Ganesh Mysore
Plans: Working in biotech while applying to graduate schools
B.S., Chemical Engineering; B.A., Political Science
Cum Laude
Hometown: Clarksville, Maryland

The opportunities I had, and the guidance I received, at UMBC have shaped me into an engaged citizen, and not just a capable engineer.

Ganesh Mysore isn’t earning a degree this spring; he’s actually earning two degrees in very different fields and he’s passionate about them both. Through advanced coursework in both chemical engineering and political science, Mysore has developed a unique skill set and approach to solving challenging problems, he says.

Mysore is a member of the Honors College and Pi Sigma Alpha, the national honor society for political science, and recipient of the Premier Award Scholarship. Beyond his achievements in the classroom, he has also been a highly engaged campus leader, serving as president of UMBC’s Student Government Association as a junior and as a member the working group for BreakingGround, UMBC’s nationally recognized civic engagement initiative.

Mysore credits UMBC mentors with helping him understand the importance of creating positive change through taking action in his community, whether that is a community of students or, in the future, engineering professionals.

Portrait by Marlayna Demond ‘11 for UMBC.

Don't miss the last ENTR workshop of the semester in tomorrowwith Justin Valez-Hagan. This is your chance to talk one-on-one with an Entrepreneur that has experienced all the ins-and-outs of a Tech start-up. Whether you're into cyber-security, the Silicone Valley dream, or a NYC cafe scene, Justin has some advice for you. Don't miss this opportunity!

Make sure you mark your calendar for  April 25th from 12 - 1:00 pm in entreSpace, located in Academic Services, room 139. We can't wait to see you!

Event Description:

Numerous webinars, books, and even college courses attempt to teach thebasics of starting a business, but starting a tech company has a uniquesetof challenges.  Given the increasing level of world-wide competition due torelatively low barriers to entry for most companies that compete online, itcan be especially difficult to create a product that is differentiatedenough to attract the attention of investors, or even customers.  Once youcome up with the idea for the next big thing, how are you going to protectit?  Should you partner with an expert (or numerous experts) or go italone?  How do you get your product in the hands of your end user with somuch competition?  Is it possible to attract start-up capital outside ofSilicon Valley or NYC? These are just a few of the topics we will discussduring this workshop, but feel free to bring questions!

About Justin:

Justin Valez-Hagan is the co-founder of a new start-up that is beingdeveloped to improve the pool of diverse candidates for tech jobs.  Inaddition, he is an economic policy researcher and third year PhD studentatUMBC, is the founder of The National Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce http://www.nprchamber.org/, and is the author of the newly released book*The Common Sense behind Basic Economicshttp://nousonomics.com/hawking-my-book/ .

Matthew Kelly
B.A., Modern Languages, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication
Cum Laude
Hometown: Conway, New Hampshire
Plans: Fulbright Teaching Assistantship, Germany

UMBC has not only helped me achieve my goals, it has helped me become the person that I am today… The past four years at UMBC have been the best four years of my life.

Matthew Kelly’s passion for German language and culture has shaped his UMBC experience and the next steps in his academic career. As a standout student in modern languages, linguistics, and intercultural communication, Kelly has received numerous awards, including the Plogman Language Award and his department’s Palomares Award for Excellence in Service and Academic Achievement.

Kelly has been very involved with the UMBC ice hockey team, as a player, team vice president, and a recruiter, and enjoys connecting his love of hockey with his interest in German. He was a student teacher and assistant ice hockey coach at Mt. Hebron High School in Howard County, and led a group of Mt. Hebron German language students on a campus visit of UMBC. He also served as a German tour guide for area high schools at the German Christmas Market in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.

Kelly is a recipient of the 2016 J. William Fulbright Grant and will teach English in Bavaria, Germany, following graduation.

Images: Matthew Kelly completes a pass in a UMBC ice hockey team game; photo courtesy of Matthew Kelly. Portrait by Marlayna Demond ‘11 for UMBC.

Mark Fisher
B.S., Mechanical Engineering
Hometown: North East, Maryland
Plans: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Teaching freshmen students in their first engineering course has taught me the power of making an impression on young students in the STEM field, while at the same time teaching me organization and how to work with faculty.

Mark Fisher has enjoyed taking on new challenges and responsibilities as an emerging leader throughout his time as a mechanical engineering student at UMBC, from ROTC to the classroom to the res hall.

Fisher has served as battalion commander of the Johns Hopkins ROTC program, of which UMBC is an affiliate university. In the ROTC program, he explored leadership styles to prepare him to serve as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after graduation.

Fisher has worked as a teaching assistant introductory engineering over the past three years, assisting first-year engineering students and, most recently, serving as lead teaching assistant. He has also served as lead resident assistant in UMBC housing.

Beyond providing experiences that have helped Fisher define a path for his future career, UMBC has also played an important role in his personal life. Fisher met his wife, Skylar Dewees Fisher ‘16, biological sciences, on the first day of classes in their freshman year, and they married this January. They will graduate together this spring.

Images: Mark Fisher and his wife Skylar on their first date at the ROTC ball; photo courtesy of Mark Fisher. Portrait by Marlayna Demond ‘11 for UMBC.