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 70 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 2025 Commencement ceremony Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in SECU Stadium. The student processional will begin at 6 p.m. For more information about commencement, visit commencement.umd.edu.
Moumita Afrin (double degree: biological sciences, anthropology; minor: humanities, health, and medicine) of Ellicott City, Md., received the Outstanding Achievement award from the Environment, Technology, and Economy Scholars program in College Park Scholars, served as president of UNICEF, Journal Club coordinator with Grey Matters, subcommittee chair with the Student Health Advisory Committee, operations director for the Petal Project, a teaching assistant for introductory biology courses, and a peer mentor with the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences.
Paige Boyland (major: kinesiology) of Gaithersburg, Md., will be the first college graduate in her family to pursue medical school. She was a College Park Scholar in the Life Sciences program, in which she became a peer mentor and Scholars ambassador. Boyland also served in leadership roles in the Global Medical Brigades chapter of UMD and Phi Delta Epsilon Beta chapter, and as a resident assistant. In addition, she was a puppy sitter for the Guide Dog Foundation with Terps Raising Pups, a tutor for the International Rescue Committee with Peer to Peer, a research assistant for the Vascular Kinetics Lab with the Fischell Department of Bioengineering, a teaching assistant for anatomy and physiology laboratories, a shock trauma volunteer at the University of Maryland Medical Center, an American Red Cross volunteer at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and a research intern at the National Institutes of Health.
Jessica Faby (major: accounting) of Long Island, N.Y., helped establish the Justice for Fraud Victims Project at UMD, creating opportunities for students to collaborate on real-world financial fraud investigations with detectives from local police departments, with some cases even going to trial based on the group's findings. She has also served as vice president of finance for the professional business fraternity Pi Sigma Epsilon and vice president of membership for the Accounting and Business Association, and is an active member of Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society. Faby was a sophomore finance fellow and contributed to the College Park Scholars Justice and Legal Thought program as a media intern and peer mentor. She will pursue her M.S. in accounting as a Terp and become a Certified Public Accountant.
Lily Fleischmann (major: public policy; minors: nonprofit leadership, and innovation and entrepreneurship) founded Terps for Reproductive Justice, served as president of the School of Public Policy Student Government Association, and participated in the Rawlings Undergraduate Leadership Fellows Program and the College Park Scholars Public Leadership program. Fleischmann interned with the Office of Barack and Michelle Obama, the Malala Fund, the National Council of Jewish Women and the office of U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia).
Sarang Han (major: bioengineering) of Ellicott City, Md., was an A. James Clark Scholar who conducted an honors thesis on preeclampsia modeling. She was president of the Student Health Advisory Committee, vice president of service and outreach and academic affairs for the Biomedical Engineering Society, engineering representative in the Student Government Association, peer mentor captain and representative in the Science and Global Change program of College Park Scholars, and teaching assistant for bioengineering courses. Han intends to become a physician scientist to advance artificial organ development.
Erika Holdren (major: government and politics; minor: Spanish literature, linguistics, and culture) was a Spirit of Maryland Award finalist. She served as president of the Residence Hall Association and of the National Residence Hall Honorary and vice president of the Multiracial Student Union. She was a peer mentor for the College Park Scholars International Studies program, and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, Global Fellows, Psi Sigma Alpha, the Gamer Symphony Orchestra, Pa’lante Dance Co. and the Student Government Association. Holdren interned for the U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, congressional and Maryland state representatives, Federal Emergency Management Agency, START and the Maryland State Police. She will pursue a master’s degree in geospatial intelligence at UMD.
Abigail Manga (major: information systems), of Fort Washington, Md., served as president of the Senior Council, president of the National Association of Black Accountants, alumni and member engagement chair of Omicron Delta Kappa, and as a Smith ambassador. She also serves on the Diversity Equity Council and Smith Community Council within the Robert H. Smith School of Business, while working as a resident assistant and office assistant in the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs. Furthermore, Manga was a part of the Public Leadership College Park Scholars Program, the QUEST Honors Program and the Philip Merrill Presidential Scholars Program.
Jennifer Mangandi-Sibrian (major: architecture) was a first-generation college student who served as president of Women in Architecture. She was an academic peer mentor, participated in the College Park Scholars Arts program, and active in the Latinx Student Union and Latinx Architects United. Mangandi-Sibrian will pursue a master's degree in architecture, specializing in rehabilitative/healing architecture, while continuing to share her experiences with prospective students and building an inclusive, collaborative community.
Steven Mendelson (major: biological sciences; minors: business, sustainability) of Rockville, Md., completed the College Park Scholars Life Sciences program and served as a Scholars engagement assistant and ambassador. He also worked as a campus tour guide, participated in MEOR, and spent part of his sophomore summer conducting marine biology research in Cape Town, South Africa. After studying abroad in Rome, Mendelson returned to UMD to further his involvement with the Food Recovery Network and the Student Alumni Leadership Council. He will attend Penn Dental Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Ijeoma Okoro (major: public health science; minor: health, humanities, and medicine) of Gaithersburg, Md., was awarded 30 scholarships. She was a Thurgood Marshall fellow, a Do Good Accelerator fellow and a research intern for Maryland ROPTA. She also conducted research at the National Institutes of Health, including the National Human Genome Research Institute and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, focusing on health disparities, substance use and mental health. Okoro was vice president of mentorship for Sister2Sister, a teaching assistant and a health professional liaison for the Charles R. Drew Pre-Health Society, and served on the Commission on Juvenile Justice in Montgomery County. Okoro completed College Park Scholars’ Science and Global Change program, studied abroad in São Paulo, Brazil, presented at national conferences and worked in clinical settings as a certified nursing assistant for five years.
Vincent Pham (major: computer engineering) of Catonsville, Md., is in the B.S./M.S. program. He served as president of IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu Gamma Xi chapter, the electrical and computer engineering honor society, and was event coordinator for the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Peer Mentoring Program. He earned a citation from College Park Scholars’ Science, Technology and Society program and was a student-athlete tutor at the Gossett Student Center, an engineering orientation advisor and an undergraduate teaching fellow. Pham was also a member of the Vietnamese Student Association, Thai Student Association, Terps Racing EV and the Engineering Video Editing Club. He received the Clark Legacy Scholarship and the Charles E. Sydnor III Senatorial Scholarship. Pham aspires to innovate in the field of computer architecture by designing, verifying and optimizing processor technologies.
Bella Rosner (dual degrees: psychology, human development; minor: nonprofit management and leadership) was in the Human Development Honors Cohort and earned a citation through the College Park Scholars Public Leadership Program. She served as an undergraduate teaching assistant in psychology, a peer advisor for the College of Education, and a member of the Student Alumni Leadership Council. Rosner was also a founding member and treasurer of the Human Development Student Association. She interned with the UMD Alumni Association and later worked as the program assistant for the College of Education’s Office of Advancement. Rosner plans to work as a researcher in a developmental psychology lab before applying to Ph.D. programs.
Bella Rosner (dual degrees: psychology, human development; minor: nonprofit management and leadership) was in the Human Development Honors Cohort and earned a citation through the College Park Scholars Public Leadership Program. She served as an undergraduate teaching assistant in psychology, a peer advisor for the College of Education, and a member of the Student Alumni Leadership Council. Rosner was also a founding member and treasurer of the Human Development Student Association. She interned with the UMD Alumni Association and later worked as the program assistant for the College of Education’s Office of Advancement. Rosner plans to work as a researcher in a developmental psychology lab before applying to Ph.D. programs.
Olivia Ryder (major: public policy) of Gaithersburg, Md., was a B.A./M.P.P. student who hopes to work in social policy and expand access to reproductive health services. She co-founded both Students for Reproductive Justice and CP Plan B and served as the graduate social director, undergraduate social director and student ambassador for the School of Public Policy. Ryder was also vice president of programming for the Residence Hall Association and on the programming council for Zeta Tau Alpha. She earned a citation in College Park Scholars’ Public Leadership program, was selected for the Maryland Service Scholars Program and Federal Fellows program, and was a Do Good Accelerator Fellow and member of the leadership honor society Omicron Delta Kappa. Ryder interned in the Do Good Institute and offices of U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland) and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. She was a research assistant for Reproductive Justice Maryland as a part of her master’s capstone project.
Grayson Vintz (majors: finance, accounting) was active in the Robert H. Smith Business School, serving as an information technology analyst for the Lemma Senbet Fund and portfolio manager and executive member of the Smith Investment Fund. He was treasurer of the professional business fraternity Phi Chi Theta, chair of the Smith Dean's Student Advisory Council and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa honor society. Vintz earned a citation in College Park Scholars’ Public Leadership program. He will return full-time to StepStone Group as a venture capital and growth equity analyst.
Kaitlyn Zhou (majors: public policy, family science) earned a citation in College Park Scholars’ Public Leadership program. She served as president of Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership honor society and of the Student Alumni Leadership Council and as a student ambassador for the Department of Family Science, School of Public Policy and College Park Scholars. She also interned in the Office of the Vice President for University Relations and was an orientation advisor her sophomore year. Zhou plans to complete a Master of Public Policy degree at UMD and pursue a career in family and child welfare.