Class of 2027

Hello! I’m John Angelloz-Dugan and I am an English major on the communications track going into my sophomore year at UMBC. Coming into the Humanities Scholars Program, I was undecided on my major—although, due to having a great teacher for my high school AP literature class, I was strongly interested in English. After a semester here, I finalized my decision; and being a Humanities Scholar at UMBC has not only been a very fun experience, it is a large part of the reason why I chose English as a major and discovered writing as a passion.

On top of improving my writing skills, though, I’m also learning to speak Chinese through language courses. I’m debating pursuing a minor in that language or Asian studies, and I hope to study abroad in China or Taiwan next year. I’m excited to use the opportunity to become immersed in another culture and educational system, along with improving my fluency in Chinese.

I’m also having a lot of fun. In my spare time I enjoy drawing, and I like working out with my friends. I also play games, including Fallout New Vegas and Elden Ring currently, along with Overwatch and League of Legends. This past summer, I spent time in Quebec, where I learned to sail and explored my aunt’s farm (and its horses, peacocks, chickens, goats, and more). I plan to spend a few weekends this fall at my home in Baltimore helping build a coop so my family can raise their own chickens.  I love animals, including my family pets, a cat named Stitch and two dogs, Ursa and Red.

Hi everyone! My name is Tafat Boudif, and I am super excited to be embarking on my second year at UMBC! I am double majoring in Political Science and Global Studies, with a possible French minor in the future. I had an amazing first year at UMBC! I had the privilege of meeting new people who I now call my closest friends, connecting with staff and professors, and exploring my interests further. Last year, I worked with Gathering Space for Spiritual Well-Being and the Political Science Department’s DEIA Student Task Force. All of these unique experiences have converged to allow me to grow as an individual and discover what I really want to do in this world. Today, my passions, while still developing, are deeply ingrained within me and guide the work that I hope to continue this year. On campus, I am a political engagement intern with the Center for Democracy and Civic Life, a member of the Political Science Department’s DEIA Student Task Force, vice-president of the Ethics Bowl Team, and a member of the Pre-Law Society and Honors College. In my free time, I like to play volleyball, do my nails, and go on walks. However, the experience that has been the most defining during my time at UMBC has definitely been being a Humanities Scholar. From living in the LLC to going on excursions with my fellow scholars, I have found a beautiful community within the Humanities Scholar Program that I will forever cherish and be grateful for. With that said, I cannot wait to meet more people as our program continues to grow, and I wish everyone the best of luck in the upcoming year!

Hello! My name is Kat Gill and I’m a sophomore double majoring in American Studies and English on the Communications and Technology track with a minor in Public Humanities. During my time here at UMBC, I have found myself interested in many different academic pursuits within and outside the humanities, so I’ve been very infamous for never exactly knowing what my major is! However, the American Studies program has allowed me to study American life through an interdisciplinary lens without having to stick to one academic pursuit (history, sociology, media studies, etc.) while also being able to connect with professors within a close knit program. I am also excited to be pursuing a minor in Public Humanities through the American Studies department, through which I will be doing research on music history within the Baltimore region. I chose to double major in English as well because I’ve been interested in rhetoric and writing since elementary school, so it only made sense that I would continue my work through the college level!

 

 This year, I am also involved on campus through my work as a Grit Guide and am a proud resident of the Women Involved and Learning and Leadership Living Learning Community. When I’m not working or in class, I love listening to vocaloid, playing pokemon and sonic games, roller skating, making music and going to shows with my friends, and cosplaying!

Hi! My name is Ashley Gutshall and I’m from Royersford, Pennsylvania. I plan to major in History, minor in Spanish and Latin American Studies, and get a Social Studies Teaching Certification. I have been really interested in history since elementary school. From begging my parents to take me to Jamestown to checking out every historical fiction book in my school library, I obsessed over learning everything I could about history. I am so excited to be able to broaden my knowledge beyond the Western history taught in high school to a more diverse and complete version of human history. I’m so excited to be a part of the Humanities Scholars program for just that reason! My love of history is also what encouraged my love of reading. I also really enjoy baking, hanging out with friends, and swimming. I have been swimming competitively since I was 8 years old and just finished my senior year of swimming as team captain and a 5 time PA State Medalist. I’m so excited to be continuing my swim career here at UMBC! I spent the last four years coaching my club team and it was my time as a coach that really influenced my decision to become a teacher. I want to be able to help and encourage the next generation of students. In high school, I participated in the National Honors Society and was a National Merit Commended Student as well as an NISCA Academic All American. I also visited Europe this past summer with my family. It was such an incredible experience and I am looking forward to going back to Spain (hopefully) for my study abroad! This past year at school was very busy for me, on top of participating in activities with the program, I became an American East Conference Champion in the 50 freestyle, worked as a research assistant, coached the club team on campus, and still somehow managed to add another minor. All this to say, being a humanities scholar means that you have an amazing support system, great friends, and lots of opportunities to do amazing things. I can’t wait to see what else I can accomplish as a scholar!

Hello, my name is Molly Hess. I’m a sophomore at UMBC majoring in English Literature and minoring in Psychology. I am pursuing a certificate in Early Childhood Education (ECE), and I work in the Modern Languages, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication (MLLI) department, as well as a photographer for the Retriever newspaper. In my spare time, I love to read, hike, oil paint, play guitar, and hang out in nature. You will likely find me doing one of those on campus!
Being in the Humanities Scholars Program has been truly a joy—it has given me so many opportunities for learning, friendships, and growth. At UMBC, I will be beginning my path in the ECE program, with field experiences in local elementary and preschools. Growing up, I have always loved literature and school; I knew I wanted to teach from a young age. I have had many different experiences outside of UMBC that have led me to my love of teaching, such as working as a summer camp counselor for three years, a preschool ski instructor for two years, and an assistant teacher at a preschool/daycare center. I grew up in a small town, so I am eager to spend another year at UMBC where I can learn more about the world and be better prepared to teach a wide range of students, from any type of background.

I am Audrey Lang and I am planning on majoring in Ancient Studies. I have achieved my Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards and gained leadership experience from my Gold Award. My academic interests include foreign language studies, prehistoric and ancient history, and archaeology. A fun fact about me is that I have taken classes to learn four languages throughout high school (Spanish, Japanese, Latin, and ASL).

My name is Rebecca Lee and I’m a rising freshman and history major in the Humanities Scholars Program. My academic interests include literature, history, philosophy, languages, and art. In my spare time, i like reading, drawing, knitting, and listening to sad music. I have a cat named Milk who looks funny.

Hey there, I’m Sarah Mendes, an incoming freshman from Frederick, Maryland, ready to embark on an exciting journey at UMBC as a Communications major. Throughout my life, and especially in these most recent post-pandemic years, I’ve come to recognize the significance of effective, attention-grabbing, and impactful communication in an increasingly online world.

As a member of a generation that grew up with smartphones and social media, I aim to leverage my studies to harness my natural abilities in navigating the digital landscape. Beyond communications, I have a diverse range of interests that fuels my thirst for academic exploration. Visual art, environmental justice, and politics are just a few areas that captivate my curiosity, and I look forward to potentially pursuing an additional minor or major that aligns with these passions.

Growing up with parents who are immigrants from Brazil, I carry with me a unique perspective that highlights the value of diverse experiences and open-mindedness. With this global mindset, I am particularly excited about the prospect of utilizing the study abroad requirement to delve deeper into South American culture and immerse myself in the rich heritage of my roots.

As an incoming freshman at UMBC, I am thrilled to engage with like-minded scholars and faculty, contributing my open-minded approach and wide-ranging interests to our vibrant academic community.

Hi everyone! My name is Daniela Salguero (she/they) and I was born in San Salvador, El Salvador but grew up in Prince George’s County, MD. I am a sophomore Psychology and Global Studies double major with a Spanish minor. I am deeply interested in studying how these fields mesh because of my passion for ethnorelativism and global mental health. Being in the Humanities program offered an enriching first year filled with informative forum events, exciting off-campus excursions, and wonderful connections- especially within the LLC! This year I look forward to getting more involved within my departments and organizations such as WMBC radio, HLSU, AIA, and many more. I am not yet set on a study abroad location but Chile and Peru are my current top choices. When I am not studying in Harbor Cafe, you can find me scavenging for CDs to add to my collection, watching obscure Tubi films, or finding a nice hiking trail. I am ecstatic to continue building bridges at UMBC as a Humanities Scholar!

 

 

 

Hi! My name is Cameron Shiao, and I’m a sophomore from Ellicott City, Maryland majoring in Applied Linguistics with minors in Music, Japanese, and Critical Sexuality Studies. Originally, I came to UMBC as an English/Math double major. Although those fields of study still hold a place in my heart (and continue to play a role in my life as hobbies outside of academia), after spending my freshman year exploring my interests, my options, and my goals, I’m looking forward to working towards a degree in Linguistics and a career in Japanese-to-English translation and localization. This year, I’ll be working as a teaching assistant for Japanese 101 and preparing to study abroad in Japan during my junior year.

After having spent most of my life in different choirs, I joined UMBC’s chamber choir Camerata at the start of last year; I designed our concert programs for the fall and spring semesters and acted as the soprano section leader in the spring. Last spring, I also started working with UMBC’s Initiatives for Identity, Inclusion, and Belonging (also known as i3b) as an intern at the Mosaic, our Center for Cultural Diversity here on campus. I’ll be working at the Mosaic again this year, so if you’re looking for a nice, cozy place to hang out and spend time on campus, check us out on the second floor of the Commons! I’m looking forward to all that my sophomore year has in store.

Hello, my name is Julia Silver. I am a sophomore majoring in Anthropology and Environmental Science. I decided to study Anthropology after watching anthro students research Shudra ghats in the movie Masaan. My experience as a nature camp counselor and frequent hiker at the Patapsco woods sparked my interest in Environmental Science. During school when I’m not in class or hanging out with my best friend who I met in the LLC, you can find me walking the Herbert Run Greenway loop on campus, working as a tour guide, listening to music at the WMUC Radio, or watching movies at Film Club. I’ve had a great experience with the Scholars program so far, and I’m excited to see what this year brings.

 

 

Hi, my name is Ileana Su. I am a sophomore at UMBC. Currently, I am exploring many different humanities-related majors, such as Global Studies, Linguistics, and Communications. In my free time, I enjoy learning about various cultures, listening to music, reading, and playing video games. During my previous year at UMBC, I was lucky to meet a variety of new people through the Humanities and Honors College programs. I learned more about the inner workings
of the clubs here at UMBC through SGA. I was also able to expand my knowledge of languages in classes like Korean and English. This school year, I aim to further increase my exploration of the world around me and discover my passions. Whether it be through the cooking club or an amazing English class. I am looking forward to the new school year and all the opportunities to come!

Hello! I’m Ryan Supplee, a Freshman Humanities Scholar, and I’m incredibly excited to start this journey as an English Literature and Applied Mathematics double major!  You may be wondering “What use is a degree in English Literature and Applied Mathematics?”  If you happen to come to a conclusion, please let me know.

Although I adore both Math and English, I love doing Theater and Choir too!  I have been a Circle Leader for Theater, and a Student Conductor for choir, both of which gave me the opportunity to help my fellow artists excel.  I attained a Superior in acting at 2022’s ITS Festival, All-State Thespian and Singer over the last 3 years, and was a member of my high school’s Chamber Choir.  I’m hoping to be active in both communities on campus, although the balancing of it all will take some practice.  During the Summers, I also have an internship with CACI as a Project Analyst and watch my mother’s two pet pigs, Lord Voldepork and Sasha.  I’m excited to be part of UMBC, and can’t wait to see what these 4 years have got!

Heyy! My name is Sebastian Zamora and I am double degreeing in Financial Economics, and English with a track in Communication and technology as well as an accounting certificate (also have aspirations of going to law school). I am originally from Colombia but was raised in Howard County Maryland. I like to play chess, play soccer, draw from time to time, and ski. I really like government and understanding politics (as confusing as that can be sometimes). I am really excited to be here! From just graduating high school and being a full time student at Howard Community College Student, this is a new experience I plan to enjoy to the fullest! I plan to be as involved as possible here in UMBC. For example, I would like to be part of SGA as well as join many clubs and work on campus. I will be living on campus so I am really excited about that. I am so thankful to have been given this opportunity and proud to call myself a Humanities Scholar! I am really looking forward to the study abroad experience, I have always wanted to go to Italy and with this program a dream could become reality!