Senior Marshals are graduating seniors who have demonstrated the highest levels of scholarship, service to the campus community, extracurricular involvement, and personal growth. The University of Maryland Senior Marshals represent graduating seniors who have demonstrated the highest levels of scholarship, service to the campus community, extracurricular involvement, and personal growth.
The 62 senior marshals, who carry the banners for schools, colleges and departments, are Spring, Winter, and Summer graduates who have stood out during their time at the University of Maryland for academic excellence, service to the university community, noteworthy extracurriculars and good character. Eleven of them have received citations from College Park Scholars programs.
The University of Maryland will honor its newest graduates at its 2024 Commencement ceremony Monday, May 20, 2024, in SECU Stadium. The student processional will begin at 6 p.m. For more information about commencement, visit commencement.umd.edu.
Elaine Sultana Berger
Dual degree: Jewish Studies (B.A.) and Management (B.A.)
Public Leadership
Elaine Sultana Berger is a Jewish Studies and Management double degree from Atlanta, Georgia. She's been actively involved in the Jewish community on campus, serving as Artistic Director for the Avirah Israeli Dance Company and as the Gabbi (religious coordinator) for Neshama, a community within Hillel. Elaine has been involved with ODK, NRHH, and the ARHU Dean's Advisory Board, as well as worked as a Program Assistant within the Department of Resident Life on campus. In her free time, Elaine enjoys dancing and writing music.
Riley Paige Blaugrund
Public Policy (B.A.)
Minor: Religious Studies
International Studies
Riley Blaugrund is a Public Policy BA/MPP student from Los Angeles, California with a minor in Religious Studies who aims to work in social justice and advocate for progressive policy. She earned her College Park Scholars citation in International Studies where she started a community service program for Afghan refugee families and was a peer mentor. On campus, Riley is a volunteer tour guide, an Executive Board member of Alpha Phi Omega (a national co-ed community service fraternity), the Marketing Director of Student Entertainment Events, and a representative on both the Provost Advisory Board and the Brody Student Advisory Council. During her time at UMD, she has interned with Jews United for Justice, a grassroots organization that fights for social, racial, and economic justice; Luminus Network, a social services agency for refugees and immigrants; and as a Legislative Intern at the Maryland State Senate.
Erin Burnett
Multimedia Journalism (B.S.)
Minor: Technology Entrepreneurship & Corporate Innovation
Media, Self, and Society
Erin is a Multimedia Journalism major with a concentration in Broadcast, minoring in Technology Entrepreneurship & Corporate Innovation. From Owings Mills, Maryland, Erin aspires to be a news reporter, anchor, and media entrepreneur. During her time at the University of Maryland, Erin has been a leader in several organizations across campus including: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Theta Nu Chapter, The Maryland Association of Black Journalists, the Black Explosion Newspaper, College Park Scholars Peer Mentors, College Park Scholars Media, Self, and Society Scholar, College Mentors, and the Prima Dolls Dance Team. Outside of her collegiate commitments, Erin has dedicated herself to professional development as an Emma Bowen Foundation Fellow, interning at WBAL-TV in Baltimore and the Today Show.
Caroline Davisson
Dual Degree: Business Management (B.S.) and Government and Politics (B.A.)
Justice and Legal Thought
Caroline is a Business Management and Government and Politics dual degree student from Annapolis, Maryland with a passion for service and mentorship. During her time at the University of Maryland, she has served as a Peer Mentor for the Justice and Legal Thought Scholars Program, a student coordinator for the Lakeland STARs program which provides free tutoring for local elementary school students, an undergraduate teaching assistant for the Government and Politics Department, an accounting and macroeconomics tutor for the Academic Success and Tutorial Services Office, and as a Resident Assistant and Team Lead of her staff in Centreville Hall. Caroline is also a member of the Moot Court team and has represented the University of Maryland at regional, pre-national, and national tournaments across the United States. After graduation, she plans to attend law school to continue to advocate for others in the legal field.
Annabelle Teel Grant
Dual degree: Government and Politics (B.A.) and Criminology and Criminal Justice (B.A.)
Justice and Legal Thought
Annabelle is graduating with a dual degree in Government and Politics, and Criminology and Criminal Justice. During her time at UMD, she strived to make a positive impact through her work as co-chair of the Student Conduct Review Coalition, a Community Advocate for the University Student Judiciary, a teaching assistant for the inaugural Maryland Fellows Program, Events & Lectures Chair for Omicron Delta Kappa, peer mentor in the Justice and Legal Thought Scholars Program, Vice President of the Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity, and captain in the Maryland Mock Trial Program. Off-campus, she has interned in the U.S. Department of State, the D.C. Office of the Attorney General, the Maryland General Assembly, and a Maryland congressional office. After graduation, she will be serving as a Teach for America corp member in Baltimore, where she hopes to help advance educational equity while preparing for law school.
Yasmine Kotb
Dual degree: Biological Sciences- Physiology & Neurobiology (B.A.) and Dance (B.A.)
Life Sciences
Yasmine is a dual degree student from Bethesda, Maryland who will be graduating with a B.S. in Physiology & Neurobiology and a B.A. in Dance. During her time at UMD, she participated in the Life Sciences Scholars Program, earning the Scholars Academic Achievement Award; she was also Peru Project Team Leader in Public Health Beyond Borders UMD, Director of Public Relations in Foundation For International Medical Relief in Children UMD, and a tutor with Lakeland STARs for over two years. She has enjoyed having the opportunity to conduct clinical research by completing two summer internships at the National Institutes of Health and volunteering as an Undergraduate Research Assistant at the Child Development Lab headed by Dr. Nathan Fox on campus. After graduation, Yasmine hopes to pursue a career as a well-rounded, well-informed physician.
Alyssa Leventhal
Special Education (B.S.)
Minor: Human Development
Global Public Health
Alyssa is from Brookeville, Maryland, and will be graduating with a B.S. in Special Education and a minor in Human Development. During her time at UMD, she has served as a Peer Advisor for the College of Education, President of the Teacher Education Association of Maryland Students, Research Assistant in the Early Childhood Interaction Lab, member of the Undergraduate Provost Student Advisory Council, mentor for College Mentors for Kids and tutor for The Every Child Project and Maryland Mentor Corps. Alyssa has also been selected as a Philip Merrill Presidential Scholar, completed the Global Public Health Scholars program, and was a recipient of the Teaching Fellows for Maryland Scholarship. She will be pursuing a career as an elementary school teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools.
Valerie Markel
Finance (B.S.)
Public Leadership
Valerie Markel from Glenwood, Maryland, graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Finance and part of her Master's in Business Analytics in the Plus 1 program. She has been an active terp in the community by being part of Resident Life as a Resident Assistant, a group fitness instructor for RecWell, VP of finance for Delta Gamma, a part of Public Leadership Scholars, an Education Equality Initiative tutor, and a recipient of a certificate of career readiness from Forte Foundation for Women in Business. She is also very active in the deaf community helping as a sign language interpreter in many different areas. Upon graduation, Valerie will continue her Master of Science in Business Analytics as a Terrapin Scholar scholarship recipient.
Navya (Rowan) Mohan
Dual degree: Public Policy and Marketing
Public Leadership
Rowan received a citation from College Park Scholars’ Public Leadership program. She volunteered as a Help Center peer crisis counselor and served as vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion for the Alpha Kappa Psi co-ed business fraternity. She worked as an adventure trip leader for RecWell, and is passionate about education justice, which she pursued through teaching, nonprofit and private-sector internships at firms including enFocus and Comcast. She hopes to pursue a career in global education equity.
Ogechukwu (Oge) Odidika
Double major: Psychology and Information Science
Minor: Humanities, Health and Medicine
Global Public Health
Oge Odidika, a Bowie, Maryland native, is a second-generation Nigerian Psychology and Information Science double major, with a minor in Humanities, Health, and Medicine. Throughout her time at UMD, she has been dedicated to her campus community, taking on leadership roles in various student organizations including African Student Association, Charles R. Drew Pre-Health Society, and Maryland Mentor Corps. She has also been involved in the Global Public Health College Park Scholars Program and has served as a Resource Specialist at the Student Organization Resource Center. Passionate about mental health, Oge is excited to pursue a career as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner upon graduation. Wherever life's path takes her, she's committed to making a positive impact.
Giuse Pham
Mechanical Engineering
Minor: Global Engineering Leadership
Science, Technology, and Society
Giuse Pham was in the second cohort of the A. James Clark Scholars Program and earned his citation from the Science, Technology, and Society College Park Scholars Program. While at the Clark School, Pham served as the Lounge Chair of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honors Society, played a significant role in developing the ergonomics system for the Terps Racing EV team, and advanced machine design research in the Mechanical Engineering Department. He progressed his career through various internship opportunities, such as researching with the UMD Applied Research Laboratory in Intelligence and Security, designing rockets for Northrop Grumman in Arizona, and integrating & testing satellites in Virginia for Northrop Grumman. After graduating with summa cum laude honors, Pham will return to Northrop Grumman in Virginia to continue producing satellite systems before returning to graduate school for mechanical engineering.
Daphne Alexis Ranti
Finance (B.S.)
Minor: Science, Technology, Ethics, and Policy (STEP)
Science, Technology, and Society
Daphne is a Finance major and Science, Technology, Ethics, and Policy (STEP) minor from Silver Spring, Maryland. During her time at UMD, she has been involved in College Park Scholars (Science, Technology, and Society), Scholars Communications Committee, Smith Undergraduate Student Association, Sophomore Finance Fellows, Office of Career Services at the Smith Business School, Women in Business Association, and QUEST Honors Program. Throughout a variety of her leadership roles, she has made it a point to uplift her peers and provide mentorship to the next generation of leaders. She is excited to pursue her Master's degree in Accounting and work towards becoming a Certified Public Accountant, and striving to diversify the voices and perspectives present in public accounting.
Elliot Tomar Skopp
Public Health Science
Public Leadership
Elliot served as president of Order of Omega the National Greek Honor Society, president of Sigma Chi Fraternity and vice president of internal affairs for the Interfraternity Council. He also tutored local elementary and middle school students through the Latino Student Fund and Lakeland STARs programs. As a member of the Public Leadership program in College Park Scholars and the School of Public Health honors society, he is poised to make a meaningful impact in the dental community.
Donaysia Torbit
Bioengineering (B.S.)
Science and Global Change
Donaysia Torbit is a senior from Baltimore, Maryland graduating with a B.S. in Bioengineering and a citation from the Science and Global Change Scholars Program. During her four years at the University of Maryland, she served as a co-chair of NetNite for the Student Success Leadership Council, a Community Assistant in the Department of Resident Life, a Student Resource Specialist at the Student Organization Resource Center, and as a ClarkLeader. Additionally, she conducted research as an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Vascular Kinetics Lab, investigating the effects of sex and obesity on vascular health. Upon graduation, she is excited to pursue a career in the biotherapeutic and technology field before applying to doctoral programs in Bioengineering.