Undergraduate Admissions

My name is Serenity. My pronouns are she/her and I am from Anne Arundel County, MD. I am a sophomore majoring in public policy. I am in the Media, Self, & Society Scholars Program and I am an officer in the women’s basketball club at UMD. I love to travel and try new foods. My favorite places I have traveled to are the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and England. I really love listening to music. A fun fact about me is that my family is from England. I am an athlete who plays lacrosse and basketball. I love listening to music, going to parties and attending concerts. Some of my favorite artists are 21 Savage, Adele, Taylor Swift, Zach Bryan, Ken Carson and Beyoncé. I love having movie nights and hanging out with friends and family. I love singing, dancing and making vlogs of anything and everything. I love true crime documentaries and tv dramas. I love Disney and horror movies. I like to interact with people and get to know new faces.         

Contact: sfiggins@terpmail.umd.edu

My name is Caitlin Hassan (she/her) and I am a sophomore student from Morristown, New Jersey. I am a double major in public policy and communications, and I am in the Environment, Technology, and Economy Scholars Program. I recently completed an internship in the social media department at the Environmental Protection Agency, which taught me a lot about the intersection between communication and policy. I also am an assistant engagement editor and work in social media at The Diamondback, which is one of UMD’s student newspapers. Additionally, I have been accepted into the Maryland Fellows program, and in the spring semester I will be working in Annapolis as a legislative writing intern in the Maryland General Assembly. As I look toward my future career, I hope to use this experience and lessons I have learned from the School of Public Policy to create change in the policy field. Outside of school, I like to spend most of my time with friends and family, getting outside and going hiking or to the beach, baking and reading.

Contact: chassan@terpmail.umd.edu

My name is Ronja Markoff and I use she/her pronouns. I am currently a junior double majoring in public policy and technology and information design. I am from Cleveland, Ohio, and chose Maryland specifically for the policy program and the opportunities it provides with its close proximity and connection to Washington, D.C. While I don’t have a declared focus area, I have an interest in the intersection of policy and information access. At the University of Maryland, I am involved in Delta Phi Epsilon and the University Student Judiciary. When I was a freshman, I was also an active student in Carillon Communities as a part of the Health Justice Community, where I studied inequity in health information, and still work closely with the program today. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, skiing and walking around campus. The public policy program has granted me insight into problem-solving within both large and small-scale institutions through the creation of policy that addresses core issues without neglecting other important aspects.

Contact: rmarkoff@terpmail.umd.edu

My name is Joe (he/him), and I’m a junior at SPP. My journey to UMD has certainly not been a traditional one. After graduating from high school, I went to community college and worked part-time for about 5 years. Once I earned my associate’s degree, I transferred to UMD in the Spring of 2023. In just the one semester I have completed at UMD so far, I have learned so much and have been presented with amazing opportunities to get hands-on experience in politics and policy. Outside of my studies, I love playing guitar and piano, and spending time with my puppy who has been my best friend for thirteen years (she will always be a puppy to me!). I’m super excited to be a part of the undergraduate ambassador team this semester, and I’m grateful to have an opportunity to connect with so many other students who share a passion to “Do Good”. I can't wait to see you all around campus this semester.gressman Glenn Ivey’s office in Washington DC, hopeful that this will provide insight into how I wish to further launch my policy career. I cannot wait to utilize the experiences of this internship to enrich my ambassadorship for the School of Public Policy.

Contact: jtmoore@terpmail.umd.edu

My name is Gifty Okrah (she/her). I come from Silver Spring, Maryland. I am currently a senior pursuing public policy here at the University of Maryland. I am passionate about foreign policy, education and immigration policy, particularly as they intersect with race and equity. During my time here, I have been actively involved in several organizations, including the Maryland General Assembly, Residence Hall Association (RHA), Black Students in Public Policy (BSiPP), and the School of Public Policy Dean Students Advisory Council (SPP DSAC). In my free time, I like to polish my photography skills and watch interior design and decoration videos. The School of Public Policy is a great community and there is a space for everyone who desires to belong. My experience here has not only enriched my academic experience but has also fueled my passion for creating positive social change (10/10 recommendation). As I look toward post-graduation, my goal is to channel my education into a legal career and leverage the knowledge and skills acquired, to actively contribute to the education of children in marginalized communities worldwide.

Contact: giahok@terpmail.umd.edu

My name is Minhul Shoaib (she/her), and I am a Pakistani-American second-year policy major minoring in law. I am originally from Allentown, Pennsylvania, just outside of Philly. I came to the University of Maryland for the amazing opportunities for people interested in the government sector and working within policy. My policy interests involve international relations and immigration policy. In the past, I have worked with my local congresswoman and have been heavily involved in canvassing for elections. On campus, I am involved with organizations such as the Asian American Policy Union and the Pakistani Student Association. As someone further from home, the School of Public Policy has truly welcomed me in and allowed me to find a community filled with peers who share my interests. My ideal policy job would likely be working within Congress to advocate for issues especially faced within the South Asian community.

Contact: mshoaib1@terpmail.umd.edu

My name is Ethan Simon (he/him), and I am a senior studying public policy with double minors in law & society and geographic information science. I am from Bala Cynwyd, PA, a small town just outside of Philadelphia. In addition to being a policy ambassador, I am involved in various roles on campus. Academically, I am a member of the Dean's Student Advisory Council at the School of Public Policy and a university tour guide. I am also an active member of Omicron Delta Kappa, a leadership honors society. This past summer, I completed two internships: one as a government affairs intern with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and another as a government relations & advocacy intern with the National Council of Jewish Women. In the previous spring, I served as a legislative intern at the Maryland General Assembly for State Senator Karen Lewis Young, where I supported Frederick County and the state of Maryland. The summer before that, I interned at Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia, where I focused on disability policy and advocacy while providing support to individuals living with disabilities. My passion for policy extends across various spheres, with a particular focus on transportation and social policy. Beyond my academic pursuits, I enjoy playing sports, being a geography buff, trivia (I hope to be on Jeopardy one day), collecting autographs and traveling. Having visited 36 states already, my goal is to reach all 50 within the next few years! As a policy ambassador, I am excited to represent the School of Public Policy and serve as a role model and leader for SPP undergraduates.

Contact: esimon23@terpmail.umd.edu

My name is Sophia (she/her) and I'm a sophomore public policy major with a minor in sustainability studies. I'm from Silver Spring, Maryland, and have been a UMD fan all my life. Roll terps! I am interested in climate, education and social policy, which I've been able to explore through several on-campus programs. I am currently taking a two-course series on sustainable climate interventions through my Living-Learning program, University Honors. Last year, I spent eight months as a research assistant working on equitable literacy policies with the Maryland Initiative for Literacy and Equity. So far, my favorite policy classes have been Ethics (PLCY203) and Public Leadership (PLCY201). When I'm not in class or studying, I spend most of my time at the gym, in the pool or hanging out with friends. I am a member of club swimming and UMD's chapter of Exercise is Medicine because I enjoy exercising to stay healthy, set and achieve goals for myself and connect with others. I love talking about everything UMD and helping new terps find their best fit. Feel free to reach out.

Contact: sstein7@terpmail.umd.edu