Name:

Neha Nooka

Pronouns:

She/her/hers

Semester of Internship:

Fall 2024

Major:

Data Science

Current Class Level:

Master's Student

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

Internship

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name):

Signarama

Location of the Organization (City, State):

Silver Spring, MD

Title of position:

Process & Marketing Systems Design Intern

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

As a Process & Marketing Systems Design Intern, I developed a chatbot for internal use, guiding team members through processes and improving onboarding and training efficiency by 20%. I also designed and implemented automation solutions for Trello boards, which enhanced task management efficiency by 35%. My work involved collaborating with the President of the organization to streamline workflows and create structured documentation.

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

I applied through the MTIP program, which I learned about in a LinkedIn post. I directly emailed the company and received a response the same day, setting up a meeting to discuss the position further.

What resources did you use to find your current experience?

UMBC Career Center, LinkedIn, and other social media platforms.

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

What I’ve enjoyed most is the opportunity to directly impact the team’s efficiency and productivity. Developing a chatbot for internal use and automating workflows in Trello were particularly rewarding because they led to noticeable improvements in the team’s operations. Collaborating directly with the President and seeing tangible results made the experience incredibly fulfilling.

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

I believe I’ve made a significant impact by improving onboarding and training processes, boosting efficiency by 20%. Additionally, the automation solutions I implemented increased task organization and workflow efficiency by 35%, helping the team work more effectively and adopt a structured approach to project management.

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

MTIP is an excellent resource for finding internships, so I recommend checking it regularly and applying to opportunities that align with your interests. The application process is simple and intuitive. Apart from using MTIP, focus on building both technical and problem-solving skills. Look for ways to improve efficiency in any role and take on projects that challenge you to learn new tools or platforms—this can make you stand out to employers.

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

The Career Center played a vital role in guiding me through my internship search, offering valuable resources and networking opportunities. I enjoyed applying my skills to real-world problems, such as developing a chatbot and automating workflows, which enhanced the team’s efficiency and productivity.

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

Collaborating directly with the President of Signarama allowed me to gain hands-on experience and make meaningful contributions to the team. The Career Center’s guidance made the process of securing and succeeding in my internship seamless and rewarding.

• If your UMBC business trip includes personal travel, you must obtain a comparison quote.
  
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Important Notice for International Travel

All international travelers are reminded to verify entry/exit requirements for all countries they will visit or transit through before making travel arrangements. Starting in early 2025, the United Kingdom (Jan, 8th 2025) and European Union will implement new electronic authorization requirements.

United Kingdom

• Effective January 8, 2025: U.S. citizens traveling to or transiting through the UK for short-term stays (up to 6 months) will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).
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European Union

• For the latest information on EU entry/exit requirements, please visit the EU website.
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Remember: Even with these new requirements, all international travel must still be registered through the UMBC International Travel Registry.

Meet Chris Serafin, electric trades supervisor in UMBC’s Facilities Management (FM). Serafin has been at UMBC for 9 years and was recently awarded a USM Board of Regents’ Staff Award for his exceptional work, including a high voltage electrical switch replacement in the Engineering Building that ended up saving the university a half a million dollars in contractor’s fees.

Q: What’s one essential thing you’d want another Retriever to know about you?

A: I enjoy my job as electric supervisor and have a great group of high voltage electricians that work hard every day to ensure the stability of the UMBC power system. I received my management studies degree in 2020 from the University of Maryland Global Campus, taking full advantage of the tuition remission program provided by the State of Maryland. I enjoy building furniture and playing guitar in my free time.

Q: Tell us about someone in the community who has inspired you or supported you, and how they did it.

A: John Zahor [AVP for FM]  has been extremely supportive in my career at UMBC. He has been a hands off boss and has allowed me to make critical changes to how the UMBC electric shop is run, which has greatly improved the efficiency of daily operations.

Q: What part of your job do you enjoy the most and why?

A: Leadership has allowed me to be proactive, creative, and think outside the box when exploring the fascinating world of electrical theory.

Q: Tell us about the people who have helped you at UMBC.

A: Lenn Caron [acting vice president, Administration and Finance], John Zahor, and Valerie RiChard in Facilities Management have allowed me to run the UMBC electric shop the way I think in needs to be run to provide the electrical requirements of administrators, faculty, staff, and students at UMBC.

Collin Sullivan ’19, information systems and economics, M.P.P. ’21, is the program director for digital credential innovation in the Division of Professional Studies. While he started as a student worker in 2015 for the Division of Information Technology (DoIT), working with faculty to leverage the use of clickers in the classroom, he now leads university efforts to offer in-demand microcredentials, such as the Greater Washington Partnership Digital Tech credential. Two things have been constant in Collin’s career: his interest in technology and his love of the UMBC community. 

Q: What led you to your current role? 

A: In many ways, my professional time at UMBC found me. I began as an undergraduate student worker in Instructional Technology with DoIT. I started by supporting classroom clickers in classes all across campus. I’ve always been interested in educational technology, so I was incredibly fortunate and lucky to have had that opportunity during my undergrad. 

When I was about to graduate, like many rising seniors, I was really unsure of where I was going to go. I was feeling uneasy about looking for jobs because I knew the values of UMBC and the community that exists here, and I had a hard time thinking about other places to work that would have the same feeling. My passion for educational technology never waned, and in the end I found an opportunity at UMBC.

Q: How many hats do you wear at UMBC?

A: I have had many roles here at UMBC: undergraduate student, graduate student, alumnus, staff, and adjunct faculty member. I’ve studied information systems, economics, and public policy. I began my career in the Division of Information Technology, and now I am in Extended Studies with the Division of Professional Studies. It is without question that I am who I am, and where I am, because of UMBC. 

Q: Tell us about someone in the community who has inspired you.

A: There are way too many people to name! The first person who comes to mind is Craig Berger, my Student Government Association advisor when I was an undergrad. There is no other way to put it other than Craig is the best. During my first few days at UMBC, I made my way to the Campus Life office, and Craig always made me feel welcomed and, later, truly empowered me to feel like I could make a difference on campus and beyond the loop. He taught me that even during times that feel particularly challenging, the world is still malleable. A different perspective and level-headed, strategic approach often is a meaningful path forward.

Q: What’s the one thing you’d want someone who hasn’t joined the UMBC community to know about the support you find here?

A: In many ways, UMBC is a small town. It feels like a close-knit community where it’s easy to make meaningful connections with people from diverse backgrounds who genuinely care about each other. While we strive for excellence, there’s no sense of competition—everyone supports one another in achieving personal and collective success, whether in academics, work, or relationships.

Q: Tell us about an organization you’re involved in as part of your work.

A: I’ve had the privilege of being involved with 1EdTech, a national education technology organization, where I serve as co-chair of the Digital Credential Innovation Leadership Network. Our goal is to ensure that everyone who earns digital credentials can confidently showcase their verified competencies and achievements, using them in ways that best support whatever is next in life.

Q: What’s your favorite place on campus to relax or meet friends? 

A: My favorite spot has changed over the years—from the tables by the Library pond to the area outside the RAC and the Forum sculpture at the PAHB. But honestly, my go-to answer has to be the coveted comfy chairs at Starbucks! I’ve had so many amazing conversations with friends, mentors, and colleagues there. Plus, you never know who you’ll bump into. There’s just something about the possibilities of chatting over a cup of coffee.

Q: What part of your job do you enjoy the most and why?

A: Working with faculty and staff to create new pathways for learners to reach their goals. It’s easy to get caught up in our own worlds and forget to pause and reflect on the progress we’re all making. I love that I get to collaborate with others to create space for those reflections, where we can really think about what we want learners to achieve. The best part? Seeing the end result—acknowledging all the hard work, both seen and unseen, that helps learners improve their lives and take the next step in their journey.

UMBC’s greatest strength is its people. When people meet Retrievers and hear about the passion they bring, the relationships they create, the ways they support each other, and the commitment they have to inclusive excellence, they truly get a sense of our community. That’s what “Meet a Retriever” is all about.

Learn more about how UMBC can help you achieve your goals.