented by online survey capabilities and professional focus-group moderation.
With a core staff that now numbers nine full-time employees, 11 faculty research associates, five graduate fellows, 50 telephone interviewers and numerous temporary employees, the Schaefer Center has solidified its position as a consistent provider of quality consulting services. From the Governor's Office of Children, Youth and Families to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the State Highway Administration, the center has impacted a wide array of local, state and federal agencies throughout the past 20 years. "Through its consulting and training services, the center will continue to promote excellence in government and build leadership capacity in the state," Cotten says.
UB Legal Team Impacts State Legislation
Dan Hatcher, a new assistant professor at the UB School of Law, wasted no time in implementing the school's mission of practical, hands-on education in his first year as a UB instructor.
As part of the Civil Advocacy Clinic staff, Hatcher's focus is on representing low-income clients in a range of civil matters, including consumer, housing and employment issues as well as public benefits. Not surprisingly, one piece of proposed legislation—HB 1024, "Public Assistance—Eligibility for Residents Convicted of a Felony Involving a Controlled Dangerous Substance"—caught his eye last fall. Designed to expand eligibility for food stamps to individuals who desperately need the assistance, the bill had the potential to significantly impact his clients for the better.
The bill prompted Hatcher to work with Jason Potter, J.D. ’05 (then a third-year law student), in late 2004 on developing written and oral testimony to the Maryland General Assembly that, coupled with the efforts of other advocates, would make clear the legislation's widespread benefits. "Jason was the only person who, in his testimony, addressed important questions regarding the General Assembly's concerns on the fraudulent use of food stamp benefits, in addition to how such concern is being well addressed in Maryland and should not weigh against passage of this legislation," Hatcher explains. "His testimony on behalf of the Civil Advocacy Clinic was excellent—concise and persuasive."
As additional support, Hatcher crafted an op-ed about the legislation for The Daily Record's weekly "UB Viewpoint" column in February 2005 and also submitted the piece to the General Assembly. On May 26, 2005, Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. signed the bill into law.
"While we weren't the lead advocate on this legislation, I do believe that the clinic's participation and our collaboration with other advocates offered crucial support for the bill's success," Hatcher says. "Plus, it was an ideal learning experience for Jason."
3rd annual UB Community Service Day
On May 6, 2005, more than 120 members of the UB community took the day off from their regular jobs to lend a helping hand across the city for UB's third annual Community Service Day. After gathering on Gordon Plaza in the early morning, various teams of faculty, staff and students went off to 12 different sites—which included the Midtown Academy, Maryland Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, Cylburn Arboretum Association, Sandtown Habitat for Humanity and Community Building Partnerships—to spend the day gardening, painting, distributing meals, preparing a park for a community fair and even cleaning out and beginning to renovate an old city row house.
The teams later regrouped in the lower level of the John and Frances Angelos Law Center to share their experiences with one another and to enjoy some hard-earned refreshments.
This year's event, organized by the Center for Student Involvement, was sponsored by Skanska Construction, Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects, UB's Office of the President, MTV-U and 7-11. The next Community Service Day is scheduled for April 21, 2006.
UB Professors Help Enhance the Sweet Smell of Success at Local Cafe?
The lure of homemade ice cream and fresh, aromatic coffee can be strong, particularly when it's only a block away. And thus explains the constant flow of UB faculty, staff and students inside the doors of the Sylvan Beach Cafe, a nonprofit eatery situated on Preston Street behind UB's William H. Thumel Sr. Business Center.
Lately, three UB faculty members in particular—Danielle Fowler, assistant professor of management information systems; Michele Gilligan, associate professor of law; and Marilyn Oblak, associate professor of management science—have become veritable regulars at the shop thanks to more than just the tempting fare; they've secured a grant allowing them to upgrade the facility's technological and marketing capabilities.
As the flagship location of the Sylvan Beach Foundation, an entrepreneurial nonprofit organization designed to foster education, responsibility and purpose among disadvantaged 18- to 22-year-old Baltimore men, the cafe—owned and run by former accountant Sean Smeeton—has been a favorite haunt of the UB community for years. Faculty and students alike have befriended the charismatic men who staff the front counter, prepare everything from ice cream to gourmet sandwiches and live in rooms above the main restaurant while studying to earn their GED degrees and learning what Smeeton calls "life skills."
In recent months, the foundation has also opened a second location—the Mt. Washington Scoops Shop—to offer up the signature flavors of the Sylvan Beach Homemade Ice Cream Company.
With a lofty mission and a steadily growing roster of employees, the foundation quickly developed a need for sound business and technological advice. Enter Fowler, Gilligan and Oblak, the latter two of whom serve on the foundation's board of directors. With a Baltimore Renaissance Scholars Seed Fund grant in hand, the three professors committed last January to providing much-needed assistance in several areas, including the development and maintenance of a Web site as well as the creation and distribution of a regular newsletter and promotional brochures.
With these key projects now underway and new computer equipment onsite, the professors will also train Sylvan Beach residents in the skills necessary to maintain the Web site, newsletter and brochures. In addition, UB students—under the joint supervision of UB faculty and Sylvan Beach staff—will continue to work with the foundation to both ensure the progress of these particular projects and analyze and address future priorities.
"Being right next to the Sylvan Beach Cafe and Foundation, I hope we at UB can form a partnership that enables its residents to become part of the UB community—and, eventually, to become UB students," Gilligan says. "Working with Sylvan will give our students a prime opportunity to put their classroom skills to use as they set up and provide instruction on the computer systems necessary to advance this neighborhood nonprofit's worthy mission."