All posts by: UMBC News Staff

Valedictorian Katelyn Seale heads to medical school with sensitivity to diversity and a strong research background

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Katelyn Seale
B.S. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Summa Cum Laude
Hometown: Ellicott City, Maryland
Plans: M.D., University of Maryland School of Medicine

With every conversation and interaction, I have had the opportunity to learn something new about people…I know that I am equipped to succeed in a medical career because of these experiences at UMBC.

Katelyn Seale, UMBC’s Class of 2016 valedictorian, is a future doctor determined to be sensitive to the diverse needs and life experiences of all of her patients.

Like many students in her medical school cohort, Seale will begin her program with a strong academic background in chemistry and biology, and robust hands-on research experience. “My hours in the lab struggling to explain or duplicate results have made me a stronger student and problem-solver,” she says.

She’ll also come in with a more unique skill set of building relationships beyond the lab, planning events, and connecting with people from many different communities, after three years on the executive board of UMBC’s Student Events Board and service through the Shriver Center. “With every conversation and interaction, I have had the opportunity to learn something new about people,” she says, sharing that her broader perspective “will be incredibly valuable in a medical field.”

Seale earned the Student Recognition Award for the chemistry and biochemistry department and was admitted into both Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Beta Kappa honor societies. Her UMBC education was supported by a President’s Scholarship.

Images: Through her work on UMBC’s Student Events Board, Seale planned the UMBC Color Run, a fun and healthy event for students; photo courtesy of Katelyn Seale. Portrait by Marlayna Demond ‘11 for UMBC.

Salutatorian Ashby Henningsen to pursue a public service career dedicated to human rights

Ashby Henningsen
B.A., Political Science; B.A., Global Studies
Summa Cum Laude
Hometown: Parkville, Maryland
Plans: Intern, International Justice Mission

My friends in the Sondheim Scholars program represent the many individuals who have helped me grow, both intellectually and personally. They embody the best that this community has given me and taught me over the course of these past four years.

During his time at UMBC, Ashby Henningsen has developed lasting friendships with fellow Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars thanks to a shared commitment to personal growth and public service. For Henningsen, UMBC’s Class of 2016 salutatorian, that commitment focuses on human rights issues.

Ashby Henningsen poses with other UMBC Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar

Henningsen has volunteered with the Refugee Youth Project and The Choice Program at UMBC’s Shriver Center. He has also interned for two nonprofit organizations in Baltimore, Advocates for Survivors of Torture and Trauma and the Next One Up Foundation, and served as assistant news editor for The Retriever Weekly.

In 2015, Henningsen participated in the Public Policy and International Affairs Junior Summer Institute at Princeton University, a seven-week program structured to introduce and strengthen skills in economics, statistics, policy analysis, writing, and public speaking. Through experiences inside and outside the classroom, he’s also further developed the critical analysis, professional writing, and speaking skills he’ll need to pursue a career in international affairs and public administration.

Henningsen graduates with a 4.0 GPA and Outstanding Scholar accolades from both political science and global studies. He will complete an internship with the International Justice Mission in Washington, D.C. in summer 2016, during the review period for his application to the Peace Corps.

Images: Ashby Henningsen poses with other UMBC Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar; photo courtesy of Ashby Henningsen. Portrait by Marlayna Demond ‘11 for UMBC.

Sayo McCowin to pursue M.D./Ph.D. after transformative experience researching HIV

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Sayo McCowin
B.S., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Cum Laude
Hometown: Arlington, Virginia
Plans: M.D./Ph.D., University of Virginia School of Medicine

I know that upon leaving this university I will be able to thrive in any environment. The faculty, students, and staff of UMBC have shown unrivaled support and continue to inspire me as I prepare to embark on this new chapter in my life.

The UMBC experience challenged Sayo McCowin to “perform better not just as a student, but also as an all-around human being,” he says.

In addition to pursuing substantial research as a Meyerhoff Scholar, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Scholar, National Institute on Drug Abuse Scholar, and Department of Energy Scholar, McCowin served as a leader in the campus community. His experiences include service as an Academic Integrity Board member, undergraduate program board member, and Lambda Chi Alpha president.

While McCowin’s work on the three-dimensional structure of components of the HIV-1 virus in Michael Summers’s lab grew his passion for research, his service on campus broadened his connections with students across the university.

McCowin credits the support he found at UMBC for enabling him to pursue the M.D./Ph.D. degree he has long aspired and worked toward.

Images: Participating in the Summers lab at UMBC enabled McCowin to pursue his passion for medical research; photos by Marlayna Demond ‘11 for UMBC.

 

Biology grad Corey Carter named 2016 Baltimore County Public Schools Teacher of the Year

Corey Carter ’08, biological sciences, ’10 M.A.T., has been selected as 2016 Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) Teacher of the Year. The recognition was announced during an April 20th ceremony at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology in Towson.

Carter currently teaches science and co-founded the My Brother’s Keeper Mentoring program at Old Court Middle School in Pikesville. He previously taught for three years at Rayner Brown Elementary Middle School in Baltimore.

“Corey Carter sets a wonderful example of what teaching in Baltimore County looks like,” BCPS Superintendent Dallas Dance said in a news release announcing the award. “He concentrates on the whole child and fosters relationships with each and every student who comes through his door. Not only that, but he gives students the tools and confidence they need to be in charge of their own learning, and places an emphasis on critical thinking.”

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Corey Carter with Rehana Shafi after receiving the award.

“Every day, teachers must blend life lessons, content, assessments, feedback, and a sprinkling of high-fives all in pursuit of impacting a young life. But the true impact of educating others is as much about sharing knowledge as it is learning from them,” Carter said in the news release. “In fact, teaching has been most rewarding when showing others what they have taught me. My students push me to listen more, celebrate more, and to show them why I love what I do.”

At UMBC, Carter was a Sherman Scholar and is an active alumnus and member of the Sherman Program Alumni Advisory Board. As BCPS Teacher of the Year, he will compete for the honor of Maryland State Teacher of the Year.

“Corey’s journey is a wonderful example of why the support provided by the Sherman Scholars Program, both during a student’s time at UMBC and during their first few years teaching, is so important,” explained Rehana Shafi, director of the Sherman STEM Teacher Scholars Program.

For more information, read “Baltimore County names Teacher of the Year” in The Baltimore Sun.

Earlier this month, Shalonda Holt ’07 biological sciences, teaching certificate in education, was named the 2016 Washington Post Teacher of the Year and Howard County Teacher of the Year.

Update: Carter was featured in an Education Post article on June 6, 2016. 

Gaurav Luthria to pursue bioinformatics Ph.D. at Harvard after intensive research experiences at UMBC

Gaurav Luthria
B.S., Bioinformatics
Summa Cum Laude
Hometown: Laurel, Maryland
Plans: Ph.D. in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, Harvard

UMBC has opened the doors to so many new opportunities. Working on various research projects, participating in hackathons, and learning from my professors at UMBC has been invaluable in shaping my career aspirations.

During his years at UMBC, Gaurav Luthria has used bioinformatics to explore a variety of research fields. At an internship at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine he studied genetic relationships among ancestral African populations, and at the Health Sciences and Technology Division (a joint initiative between MIT and Harvard) he used social media data to study neurodevelopmental disorders. Here at UMBC, Luthria developed algorithms to elucidate the structure of RNA molecules.

As a Meyerhoff and MARC U*STAR scholar Luthria received key mentorship that helped him establish and achieve his goals. He was also inducted into the academic honor society Phi Beta Kappa and the Carson Scholars Hall of Fame, and he received a Barry Goldwater Scholarship honorable mention.

Luthria gave back to the UMBC community by serving as a chemistry tutor and genetics teaching assistant.

Images: Luthria presents research at the end of his freshman year; photo courtesy Gaurav Luthria. Portrait by Marlayna Demond ‘11 for UMBC.

Grace Choi, heading to biostatistics Ph.D., balances academics and commitment to community

Grace Choi
B.S., Mathematics and Statistics
Summa Cum Laude
Hometown: Ellicott City, Maryland
Plans: Ph.D. in Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania

The support from faculty and availability of undergraduate research opportunities have helped me gain vital work experience and discern my passions and skills. The rigor of UMBC classes helped me grow academically and highlighted the importance of group studying.

Choi emceeing an InterVarsity large group meeting, an activity that helped her broaden her perspectives; photo courtesy Grace Choi. Portrait by Marlayna Demond ‘11 for UMBC.
Images: Choi emceeing an InterVarsity large group meeting, an activity that helped her broaden her perspectives; photo courtesy Grace Choi. Portrait by Marlayna Demond ‘11 for UMBC.

Grace Choi is an outstanding example of the UMBC student drive to pursue academic excellence at its highest levels while also taking time to support communities and causes of personal resonance.
Graduating with a 4.0, Choi has been admitted into the Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society and placed on the UMBC President’s Academic List. She has received numerous departmental awards, including the Outstanding Learning Assistant in Physics and Outstanding Graduating Senior in Statistics. She also received support from the UMBC Centennial Award Scholarship and Sinha Endowment for Excellence in Statistics.

Beyond the classroom, Choi has served as mission and advocacy chair for UMBC’s Relay for Life and was the secretary and large group coordinator for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. This role involved leading discussions on topics such as faith, race, and social justice.

Arti Deore Choudhary, heading to Amazon, thanks cybersecurity faculty for honing her leadership skills

Arti Deore Choudhary
Master’s in Professional Studies, Cybersecurity
Summa Cum Laude
Hometown: Pune, India
Plans: Cloud Support Engineer, Amazon Web Services

This UMBC cybersecurity master’s program has helped me to sharpen my professional, as well as management skills in a most demanding field. Without my degree and UMBC’s support I would not have been able to reach out to professionals and grow as a cybersecurity professional.

Arti Deore Choudhary arrived at UMBC with an impressive academic and professional background, including a B.S and M.S. in computer science from Pune University in India and years of experience as an IT professional, and she graduates from her cybersecurity master’s program with a 4.0 GPA. She has been actively involved in sharing her knowledge and experience with others in the fields of computer science and cybersecurity, particularly through mentoring.

Choudhary partnered with UMBC alumnus and co-founder of LKA Computer Consultants, Larry Aikins ‘14, M.P.S. cybersecurity, to lead Teens in Technology, a seven-day cybersecurity workshop designed to educate high school students about tech security. She also competed in the Maryland Cyber Challenge in 2015, with her UMBC team making it to the semifinal round.

Arti Deore Choudhary leads a UMBC workshop for aspiring cybersecurity and technology students

Choudhary has received an Ethical Hacker Certificate and has interned with Ridgeback Network Defense, a startup technology company at bwtech@UMBC. She will soon begin a position as a cloud support engineer at Amazon Web Services.

Images: Arti Deore Choudhary leads a UMBC workshop for aspiring cybersecurity and technology students; photo courtesy of Arti Deore Choudhary. Portrait by Marlayna Demond ‘11 for UMBC.

James Loy looks ahead to Princeton Ph.D. after rich research experiences at UMBC

James Loy
B.S., Physics; B.S.; Mathematics and Statistics
Summa Cum Laude
Hometown: Taneytown, Maryland
Plans: Ph.D. in Physics, Princeton

The focus UMBC places on allowing undergraduates to perform research has prepared me to attend graduate school. The URA program is excellent at preparing students for research demands beyond their undergraduate career.

James Loy, a 2012 Burgee Regent Scholar, dove into research opportunities at UMBC. By joining Matthew Pelton’s physics lab when Pelton was still relatively new to UMBC, Loy “experienced research from the posing of the problem through to publication,” he says.

Loy is an author on a paper published in the peer-reviewed journal ACS Energy Letters. He received undergraduate research awards for his work in the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 academic years and extended his research beyond UMBC by participating in a Research Experience for Undergraduates (URA) in Missouri focused on nanofabrication.

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“The focus UMBC places on allowing undergraduates to perform research has prepared me to attend graduate school,” Loy says. In addition to his academic success, Loy served as secretary for the Honors College Council, 2013-2014.

Images: Loy at his poster presentation following an REU in Missouri; photo courtesy of James Loy. Header portrait by Marlayna Demond ‘11 for UMBC.

 

Arlene Cuanias, UMBC at USG community leader, to pursue M.S.W. at University of Maryland School of Social Work

Arlene Cuanias 
B.S., Psychology
Summa Cum Laude
Hometown: Rockville, Maryland
Plans: M.S.W., University of Maryland School of Social Work

UMBC gave me the confidence to go after what I want. I have been given the tools to be successful both in school and in my personal life. The faculty and staff are amazing and it has been a privilege to have worked with them.

Arlene Cuanias submittedArlene Cuanias has maintained a highly distinguished undergraduate academic career while also serving as a leader in the UMBC community at the Universities at Shady Grove (USG), fostering a culture of caring. She was the first student member of the USG Culture of Care Network, an organization designed to look out for the well-being of all students, faculty, and staff, and she was instrumental in creating the “I Am Enough” campaign.

Cuanias served as vice president of the Tau Sigma Honors Society, was a member of the UMBC Peer Advisory Team, and earned a USG Academic Achievement Award and Distinguished Achievement Award in Psychology at UMBC. Arlene is also a Montgomery County Business Hall of Fame Scholar. She will pursue a master of social work degree at the University of Maryland, Baltimore beginning in the fall.

Images: Arlene Cuanias launches the USG Culture of Care Network, fall 2015, with the theme “I Am Enough”; photo courtesy Arlene Cuanias. Portrait by Marlayna Demond ’11 for UMBC.

Vivek Moorthy to pursue his interest in mathematics and economics research at Northrop Grumman

Vivek Moorthy
B.S., Financial Economics; B.A., Mathematics
Magna Cum Laude
Hometown: Ellicott City, Maryland
Plans: Business Management Analyst at Northrop Grumman

Assets like the Career Center and The Shriver Center, coupled with accessible faculty, create a space for students to engage with their campus and push their own boundaries. In this environment, I met hard-working and highly motivated people who pushed me to work and think more passionately than I ever have before. I will strive to carry this passion into everything I do.

As a Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar and member of the Honors College, Vivek Moorthy has committed himself to Walter Sondheim’s vision of integrating research, teaching, and learning for the benefit of society.

Throughout his undergraduate career at UMBC, Moorthy completed varied and challenging coursework that helped him realize his passion for economics and mathematics research. His numerous academic achievements include being invited to Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, and Omicron Delta Epsilon, and completing a year of graduate-level course requirements in economics and mathematics.

Moorthy worked closely with The Shriver Center and Career Center to land internships at T. Rowe Price and Northrop Grumman. He will begin a new position at Northrop Grumman after graduation, with plans to eventually pursue a Ph.D. in economics.  

Vivek Moorthy submitted

Images: Vivek Moorthy with his fellow Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars, whom he credits for guiding, inspiring, and challenging him throughout his four years at UMBC; photo courtesy of Vivek Moorthy. Portrait by Marlayna Demond ’11 for UMBC.

Hailey Lynch pairs all-star academic record with high-level internships to prep for investment career

Hailey Lynch
B.S. Mathematics
Summa Cum Laude
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
Plans: Investment Fellow, T. Rowe Price

The education I have received at UMBC has undoubtedly prepared me to enter the professional world. I truly believe that I would not be the thinker that I am today had I chosen to attend another institution.

Hailey Lynch is an academic powerhouse, earning her degree in mathematics with a perfect 4.0 record, supported by numerous competitive university and state scholarships. She has also worked hard to take advantage of prestigious internship opportunities that have opened the door to an engaging industry career. While at UMBC, Lynch has completed internships with the Hershey Company and UMBC’s department of physics. She says UMBC’s Career Center support was instrumental in preparing her for a career upon graduation.

Hailey Lynch shares her personal story with prospective students and their families at UMBC’s New Student Day

Lynch shares that she is particularly thankful for the nurturing and supportive faculty, staff, and students who helped shape her educational experience. “I am surrounded each and every day by peers who continue to astonish me with their intelligence and drive,” she says.

Images: Hailey Lynch shares her personal story with prospective students and their families at UMBC’s New Student Day; photo courtesy of Hailey Lynch. Portrait by Marlayna Demond ‘11 for UMBC.

Olivia Spicer follows passion for biotechnology to continue groundbreaking hormone research

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Olivia Spicer
Ph.D., Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Sciences
Cum Laude
Hometown: Bayou Vista, Louisiana
Plans: Biotechnology researcher

The faculty at UMBC have allowed me to travel the world, conducting research, and to broaden my skills in biological research.

When Olivia Spicer crosses the stage to formally receive her Ph.D., she’ll do so as a scientist already recognized for groundbreaking discoveries in her field. Spicer researches targeted mutations in the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in zebrafish. These hormones play critical roles in reproduction.

Spicer’s doctoral dissertation focused on the molecular mechanisms of peptides (chains of amino acids, the building blocks of protein) in the brain that influence reproduction.  As part of her research at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology with Yonathan Zohar, she received the Binational Agricultural Research and Development (BARD) Fund Graduate Student Fellowship, providing her the opportunity to spend three months on research with a neuroscience collaborator at Tel Aviv University in Israel. In addition to travel for the fellowship, Spicer has attended numerous other scientific conferences and meetings to present her research.

Images: Spicer in the Negev Desert in Israel during her three-month fellowship; photo courtesy of Olivia Spicer. Portrait by Marlayna Demond ‘11 for UMBC.

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