Markus Proctor
B.S., Interdisciplinary Studies
Cum Laude
Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Plans: CEO of EduPal, Inc.

UMBC is an institution that fosters academic excellence, inspires creative thinking, and nurtures character in every student. There are opportunities for students to achieve their highest academic potential at UMBC no matter what their goals are in life. UMBC has allowed me to craft my own journey through the INDS program and that has prepared me more than I could have ever imagined.

Markus Proctor is walking the walk with his interdisciplinary studies degree. He created his own major, Technology Entrepreneurship and Organization Management, not just to prepare for a career as a tech entrepreneur, but while founding and building his own company: EduPal, Inc.

Proctor’s work on EduPal has already earned him several accolades, including 3rd prize in the Cangialosi Business Innovation Competition, 2015-16 UMBC Entrepreneur Scholar of the Year, 2015-16 PNC Entrepreneur Scholar, and 2nd prize in the SEFA National Design Competition. He is also the 2015-16 Joseph and Frieda Faiman Eisenberg/VPC Scholar and was featured as a speaker on the panel “Youth and Diversity in Entrepreneurship” at Baltimore’s inaugural Light City U Creative Innovation Conference in April 2016.

Proctor plans to continue operating EduPal after graduation, transitioning it into a nonprofit “that provides free, innovative technology for students in order to support their rise to academic and career excellence.”

In addition to his entrepreneurial work, Proctor has served as vice president of the Interdisciplinary Studies Council of Majors. He has been invited to serve with the UMBC Alumni Council, UMBC’s Chapter of Black & Latino Alumni, and the Baltimore Emerging Leaders Roundtable.

Images: Markus Proctor with his mentors Greg Cangialosi ’96, English, and Vivian Armor ’73, American Studies; photo courtesy of Markus Proctor. Portrait by Marlayna Demond ‘11 for UMBC.

Brielle Levenberg
B.F.A., Acting; B.A., Modern Languages and Linguistics
Summa Cum Laude
Hometown: Greenlawn, New York
Plans: Teaching at From Stage to Screen Performing Arts Academy and auditioning for roles in New York

Every professor demonstrates support and encouragement for the success of all of their students. The theatre department in particular has prepared me for a career. Since the department conducts all classes, rehearsals, and shows as if they were professional productions, there are no surprises when entering the field.

Brielle Levenberg has excelled in her academic and artistic undergraduate career. A Premiere Award launched her time at UMBC and she has continued to distinguish herself as a member of the Honors College, Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Beta Kappa, with a 4.0 GPA. Her numerous awards include the 2015 Theatre Department Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement, 2016 Theatre Department Award for Outstanding Achievement in Performance, and 2016 Modern Languages and Linguistics Overall Academic Achievement Award.

Levenberg has been an active student leader, serving the Musical Theatre Club as president, 2014-2016, and as treasurer for the AF Theatre Company. She was nominated for the Irene Ryan Acting Competition at the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival for Region II based on her work in the world premiere of Voracious by Susan McCully, senior lecturer in theatre.

After graduation Levenberg plans to audition for roles in the New York area, and to teach and work as an administrator at From Stage to Screen Performing Arts Academy in Huntington, New York. Levenberg eventually plans to pursue TV and film work in California.

Images: Theatre’s 2013 performance of Eurydice, Brielle Levenberg’s first production at UMBC. “I am reaching forward in the picture, which says to me that the best is yet to come.” Photo courtesy of Brielle Levenberg. Portrait courtesy of Marlayna Demond ‘11 for UMBC.

Olivia Spicer
Ph.D., Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Sciences
Cum Laude
Hometown: Bayou Vista, Louisiana
Plans: Biotechnology researcher

The faculty at UMBC have allowed me to travel the world, conducting research, and to broaden my skills in biological research.

When Olivia Spicer crosses the stage to formally receive her Ph.D., she’ll do so as a scientist already recognized for groundbreaking discoveries in her field. Spicer researches targeted mutations in the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in zebrafish. These hormones play critical roles in reproduction.

Spicer’s doctoral dissertation focused on the molecular mechanisms of peptides (chains of amino acids, the building blocks of protein) in the brain that influence reproduction.  As part of her research at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology with Yonathan Zohar, she received the Binational Agricultural Research and Development (BARD) Fund Graduate Student Fellowship, providing her the opportunity to spend three months on research with a neuroscience collaborator at Tel Aviv University in Israel. In addition to travel for the fellowship, Spicer has attended numerous other scientific conferences and meetings to present her research.

Images: Spicer in the Negev Desert in Israel during her three-month fellowship; photo courtesy of Olivia Spicer. Portrait by Marlayna Demond ‘11 for UMBC.

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/ .