Meet Your Business Services Team

We’re excited to introduce the dedicated Business Services team who support UMBC’s Accounts Payable operations. This group works diligently behind the scenes to ensure the financial engine of our campus keeps running smoothly.

Together, they are responsible for:

• Issuing outgoing payments through PAW

• Preparing and transmitting daily accounting documentation to the State of Maryland

• Distributing incoming invoices to the appropriate departments

• Processing wire transfers requiring state authorization

• Managing interagency payments, also known as R*Stars

Their attention to detail and commitment to accuracy help ensure our vendors are paid on time, our financial records stay in order, and our campus operations continue without disruption.

Now, let’s meet the team:

Linda Rothfus, Manager, Business Services & AP

LSrothfus@umbc.edu

Linda has been a cornerstone of UMBC’s Business Services since 2004. Starting as an Assistant Manager, she quickly demonstrated exceptional leadership and was promoted to Manager in 2006. Known for her positive attitude and nurturing approach, Linda is deeply committed to fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment where every team member can grow and thrive. She prioritizes professional development and encourages continuous learning to keep the team skilled and motivated.

Originally from Lancaster, PA, Linda treasures her family time and enjoys visiting her hometown regularly. She especially values the moments spent with her two grandsons, who inspire her both personally and professionally.

Crystal Hux, Business Services Specialist
crystalh@umbc.edu

Crystal joined the Business Services team on January 2, 2024, and quickly became a go-to expert in the wire transfer and payment request process. Her deep understanding of these complex procedures helps keep UMBC’s financial operations running smoothly. In addition to her day-to-day responsibilities, Crystal plays a key role in training and mentoring the team, supporting ongoing professional development to ensure everyone stays current with evolving practices.

Outside of work, Crystal is a passionate Dungeons & Dragons player and a talented visual artist who brings creativity into everything she does.

Lauren Earnest, Business Services Specialist
laurene2@umbc.edu

Lauren joined the Business Services team in October 2024, bringing with her over five years of prior experience in Accounts Payable. At UMBC, she serves as a key point of contact between departments and Business Services, helping to ensure that incoming invoices are routed accurately and processed efficiently. Her responsiveness and clear communication help keep things moving behind the scenes.

Outside of work, Lauren is an animal lover who adores her dog, Sadie. On weekends, you can often find her bartending—a hobby she enjoys for both the creativity and connection it brings.

Jalen Perkins, Business Services Specialist
jalenp1@umbc.edu

Jalen joined the Business Services team in August 2022 and brings a strong skill set in Excel and PAW. A proud UMBC alum from the Class of 2022, Jalen focuses primarily on vendor outreach—building relationships with major partners to ensure compliance and timely payments. His clear communication and attention to detail make him a vital part of the team’s success.

In his free time, Jalen enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with his beloved cat, Apolo.

Please join us in recognizing the incredible work this team does to keep things running smoothly across our campus. If you have questions related to payments, invoices, or vendor communication—this is the team to know!

Claire McDonald

Pronouns: She/Her

Major: Gerontology

Year: 2nd year Ph.D. Student

What will you be doing in this internship?
I am conducting qualitative research regarding graduate student engagement with the career center.

What are you looking forward to the most from this internship?
I'm looking forward to interviewing graduate students and hearing the variety of perspectives that they have to offer.

Any fun summer plans?
Participating in the Enoch Pratt Free Library's summer reading program! I already got my free t-shirt :)

Isabella Rendor

Pronouns: She/Her

Major: Information Systems + Certifications in MCS + UX

Year: Sophomore

What will you be doing in this internship?
I will be creating content for all social media platforms pertaining to the UMBC Career Center's podcast titled UMBC Careers Unleashed!

What are you looking forward to the most from this internship?
I'm most excited to be part of a working team that will provide me time to strengthen my interpersonal skills and teach me new technical skills! I also simply enjoy meeting new people, so all in all I can't wait to meet the team.

Any fun summer plans?
I'm learning web development and graphic design in my free time to develop a portfolio! I'm also dipping back into producing music all while occasionally going out with friends!

Manogna Rayasam

Pronouns: She/Her

Major: Data Science

Year: 2nd year

What will you be doing in this internship?
As a Tableau-certified data science graduate student with a focus on data visualization, I will be working on transforming UMBC’s Career Outcomes data into insightful and actionable dashboards. My responsibilities include designing interactive dashboards, cleaning and validating datasets for consistency and accuracy, and assisting in the migration of historical reports. I will also collaborate with the Career Center team to identify key insights and metrics that support informed decision-making across campus. This internship offers a valuable opportunity to apply my technical skills in a real-world setting and contribute to meaningful institutional reporting.

What are you looking forward to the most from this internship?
I’m looking forward to sharpening my Tableau and data analysis skills while working with a collaborative team. I'm especially excited about contributing to projects that have a real impact on student success and learning how data can drive strategy and improvement in higher education settings.

Any fun summer plans?
This summer, I plan to explore new hiking trails nearby, try out a few new vegetarian recipes, and maybe even squeeze in a short trip if time allows. I'm also hoping to catch up on a few personal projects and books I’ve been meaning to read.

Swetha Sree Madan Mohan

Pronouns: She/Her

Major: M.S. Engineering Management

Year: Class of 2026

What will you be doing in this internship?
In this internship, I’ll be helping out with the behind-the-scenes work that keeps the MTIP program running smoothly - things like managing intern and company info, promoting internships on LinkedIn, leading orientation sessions, and helping plan events. I’ll also be working on some cool projects to improve how the program operates and reaches students.

What are you looking forward to the most from this internship?
I’m really looking forward to getting hands-on experience with data tools and communications, and learning how programs like MTIP support students and employers. I’m also excited to connect with new people, be part of networking and hiring events, and contribute to something that helps students like me land great opportunities!

Any fun summer plans?
Along with starting this exciting internship, I am hoping to explore more places this summer along with some weekend hikes, local food spots and definitely chill time by the harbor. And finally of course some time relaxing with friends and along with some painting and crafts.

Also check out our
SECOND ROUND of featured interns.

Starting June 23rd, pick up your loyalty card at True Grit's and collect a stamp with each visit. After 5 stamps, your next meal is on us!

Offer valid for credit purchases only through August 8th, 2025 at True Grit's only. *not valid with meal plan swipes*

How can we make the world a better place? It’s a question that Nathaniel Glover ’25, chemical engineering, Jacob Lombardo ‘25, mechanical engineering, and August Phelps ’25, mechanical engineering, have spent a lot of time thinking about. And each has concluded that advancing science is a powerful way to advance humanity. 

The three promising researchers were each recently recognized and rewarded by the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), which provides financial support to U.S. graduate students who have shown the potential to be high-achieving scientists and engineers. 

“The NSF GRFP award is a very prestigious and competitive award,” says Deepa Madan, associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, who has worked with both Glover and Lombardo on research projects in her lab. So far this year the program has awarded 1,000 fellowships across the U.S., about half of the typical number, making the process even more competitive. This fall, Glover, Lombardo, and Phelps will all head to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore to begin their graduate education and research. 

The thrill of research

Glover, Lombardo, and Phelps knew early in their college careers that they wanted to become researchers. The three are part of the Meyerhoff Scholars Program at UMBC, which is at the forefront of efforts to increase diversity among future leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics by supporting students who intend to pursue a Ph.D. or combined M.D./Ph.D. in these fields. Throughout their time at UMBC, they engaged in a variety of research projects with different faculty mentors. 

“I really enjoy the quest to answer unanswered questions,” Glover says, explaining what attracts him to research. Most recently, he worked in Madan’s lab on a project to develop rechargeable, safe, and flexible zinc alkaline batteries, which could revolutionize how consumers power devices such as wearable health monitors.

Lombardo has also worked in Madan’s lab, studying materials that can convert wasted heat into electricity, while Phelps recently worked with mechanical engineering assistant professor Ankit Goel to develop methods for improving control over the flight trajectory of multicopters. Multicopters, which use multiple rotors for lift and maneuvering, are inherently unstable and underactuated, meaning the craft is limited in the ways it can move and must actively stabilize itself at all times. The researchers developed a method to guide the aircraft along a desired trajectory as precisely as possible despite variations in operating conditions and physical properties of the multicopter.

The problems the students and their mentors study—such as how to power and control machines—transcend any particular application, and the solutions the researchers develop could have profound effects on a variety of technologies. 

For example, in graduate school, Phelps will join a lab that develops control systems for medical robots. There, he will study electrocauterization, a medical procedure that uses heat generated by an electric current to perform tasks such as removing harmful tissue and controlling bleeding during surgery. Phelps said the speed of the process needs to be carefully controlled to avoid excess damage to healthy tissue, and the lab he is joining is working on ways to automate this control. He notes that both his father and girlfriend have undergone medical procedures with long recovery times. Making the process better is personal to him. 

Glover and Lombardo agree that what keeps them going, even through late-night problem solving and failed prototypes, is the desire to improve the way things get done. “I love how engineering research takes fundamental science principles and applies it to making a difference in the world,” says Lombardo.

“My real passion is figuring out how to progress as a species,” echoes Glover. “Science is one of our most powerful tools for that.” 

A launch pad for big dreams

These Retrievers say UMBC offered the tools and the mentorship to progress toward their biggest ambitions. 

“So many people took their time to sit with me, to push me forward,” says Lombardo. “I had the opportunity to go to scientific conferences, engage in world-class research, and find a community that embraced me.”

Lombardo notes that with support from programs such as the National Institute of Health’s Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (U-RISE) program and the Southwest Regional National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program, he was able to network with researchers outside of his discipline, as well as with industry experts who understand the consumer market. The interactions honed his career goals and reinforced his passion for translating fundamental science principles into practical and impactful engineering, he says. 

Glover, Lombardo and Phelps agree being awarded NSF GRFP fellowships is both a validation of the work they have done so far and an obligation to make a positive difference with research going forward. “It does make me feel that what we do is seen and appreciated,” Glover says. “I have this feeling that I will be able to have the impact that I am hoping to have on the world, which is inspiring and humbling.”

Phelps says he is excited to take the next steps: “I’m looking forward to exploring new topics, pushing the boundaries, and creating new things.”

Starting July 1, 2025, the Maryland Teachers and State Employees Supplemental Retirement Plans (MSRP) is  changing their name to the Maryland State Employees Supplemental Retirement Plans, due to the Maryland General Assembly passing Senate Bill 200.

Nothing else is changing, so no need to worry!

Here is the link to our website for Supplemental Retirement Account (SRA). On this website, you can find information for: 

• General Information: rolling enrollment anytime during your UMBC employment, no deadline to open an SRA
• Comparison charts: for Pre-Tax and ROTH (post tax) accounts
• USM Retirement@Work portal: for enrolling in SRA accounts with either TIAA or Fidelity
• MSRP/Nationwide: No paper forms - enroll online here: MSRP/Nationwide