Caring for others has always been central to who Maleeha Ahmed is. As the oldest of five children, she naturally stepped into caregiving roles early in life, supporting both family members and older adults in her community. Over time, she began to recognize that the work she had been doing informally for many years reflected the values and responsibilities of professional social work.
Balancing caregiving responsibilities and helping manage an accounting business with her husband of 26 years made returning to college challenging, and for many years her education was interrupted by family obligations. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ahmed realized how important it was to complete her degree and build long-term stability for herself. With renewed determination, she returned to school at the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC), where supportive faculty encouraged her to continue her academic journey.
Ahmed was introduced to social work during UMBC orientation by Kenneth Barron, assistant vice provost for academic advising and student success, who helped her see how the profession aligned with both her experience and her career goals. With his guidance, she chose to pursue social work alongside psychology and ultimately completed both majors after transferring to UMBC.
At UMBC, Ahmed found a welcoming community, especially among other adult learners balancing education with family responsibilities, especially within the social work program. Ahmed will continue her education at Salisbury University this fall in the Master of Social Work program, where she plans to focus on work with older adults and end-of-life care and counseling.
Q: How did you come to be at UMBC?
A: UMBC was always my first choice because it is close to home, which was important since I am a caregiver for my mother and needed to be available if she required support. I had started college several times over the years but had to pause because of caregiving responsibilities and family obligations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I realized how important it was for me to complete my education and build long-term stability for myself. That experience strengthened my motivation, and when I returned to school, I approached my studies with greater focus and determination. I completed my associate degree at CCBC and then transferred to UMBC to pursue a double major in psychology and social work.
Q: What was different this time?
A: This time I returned to school with a clear purpose and stronger self-confidence. Earlier in my life, caregiving responsibilities, especially caring for my father, made it difficult to continue my education. I also faced challenges as an ESL student returning to college after many years away. However, I eventually recognized that I had already developed strong problem-solving and leadership skills through running a business and supporting my family. That realization helped me believe in my academic ability and stay committed to completing my degree.
Q: How did your professors show their support?
A: At CCBC and UMBC, I was very fortunate to have professors who were supportive and encouraging throughout my academic journey. Their guidance helped me build confidence and stay motivated. I actually began by taking just one class at CCBC in 2022, but the encouragement I received from my professors made me feel capable and excited about learning again. That support played an important role in helping me stay committed and continue my education full time.
Ahmed is presented with the Tina D’Angelo Memorial Scholarship by Nancy Kusmaul, social work. (Photo courtesy of Ahmed)
Q: What has your community been like here at UMBC?
A: I found the campus community to be welcoming and supportive across different age groups and backgrounds. As an adult learner, it was especially meaningful to connect with other returning students who understood the challenges of balancing school with family responsibilities. We encouraged each other and became an important source of support throughout my time at UMBC.
Q: Why did you choose social work?
A: I have always felt drawn to helping others, but earlier in my life I did not realize that social work was a professional field I could pursue. Through my involvement with my mosque, I supported several refugee families and saw firsthand the importance of family support and counseling services. That experience motivated me to return to school and begin working toward a degree in psychology at CCBC because I was interested in becoming a family therapist.
During orientation, I met Dr. Kenneth Barron, who introduced me to social work as a profession and explained that it would allow me to reach my goal of becoming a therapist more quickly. As an adult learner, time was an important consideration, and his guidance helped me see how social work aligned with both my experience and my career goals. With his encouragement, I added social work as a second major. His mentorship played an important role in my academic journey.
Tell me about your social work field work placement.
I am completing my field placement at Vantage Point, a continuing care retirement community in Columbia. It has been a very meaningful experience, and I have been fortunate to work with two supportive supervisors, one in a clinical role and one in a community-based social work role. This has allowed me to gain exposure to different aspects of practice across the continuum of care for older adults. Through this placement, I have been developing skills in assessment, collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, and supporting residents and families during transitions.
Q: What do you see your career being like when you get your MSW?
A: After completing my MSW, I hope to continue working with older adults, particularly in hospice or end-of-life care. My field placement at Vantage Point has strengthened my interest in aging services and has helped me better understand the importance of providing emotional support to residents and families during times of transition and serious illness. Through this experience, I have seen how meaningful it is for individuals to feel supported, respected, and not alone during vulnerable stages of life.
My interest in hospice work is also shaped by personal experience. I once cared for a refugee woman with cancer in my home when her family was unable to provide support, and I stayed with her until she passed away. I have also been present with three people in my life at the time of their death. Those experiences helped me become more comfortable with end-of-life care and showed me how important it is for someone to be present and provide dignity and companionship during that time.
Q: What benefit do you get from the close contact with people you’re caring for?
A: Working closely with people has always felt meaningful to me because I value helping others feel supported, respected, and understood, regardless of their background or life circumstances. Social work feels like a natural fit for who I am because it allows me to combine compassion with practical support and advocacy. It gives me a strong sense of purpose to know that I am contributing in a way that makes a real difference in people’s lives.
Q: How are you preparing yourself to prioritize self-care in order to undertake a career like this?
A: Earlier in my life, I often focused on caring for others without paying enough attention to my own well-being. Over the past two years at UMBC, I have learned how important it is to recognize my limits and take time to recharge so I can remain effective in supporting others. I now make space for activities such as walking, prayer, and quiet reflection, which help me manage stress and prevent burnout.
Q: How do you hope to look back on your working years?
A: I would like to continue working for as long as I am able because helping others gives me a strong sense of purpose. Most importantly, I hope I will have encouraged people to be resilient, believe in themselves, and continue moving forward even during difficult times.
Q: What would you tell people who think it’s too late to go back and finish their education?
A: It is never too late to return to school. During my time at UMBC, I met many adult learners who were balancing family responsibilities and other life commitments while attending school full time, and their dedication was a constant source of encouragement for me. I also experienced how powerful mutual support can be. For example, a close friend and study partner I met at CCBC had been taking classes only occasionally, but seeing my commitment encouraged her to continue her education. She is now preparing to pursue her nursing degree. Experiences like this have shown me that people can inspire each other at any stage of life, and that with determination and support, it is always possible to move forward.