Hello UMBC Community,

We rely on Duo two-factor authentication to protect our accounts, and it's an excellent defense. However, cybercriminals are always looking for new ways to get past our security. This week's topic is all about what to do if you receive a Duo push notification you didn't initiate.

You're working on your computer, not logging into anything new, and suddenly your phone buzzes with Duo push notifications, including SMS texts or phone calls from Duo. What's happening? This is likely an attacker who has obtained your password and is attempting to bypass Duo to access your account.

Your immediate action is critical.

• Do NOT Approve It: The most important thing is to never approve a Duo push notification you did not initiate. Approving it will give the attacker access to your account.

• Deny the Request: Decline the request on your phone.

• Report as Fraudulent: If you can, mark the notification as fraudulent.

• Change Your Password: Immediately change your password on a trusted device or computer. This will invalidate the password the attacker is using.

Remember, a Duo push notification is like a digital handshake. You must be the one to initiate it. If someone else is trying to shake your hand, don't approve the connection!

If you received a Duo push notification you did not initiate, deny the request, change your password, and immediately report the event to the security team at security@umbc.edu. Your report helps protect everyone!

Stay safe out there.

Name: Katelyn Kelly

Pronouns: She/her

Semester of Internship: Fall 2025

Major: Political Science & Media and Communications Studies

Current Class Level: Senior

This semester I completed a(n)...: Internship

Internship, Co-op, or Research Site (Company/Organization Name): Baltimore County Council

Location of the Organization (City, State): Catonsville, MD

Title of position: Communications & Campaign Intern

Tell us about your internship, co-op, or research opportunity, including your day-to-day responsibilities:

During my internship with a Baltimore County Council campaign, I gained hands-on experience in local government and political communications. My day-to-day responsibilities included drafting social media content, creating graphics, and helping to manage the campaign's online presence to engage voters and increase visibility. I assisted with community outreach by coordinating events, distributing flyers, and interacting with constituents to share the candidate's platform and gather feedback. I also conducted research on local issues and voter demographics to help inform campaign strategy. In addition, I regularly attended events alongside the candidate, helping with setup, engaging with community members, and supporting the campaign's efforts to build strong connections with voters. This role allowed me to strengthen my communication, organizational, and teamwork skills while learning how grassroots efforts and digital media shape local elections.

Describe the process of obtaining your position. When did you hear of the position and submit your application?

I learned about the Baltimore County Council campaign internship through a campus announcement and word of mouth from my department. After researching the candidate and the campaign's goals, I reached out directly to the campaign team to express my interest and learn more about the opportunity. I submitted my application soon after, including my résumé and a brief statement about my experience in communications and political science. Following a short interview to discuss my skills and availability, I was offered the position and began preparing to join the team. The process was straightforward and moved quickly, allowing me to get involved early in the campaign season.

What resources did you use to find your current experience?

Faculty Connections

What have you enjoyed the most about your position and organization?

What I have enjoyed most about my position is the opportunity to use my voice and discover my own in the process. Working on a local campaign has allowed me to share ideas, create content, and communicate messages that resonate with the community while also learning how to speak confidently about issues that matter to me. Being trusted to draft posts, engage with voters, and represent the campaign at events has helped me develop a stronger sense of my own perspective and how to express it effectively. This experience has not only strengthened my communication skills but also shown me the impact of using my voice to support meaningful change.

How do you believe you have made an impact through your work?

I believe I have made an impact by helping the campaign connect more effectively with the community and share its message in a clear, engaging way. Through creating social media content, assisting at events, and interacting with voters, I've helped raise awareness of the candidate's platform and encouraged more people to get involved in the local election process. My work in researching local issues and supporting outreach efforts has also contributed to shaping strategies that reflect the needs and concerns of constituents. Even in a behind-the-scenes role, I feel that my efforts have strengthened the campaign's visibility and helped build meaningful relationships with voters.

What advice would you give to another student who is seeking an internship or similar experience?

My advice to another student seeking an internship or similar experience is to be proactive and open-minded. Don't be afraid to reach out directly to organizations or campaigns that interest you, even if they haven't posted an official opening—many opportunities come from showing initiative. Highlight the skills you already have, but also express your willingness to learn and take on new challenges. Networking with professors, classmates, and campus organizations can also lead to valuable connections. Most importantly, choose an experience that aligns with your passions, because when you care about the work, you'll gain more confidence, develop your voice, and make the most of every opportunity. 

Please provide a short reflection or quote about what you liked most about your position / earning internship credit / working with the Career Center. 

"I loved how this internship gave me the chance to use my voice and build confidence while supporting a local campaign. The Career Center's resources and guidance made it easier to find and pursue an opportunity that matched my interests and goals." 

Zainab Damji Memorial Scholarship

Thalia Anora 

On a recent Wednesday in September, thousands of people filled the arena of the Retriever Activity Center for the UMBC 2025 Fall Career and Internship Fair. At the booth for pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca, Mark Benesch ’08, chemical engineering, eagerly engaged with students, some of whom waited in a line 30-odd people long at times for their chance to ask questions and exchange contact information. 

Benesch has regularly brought his enthusiasm and energy to UMBC career fairs, first as a recruiter for ExxonMobil, where he worked immediately after graduating, and later for the Columbia, Maryland-based chemical company W.R. Grace. But it was after starting at AstraZeneca as the senior director of the capital projects portfolio for the Americas region in January 2023 that Benesch spotted the opportunity to take his connections with the university to the next level. 

AstraZeneca employs thousands of people across the state of Maryland, including at a large scientific campus in Gaithersburg, a center in Frederick that manufactures a diverse class of drugs called biologics, and a newly opened facility in Rockville that will manufacture immunotherapy drugs to treat cancer. The company has announced plans to invest $50 billion in America by 2030 for medicines manufacturing and research and development. 

From the hundreds of UMBC alumni at AstraZeneca, Benesch has recruited and inspired a team of eight dedicated to forging stronger links to their alma mater. They, together with partners in AstraZeneca’s Early Career Programs, have built a strong alumni-driven network linking UMBC students with opportunities at the company. 

“Mark is always thinking about innovative ways to connect,” says Christine Routzahn, the director of the Career Center at UMBC who has worked with Benesch to expand the UMBC-AstraZeneca partnership. “He’s very passionate about UMBC and ensuring our students are successful.”

Benesch’s efforts will be recognized when he receives the 2025 Distinguished Service Alumni Award this October. 

A growing partnership 

The work of the AstraZeneca-UMBC recruiting team has gone far beyond career fairs. Under Benesch’s stewardship, AstraZeneca played a key role at the UMBC-hosted 2024 Mid-Atlantic Student Conference for the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. The company sponsored the event and Pran Patel, the vice president of global engineering and real estate at AstraZeneca, served as a keynote speaker. Benesch met monthly with student organizers of the conference, helped lead a popular conference workshop, and mobilized other AstraZeneca employees to volunteer.

“From a five-minute conversation at the career fair, Mark took the initiative to follow up and create real collaboration opportunities,” says An Dang ’24, a student organizer who led the fundraising efforts for the conference.

Benesch and his team have also worked with UMBC to launch new collaborations such as dedicated on-campus information sessions and recruiting events, alumni happy hours, and tours and networking at the AstraZeneca Gaithersburg campus.

The efforts have paid off, as the number of UMBC students applying to summer internships at AstraZeneca has increased by 31 percent in the past year, and the number of students accepting internships has grown from one in summer 2024 to seven in 2025.

On the research side, Benesch attended the College of Engineering and Information Technology’s recent Research Day and is facilitating discussions of ways AstraZeneca may partner with UMBC faculty on joint projects. 

“Mark’s ongoing dedication to serving his alma mater has been nothing short of extraordinary,” says Mariajosé Castellanos, a teaching professor in the Department of Chemical, Biochemical, and Environmental Engineering who first met Benesch in her thermodynamics class in 2006. “As a faculty member who has been in the department for 20 years and served as the AIChE UMBC Chapter advisor for the past nine, I can confidently say that I have never seen this level of consistent engagement and support from any other undergraduate alumnus.”

Building community and empowering individuals 

Benesch, who was the first from his family to go to college, credits his UMBC education with empowering him to realize his own potential. 

“At UMBC, I was exposed to so much, and from that I gained confidence. Technical confidence, yes, but also the confidence to navigate the diversity of the world and the opportunities that come from that,” he says. “So I’m inspired to help today’s students receive that same kind of support, and even more so.” 

“Mark is so animated when he’s connecting with people. He listens well and he really brings out the best in students,” says Miriam Friedman, assistant director of alumni professional networks.

On his part, Benesch says the students give him energy. “They are curious and smart and I see their enormous potential,” he says. “To give them opportunities to realize it for themselves is really gratifying.”

Abi Postus, a junior in chemical engineering who interned this summer on Benesch’s AstraZeneca team, says she was impressed by his efforts to connect her to resources and make sure she got the most out of the experience. 

“I remember one piece of advice he told me,” she says, “which was: ‘Don’t be afraid to take up space.’ I found that very helpful because this was my first internship and it was kind of daunting. That made me feel more confident.”

Mark your calendars for the 2025 Alumni Awards on Wednesday, October 29, at 6 p.m., and consider joining the UMBC community at the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena to celebrate Mark Benesch and the many remarkable individuals receiving awards. The event will be livestreamed for those unable to join in person. You can learn more at alumni.umbc.edu/alumniawards.

Enjoy breakfast with other UMBC commuters and get connected with on-campus resources! There isn't a better way to start your day!

GMC will be hosted every Tuesday morning from 8:30am to 11:00am. It is complimentary with your Commuter Gold Card.

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Gold Cards at $5 for Commuters

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