First Faces, Lasting Impact

Wed, 07 May 2025 14:00:53 -0400
academic, admissions, advising, enrollment, management, news, oapa, office, orientation, pre-professional, ug, undergraduate

At UMBC, student employees are more than just the welcoming faces in our front offices — they are collaborators, innovators, and leaders. In Enrollment Management (EM), these students help prospective and current Retrievers navigate their journeys, but in doing so, they often discover their own.

The experience of working in EM — whether in Undergraduate Admissions, Financial Aid, the Registrar’s Office, or Academic Advising — offers more than a paycheck. It offers purpose. These roles cultivate confidence, sharpen professional skills, and give students first hand insight into how systems work. But even more profoundly, they provide opportunities for students to connect, grow, and lead.

For some, like Grit Guide Lilli Malone, the job became a platform for reimagining how the university welcomes new students. With a dual background in History and Theatre Design & Production, Lilli combined structure with experience to develop UMBC’s tour tagging system — matching prospective students with guides who share their interests or identities. Her work helped others see themselves at UMBC, and it also revealed to her the power of inclusive design and collaborative leadership. “I loved helping prospective students feel that someone here sees them,” she reflected.

That same spirit of connection resonated deeply with Evan Royston, another Grit Guide and a History and Political Science major who partnered with Lilli to bring the tour tagging system to life. For Evan, what started as a campus job became a calling. He still has the sign-in sheet from his very first Saturday tour — a symbol of how meaningful one experience could be. Later, that family told him his tour helped them choose UMBC. “It made me realize how much a single conversation can shape someone’s future,” he shared. That sense of impact guided Evan toward graduate study in historical studies, where he will continue making deep connections.

Others, like Peer Advisor Keerti Venkat, found empowerment by helping others navigate complexity. A Psychology major and first-generation American college student, Keerti turned her role in the Office of Academic and Pre-Professional Advising into a bridge — using her own journey to guide others with clarity. “It’s gratifying to know how things work behind the scenes — and to know how to help,” she said. In supporting her peers, she discovered a deeper interest in mental health advocacy and higher education — one she will now pursue through graduate study in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

And in some cases, the student role evolved into something much larger — a cornerstone of identity and purpose. Peer Advisor Sam Kennedy, a Social Work major, began her journey with a simple call campaign and grew into one of the most trusted voices in her office. As a peer advisor in OAPA, Sam became a culture builder — someone who not only supported advising but connected, encouraged, and inspired the peer and professional advising staff. “We build each other up because it helps us to do a better job,” she said. Her role helped clarify her path toward an MSW, rooted in service, empathy, and systems of care.

Across these stories, a shared theme emerges: student employment in Enrollment Management is a high-impact experience — one that fuses academic knowledge with real-world skills, and personal growth with professional readiness. These students didn't just do the job; they shaped it, and it shaped them in return.

Their growth reflects what national research affirms: when institutions design student employment as a learning experience, the benefits multiply. As noted in the 2024 NACE article Reimagining Student Employment, universities that intentionally integrate career development into on-campus roles see stronger student retention and career preparedness. At UMBC, that intentionality is paying off — not just in operational excellence, but in student transformation.

As Lilli, Evan, Keerti, and Sam prepare for graduate school and careers in social work, counseling, and historical research, they carry forward lessons born from service, collaboration, and a deep understanding of what it means to help others find their way.

Because when students are trusted to lead, supported to grow, and encouraged to reflect — everyone benefits.

To learn more about Peer Advisors, contact Laszlo Korossy, Ph.D., Assistant Director of Advising, Outreach, and Assessment in the Office of Academic and Pre-Professional Advising.