The theme of the June 1, 2024 virtual Gathering was “Life After Maryland” and featured a panel of OMA colleagues who went on to pursue new passions and careers built on their Maryland overseas roots. The panel discussed how the Maryland overseas experiences in the European and Asian Divisions helped shape their futures.

PANEL BIOGRAPHIES

ANAND KRISHNA:  I worked for UMUC from 2000-2009.  I started as a faculty member teaching Psychology and Statistics in Japan and South Korea (2000-2002).  I then served as an administrator in various iterations (Distance Education Director, Area Director, Service Program Director) in Japan (2002-2006) and Germany (2006-2009). It was my first job out of graduate school, and I could not have been more lucky, in particular to Joe Arden and Rosemary Hoffmann, who said yes to a persistent graduate student looking to travel the world.  I serve now as a Foreign Service Officer, posted to Almaty, Kazakhstan.  In many ways, working for UMUC was like being a diplomat: traveling to far-flung places, sharing one’s culture and knowledge, taking in local customs and traditions, and hopefully making a positive contribution to the world.  

Ultimately education is about increasing student awareness of the past, understanding the mechanisms of the present, and preparing for the challenges of the future.  It is noble work, and all very relevant to diplomacy as well.  Though I was part of the UMUC family less than a decade, it’s played an outsized role in my life.

RODNEY ROMIG has a BA in English and a PhD in Economics from the U. of Nebraska. He lived and worked in Asia for two years and Europe for ten years; two with the U. of Maryland’s undergraduate program, five with Troy University and three with Boston U. in MBA programs.  For nineteen years, he lived and worked in Hawaii where he served for twelve years as the Dean of the College of Business Administration and Professor of Economics at Hawaii Pacific University.  He was a regular columnist for Pacific Business News for several years and served on numerous local not-for-profit boards, including the Hawaii International Film Festival.  He still travels extensively from his home in Sarasota, Fl. to South America, the Middle East, the Near East and Europe.

His twelve entertaining Dr. Dan Trix travel-mystery novels are available as both Kindle ebooks and paperback (see rodneyromig.com). Bad Ground (Trix # 12) is also available as an audiobook on Kobo.  It was the first audiobook created with AI tools that has individual characters, with foreign accents as required, in contrast with the conventional one-reader audiobook.

Lakeside, a noir suspense novel, was award the 2013 Royal Palm Award for best published literary novel.  One A Day: Bites to Better Business, columns from Pacific Business News, a compilation of mostly wry observations on business and the people that inhabit contemporary organizations, is also available.

VERNON H. TAYLOR:  As a proud native of Sandybottom, Georgia, nestled amidst the swampy wilderness, I embarked on a journey fueled by a deep-rooted desire to serve and educate, aiming to leave a positive impact on the lives of others.  Raised with the guiding principles of integrity, perseverance, and humility, I embraced a steadfast commitment to making a meaningful difference in the world. Following three years of active duty in Germany with the U.S. Army, I seized the opportunity to utilize my GI Bill benefits, earning undergraduate degrees in Law Enforcement, Business Management, and Social Science from the transformative University of Maryland, an experience that shaped my trajectory profoundly.  My educational journey culminated in a graduate degree in Guidance Counseling from Boston University, equipping me with the tools to empower and uplift those around me.

Throughout my diverse career, I have assumed various roles dedicated to education and public service, from serving as Director of Learning to Equal Employment Opportunity Counselor and Education Officer in both the Army and Air Force.  As the President of the Vernon Taylor Enterprise Alliance (VTEA), I remain committed to pioneering initiatives that bridge the gap between education, training, and industry needs, particularly focusing on underserved communities.  Among my proudest achievements is the initiation of the Joint Services Transcript (JST), a testament to my dedication to facilitating opportunities for others.  Honors such as the John Brian Service and Leadership Award and the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award serve as acknowledgments of my contributions, yet my true fulfillment lies in the positive impact I strive to have on the lives of others, and the lasting impressions of warmth and empowerment I leave behind.

CLAUDINE WEATHERFORD:  I devoted close to forty years to teaching (anthropology, archaeology; management and organization studies), training, and administering adult learning programs.  I worked for University of Maryland University College (UMUC), in College Park and in the European Division full-time or as an adjunct for many years.  In the early 2000’s, I began doing travel management consulting with Grand Asian Journeys (Seattle, WA) and Crystal Mountain Treks (Kathmandu), combining my anthropology and management background with my passion for trekking.

Before I retired from UMUC (Now University of Maryland Global Campus) in 2017, I founded Raven Rocks Resources (RRR), and became an adventure travel advisor for older (aka geezers), fit-enough, wannabe adventurers.  I design customized, life-transforming adventures, focusing on cultural and educational itineraries, coordinated and supported by local, community-based travel specialists in lieu of often costly third-party agents, institutions and organizations.  (Clients’ payments go in full directly to the host community’s economy — I negotiate/barter adventure opportunities with the local specialists instead of collecting a fee).  Most RRR itineraries feature destinations and host communities offering authentic experiences and a distinct lack of Western-style plumbing and other amenities.  For more information go to ravenrocks.com.

MODERATOR:  The panel moderator is Thomas Hale, Ph.D. who served as OMA Chairperson, 2017-2019. In his overseas years with Maryland, 1984-1987, Tom taught economics in Germany, Belgium, Spain and Italy.  After returning to the United States he continued teaching for UMGC in the Adelphi area and online until 2001.  From 1988 through 2020 Tom worked for EPA, Department of Energy, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Social Security Administration.  He and his wife, Ann, are now retired in Tucson, AZ.