AOK Library's Spotlight! Symposium, titled "Are You Good? Checking In With Maryland's Young Adults"

Hello everyone,

Mu Sigma Rho and the Quantitative Finance and Analytics Club invite you to our upcoming Career and Research Panel!

Come hear from UMBC students and alumni as they share their experiences, career paths, and research journeys. Whether you're exploring opportunities in quantitative finance, analytics, academia, or industry, this is a great chance to gain insights, ask questions, and network.

Pizza will be provided!
Location: MP106
Date: 03/09/2026
Time: 12pm

And yes — pizza will be provided!

We hope to see you there!

Hello everyone,

Mu Sigma Rho and the Quantitative Finance and Analytics Club invite you to our upcoming Career and Research Panel!

Come hear from UMBC students and alumni as they share their experiences, career paths, and research journeys. Whether you're exploring opportunities in quantitative finance, analytics, academia, or industry, this is a great chance to gain insights, ask questions, and network.

Pizza will be provided!
Location: MP106
Date: 03/09/2026
Time: 12pm

And yes — pizza will be provided!

We hope to see you there!

The CSEE department is proud to announce that Dr. Curtis Menyuk has been recognized for Excellence in Scholarship and Research within the University System of Maryland.

The Board of Regents Faculty Awards are the highest honor presented by the Board of Regents to exemplary faculty members within the University System of Maryland. These awards publicly recognize distinguished performance in 1) Teaching; 2) Scholarship or Research; 3) Creative Activity; 4) Public Service; and 5) Mentoring on the part of faculty members.

Name: Tanzila Malik

Pronouns: She/her 

Semester of Internship: Spring 2026

Major: Gender and Women's Studies

Current Class Level: Senior 

This semester I completed a(n)...:  Internship

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): District Office of Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03)

Location of the Organization (City, State): Columbia, MD

Title of position: Congressional Intern

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities:

As a Congressional Intern working in a district office, I deal a lot with constituents in Maryland District 3. Our district is home to many federal workers, military families, veterans, which are the people I tend to assist on a day-to-day basis. One of my main roles is intaking casework from our constituents, as we guide them through issues they're having with federal agencies. The cases we deal with are mostly related to the Internal Revenue Service, the Office of Personnel Management, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Veterans Affairs. The second key role I play, is answering opinion calls, emails, and letters. Our constituent base is very active in advocating for the issues that they are passionate about. For example, as of late, many calls have been about concerns over increased ICE presence in the district and across the country. When we receive these opinion calls, we log them into our system for our outreach person to follow up with the constituents. It also helps us track what issues constituents are concerned about, which the Congresswoman gets a report of to stay informed on constituents' views/opinions.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

In October 2025, I heard about this position through a newsletter from the UMBC Political Science department. My friend, Bianca Canales, who is an alumni of UMBC, also worked for Congresswoman Elfreth. I reached out to Bianca to ask for advice, and about her experience working in the district office. She spoke very highly about the job and the team, and encouraged me to apply. After taking some time to think it over, I decided to apply for the internship. With help from the UMBC Career Center, I updated my resume, and prepared for the interview. A few weeks later, I got a call saying I had been accepted for the job, and I began working in early January 2026.

What resources did you use to find your current experience?

Alumni Networking, UMBC Political Science email list

What have you enjoyed the most about your position and organization?

I have enjoyed the camaraderie in the office, as I work with a team of wonderful people who are passionate about what they do. Because this is Congresswoman Elfreth's first term in office, there is a lot of opportunity to take on responsibilities as an intern, that may not have been possible otherwise. I feel like so much more than "just an intern" because the team trusts us to take on challenging tasks and make the most of this experience. The House Intern Resource Office has also been great in supporting and developing us interns as future public service leaders.

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

Working in the district office means I work directly with constituents, whether it be through casework or opinion calls. Oftentimes, I have long phone conversations with people who have been dealing with difficult life circumstances. And while we can't guarantee a favorable outcome for their case, sometimes all they need is a listening ear. I feel the difference it makes for constituents, just having a real person to talk to, who genuinely cares about helping them, instead of turning them away. That is an incredible feeling for me, and is the thing that excites me to go to work everyday.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

Don't compare yourself to others. You are worthy, capable, and bring your own unique experiences to the table. I often deal with imposter syndrome, feeling like I don't belong to certain spaces. I have to remind myself though, that regardless, I am still in space just like everyone else. Never forget, you worked hard to make it to where you are now. Be proud of yourself for that, and don't let anyone make you feel like you're not enough.

Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / working with the Career Center.

"I feel fulfilled by the work that I do, knowing that in some way, I am making a difference in someone's life."