Real People Profiles: Maniraj Jeyaraju

Wed, 01 Mar 2017 09:56:00 -0500

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: Maniraj Jeyaraju

Hometown: Ellicott City, MD

Major: Interdisciplinary Studies

Q: How long have you been at UMBC?

A: It's my fourth year at UMBC.

Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?

A: I am a URA Scholar, Grand Challenge Scholar, and Spark Committee Leader.

Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus?

A: Researcher, Student Advocate, Student Representative for INDS Program, and a civic agent

Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?

A: A common theme among my roles is the capacity to learn from new environments. Whether in the classroom, during research, or in the real world, I enjoy learning from others, even if their perspectives conflict with my own. Moreover, the ability to make change and to innovate inspire me, as I am constantly looking for a better model.

Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?

A: This is a great place to diversify your interests; become a sponge and absorb information that excites you. Though we all have career goals, I have been surprised at the countless number of occasions I have learned about myself and career path from people outside of my interests. A light bulb moment is often one conversation away with someone whom you have never met.

Q: What is one way you have worked with others to make a positive difference at UMBC or in another community?

A: I have been deeply involved with the Interdisciplinary Studies Program and served as a past president of the INDS Council of Majors. In the past couple of years, I led student events and built a partnership with the Delrey School in Halethorpe.

In my last year, I set my sights to a macro-goal of Spark, an initiative to engage student organizations in interdisciplinary community service projects. I am working with amazing colleagues, Ella Hawkins and Stanley Wang, to coordinate this effort. We are building relationships with Baltimore nonprofits, and we hope to empower both the UMBC and Baltimore communities through this project. If you're interested, contact me :)

Q: Complete this sentence: "I am a big fan of __________"

A: Tough questions; innovation; meeting new people; interdisciplinarity; ancient poetry

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 definitely recommend taking the hidden elevator on the second floor of the library to the basement. They have some pretty cool stuff down there!

--

Co-Create UMBC on Facebook

Co-Create UMBC on Twitter