Campus leaders, varsity athletes, activists for diversity and inclusion, and other Terps who shined both in and out of the classroom will lead the way for Friday's commencement ceremonies as the 2021 senior marshals.
Founded in 1991, the Senior Marshal program recognizes graduating Terps who demonstrate the highest levels of scholarship, service, extracurricular activity and personal growth.
Each of the 61 students chosen this year were nominated by faculty, administrators or other staff members, and chosen by a committee. They represent their college and the entire class at the ceremony, assisting with the processional and receiving a medallion commemorating their achievements.
Marsha Guenzler-Stevens, director of the Adele H. Stamp Student Union-Center for Campus Life, and Robert Infantino, associate dean of the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences, have served alongside the senior marshals each year to usher in the graduating Terps—until COVID sidelined the spring and winter tradition in 2020.
“It’s been such an honor to serve alongside these student leaders in the past at this critical point in their journey. The pandemic put a stop to that, but thankfully, we can now say that was just temporary,” she said. “I am so glad this graduating class will have a chance to experience in-person community again with their peers at this important milestone in their lives.”
Here are the senior marshals for Spring 2021.
Daniel Alpert (major: marketing; minors: Jewish studies, and international development and conflict management) has served a wide range of leadership roles in Greek life, Jewish life, within the city of College Park and currently as Student Government Association president.
Jordyn Battle (majors: government and politics, and public policy) earned a citation from the College Park Scholars Justice and Legal Thought program. She will pursue her master's degree in urban planning at New York University.
Hunter Anderson Baxter (major: kinesiology) was a starter on the varsity wrestling team and a recipient of the Intercollegiate Athletic Award. He was also a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as well as a multiple-semester Dean’s List student. Baxter was a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honor society and the Student Health Advisory Committee. He was also involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Hunter is a co-founder of the Pre-Health Terps organization and was selected as a Gossett Fellow. In July, he will begin the Master of Science physician assistant program at Thiel College in Pennsylvania.
Emily Berry (major: government and politics) has served as president of the Residence Hall Association, a College of Behavioral and Social Sciences senator in the University Senate Executive Committee, a resident assistant, a student advocate and intern in the Legal Aid Office, a staff member in the Stamp Student Union, a member of University Honors, an Omicron Delta Kappa executive board member, and a teaching and research assistant in the government and politics department. Berry has interned with local nonprofits and held legislative and communications internships in Maryland's state government. She plans to attend law school after completing her master’s of public policy at UMD in May 2022.
Megan Elizabeth Berry (major: biological sciences; minor: public leadership) earned her citation from the College Park Scholars Public Leadership program and now serves as a student ambassador. She has served as a resident assistant, teaching assistant and student employee at TerpZone, and on the executive boards of Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Residence Hall Honorary, the Residence Hall Association, and Beta Psi Omega. After graduation, Megan will be taking a gap year to apply to medical school and hopes to pursue a career as a pediatrician.
Simran Bhattacharyya (major: psychology) is originally from India and intends to go to medical school.
Jessica Boyer (major: bioengineering) is an active Gemstone program student in the Honors College and undergraduate researcher in the Environmental Engineering Labs. She is also a Terp Thon Planning Team member and involved in Clark School Ambassadors, Omicron Delta Kappa, Alpha Eta Mu Beta and Alpha Omega Epsilon.
Brenee Nicole Butler (major: studio art; minor: art history) is a member of the Mortar Board and National Society of Collegiate Scholars honor societies. She serves as vice president of recruitment for the Nu Zeta chapter of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority Inc.; co-president of the American Indian Student Union; and vice president of public relations for Sister 2 Sister. She hopes to become an illustrator and/or storyboard artist.
Zachary Caplan (major: government and politics; minor: leadership studies) served in leadership positions in College Mentors for Kids, where he mentored elementary school students in Washington, D.C., lobbied the Maryland General Assembly on behalf of the Baltimore Child Abuse Center, worked as a hotline specialist on the Trevor LGBTQ+ Lifeline and fundraised for Terp Thon's Family Relations Committee. Inspired by his time in the CIVICUS living-learning program and Federal Fellows’ political engagement and advocacy fellowship, Caplan hopes to take a gap year teaching English before attending law school to become a child and family law attorney.
Kelsie Challenger (major: behavioral and community health) is a first-generation immigrant who acted as a MPower/UM Scholar, resident assistant, Sierra Leone project leader within Public Health Beyond Borders, event manager and vice president of outreach for Terps Against Hunger, peer health educator and First-year Innovation & Research Experience (FIRE) researcher. She hopes to become a primary care physician to treat physical ailments and improve the social conditions detrimental to healthy outcomes.
Madeleine Chen (majors: nutritional science and biological sciences) danced with Ballet Company M, the university’s only student-run performing ballet company, and eventually became its president. She also helped to revive Project Pengyou, an organization that strives to strengthen relations between China and the U.S. After graduating, Madeleine will attend Columbia University School of Nursing to pursue a master’s degree.
Lauren Sunyoung Cho (majors: chemical and biomolecular engineering, and chemistry) is a first-generation college student who is part of the Gemstone program in the Honors College, served as president of UMD’s chapter of the American Chemical Society, and was on the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences’ Diversity and Inclusion Council. She has been a lab teaching assistant for organic chemistry and undergraduate teaching fellow for chemical engineering courses and guided study sessions leader for chemistry and biochemistry courses. Next year, Cho will be a chemistry Ph.D. student at Northwestern University, closer to her aspirations to be a chemistry professor who will advocate for STEM accessibility for all.
Alysa Conway (majors: government and politics, and public policy) was a member of Mortar Board, director of academic affairs for the Student Government Association, member of the Kappa Omega Alpha policy fraternity, sister of the Alpha Omicron Pi fraternity, member of the Media, Self and Society College Park Scholars program, head organizer of the COVID-19 Student Task Force, and co-organizer and founder of Black Terps Matter. She was a member of the Federal Fellows program and research assistant at the College of Education for Project R.I.S.E and PEARL. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in education policy and leadership.
Karsten Dankyi (major: kinesiology) is a first-generation college student and participated in the Academic Achievement Programs. Dankyi was a member of the Diazporic Dance Team, African Student Association and African Students’ Progressive Action Committee, worked in the Student Organization Resource Center and served as a resident assistant in La Plata Hall. After graduation, he will pursue a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree with a focus on neurological studies.
Chloe Dinman (majors: public policy and American studies) co-runs the UMD Greek Alliance and serves as a legislative representative for the Student Government Association. She also works in the Orientation Office, previously as an orientation adviser and currently as a program registrar. Dinman is also a member of Omicron Delta Kappa leadership society, AOII social sorority and KOA public policy fraternity. She earned a citation from the College Park Scholars Public Leadership program.
Katherine Dorn (major: environmental science and policy) was president of the Environmental Science and Policy Student Advisory Board, the sustainability chair for her sorority, a past member of the Student Government Association sustainability committee, and a member of the Federal Fellows program. She held research and internship positions at various organizations working on environmental issues and hopes to pursue a career at an environmental nonprofit organization.
Joelle Everett (major: information science) has been heavily involved on campus since her freshman year. She has been on the Black Student Union’s executive board and a member of the Design, Cultures, and Creativity program in the Honors College and now serves as president of the National Pan-Hellenic Council and a member of the Vice President of Student Affairs’ Student Advisory Council.
Kayla Foster (major: public health science; minor: sustainability studies) has been involved in programs and organizations such as the Maryland Leadership Education and Development Program, the Petey Greene Program, the Gemstone program in the Honors College, University Recreation and Wellness, Omicron Delta Kappa and the School of Public Health UTEAM Program. After graduating, Foster plans to work in the public health sphere and later attend medical school.
Bryce Gartner (majors: government and politics, and sociology) will attend law school in the fall.
Lade Gbolade (major: biological sciences; minor: French) served as an orientation adviser, guided study sessions lead mentor, member of the Student Alumni Leadership Council, Student Government Association’s deputy commissioner of election education, and Senior Council's vice president of social programming. After graduation, she will pursue a master’s in higher education and student affairs at the Ohio State University.
Radhika Gholap (major: biological sciences; minors: Spanish and statistics) was part of the Integrated Life Sciences program in the Honors College. She served as co-president of the American Medical Student Association and president of the Banneker/Key Community Council, and held several other executive positions in Omicron Delta Kappa, Honors Ambassadors, Nu Rho Psi Honor Society and Student Government Association. Gholap was a Terps for Change coordinator, Crisis Text Line counselor and Honors College Student Advisory Board representative. She had internships with the Prince George's County health-care system, National Institutes of Health and UMD School of Public Health, and worked as a teaching assistant for the biology department.
Yaelle Goldschlag (majors: computer science and mathematics; minor: Persian studies) was a Banneker/Key Scholar and a member of the Advanced Cybersecurity Experience for Students (ACES) program in the Honors College, the Global Fellows program, the Persian Flagship Program and Omicron Delta Kappa. She was a software engineer intern at Facebook, a legislative intern for U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, and a summer research fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems. She designed and taught two courses through UMD’s Student-Initiated Courses program, including one on law and computer science; was active in computer science research through the Maryland Cybersecurity Center and Breakerspace; and was awarded a Goldwater Scholarship. Goldschlag was also involved in tutoring and community outreach programs through the Petey Greene Program and the Maryland Center for Women in Computing, and created a new organization at UMD to match tutors with immigrant students in the Washington, D.C., area.
Isabella Gordon (major: kinesiology) is a tutor for the Academic Achievement Programs and was a member of club soccer for three years. She was inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa Sigma Circle, has been service vice president of her service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, and is the campus leader for the Bandana Project, which spreads mental health awareness and promotes suicide prevention among college students. Off campus, Gordon works as a medical assistant at an urgent care and optometry office.
Erica Greenwald (major: government and politics; minors: global poverty, and international development and conflict management) was a teaching assistant and member of the Global Fellows program, served as a government and politics ambassador, held several leadership positions in the University Student Judiciary and currently works for the Office of Inspector General at USAID. As a Maryland Summer Scholar, Greenwald completed an Honors thesis on the deprioritization of gender and social protection within United Nations agencies. She hopes to continue researching and writing about the gender analysis of conflict, security and disaster response.
Yael Hamburger (major: family science; minors: Spanish and health, humanities and medicine) was vice president of Public Health Action Through Civic Engagement and a peer counselor for the UMD Help Center Crisis and Peer Counseling Intervention Hotline, and served various positions as a teaching assistant, peer mentor and community service coordinator for the College Park Scholars Global Public Health program. She was a member of the Family Science Undergraduate Committee as well as Phi Upsilon Omicron and Phi Alpha Epsilon honor societies. Hamburger tutored students in Washington, D.C., schools, mentored children with sickle cell anemia, and volunteered in pediatric units of local hospitals. She published an interactive pediatric workbook for patients with chronic illness during the COVID-19 pandemic, for which she received the Berlin Legacy Fund Scholarship, and will attend the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to pursue her master’s of science in public health with a concentration in population, family and reproductive health.
Nishitha Hosamane (major: biological sciences; minor: mathematics) is a member of the Integrated Life Sciences program in the Honors College and worked as a section leader for HLSC100 for two years. She is involved with the Food Recovery Network, Maryland Science Olympiad club and Alpha Phi Omega, a professional service fraternity. After graduating, Hosamane plans to work in the Sidorov Lab at Children's National Hospital before applying to medical school.
Arielle Jackson (major: criminology and criminal justice; minor: law and society) was heavily involved in Ignite at Maryland, Delight Ministries, the Rawlings Undergraduate Leadership Fellows Program and the cheerleading team. She plans to work and take a gap year before attending law school to pursue criminal and civil rights law.
Katherine Jackson (major: art history), a member of University Honors, had an untraditional path at Maryland, taking time off multiple times due to personal reasons. That time away showed her how much she missed being a part of the UMD community, whether dressing up for Greek tailgates before football games or engaging in dialogue with classmates. The diverse and lively community at UMD was integral to her personal development.
Atara Kahn (majors: public policy and communication) serves as the speaker pro-tempore for the Student Government Association and is an off-campus neighboring representative. She serves on the Resident Board of the University Student Judiciary, as the undergraduate student representative for the College of Arts and Humanities’ Dean’s Cabinet, and as programming chair for Terps for Israel. She hopes to pursue a law degree.
Marie-Line Kam (major: public health science; certificate: women’s studies) was born in Burkina Faso, and came to the United States at the age of 5. Throughout her time at Maryland, she was involved in clubs and organizations such as the Kappa Phi Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the Charles R. Drew Pre-Health Society, DoBetter, and the Student Success Leadership Council. She plans to earn her master’s in medical genetics and genomics at Tulane University in preparation for medical school.
Divya Kapoor (majors: information systems and operations management, and business analytics) has been director of Student Entertainment Events for the past three years. Since establishing UMD's annual drag show and coordinating over 100 campus events, Kapoor has mentored new members in Phi Chi Theta professional fraternity, served as multimedia director and vice president of engagement for the Gemstone program in the Honors College, and been a member of Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Society. She was a finalist for the Spirit of Maryland Award and the Adele H. Stamp Memorial Award. After graduation, she will be a data engineering consultant at Accenture Federal Services.
Sarah Elizabeth Kirby (major: public health science) is a first-generation college student who served as a peer mentor captain for the College Park Scholars Science, Technology and Society program; a Do Good Fellow; social chair for Eta Sigma Gamma, the national health education honorary; president and founder of the Letter Project, University of Maryland chapter; a College Park Scholars ambassador; a Preventing Sexual Assault ambassador; and teaching assistant for multiple classes. Kirby volunteers as a crisis counselor for Crisis Text Line and plans to become a teacher while pursuing a master’s degree in epidemiology.
Kavya Kumaran (majors: accounting and management) is a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honor society, a graduate of the CIVICUS living-learning program, a former Innovo Consulting Scholar, a former Accounting Teaching Scholar, and a Dean's list student. She was a volunteer for TerpTax and Terps for Change, co-founded the South Asian Student Association and served as president of Ascend, the Robert H. Smith School of Business’ Pan-Asian business leaders club. She will be working at Deloitte’s Baltimore office in its tax service line.
Amina Symone Lampkin (majors: journalism and information science) focused her academic studies on highlighting disparities through photography, writing and data. She was a member of the Design, Cultures and Creativity Honors College program. In her free time, she participated in organizations including the Black Honors Caucus, the Black Student Union, The Black Explosion newspaper and Star Strutters.
Kyeisha Laurence (major: biological sciences; minor: French) is a first-generation college student who served various leadership roles in the Charles R. Drew Pre-Health Society, Gemstone Leadership Council, and was a tutor in the Academic Achievement Programs. Following graduation, Laurence will be spending a year conducting research at the National Institute of Health before attending medical school.
Priscilla Lee (major: bioengineering) has been a part of the First-year Innovation and Research Experience (FIRE) program, the QUEST Honors Program and the Flexus living-learning community. She has served as chair of the Women In Engineering (WIE) Student Advisory Board, president of Alpha Omega Epsilon, and a coordinator for the WIE mentoring program. After graduation, she will finish her master's in bioengineering as part of the B.S./M.S. program.
Lancelot Lin (major: broadcast journalism; minor: Asian American studies) spent his time at UMD pursuing his passion for creative technologies, getting involved with The Diamondback, Capital News Service and the School of Public Health, in addition to internships at CNN and the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START). He hopes to work in multimedia production.
Alexandra Marquez (majors: journalism and anthropology) led the TerpsVote Coalition through the 2020 presidential election as student co-chair and was director of civic engagement for the Student Government Association for the 2020-21 school year. She volunteered for a variety of student publications and completed four off-campus internships. She earned a citation from the College Park Scholars Media, Self and Society program.
Peter Marston (major: biological sciences) grew up in Groningen, The Netherlands. While at UMD, Marston participated in the Global Fellows and College Park Scholars programs and worked as a teaching assistant, a research assistant in the Araneda Neurobiology Lab, and a counselor and operations coordinator for Camp Kesem. He was also involved in student government all four years as a part of the Residence Hall Association, the Office of Undergraduate Studies’ Dean's Student Advisory Board, the University Senate, and Student Government Association. Marston will pursue a juris doctorate at Harvard Law School in the fall.
Catherine May (major: public health science) is a member of the women’s lacrosse team, which won the NCAA national championship in 2019 and the Big Ten Conference Championship in 2018. She is a team representative for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Gossett Fellows program. A member of the Phi Alpha Epsilon honorary society within the School of Public Health and the Sigma Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, May plans to pursue a career in medicine.
Mariella Medina (major: public health science) is originally from the Philippines and spent her time at the University of Maryland advocating for the Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) community and championing public health. She worked as an undergraduate teaching assistant and lead teaching assistant for microbiology, was on the executive board for the Asian American Student Union and Phi Alpha Epsilon and was a member of OMSE’s Academic Excellence Society. A volunteer EMT in Prince George’s County and patient care technician in Washington, D.C., Medina hopes to pursue a career as a physician assistant and lifetime public health advocate.
Jailyn M. Morris (major: kinesiology) is the vice president of public relations for the Senior Council. Following graduation, Morris will pursue a Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in physical activity.
Desiree Morrison (majors: operations management and business analytics, and accounting) is a Philip Merrill Presidential Scholar, Dean’s Leadership Award recipient and Banneker/Key scholar. She has served in organizations such as Terps Against Hunger, the Black Honors Caucus and the Smith Diversity and Equity Council. She was also a University Honors student. After graduation, Morrison will work for the Boston Consulting Group in its Washington, D.C., office.
Chloe Sun Ober (major: economics; minor: professional writing) was in the University Honors program and served as a supervisor for RecWell, a project leader for Public Health Beyond Borders and in various positions for UMD's chapter of the professional co-ed service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega. After graduation, she will be an operations analyst at Morgan Stanley.
Nadia Jean Owusu (major: government and politics; minor: public leadership) is the co-founder of Black Terps Matter, the vice president of external affairs for the Student Success Leadership Council, and a member of the University Senate Executive Committee.
Sheena Patel (major: environmental science and policy, and Spanish) was a member of University Honors, actively engaged in the Federal Fellows program, and served as an undergraduate teaching assistant for the environmental science and policy program. She had nonprofit and federal sector internships at the Environmental Law Institute, Earthjustice and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. After graduation, Patel will attend the University of Virginia’s School of Law and pursue a career in environmental advocacy and public interest.
Shiv Patel (major: computer science; minor: technology entrepreneurship) served in a range of leadership roles for groups including the Freshman Class Council, EnTERPreneur and Senior Class Council executive boards. Patel also published research through the Snider Undergraduate Research Center in the Robert H. Smith School of Business.
Patrick Peralta (major: government and politics; minor: Asian American studies) is vice president of the Asian American Student Union and a member of the University Student Judiciary, Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Alpha Delta. His honors thesis research has been published by the Yale Review of International Studies. He plans to go to law school and work in the U.S. Foreign Service.
Amy Rose Petrocelli (major: communication; minor: Army leadership studies) was a member of Army ROTC, the Student Alumni Leadership Council, Maryland Imagers, the College Park Scholars Public Leadership program, Omicron Delta Kappa and more. A native of Long Island, N.Y., she will begin her career inFort Leonard Wood, Mo., as an active-duty Army engineer officer.
David Polefrone (majors: chemistry and economics) has been an involved member of the Gemstone and QUEST honors programs and has conducted computational research in the Gutierrez Group. Outside the classroom, he has been active in campus life, particularly in the Student Government Association and Omicron Delta Kappa. He will pursue a Ph.D. in organic chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania and hopes to make a career as a researcher in drug development.
Mary Sharron Poorman (major: theatre) transferred to the University of Maryland after graduating from Cecil College with two associate of fine arts degrees in live performance and theatre. She has been involved in student-led and main stage productions as an actor, designer, board operator and electrician.
Gisell Elena Ramirez (majors: Spanish language, literatures and culture, and criminology and criminal justice) will start her master’s degree in education this summer. She wants to be a Spanish high school teacher and combine her passion for social justice into her classroom curriculum.
Wendashia Jones Ray (major: communication) is a 2021 Office of Multi-ethnic Student Education (OMSE) Academic Excellence Award Recipient; participant in the OMSE Professional Development, Leadership, and Diversity certificate program; and Cole scholarship recipient. She is also a wife and mother of three children. After graduation, she will continue to work at a public health strategic communications firm that focuses on environmental justice, worker safety, global environmental health and education. Ray is applying to law school, where she will focus on public interest law.
Julia Reicin (majors: psychology and geographic information science) is a scholar-athlete on the varsity cross country and track and field teams. She was in University Honors, served as president and community service co-executive on the Student Athletic Advisory Council and grew the Team IMPACT program, which partners children with chronic illnesses to athletic teams, as the Maryland Team IMPACT Fellow. Julia is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, Academic All-Big Ten, Distinguished Dean’s List honoree, a Gossett Fellow, a Philip Merrill Presidential Scholar and a Truman Scholarship finalist and was the recipient of the ICA Academic Achievement and Community Service awards in 2019 and 2020.
David Rekhtman (majors: biochemistry and biological sciences double degree) has served as president of Omicron Delta Kappa, speaker of the legislature in the Student Government Association, honors ambassador, and a member of the University Student Judiciary. He is a member of the Integrated LIfe Sciences Honors College program. He has conducted research and worked as a teaching assistant for English, biology and chemistry courses.
Sarah Sabet (major: public health science) has been involved with Omicron Delta Kappa, Alpha Phi Omega, Phi Alpha Epsilon, the Orientation Office, the Student Alumni Leadership Council, intramural sports, the Iranian Students Foundation, CONSERVE, University Honors and the School of Public Health as a teaching and research assistant. Sabet hopes to advocate for women’s health as a physician.
Sydney Sharp (major: biological sciences and African American studies dual degree) is a member of the Integrated Life Sciences Honors College program and the Sigma Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society. She was an Honors College ambassador, served as treasurer for the Charles R. Drew Pre-Health Society, and was recording secretary for the Theta Nu Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Sharp will attend medical school and pursue a primary care specialty with an emphasis in health policy development and implementation.
Philippos Sourvinos (major: theatre) was active in the Orientation Office, serving as an orientation advisor, team leader and student coordinator for three summers. Philippos was a member of the Honors Humanities program, Federal Fellows program, Kappa Omega Alpha professional fraternity and Omicron Delta Kappa. A congressional intern, Sourvinos served on the College of Arts and Humanities Dean’s Advisory Board and appeared in several productions as a performer and stage manager for the School of Theatre, Dance, and Performing Studies’ main stage season.
Andrew Patrick String (majors: government and politics, and economics) was involved in groups ranging from the Alumni Association and Department of Resident Life to college radio. He was a member of the Federal Fellows program. He is a supervisor at one of the leading COVID-19 vaccine distribution sites in New Jersey and looks forward to starting his career at L'Oréal.
Saba J. Tshibaka (major: philosophy, politics and economics) is a student leader and activist involved in many groups and activities promoting diversity and inclusion. She spent three years in various Black organizations’ executive boards, two years as a tutor with the Academic Achievement Programs and a year as a manager at the College Park Black-owned business, Milk & Honey. Tshibaka has also held internships with the U.S. Department of Treasury and Google. She is the co-founder of Black Terps Matter.
Balbina Yang (major: English language and literature; minor: art history) is interested in the intersection of art and politics, specifically in regard to marginalized communities. She earned a citation from the College Park Scholars Arts program. Through her work at Stylus and internships, Yang has advocated for the arts and hopes to continue to do so in her career.
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