ME Welcomes New Administrative Staff

Mechanical engineering welcomes a number of recent arrivals to the graduate program and elsewhere within the department.

Fitz Walker and Amarildo Damata joined early this spring, both as Graduate Studies Coordinators. Fitz worked in the Office of International Education Services (IES) for 7 years before joining ME, and brings with him invaluable student advising experience to the department. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, has a passion for gardening, and unwinds by playing the saxophone.

Amarildo Damata joins ME after working for the university Graduate School for 5 years, and assures the graduate department another advisor who works well with people. Amarildo graduated from the University in Brazil with an M.S. in Agricultural Engineering, and graduated from the University of Maryland with another M.S. in Biological Resources Engineering. He enjoys cooking “juicy Brazilian dishes,” traveling, and lived in Oxford before moving to the U.S.

Felicia Stephenson was recently hired as Coordinator & Assistant to the Chair. Felicia comes to us from the University of California Santa Barbara where she was the Assistant to the Chair, Chemical Engineering, and later promoted to Business Manager of the Black Studies department.

You’ve probably already met Dee Brooks, who welcomes everyone in the main ME office as an Administrative Assistant II. Dee was hired on as a permanent employee after temping for a time under Terp Services. Dee is a longtime resident of College Park, but originally hails from McAlester, Oklahoma. “Basketball is my passion,” and Dee can fill you in on the most current Terp Basketball action and results.

Steve Wicker has been serving as Payroll Coordinator since the fall of 2006, reminding everyone to fill in your timesheets. Previously, Steve worked for UMUC as a faculty services specialist working with the UMUC PeopleSoft payroll and scheduling system. Steve is originally from Baltimore and was once a professional bowler, and can be found on the International Bowling Hall of Fame website.