For Yvette Mozie-Ross, Ph.D., it might be tempting to describe a 30-year career at UMBC as the product of careful planning—a steady rise through leadership roles, culminating in her position as Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and Planning.

But that’s not how she tells it.

Instead, her story begins with a moment that felt, at the time, almost incidental: a high school AP Biology teacher suggesting that if she was serious about pursuing pre-med, she should consider UMBC. It wasn’t part of a grand plan. It was simply an option—one she chose to take.

That choice set something in motion.

As a student, Mozie-Ross immersed herself in campus life, particularly in residential life, where she found community and connection. By the time she graduated, she was considering a future in health policy. But then, another moment came—another call.

Dr. Jamie Washington, then associate director of residential life, reached out to ask what she planned to do next. The timing mattered. So did the invitation: a pathway into higher education that required she be enrolled in graduate school - a path she hadn’t been actively pursuing.

Looking back, Mozie-Ross doesn’t describe these moments as strategic decisions; especially since she was headed in another direction. They were responses—instances where something appeared, and she chose to step toward it.

That pattern would repeat.

While in her pursuit of securing a job in health policy, she began receiving calls about opportunities in higher education. One of them led to an interview for an admissions counselor role at UMBC. Halfway through that conversation, something shifted.

In the middle of the interview, she realized the work aligned with her values: access, opportunity, and connection. It also drew on strengths she hadn’t fully named yet—public speaking, relationship-building, the ability to meet students where they were and help them see what was possible. By the time she left, she understood something she hadn’t when she walked in.

She wasn’t just applying for a job. She was finding her path.

From admissions counselor/coordinator of multicultural recruitment to assistant director to director roles overseeing undergraduate admissions, Mozie-Ross found a career defined less by a fixed destination and more by a consistent approach: stay curious, learn from others, and remain open to what might come next.

“I made it my business to understand what people were doing,” she has said. “I was always looking for opportunities to learn.”

Over the years, UMBC evolved from a strong regional university into a nationally recognized institution. Mozie-Ross both witnessed and contributed to that transformation. While the physical campus expanded and its reputation grew, she points to something deeper that has remained constant: a commitment to student success across all backgrounds, and a community that nurtures potential.

Within that framework, her work focused on removing barriers and creating pathways.

Among the initiatives she has spearheaded and is most proud of is FinancialSmarts, the financial literacy program, launched in 2011 in response to a clear need among students navigating the complexities of paying for college. What began as an idea grew into a sustained effort with dedicated staff, student employees, campus collaborators, and external partnerships—embedding financial education into the student experience.

Years later, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she developed and led the “Finish Line” initiative, a collaborative effort across admissions, advising, and marketing to re-engage students who had stopped out and to support their return to complete their degrees. Since its inception, UMBC has conferred over 450 degrees to Finish Line students. It was, at its core, an extension of the same philosophy: don’t let students fall through the cracks.

That philosophy is perhaps best understood through the students whose journeys intersected with her own.

She recalls Sarah, a young mother she met during orientation one year. With the right support and opportunity, Sarah fully immersed herself in the academic life at UMBC, eventually securing a summer research experience at Harvard University—an experience that might have once felt out of reach. There was Nicole, also balancing motherhood and education, building a career in banking, and ultimately pursuing entrepreneurship. 

These stories reflect what has long defined UMBC at its best: nurturing potential, creating opportunity, and helping students move beyond what they may have imagined for themselves. 
That, Mozie-Ross says, is what sustained her over three decades: witnessing growth, seeing how students define success for themselves, and knowing that the policies, programs, and practices put in place support them. And each commencement ceremony serves as a reminder of that impact—a visible culmination of thousands of individual journeys.

Now, as the university looks toward its next chapter, Mozie-Ross finds herself at another moment of transition—one that feels both new and familiar.

As UMBC expands its reach across Baltimore and the region, deepens partnerships, and advances a new strategic vision, the complexity of the work ahead is growing. At this moment, the institution is calling for leadership that understands both its history and its future.

Effective August 1, 2026, Mozie-Ross will step into a new role as senior advisor to the president for strategic initiatives, joining the president’s office to help guide these efforts forward. It is a position that draws on everything she has cultivated over the past 30 years: institutional knowledge, strategic insight, and a deep commitment to the university’s mission.

In many ways, it is simply the next answer to a familiar question.

Looking back, her career might appear to be shaped by chance—a series of unexpected turns and unplanned opportunities. But a closer look reveals something more intentional. At each juncture, there was a moment when she could have hesitated, declined, or chosen a different path.

Instead, she stepped forward.

If she could offer advice to her younger self, it would be simple: be open to the possibilities. Trust that you don’t have to map everything out in advance.

Because sometimes, the most defining moments don’t arrive as part of a plan. 

They arrive as a call.

And once again, she has answered.

For many student employees, a campus job is a way to earn income while pursuing a degree. In UMBC's Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships (OFAS), it is an intentionally designed learning experience.

 
New student employees complete a five-week onboarding process that combines online learning, shadowing and reverse-shadowing experiences, office resources and hands-on practice. The approach is intentionally scaffolded, allowing students to gradually build knowledge while gaining confidence in supporting students and families navigating the financial aid process. The learning does not stop there. Student employees participate in regular check-ins and professional development activities, including monthly refresher trainings designed to reinforce concepts, encourage reflection and create opportunities for growth.

A conversation with Meaghan Walker, financial aid services coordinator, revealed the thinking behind this approach to student employment.

For Meaghan, whose background is in secondary education, student employment is an extension of teaching. Student employees serve as the first point of contact for many visitors, making them the face of the office and an important part of the student experience. Meaghan focuses on helping students understand professional workplace expectations while creating an environment where they feel comfortable asking questions and growing through challenges.

"We want students to leave with skills they can carry into any professional environment," Walker said. 

That approach requires paying attention to individual needs. After noticing a student employee struggling to retain information, Meaghan initiated a conversation that the student later said helped them succeed in the role. Experiences like that reinforce the importance of meeting students where they are and creating space for honest conversations that lead to growth. Students are also able to see the impact of their work through customer satisfaction surveys completed by the students and families they serve.

 
The office's commitment to student development will be formally recognized through UMBC’s digital badges. Student employees will earn badges that acknowledge the communication, problem-solving and customer service skills they develop through their work. Meaghan helped spearhead the initiative herself, creating a way for students to document and communicate the knowledge and experience they gain while serving the campus community.

 
The investment in student employees is rooted in a larger vision for the office. Andrea Cipolla, director, wanted to create opportunities that mirrored the experiences that helped shape her own professional journey.

 
"We wanted it to be more than a part-time job while students are in college," Cipolla said.
With training and support, student employees can perform many of the same functions as professional counselors, helping students and families navigate questions about financial aid while gaining valuable professional experience themselves.

 
"Meaghan took it and ran with it by adding badging herself—a testament to how much she cares about the students and them gaining the skills they need for after college," Cipolla said.
The office has left a lasting impression on student employees.

 
"It feels like community—I don't think I'll have a greater office experience than here," said Serenity Hamiel, a recent graduate and former student employee. "The people make it what it is."

 
Hamiel described OFAS as a safe space where staff members support one another through challenges and celebrate growth. While she was surprised by the amount of information involved in the role at first, the hands-on experience eventually helped her develop a rhythm. She said the experience gave her a better understanding of her own financial aid and prepared her to navigate future professional environments with confidence.

 
Austin Miller, another recent graduate and former student employee, said the role challenged his assumptions about financial aid. While his own experience receiving aid shaped his understanding of its importance, working directly with students and families broadened his perspective on the many circumstances that affect college affordability. The experience ultimately influenced his decision to pursue a career in financial aid.

 
"I know that financial aid can make or break a college experience," Miller said. "It's important to recognize the power we have to make an impact."

 
Both Hamiel and Miller described the office as a safe space—an environment where questions are welcomed, support is readily available and growth is encouraged.

 
That emphasis on learning and development will continue as the office transitions to its new name, the Office of Student Financial Wellness and Assistance. The change reflects the work already taking place: helping students navigate not only financial aid, but also the knowledge and skills needed to make informed financial decisions. That mission extends to the office's student employees as well, who are developing valuable professional skills while helping others do the same.