Her research focuses on the 19th-century Baltimore Quaker philanthropist Joseph Townsend. She works on-campus as an assistant at the Albin O. Kuhn Library Special Collections and she is a member of the UMBC Catholic Retrievers and of the History Student Council and National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
Is this your first independent research project?
No; this project actually grew out of a research position with the Baltimore Equitable Insurance Company, who were looking in the summer of 2012 for students to do research on their early directors, including Joseph Townsend. This translated into an Independent Study course in the Fall of 2012, and I've been continuing this work through the Spring and look to finish compiling my research during the Summer of 2013.
How did you know this was the project you wanted to do?
I had been researching Townsend along with several other Baltimore businessmen for my work with Baltimore Equitable, but I became particularly interested in Townsend once I began learning about his life. He was a key player in several of Baltimore's major historical events, and was even involved in a few scandals, and yet no one seems to know him. I knew once I had learned so much about his life through my BEI research that I could not leave this fascinating subject alone; I wanted to learn more about how he fit into Baltimore society and how he came to leave the legacy that he did.
How did you find your mentor for your research?
Dr. Kars was instrumental in helping me connect with Baltimore Equitable when they were looking for students to research their early history. She has helped me with my research from the beginning, and was my mentor in Fall 2012 when my research became an Independent Study course. She has helped me so much during my time working with Baltimore Equitable, and so it was only natural that I ask her to be my mentor for this project, which has grown out of that work.
What has been the hardest part about your research?
For my research, it has been difficult just to sift through all the information available to me. Living so close to Baltimore and having access to the Baltimore Equitable Collection and other collections at the Maryland Historical Society, as well as the Arnold Maryland History Collection at the UMBC Special Collections, and many of College Park's libraries, there is certainly no dearth of information for me to find! The trouble is finding the most useful or most interesting pieces of information and fitting them together - making an engaging story out of the mountains of facts.
What else are you involved in on campus?
I am a student assistant at our Library's Special Collections, and am very proud member of the UMBC Catholic Retrievers, as well as of the History Student Council and National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
What is your advice to other students about getting involved in research?
Trust me - there is room for it! I was worried going into my research that I wouldn't be able to handle it with a full course load and a job, but it has been really fulfilling, and I would encourage any student considering pursuing a research project not to be intimidated with the thought of extra work. It's well worth it, and is a great way to break out of the routine of classes and create new scholarship in addition to studying others!
Read her abstract here...
]]>The UMBC Department of Africana Studies’ 2014 Summer Study Abroad Program to Ghana, West Africa, to be held July 6 – August 4, will explore the diverse and unique heritage of Ghana. Combining classroom, laboratory, and field-based academic study, intense language lessons, supervised intercultural exchanges with Ghanaian governmental and non-governmental officials, and guided-sightseeing activities to select historical and cultural sites, this four-week program will enable participants to learn about Ghana’s cultural, political, and economic heritage and the consequent impact of this heritage on the region and the continent. Participants will also learn about the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, the African anti-colonialism movement, Ghana’s experiences with different political systems, the Akan Twi language system, and the intersections of culture, language, religion, and regionalism within the Ghanaian political and economic structure.
All inclusive price is $3,872 and includes 4-credits of tuition, roundtrip international airfare, lodging and meals.
We especially encourage applications from current K-12 educators in Maryland, from undergraduates and graduate students with an interest in becoming K-16 educators, and others currently enrolled in teacher certification programs.
]]>Application deadline SOON.
If you think you will be applying for a URA, e-mail mcglynn@umbc.edu to be included on the list of interested students.
The iSchool Inclusion Institute (i3) is an undergraduate research program that prepares students from underrepresented populations for graduate study and careers in the information sciences. Students undertake a year-long experience that includes two summer institutes held at the University of Pittsburgh and a year-long team research project. Students are immersed in special-topics workshops, professional development seminars, research projects, and network-building opportunities.
Past i3 Scholars have completed a variety of interdisciplinary research projects. A sample of past project topics have included:
The 2014 i3 will be held at the University of Pittsburgh's School of Information Sciences from June 1-27, 2014.
]]>These honors are only for students who took classes full-time and the credits were not taken as pass/fail.
http://inds.umbc.edu/about/academic-awards/
Will YOU be on the list next semester? We can work with you to make it happen!
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