Meet Karndeep Singh ’18, M26, biochemistry and molecular biology, a graduate student at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in the biochemistry and molecular biology Ph.D. program. Singh is conducting his thesis research in Dr. Michael Summers’ laboratory at UMBC. Outside of research, he’s been involved with UMBC’s Chapter of Young Alumni (CYA), serving as the president since summer of 2020. Singh says he’s found his way at UMBC through involvement in research, residential life, and networking with alumni at UMBC.

Q: What’s the one thing you’d want someone who hasn’t joined the UMBC community to know about the support you find here?

A: UMBC will push you to your limits and help you realize that you were meant to break those limits. UMBC will challenge you academically, but you have so much support here as everyone wants you to succeed—it is just a matter of asking for help which can be the hardest first step to take. Do not shy away from asking for help; there is a very high likelihood that others around you need help, too.

Q: Tell us about someone in the community who has inspired you or supported you, and how they did it.

A: There has been a village of people at UMBC who have helped me succeed. My advisors in the Meyerhoff Scholars Program guided me as a student by helping me to find research opportunities during my time at UMBC and post-UMBC. Bethany Birago ’99 (emergency health services) taught me and demonstrated all of the professionalism I would need in healthcare and in the workplace.

Last and certainly not least, I met my amazing partner at UMBC—Aishwarya Iyer ’18, M26, biochemistry and molecular biology. She has been one of the hardest workers I have ever seen and continues to inspire me to work harder to have a positive impact at UMBC, in the Baltimore community, and in this world.

Q: Tell us about what you love about your academic program or an organization you’re involved in.

A: I joined Residential Life as a resident assistant (RA) during my sophomore year and ultimately became lead RA in Potomac Hall during my senior year. Every year, the staff members I worked with acted as a family, especially my staff during my time in Potomac Hall. We would hold Thanksgiving dinners together, compete with the other residential halls during our summer and winter trainings, game nights, movie nights, etc. At every moment, I felt loved by my staff and knew that any of them would support me if I needed anything at all.

Q: Where are you currently in your studies, and what do you enjoy most about what you’re doing now?

A: Currently, I am a 4th year Ph.D. candidate in the biochemistry and molecular biology program at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine. I conduct my thesis research in Dr. Michael Summers’ HHMI laboratory at UMBC where my project is focused on investigating how the HIV-1 RNA genome interacts with cap-dependent translational machinery. One of the greatest parts of my role is having the opportunity to mentor undergraduate students as they conduct undergraduate research in our laboratory. My role as their mentor is not to persuade them to do a career in research but teach them how to conduct good science and carry the skills they learn in the laboratory to their future endeavors.

Q: What brought you to UMBC in the first place? Tell us about your primary WHY, and how it led you to UMBC.

A: I attended Western School of Technology and Environmental Science (Western Tech) where a number of our high school events were held at UMBC. I learned about UMBC’s reputation by speaking to current UMBC students and I knew that this was the school to attend if I ultimately wanted a career in STEM. The school was known for its diversity and its community—values that were instilled into me by attending Western Tech and I knew that UMBC embodied those same values and would uphold them.

Q: Tell us about the people who helped you grow at UMBC, and why their HOW made such a difference to you.

A: During my undergraduate experience, I had a couple of research opportunities, but I did not feel confident to succeed in graduate school. After graduating from UMBC in May 2018, I took a gap year where I joined Dr. Michael Summers’ laboratory as a laboratory technician to supervise and mentor Dr. Joshua Brown’s (Ph.D. ’18, biochemistry) group as he returned to medical school to complete his last two years of his M.D.-Ph.D. program at UMSOM. My partner, Aishwarya Iyer, worked for Dr. Brown and trained me for a few weeks in the laboratory. 

It was a weird feeling to go from a position where I was uncomfortable with research and did not feel confident in my abilities as a researcher to now supervising a group of undergraduate students and high school students that were relying on me to guide them about the research project. All of the members in Dr. Summers’ laboratory taught me how to critically think about experiments, how to decide the next steps about our project, how to present my work to others, and how to feel confident in the research I was conducting. It was this research opportunity that solidified my intent to pursue graduate school and continue my career as a scientist.

Fast forward 4-plus years later, I now have my own group of undergraduate students and laboratory technicians (the largest group in the entire laboratory) who conduct research to advance our project.

Q: What’s your favorite part of being a part of Retriever Nation?

A: I love to attend the alumni events put on by the different alumni organizations. With the work I have done with CYA, I have had the chance to host some of these events and meet so many amazing alumni through happy hour events, trivia nights, and the Alumni Awards. The best part of hosting the events is working with the fantastic Alumni Engagement and Development team—they represent some of the best staff I have ever had the opportunity to work with and when you are planning and hosting events with them, it does not even feel like work.

Q: If you’re a donor, what drives you to support UMBC?

A: Throughout my undergraduate experience, I had a wide array of positions to help financially support my family while attending school. It is a lot to manage especially as you are trying to participate in different activities like research, extracurricular activities, or just spending some time with your friends or roommates. Whether or not there is a student who is in a similar predicament as I was, I donate to help alleviate some of the financial stress of school.

* * * * *

UMBC’s greatest strength is its people. When people meet Retrievers and hear about the passion they bring, the relationships they create, the ways they support each other, and the commitment they have to inclusive excellence, they truly get a sense of our community. That’s what “Meet a Retriever” is all about.

Learn more about how UMBC can help you achieve your goals.

Meet Nate Dissmeyer ’07, information systems, a program manager with Galapagos Federal Systems, providing Army IT support at the Aberdeen Proving Ground. Dissmeyer finds fulfillment in helping to develop IT professionals and supporting the Department of Defense community. And UMBC really gave him the skills to succeed in his position, he says. Dissmeyer, who is a recurring donor and a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors (AABoD), found his way at UMBC through involvement with the Habitat for Humanity chapter and as a member of Triangle Fraternity. 

Q: What’s the one thing you’d want someone who hasn’t joined the UMBC community to know about the support you find here?

A: UMBC is simply a beacon of greatness. We attract some of the best minds, people, staff, leaders, and professors. Support is always present, always available even if you don’t necessarily seek it. There is a sense of if you succeed, we all succeed. Greatness doesn’t always come easy and there are times you’re going to struggle, but with a little grit and help from those around you, you will persevere and succeed.

Q: What brought you to UMBC in the first place?

A: I first came to UMBC for an Odyssey of the Mind competition in middle school. I remember walking around campus and just being amazed with the setting. When it was time to apply to colleges, UMBC was the only one I wanted to attend. It was the perfect size, not too small but not so large that I would be lost in the crowd or just a number on paper. UMBC was rising in the ranks as one of the best schools in the area, and I knew I was going to be challenged in my academic endeavors. Doing well here would help me succeed down the road.

Q: Tell us about the people who helped you grow at UMBC, and why their HOW made such a difference to you.

A: UMBC provided me much more than a place to get a degree. UMBC surrounded me with amazing people who have continued to influence me. My academic adviser encouraged me to make a degree change when I was struggling my sophomore year. A professor of my project management class who saw something in me to recommend Jim Collins’ Good to Great, which cultivated my management style.

Through my involvement with the Habitat for Humanity chapter, I had the opportunity to help several families in West Baltimore and annually in Florida for our Spring Break build trip. I would have never dreamt that my Greek Life family would introduce me to my amazing wife (Sena Dissmeyer ’08, biochemistry and molecular biology), jump start my professional career, and form some of the most meaningful friendships I have. I am forever grateful for the impact, influence, and experiences UMBC has and will continue to give me.

Q: Tell us what you love about your role as an alumni leader.

A: Participating in the alumni organizations has been very special. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the efforts to recognize amazing alumni and hearing their stories at the Alumni Awards. I would highly recommend current students to attend at least one event. I’ve also been so pleased to help award scholarships to students, whether raising money through the Chapter of Young Alumni or being part of the selection committee on the AABoD. 

Q: What drives you to support UMBC?

A: As a recurring donor, it’s easy to set up my monthly automatic donation, and I’ve gotten to see first hand how the money raised for the Alumni Endowment Scholarship helps our current students from all walks of life continue to achieve their academic success by removing some of the financial stress. Whether a semester’s worth of books, or one less job shift so they can spend more time at home raising their family; being able to help is rewarding. 

Q: Who in the community has inspired you or supported you, and how?

A: Honestly, a huge shoutout to Greg Simmons (M.P.P. ’04, vice president for Institutional Advancement) and his Office of Institutional Advancement team. Since joining the alumni groups, I’ve had the privilege of working with amazing staff and leaders. I never quite understood the depths of their work, but they do so much both visibly and behind the scenes. Now in my tenth year of consecutive giving, their hard work truly inspires me to participate and continue to contribute my skills and abilities for the betterment of UMBC. 

One of Nate and Sena Dissmeyer’s favorite spots on campus is the Joseph Beuys Sculpture Garden.

Q: What’s your favorite part of being a part of Retriever Nation?

A: I love how passionate we are about UMBC and how supportive we are of one another. The strong passion leads to some great connections within the group, and my circle of friends and professional network connections continue to grow.

* * * * *

UMBC’s greatest strength is its people. When people meet Retrievers and hear about the passion they bring, the relationships they create, the ways they support each other, and the commitment they have to inclusive excellence, they truly get a sense of our community. That’s what “Meet a Retriever” is all about.

Learn more about how UMBC can help you achieve your goals. Donate to the scholarship or program of your choice.

UMBC’s Chapter of Young Alumni welcomed more than 200 alumni and guests for the 13th Annual Wine Tasting and Silent Auction last month at the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple in Baltimore. In addition to enjoying an array of delicious food, wines, and jazz, guests also contributed more than $5,425 for the Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund. Plus, WYPR’s own Al Spoler from “Cellar Notes” gave some welcome insight into the night’s libations.

Save the date for next year’s Wine Tasting and Silent Auction on Friday, June 7, 2019, and check here for other upcoming alumni events!

See more photos from the event here.

UMBC’s Chapter of Young Alumni made a difference in our community this month, volunteering at two locations — and having a blast doing so together.

Name: Nicole Smith ’10, modern languages and linguistics (German concentration)
Employer: Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery at UMBC
Alumni leadership role: Secretary/Historian for the Chapter of Young Alumni (CYA)

Q: Where are you from originally?
The Arbutus/Lansdowne area in Baltimore County

Q: What’s your favorite UMBC memory?
Cardboard surfing! My friends and I would spread broken-down boxes in our dorm’s hallway and proceed to act like penguins for the next few hours. There’s far too many embarrassing photos…

Q: Why are you involved in an alumni chapter?
It’s a wonderful opportunity to stay connected with the campus and support current and future students. And I get to work with some of the coolest people around; it helps me stay creative.

Q: Why do you think it’s important to support UMBC?
Supporting UMBC means supporting students. Gifts to the campus don’t end up in limbo–they directly impact a student’s success, and from there, their future.

Q: If you could visit any place in the world, where would you pick?
Seal Island in South Africa (well, on a boat near it). Great white sharks will propel themselves out of the water when hunting here, and that’s pretty much the coolest thing.

Find out more about the Chapter of Young Alumni (CYA) here!

Here in the Office of Alumni Relations, we spend a lot of time telling stories about and talking with our wonderfully supportive alums. However, we’ve decided to turn the tables and take time to get to know the people behind the scenes – the  advancement and alumni relations staff members who are hard at work on behalf of our alumni. Today we’ll be hearing from Jessica El-Zeftawy ’08, Political Science, Sociology; ‘12, M.P.P., the Alumni Programming Coordinator.

Name: Jessica El-Zeftawy (formerly Bard)
Job Title: Alumni Programming Coordinator
Focus Area: I work with the UMBC Chapter of Young Alumni (CYA) to plan fun and engaging events and volunteer opportunities throughout the year. I also work with the UMBC Student Alumni Association (SAA), a student organization dedicated to finding opportunities for alumni and students to network and creating a vibrant on-campus community.
Years at UMBC: Student 2004-2012; Alumni Relations staff since 2013
Grad year: 2008 – Political Science, Sociology; 2012 – M.P.P.

Q: Where are you from originally?

A: I’m an Air Force brat so I’m not really from anywhere, but my heart will always belong to Texas.

Q: What do you love most about UMBC?

A: UMBC is a community where it’s totally cool to be a dork. The students here are allowed to love learning, to engage in challenging dialogue, and there are so many opportunities to try new things out whether it be a new major, club, or activity. I’m really proud to have spent what I consider my formative years at UMBC.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about your job?

A: While I love working with my fellow alumni, the student group I work with, the Student Alumni Association (SAA), really brings so much joy to my work at UMBC. They’re incredibly intelligent, funny and passionate about the work they do in the community.

Q: Has your position as an Alumni Relations staff member changed who you are as a person?

A: Having been in my position for less than a year as I write this response, I can’t say for certain that my time in Alumni Relations has changed me as a person, but what I can say is that it has definitely changed my outlook on giving. Being a young alumni myself, with school loans, a house payment, etc. I’m not sure I saw the importance or the impact of giving back to UMBC until I started working in Alumni Relations. During my time as a staff member, I’ve had the opportunity to meet a scholarship recipient, I’ve heard amazing stories from student groups and projects that were funded by charitable donations, and I think if I ever leave UMBC I’ll probably always continue to give back, whether it’s by giving a donation or volunteering my time.

Q: Who do you admire and why?

A: I recently read a book called Endurance: Shackelton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing. It’s an amazing true story of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton’s heroic attempt to cross the Antarctic in 1914, which resulted in their ship being trapped and crushed in an ice flow and their survival for over a year on drifting ice in the Antarctic seas. After reading this book, I admire Shackleton as a heroic leader in the face of extreme adversity and I also admire his love for exploring uncharted territory. I believe one can either daydream about epic adventures or try and live them.

Q: If you could be another staff member for a day, who would it be and why?

A: Without a doubt I would want to be Logan Wern, UMBC Phonathon Coordinator.