Meet Anita Das ’83, M.S. ’87. Anita is a mostly-retired medical researcher specializing in infectious diseases and a UMBC planned giving donor. She still consults with biotech companies as a statistician to stay current with industry trends, and, in her spare time, Anita volunteers for environmental and educational causes, practices (and learns more about) permaculture, and goes on hiking adventures. In 2024, Anita established the Das Endowed Scholarship, and included UMBC in her estate plan to make sure she could help even more students in the future. Take it away, Anita!

Q: What is your WHY? What brought you to UMBC?

A: I went to UMBC because I wanted to study biology. At the time, I thought I wanted to go to medical school, and UMBC was known for having a strong pre-med program. I also received a small scholarship and played on the tennis team. I graduated with my B.S. in biological sciences in 1983, but decided that medical school was not for me. Since I had taken a lot of math classes (and done well), I got a job doing clinical research.

My boss told me I should pursue a master’s degree in statistics. So, I went back to UMBC. At the time, the statistics program was new, and I liked that it had a small number of students and that all of the professors were very interactive with the students. I earned my M.S. in statistics in 1987.

Q: What’s a memory of the UMBC community you have that helped shape your path?

A: I worked (or volunteered—I can’t remember which) at the math lab, which was a place that students came for tutoring. We provided support to students who needed extra help on their math assignments, but were more comfortable working with a peer than going to their professor. I remember this as a wonderful, supportive place that assisted many students and helped me gain and practice my teaching skills.

Q: Who in the UMBC community has inspired you or supported you?

A: While I was working on my master’s in statistics, Dr. Bimal Sinha was so supportive. On some of my homework assignments, instead of a grade, he would write “Please see me.” At first, I thought, “Oh no!” But in his office, he would help me through the work and encourage me. Dr. Sinha’s primary interest was to build my confidence and ensure I was learning. Really, all of the professors in my master’s program were student-oriented. They provided encouragement and instilled confidence, which enabled me to continue my education and get my Ph.D. in Epidemiology at George Washington University.

Q: Can you tell us more about your career?

A: My career has been in medical research, working on clinical trials in both the public and private sectors. I spent the first part of my career working in maternal/fetal medicine on National Institutes of Health grants and then moved to the pharmaceutical industry, specializing in the development of anti-infectives. Today, I am mostly retired and do some consulting with biotech companies as a statistician.

This allows me to stay current on new developments in infectious disease (my area of expertise) and work with experts in this field. I spend my non-work time volunteering for environmental and educational causes, learning and practicing permaculture, and going on hiking adventures.

Q: Can you elaborate on your volunteer work and what inspired you to establish a scholarship and become a planned giving donor?

A: I am on the Board of Directors of Sonoma Land Trust (SLT). We work to protect nature in my home county of Sonoma, California, helping to reduce climate impact, restoring habitats, and engaging young people in conservation. Our science-based approach allows me to use my education and experience for a good cause. SLT also mentors the next generation of scientists, and it was this program that inspired me to donate to UMBC to help educate those who will steward the future of our planet.

As part of my involvement with SLT, I had a chance to listen to high school students present conservation research they conducted on one of our land preserves. These kids were so excited about science and their joy was infectious. They inspired me to start a scholarship fund at UMBC so that anyone who wants to study science would not be limited by a lack of resources.

In 2024, I established the Das Endowed Scholarship to support students in the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences. Around the same time, I also established a planned gift, naming UMBC in my estate plan to ensure my scholarship can support even more students in the future.

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