While senior public policy major Alexis Robinson '20 prepares to finish her undergraduate degree this December, she’s already leaving her mark on the Maryland community. During her time at UMD, she and her friend I'Shea Boyd founded BitView, a startup dedicated to fostering and encouraging STEM students from high school to college.
Originally a bioengineering major, Robinson found she enjoyed both the subject matter of STEM and the human impact that public policy offered. Robinson and Boyd found a way to combine the two into a fulfilling endeavor that helps others find similar interests.
“BitView was created to bridge the gap between STEM exposure and higher education completion,” Robinson explains.The program has already seen success helping seven Baltimore Polytechnic Institute students earn college acceptances and scholarships, and currently has 12 more students in a second cohort learning coding and leadership skills. During the pandemic, Robinson ensures BitView continues by conducting instruction via Zoom, supported in part by the Do Good Grant and donations from the Neilom Foundation.
Robinson says “UMD was perfect for [her],” by encouraging her entrepreneurship. Robinson plans to continue to contribute to BitView now as an alum.
As a recent graduate, Robinson offers two pieces of advice to current Policy Terps: “make this big university small” and “network with professors.” By joining smaller communities, such as the Nyumburu Cultural Center, it was easier for her to form bonds with students and grow a small community in a big school. Additionally, Robinson says the guidance she received from her professors helped her greatly in her time at Maryland.
Reflecting on her impact on the community, Robinson elaborates that “UMD has positively impacted my life,” in similar ways, and is happy to conclude her time at SPP as a proud Terp alum.
“From the lifelong friends and connections I've made to the way I've been challenged both academically and personally, I can see why people call college the best years of your life,” Robinson says.
