[11/2/2009] -- Dr. James Clements (BS-CS'85, MS-IS’91, PhD-IS''93) took office as the 23rd President of West Virginia University on June 30th of this year. However, his aspirations of being a professor and eventually a top administrator in higher education began more than twenty years ago while he was a student at UMBC. On the evening of Thursday, October 15th, at the campus’ Albin O. Kuhn Library, Dr. Clements expressed some wonderful recollections of his academic studies at UMBC as he accepted the honor of UMBC Outstanding Alumni of the Year from The College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT).

Dr. Clements thanked IS Department Professors Dr. Guisseppi Forgionne and Dr. Anthony Norcio for their mentorship. He also noted in his acceptance speech that the value of the UMBC degree has continued to grow due to the increased recognition the university receives each year as a leading university.

For two consecutive years Information Systems alumni have been awarded UMBC Alumni of the Year honors. In addition to Dr. Clements receiving the honors this year, Dr. Stephanie Reel, IS, ’85, was named UMBC’s Outstanding Alumna, Engineering and Information Technology in 2008.

Original Story: http://www.is.umbc.edu/news_events.asp?ID=101