Jim Helmer, Oral Communications Center coordinator, was invited to publish a chapter titled “Life in the backstretch” in The Cambridge Companion to Horseracing.

The book, edited by University of London anthropologist Rebecca Cassidy, was launched at an event on May 3 in Newmarket, England.

In addition, Helmer was quoted in an article in The Baltimore Sun about what makes a memorable commencement address. In “Commencement speakers strive to inspire, entertain,” he said students “are looking for some freshness, and they want to have some fun and a little substance to take away as well.” Helmer reminded speakers that “under each of those robes is a smartphone, and to respect what it can do for you or against you.”