The Campaign for Maryland Brief, Great Expectations, University of Maryland

September-October 2007

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Oct. 6: AGNR Open House
10 a.m.–3 p.m., Central Maryland Research and Education Center, 4240 Folly Quarter Rd., Ellicott City, Md.
This is a great opportunity for the general public to learn about the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, its academic programs, research programs across the state, and how Maryland Cooperative Extension strives to meet the needs of our citizens. For more information, call 301.405.2128.

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Oct. 7: Brunch and Gallery Exhibit of Ancient Stabiae
12 p.m.-4 p.m., Home of Hal '65 and Diane Brierley and Dallas Museum of Art
Meet fellow Terps and Professor Pietro Giovanni Guzzo, superintendent of archaeology of Pompeii, for brunch then explore ancient seaside villas of the Roman elite in an exhibit titled, "From the Ashes of Vesuvius" at the Dallas Museum of Art. For more information call 301.405.6542.

Oct. 12: MacLeod Lecture in Children's Literature
4 p.m.–5:30 p.m., UMUC Inn and Conference Center
Come join renowned children's book critic and historian Leonard S. Marcus as he shares an illustrated presentation on American children's literature and the impact of Little Golden Books. The College of Information Studies hosts the lecture and book signing. For more information call 301.405.2038.

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Oct. 17: Driskell Center Inaugural Exhibition Opening
5 p.m.–7 p.m., Cole Student Activities Building
Come inaugurate the new space for the David C. Driskell Center for the Study of Visual Arts and Culture of African Americans and the African Diaspora in the Cole Student Activities Building. The reception opens the center's first resident show, "Evolution: Five Decades of Printmaking by David C. Driskell." For more information call 301.314.2615 .

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Oct. 19: Inside Maryland
11 a.m.–6 p.m., Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center
Special guests will enjoy a day of lectures and lively discussion with some of Maryland's top faculty scholars working at the forefront of issues confronting the world today including the Middle East, American politics, global health challenges and climate change. For more information call 301.405.4568.

Oct. 19: Smith School of Business Campaign Celebration
6:30 p.m., Van Munching Hall
Special invited guests will join the Robert H. Smith School of Business in celebration of its ongoing success in the Great Expectations campaign and the effort to propel the Smith School to greatness. For more information call 301.405.9463.

Oct. 23: First Year Book Lecture
4 p.m., Stamp Student Union Hoff Theater
Acclaimed author Mike Tidwell discusses his book, The Ravaging Tide: Strange Weather, Future Katrinas, and the Coming Death of America's Coastal Cities, the 2007-2008 First Year Book.

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Nov. 8: Maryland Society
6 p.m.–9 p.m., Cole Field House
Maryland Society members will embark on a whirlwind journey around the world—lasting just one evening—that showcases the university's global initiatives. For more information, call 301.405.6826.

Major Gifts, Major Impacts

Mathematics Professor Makes Probabilities Become Possibilities

ince immigrating to the United States nearly 30 years ago, Michael and Eugenia Brin's lives have flourished in their respective fields. Michael is an internationally renowned mathematics scholar of dynamical systems, a multidisciplinary field that examines order in chaos, as in mechanical and electrical systems. Eugenia is studying data assimilation and its impact on weather prediction at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

Humbled and grateful for their experience since arriving in Maryland, the couple generously gave $2.72 million to the College of Computer, Mathematical and Physical Sciences for the following endowments in the name of Michael Brin: Endowed Chair in Mathematics, Graduate Student Endowed Fellowship, Endowed Postdoctoral Fellowship and Prize in Dynamical Systems. Their gift also includes The Eugenia Brin Professorship Fund in the area of meteorology. "We hope to attract good graduate students under the direction of a distinguished professor who will maintain scientific and research contacts at Goddard and NOAA," says Eugenia.

Mathematics is a common theme in the Brin family. When he entered Moscow State University, Michael wanted to be an astrophysicist. However, he was not allowed to study astronomy or physics because of his Jewish origins. "So I chose something that was close—mathematics," says Brin. Even though he graduated with honors, he was not accepted into graduate school because of anti-Semitism. Following graduation, he worked as an economist during the day, and delved into his passion—mathematics research—during the evening. Eugenia worked as a mathematics research analyst in Russia's oil and gas industry.

Today the Brins are finding much fulfillment in their work and their philanthropy. The Michael Brin Prize in Dynamical Systems honors a promising researcher for a specific achievement in one or more papers rather than lifetime achievement. "The establishment of the prize is something I have always wanted to do," says Michael.

Vadim Kaloshin, the first to hold the Michael Brin Chair in Mathematics, joined the faculty this semester. Five years after completing his doctorate, Kaloshin solved several important mathematical problems that dynamics experts had tried to solve for decades. Through Kaloshin's work and by securing more exceptional scholars with the other endowments, the Brins hope greater attention will be focused on their research fields.

The Brins are nurturing a new generation of math and science leaders. Their son, computer science alumnus Sergey '93, is a co-founder and president of technology of Google. His younger brother Sam is majoring in physics at Maryland.

"When I came out of Russia," says Michael, "I was met with friendship, cordiality and hospitality beyond anything I could imagine."

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Published by the University of Maryland 2007