We are proud to highlight the academic achievements, professional development milestones, and well-deserved recognitions earned by our colleagues across Enrollment Management this past academic year. From advanced degrees and certifications to impactful presentations and prestigious awards, these accomplishments reflect an ongoing commitment to student success, leadership, and scholarly excellence.

Degrees

• On March 3, 2025, Monique Ransom, Associate Director for Academic Advisor Development & Student Transition Programs in the Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising, successfully defended her dissertation titled Finding Support and Sense of Belonging While in the 'Murky Middle': A Phenomenological Analysis of Black Students' Academic Advising Experiences at a PWI. She earned a Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership from Frostburg State University. Dr. Ransom’s dissertation is published and available in ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.

• This spring, Sharisse Gibson, Program Specialist for Financial Literacy and Education in OFAS, earned an M.S. in Marketing from Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School.

• This summer, Kevin Mitchell, Senior Manager of EM Business Systems and Solutions in OEM, earned an M.S. in Cyber Operations from University of Maryland Global Campus.

Certifications, Credentials, Certificates

• In April, Kashif Khan, IT Specialist in OEM, earned the Google Cybersecurity Certificate, completing 8 courses that demonstrate competency in identifying and mitigating common cybersecurity risks and threats.  

• In December 2024, Samantha Drummond, Executive Administrative Assistant for OAPA and the Registrar's Office, was named Admin of the Month by the American Society of Administrative Professionals (ASAP). She also completed the ASAP Professional Administrative Certification of Excellence (PACE), and this spring, she completed the Building Bridges Across Maryland leadership and professional development program.

• This summer, Andrea Cipolla, Director of the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships (OFAS), passed the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators(NASFAA) Certified Financial Aid Administrator® exam, affirming her dedication to ethical and effective financial aid practices.

• Amanda Copper, Financial Aid Counselor in OFAS, earned three NASFAA credentials: Application Process, Needs Analysis, and Student Eligibility.
  

• Meaghan Walker, Student Services Coordinator in OFAS, earned her first NASFAA credential in Consumer Information.
  

• Shelly Kessler, Manager of Audit & Compliance in OFAS, earned all 16 NASFAA credentials.
  

• OFAS team members Jenn Volberding (Associate Director of Scholarships), Briana Cross (Assistant Director, Merit Scholarships), and Natalie Smith (Scholarships Coordinator) each earned two NASFAA credentials in Cost of Attendance and Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Promotions

• In May, Rosalie Chesley was promoted to Program Specialist in Undergraduate Admissions and Orientation.

Presentations & Publications

• In December, Carmen Cain, Assistant Registrar in the Registrar's Office, presented University Catalogs: Page to Screen at the Middle States Association of Collegiate Registrars and Officers of Admission (MSACROA) Conference in Baltimore. Her session explored adapting print catalogs to the digital environment using catalog software, with a focus on user experience.

• On November 4, 2024, Desiree Sterling, Coordinator for Pre-Transfer Advising in OAPA, presented Lizzo, ASMR Embodiment, and a Surround Sound Cultural Critique on Body Positivity as part of the Dresher Center’s CURRENTS: Humanities Work Now series. She also led a session at the UMBC Black Excellence Summit in February titled Stepping into Excellence with Line Dancing, highlighting the cultural roots of line dancing in the Black community. The day ended with her leading attendees in a lively soul train line. Desiree, a two-time UMBC alum, also published a book review in Critical Studies in Media Communication in July 2024 titled Misogynoir Transformed: Black Women’s Digital Resistance.

• Ericka Thompson (Assistant Director for Allied Health Programs), Deanna Cerquetti (Academic Advisor), and Dr. Kenneth Baron (Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Advising and Student Success) presented Pathways to Purpose: Innovating Healthcare Career Exploration for the Next Generationat the Northeast Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NEAAHP) Conference this summer.

Awards

• This year, Ciera Clay Valian, Senior Assistant Registrar for Transfer Services and Articulation, received the Jakubik Family Endowment Award during the Presidential Faculty and Staff Awards, recognizing her exceptional contributions to student academic success.

• Bethany Spore, Compliance Manager in the Registrar's Office, is a 2024-2025 recipient of the Diane M. Lee Teaching Award, for her work as an instructor for UNIV 101. She is known for her student-centered approach, emphasizing active listening and individualized support.

• On May 15, Dr. Laszlo Korossy, Assistant Director of Advising, Outreach, and Assessment in OAPA, received the Faculty/Staff Mentor Award at UMBC’s inaugural Asian Cultural Celebration & Awards, in recognition of his work in Orientation Advising.

The University System of Maryland and Google have partnered to give free access to online Google Career Certificates and AI training courses to UMBC and other USM campuses, with a special focus on supporting military students and veterans. By completing the online courses, you can gain job-ready skills that can help you succeed in today’s market.

The free Google Career Certificates that are available in six high-growth fields:

• Data Analytics
• Cybersecurity
• Digital Marketing & E-commerce
• UX Design
• IT Support
• Project Management

USM will also offer learners Google’s AI courses, designed and taught by AI experts at Google, to teach foundational skills in artificial intelligence technology.

• AI Essentials (5 hours)
• Prompting Essentials (6 hours)