Notable UMBC alumni

Jed Kirschbaum / Baltimore Sun

Diane Bell McKoy, president and CEO of Associated Black Charities and former Baltimore school board member who graduated with UMBC's class of '73, shows her favorite drink ... coffee with four shots of espresso.

Gene Sweeney Jr., The Baltimore Sun

Jazz pianist Lafayette Gilchrist earned a degree in Africana studies from UMBC in 1992.

Jed Kirschbaum / Baltimore Sun

The Rev. Leo Patalinghug, host of the online cooking show "Grace Before Meals," studied political science at UMBC, graduating in 1992. Chef Bobbie Flay challenged the priest at Mount St. Mary's to a cooking throwdown.

Algerina Perna / Baltimore Sun

Richard Chisolm, an Emmy and Peabody award-winning cinematographer, received a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies at UMBC in 1982. He's pictured with a scene from a story on Guatemalan street children called "Childhood," part of a PBS series on children around the world.

Sarah Nix, The Baltimore Sun

WBAL-AM talk show host Shari Elliker is a 1983 UMBC graduate.

Linda Coan, The Baltimore Sun

Director Whiteford, with partner Susan Hannah Hadary, won an Oscar for the 1999 documentary "King Gimp."

Larry French / Getty Images for DC Central Kitchen

Pastry chef supreme Duff Goldman, founder of Baltimore's Charm City Cakes and focus of the Food Network's "Ace of Cakes" show, received a degree in history from UMBC in 1997. He cooks on stage at DC Central Kitchen's Capital Food Fight.

Barbara Haddock Taylor / Baltimore Sun file

Kevin Maxwell is the CEO of Prince George's County's public schools.

Christopher T. Assaf / Baltimore Sun

Brian Dannelly, whose directing credits include the Mandy Moore-Macaulay Culkin comedy "Saved!" and the TV series "Weeds," received a visual arts degree from UMBC in 1997.