We're asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are their responses.
Name: Janae Cruz
Hometown: Pine Hill, NJ
Q: How long have you been at UMBC?
A: This is my first year.
Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?
A: Coordinator for Student Engagement
Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus?
A: Coordinate programs to help first year students get involved on campus.
Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?
A: I love providing students with opportunities to fall in love with UMBC and understand why they chose the right school. I still feel a sense of immense pride and admiration for my alma mater and I want students to leave UMBC feeling the same way. I strive to find ways for students to find their niche and get involved and stay involved so that when they look back on their college experience they feel like they made the most of it.
Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?
A: Over the years, I have learned the true value of building meaningful and long-lasting relationships with people. It's important to have a support network that you can go to for personal and professional advice and you develop that network by really valuing and working on building strong relationships. Sometimes it's as simple as starting with a hello and going from there.
Q: What is one way you have worked with others to make a positive difference at UMBC or in another community?
A: One of the first projects I worked on when I came to UMBC was the Cultural Showcase: Pangea. I had the opportunity to work with an incredible group of students who developed a vision at the STRiVE Leadership Retreat to begin the academic year by showcasing the vast diversity at UMBC through the cultural and ethnic student organizations. It was an honor to be a part of such a major Welcome Week event and it reminded me why I love the work I do.
Q: Complete this sentence: "I am a big fan of __________"
A: Tacos.
Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?
A: I LOVE going to the UMBC Basketball games with my work friends. I still remember when a large group of us went and the Retrievers went into double over time and won. I was jumping out of my seat so excited. I am invested in the team and it makes me so happy when they Retrievers win.
Hometown: Pine Hill, NJ
Q: How long have you been at UMBC?
A: This is my first year.
Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?
A: Coordinator for Student Engagement
Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus?
A: Coordinate programs to help first year students get involved on campus.
Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?
A: I love providing students with opportunities to fall in love with UMBC and understand why they chose the right school. I still feel a sense of immense pride and admiration for my alma mater and I want students to leave UMBC feeling the same way. I strive to find ways for students to find their niche and get involved and stay involved so that when they look back on their college experience they feel like they made the most of it.
Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?
A: Over the years, I have learned the true value of building meaningful and long-lasting relationships with people. It's important to have a support network that you can go to for personal and professional advice and you develop that network by really valuing and working on building strong relationships. Sometimes it's as simple as starting with a hello and going from there.
Q: What is one way you have worked with others to make a positive difference at UMBC or in another community?
A: One of the first projects I worked on when I came to UMBC was the Cultural Showcase: Pangea. I had the opportunity to work with an incredible group of students who developed a vision at the STRiVE Leadership Retreat to begin the academic year by showcasing the vast diversity at UMBC through the cultural and ethnic student organizations. It was an honor to be a part of such a major Welcome Week event and it reminded me why I love the work I do.
Q: Complete this sentence: "I am a big fan of __________"
A: Tacos.
Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?
A: I LOVE going to the UMBC Basketball games with my work friends. I still remember when a large group of us went and the Retrievers went into double over time and won. I was jumping out of my seat so excited. I am invested in the team and it makes me so happy when they Retrievers win.
