For Vunnathi Ankem, psychology, the UMBC experience has been defined by one word: community. As an resident assistant, a researcher, and a multifaceted student leader, she has spent her four years both building community and studying its impact on the human experience. From hosting public service retreats in Baltimore to interviewing members of the South Asian diaspora for her thesis, Ankem’s work bridges the gap between community-centered research and heartfelt advocacy. As she prepares to graduate, she leaves behind a campus made stronger by her leadership and a personal roadmap focused on healing, mentorship, and global research.
Q: What brought you to UMBC?
A: I was really trying to find community, to find a place that fit who I was. And I found that at UMBC. I’ve been welcomed by so many communities here, and that’s not just what brought me to UMBC—it continues to be the reason why I love it.
Peer mentors from this year’s Shriver LLC floor’s annual Passing of the Torch ceremony.
Q: What drew you to the leadership roles you’ve taken on?
A: The three leadership roles I think about are RA of the Shriver Living Learning Community (LLC), upperclassman chair of the Sondheim Scholars Program Steering Committee, and Honors College Council president. I initially never thought I’d become an RA, but the Shriver LLC floor is something I’m very passionate about. Everyone is always helping each other, and that sort of community is what I love. For Sondheim I was drawn to its public service orientation. I was able to host retreats in Baltimore for first-year students and could make sure they understood how beautiful this city is. My role in the Honors College has become something much deeper after we lost the president and my good friend. She was everywhere and her impact on my life, and on everyone else, continues to be inspiring to me after she’s gone.
Q: What does leadership mean to you?
A: A lot of leadership is serving and listening. As one person, you can’t have all the ideas and you can’t do everything yourself. The best leaders create other leaders because a huge part of leadership is mentorship. You have to always be looking to see who’s interested and giving people the opportunity to grow and blossom and become amazing student leaders. I’ve been lucky to watch that happen in every single role I’ve had on campus. It’s beautiful.
The resident assistant team from Erickson Hall participating in the ResLife tournament over summer training.
Q: Tell us about your honors thesis research.
A: It all started with Alternative Spring Break. The topic was educational justice for youth experiencing intimate partner violence, which inspired me to do research in that field. A psychology grad student from Pakistan, Ellia Khan, in Dr. Christopher Murphy’s lab inspired me with her South Asian perspectives on this research. Our conversations led me to look into what social factors make us believe certain things and develop certain concepts about unhealthy relationships. The South Asian diaspora is an interesting population to study because it’s fast growing and there’s a wide range of experiences. I’ve done about 14 interviews now, and every single person I’ve talked to I’ve learned so much from.
Ankem shows President Valerie Sheares Ashby how to dance to the popular Indian song Naatu Naatu.
Q: What advice do you have for incoming students?
A: When I think about what I’m proud of, it’s not the awards, it’s the people. I remember all the people who were there when I needed support—those people meant more to me than any accomplishment. My advice would be to think about what you’ll look back on. It will most likely be community—the people who were there when you weren’t at your best.
Ankem, front, right, and others visited Baltimore City Hall during the Alternative Spring Break trip she co-led for the health equity and patient care group.
Q: What does life after UMBC look like?
A: I’ve been thinking about this question for the whole year. I definitely want to pursue a clinical community psychology Ph.D. in the future—that’s the goal. I was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, so I’ll be heading to India for a nine-month research project – a sort of extension of my thesis, but with people from different states across India. I’m also excited to return to my Indian classical dancing roots. Something about being on stage and dancing, it’s my ultimate peace.
All photos courtesy of Ankem. Story by Katharine Scrivener, assistant director of alumni and development communications.