Members of the History Department's Student Advisory Board foster connections between faculty members, fellow students, and prospective students interested in UMBC's History Department. They offer feedback on undergraduate curriculum, courses, and policies, help with recruitment, assist in event planning, and provide a voice for students at the departmental level. We are excited to introduce you to our 2021-2022 Council members.
Ousmane Diop, Transfer student, Junior
Ousmane’s experiences with SGA, the UMBC Model UN and Retriever Poets offer him additional opportunities to hone his skills in communication, collaboration and supporting fellow students. His interests in political history and social justice have been clear from high school participation in student government, through to his voting advocacy work at Howard Community College, and current volunteer work with UNICEF. Ousmane is particularly interested in working with issues relating to transfer students and first generation college students.
When asked to describe the History Department at UMBC, he says: “There is no place like UMBC. Every student here is in it to be successful. It is a very diverse school with different cultures and backgrounds where everyone is included. The study of History motivates us to not give up no matter what. I want my peers to feel motivated and that no matter what's going on in life, they got this.”
Flynn McCann, Transfer student, Junior
Flynn comes to the Advisory Board with involvement on the History Student Council and past experience as the Vice President of Anne Arundel Community College’s Honor Society, Phi Theta Kappa. He is looking forward to new opportunities to interact with faculty and be a resource for students in the department. He appreciates the wide selection of courses in the History Department, which allow for different pathways to a variety of end goals.
When asked about how he feels about UMBC and the History Department, this is what he had to say: “We have people here with all different experiences but all coming for the same purpose, to learn. It is a wonderful place to be and the department is filled with wonderful teachers who care as much for what they teach as the students. They enjoy their jobs, and nowadays that's difficult to find, especially on such a scale as the entire department.”
Lexi Smith, Junior
Lexi is a Humanities Scholar who participates in a range of activities on campus, from Dance Team to the Honors Forum. She remembers, as a new student, the feeling of intimidation about reaching out to faculty and creating connections in the department. She believes that having third and fourth year students encourage and foster these connections will take some of the anxiety out of building community, especially among freshmen and transfer students. She is also hoping to design events that bring different members of the department together to facilitate collaboration and support.
She describes the culture of UMBC and the History Department as: “inclusive, intellectually stimulating, and encouraging. I have met faculty members and students who have trusted me with responsibilities, encouraged me to accept new academic opportunities and challenges, and never hesitated to welcome me into the UMBC community. The UMBC History Department is a wonderful place for students to discover their interests within history, explore these interests, and connect with other curious individuals who are passionate about history.”
Cassandra Wheeles, Transfer Student, Junior
Cassandra’s college journey had twists and turns along the way, including work in the corporate world before joining UMBC’s History department. She has pursued diverse interests, including working with Grufolpawa (a D.C. Panamanian Folklore Group) and The Maryland Dairy Goat Association. She loves to read biographies and histories in general and is excited to engage in reading and research among like minded folks. The help and support she has had from professors at UMBC thus far is what motivated her to help and support fellow students. As an Advisory Council member, she looks forward to sharing her experiences with other students to encourage them to explore career paths and find mentors.
She describes UMBC and the History Department as: “incredibly supportive and caring. I have yet to meet a teacher at UMBC who I didn’t feel looked out for students and their success.”