Keenan Hickman

Degree: M.P.S., Community Leadership
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Plans: Work in social justice organizations

“Service is a pathway to opportunities for everyone if we allow it to be accessible to all. It is about leading through example and perseverance, and finding joy in completing innovative complex projects with a myriad of community members and organizations.”

Keenan Hickman, M.P.S. ’22, community leadership, has called many different places “home” at some point in his life. Born in Baltimore, he spent part of his childhood in Korea, served in Indonesia as a Peace Corps volunteer, and lived and worked in San Francisco. 

Hickman in Woodlawn, Baltimore next to the Free Lending Library he built during COVID restrictions as lead coordinator at the Walden Circle Community Center. (Image courtesy of Hickman)

Each place presented opportunities to support local communities. In Indonesia, he served as an English instructor while also facilitating trainings on diversity, inclusion, and belonging for local residents. In California, he served as a literacy tutor and a mentor in Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area Now, after having worked for three years at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Hickman is ready to focus on Baltimore. 

During his master’s in community leadership at UMBC, he was a lead coordinator at the Walden Circle Community Center. Hickman designed and implemented youth programs, created a lending library, organized community events, and worked on fundraising campaigns. 

Hickman sees the future of empowerment for disenfranchised communities at the intersection of leadership, technology, and innovation. He has a vision for moving forward a new model of social justice work focused on growing equitable, anti-racist communities, starting in Baltimore. 

Sheila Abellano

Degree: B.A., Psychology
Hometown: Silver Spring, MD
Plans: Master’s in clinical psychology

“I didn’t feel judged for being an older student at UMBC—I felt like I belonged.”

Sheila Abellano ‘22 never doubted she would return to finish her UMBC degree one day, but when she received a letter in the mail about the university’s Finish Line program, she knew it was time. After leaving UMBC in 2009, she raised a family and started two small businesses. Reading that Finish Line would waive her readmission fee and offer support with enrollment, financial aid, and academics, she saw a great opportunity.

Sheila Abellano at a local market promoting her business, Plant the Culture. (Image courtesy of Abellano)

Just prior to her return in fall 2021, a therapist diagnosed Abellano with ADHD, which helped her better understand her earlier academic struggles and feel more prepared to take advantage of the opportunity to return to the classroom.

Debbie Paul, Abellano’s academic advisor, and the Finish Line team connected her with both a community and resources. “The Finish Line team constantly reached out to remind me that they were available if I needed help,” says Abellano. “Just knowing that UMBC had created a program for returning students like me, gave me the motivation I needed to keep going.” 

Abellano was also encouraged by the welcome she received from faculty and students, which helped her feel that she belonged at UMBC. She notes that Thomas Robinson, assistant professor of Africana Studies, was “amazing,” in going out of his way to ensure she felt engaged and comfortable in his class.

Abellano’s advice to other prospective returning students is to follow their dream, and know that the UMBC community is here to help make that dream happen. Next, Abellano hopes to become a therapist and work to reduce the stigma associated with mental health challenges, especially in her Filipino community.

Jane De Hitta

Degree: B.A., Social Work (minor: psychology)
Hometown: Catonsville, MD
Plans: Master’s of social work

“Being older than most students, I didn’t know if I’d have a place, but becoming part of UMBC’s Returning Women Student Scholars program gave me that community that I really wanted.”

Jane De Hitta ‘22 was initially drawn to UMBC by its strong academic reputation and she quickly fell in love with the university. As a social work major who had long worked with adults with disabilities, she wanted to invest in the lives and stories of those around her. But when faced with a cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy, she knew she needed a break to focus on herself. She also knew UMBC would be there to welcome her back when she was ready.

That welcome came in the form of an email about a scholarship administered by UMBC’s Women’s Center to support adult learners returning to complete their degrees. De Hitta not only received the scholarship, but also became a social work intern in the Women’s Center, where she could support other returning students on their journey.

She looks forward to a research, policy, and advocacy career focused on helping others navigate challenging systems to reach their goals.

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