UMBC Alumni Association

After experiencing firsthand how supportive the UMBC community was during her master’s program, Hailey Turney, M.A. ’21 chose to stay on campus to lift up the next generation of students.

"I came for the academics and stayed for the community," Hailey says.

Today, she serves as an undergraduate academic advisor in the College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT) and teaches introductory English and university orientation classes.

Read more about Hailey’s journey, her incredible COEIT team, and how she’s making a difference: https://umbc.edu/stories/meet-a-retriever-hailey-turney-coeit-advisor/

📸 1 - Hailey Turney (center) laughs with Assistant Director of Transfer Success Initiatives Krista Wallace at the 2024 COEIT Celebration. (Photo courtesy of Turney)

📸 2 - Hailey Turney (second from left) and her colleagues pose for a picture at the 2024 COEIT Celebration, held to celebrate the achievements of COEIT students. (All photos courtesy of Turney)

Since publishing Simone LaFray and the Chocolatiers’ Ball in 2019, Steven O’Farrell ’92, economics, has expanded the Simone LaFray series. The latest installments, Simone LaFray and the Red Wolves of London and Simone LaFray and the Bishop of Mumbai, are out now. If you are looking to mark off your Retrievers Read UMBC Author BINGO square, a Simone LaFray mystery may be in your future!

Read about Steven's journey from real estate to published author: https://umbc.edu/stories/from-real-estate-to-covert-agent/

Learn more about the Simone LaFray series: https://www.spofarrell.com/

Caring for others has always been central to who Maleeha Ahmed '26, social work and psychology, is. As the oldest of five children, she naturally stepped into caregiving roles early in life, supporting both family members and older adults in her community. Over time, she began to recognize that the work she had been doing informally for many years reflected the values and responsibilities of professional social work.

Congratulations, Maleeha! 🎓

Read more of Maleeha's story: https://umbc.edu/stories/maleeha-ahmed-26-found-her-calling-in-social-work/

As an undergraduate student at UMBC, Alycia Marshall ’95, mathematics, wasn’t a Meyerhoff Scholar by title, but she felt like one by proximity. Many of her friends and peers were Meyerhoff Scholars.

“Even though I wasn’t a Meyerhoff, I was sucked into this culture of high achievement,” says Marshall. “I call it ‘the Meyerhoff Effect.’”

🔗 Read more of Alycia's story at umbc.edu/stories/the-meyerhoff-effect-alycia-marshall/

Shawn Bearam, Jr. '26 had a simple reason for getting involved at UMBC: he saw people who looked like him having fun together, and he wanted in. What followed was four years of showing up — for his community, his classes, and himself. We can't wait to see what comes next. Congratulations, Shawn! 🎓

Shawn Bearam, Jr. ’26—Getting Involved And Finding Your Place On Campus - UMBC: University Of Maryland, Baltimore County Just tackling the rigors of a college course load on its own can be daunting for any student. But when you add in the additional responsibilities and time...

It was around five o’clock on a Wednesday in May, and Michelle Jabès Corpora ’03, English and theatre, was on her sofa watching her favorite British murder mystery on TV. It had been a long shot to think her newest book, His Face Is the Sun, would hit the New York Times (NYT) bestsellers list, and since she hadn’t heard anything and it was getting late, she figured it wasn’t meant to be.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! Suddenly, she looked down at her phone to see a FaceTime call from five different numbers—most of which she didn’t recognize. She quickly answered and saw her agent, editor, assistant editor, and publicists in the group of smiling faces before hearing the four words every author dreams of hearing: “You’re on the list!”

Read more of Corpora’s journey to becoming a NYT bestselling author: https://umbc.edu/stories/michelle-corpora-nyt-bestselling-author/

What does it look like when UMBC's most passionate supporters gather in one room?

Last week, we got to find out — for the second time. The Hilltop Society Salon brought together donors, leaders, and friends of UMBC in Baltimore for an evening of connection, conversation, and a glimpse at what this university is becoming. We heard from AI experts, felt the energy of a community that genuinely believes in this place, and were reminded by President Valerie Sheares Ashby of the bold vision driving UMBC forward.

The Hilltop Society is where UMBC's future takes shape. We'd love for you to be part of it.

Katie King ’26, biology and dance, completed an ambitious double degree, and not only thrived but also became co-captain of the UMBC Dance Team and worked for the admissions office as a Grit Guide. Looking forward, she plans to become a physician assistant, and hopes to find ways to combine her love of both dance and biology. 🎓✨

Join us in celebrating Katie as she officially joins our community of over 100,000 proud UMBC alumni! 🐾💛

➡️ Read more of Katie's story: https://umbc.edu/stories/katie-king-26-biology-and-dance-double-major-admissions-grit-guide-and-umbc-dance-team-co-captain-pursues-a-future-that-engages-her-passions/

“The world does not need you to be flawless. It needs you to be bold enough to contribute your voice.” 🎓

Music Director Jonathon Heyward addressed graduates at UMBC's College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences 2026 commencement ceremony!

In addition to giving an inspiring speech, Jonathon received an honorary doctorate from UMBC President Valerie Sheares Ashby and Provost Manfred van Dulmen.

Congratulations to Jonathon, and UMBC's class of 2026!

Through a rigorous academic curriculum, service as a tutor, internships, tennis pick-up games, close friendships, and more, Manav Narendra ’26, mathematics and computer science, has made the most of his time at UMBC and built a strong foundation for future success in applied math and related fields. A leukemia survivor, Narendra has adopted a posture of gratitude and resilience, crediting in part his mother’s unwavering support and UMBC’s close-knit community for helping him thrive academically and personally

Read more of Manav's story: https://umbc.edu/stories/manav-narendra-mathematician-and-cancer-survivor/