UMBC Mic'd Up

Manikanta Sirumalla, a graduate student in UMBC’s Data Science program, shares the story behind Rep Track Pro — an AI-powered fitness app designed to bring workouts, nutrition, recovery, and progress tracking into one place.

In this conversation, he discusses how his own fitness journey inspired the idea, the challenges of building and launching an app as a solo founder, and how coursework in UMBC’s Data Science pr...

In this episode of UMBC Mic’d Up, we sat down with Gordon Quach, M.S. ’25, to talk about his journey through the Systems Engineering graduate program at UMBC.

Gordon shares what led him to pursue a master’s degree, how he balanced work and graduate school, and why systems engineering stood out among other paths. He offers practical insights on career growth, real-world application, and the value of thinking beyond ...

Asking for a letter of recommendation can feel awkward—but it doesn’t have to be rushed or uncomfortable.

In this episode of UMBC Mic’d Up, Dennise Cardona, M.A.’23, shares a simple, thoughtful approach to requesting a strong letter that actually supports your goals. From choosing the right person to giving them the right information, it all comes down to preparation and clarity.

You’ll learn how to:

• ...

What does it take to grow your career in today’s evolving job market?

In this episode of UMBC Mic’d Up, host Dennise Cardona, M.A. '23, sits down with Rex Jarrett, Director of Professional Programs at UMBC, to explore how graduate education continues to open doors for working professionals.

From building practical, real-world skills to learning how to work alongside AI, this conversation highlights how the right program c...

What happens when you decide it’s finally time to finish what you started? 

In this episode of UMBC Mic’d Up, Dennise sits down with Samantha Drummond, B.A. ’25, Individualized Study, who returned to UMBC after several years away to complete her degree through the Finish Line program. Samantha shares what it was like balancing full-time work, family responsibilities, and school—and how she stayed motivat...

Returning to school later in life can feel intimidating. For cybersecurity professional Jeff Burnett, M.S. '25, it became one of the most valuable decisions of his career. 

In this episode of UMBC Mic’d Up, Jeff shares why he chose to pursue a graduate degree in cybersecurity while already established in the field. After years working in cybersecurity sales, he realized that understanding the technology behind the convers...

In this episode, we sit down with Kendall McWilliams, ’20 Chemical Engineering, M.P.S. Biotechnology Student, to talk about what it really takes to build a meaningful career in biotech.

Kendall shares his journey from chemical engineering into the biotech industry, and why pursuing graduate education was the logical next step. He explains how understanding quality systems, GMP regulations, clinical trials, and business operati...

Alumni connections can open doors to mentorship, career insight, and long-term professional growth—but only if you know how to build those relationships thoughtfully.

In this episode of UMBC Mic’d Up, host Dennise Cardona shares practical, approachable strategies for connecting with alumni and turning those connections into meaningful professional relationships. From making your outreach more personal to following up wit...

Annie Byrd, a 2023 graduate of UMBC’s Community Leadership program, shares how her path through equity work, gender and women’s studies, and community partnerships led her to meaningful social impact. 

In this episode of UMBC Mic'd Up, she reflects on unlearning, building relationships, and discovering how leadership shows up in everyday life. Annie also discusses her work with the Doula Alliance of Maryland, the fi...

In this inspiring episode of UMBC Mic’d Up Podcast, host Dennise Cardona, M.A. sits down with Harish Reddy Manyam, M.P.S. '24, a graduate of UMBC’s Data Science program. 

Harish shares his remarkable path from arriving in the U.S. with nothing but a dream to becoming an AI governance advisor and healthcare data scientist. 

He reflects on: 

• Early struggles as an international student 

• Key milestones: ...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Destiny, a recent graduate of UMBC’s Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Leadership (EIL) graduate program. 

In this episode of UMBC Mic’d Up, Destiny shares how the EIL program expanded her leadership skills, sparked innovative thinking, and prepared her for a career transition from federal finance to protocol officer. From navigating leadership styles to leveraging marketin...

What happens when two data science grad students turn a class project into a full-fledged edtech startup?

In this episode of UMBC Mic’d Up, we sit down with Sai Manvitha Nadella, M.P.S. '25, Data Science and Sampath Kumar, M.P.S. '25, Data Science, co-founders of AIEdumate, an AI-powered learning platform born from their capstone at UMBC. 

This is a must-watch for anyone interested in data science, AI, and launching a tech...

In this episode of UMBC Mic’d Up, we explore the inspiring journey of Aakanksha Sangepavu, M.P.S. '25, I/O Psychology, who transformed curiosity into a powerful career path in workplace psychology. 

From her roots in India to conducting meaningful research at the USDA, Aakanksha shares how she found purpose in helping organizations become more human-centered, inclusive, and effective. 

She reflects on key lessons from...

Struggling to lead your group project? Whether you're in school or at work, leadership can make or break the team. In this episode of UMBC's Mic'd Up, we share 4 practical steps to help you lead with confidence—from defining your project to creating a culture of psychological safety.

Learn how to:
 ✅ Define goals and deadlines clearly
 ✅ Delegate based on strengths
 ✅ Set up smooth communication systems...

Is AI replacing software engineers? Not even close. 

In this episode of UMBC Mic’d Up, Dr. Mohammad Samarah, Program Director of UMBC’s Master’s in Software Engineering, shares why human expertise is more critical than ever in an AI-driven world. 

From designing intelligent systems to leading innovation, software engineers are at the center of tomorrow’s technology. 

Learn how UMBC prepares gradu...

Go behind the Scenes of Systems Engineering with Saurabh Phaltane, Senior Site Reliability Engineer (Google), in this episode of UMBC Mic'd Up. 

Learn how Site Reliability Engineers (SREs) ensure billions of people experience fast, secure, and uninterrupted search results every day. Saurabh shares what it takes to keep critical infrastructure running, how AI is transforming systems engineering, and what skills aspiring ...

In this episode of UMBC Mic’d Up, host Dennise Cardona, chats with Dr. Abdullah Karasan—adjunct faculty member in UMBC’s Data Science program and Founder of Leveragai—about the intersection of AI, finance, and education. 

Dr. Karasan shares his journey into financial data science and offers insight into his innovative new tool, Stockaivisor, a generative AI-powered platform built to simplify investing an...

In this episode of UMBC Mic’d Up, we dive into the transformative experience of the Just Maps course in the GIS graduate program at UMBC. Instructor Ron Wilson and students Amy Soukup and Derald Dudley share how this course blends technical skills with real-world ethics, critical cartography, and responsible AI use. 

• Hear how Amy and Derald’s careers and perspectives were shaped by their time in class.

• Learn how ...

How can IO psychology improve workplaces and create better experiences for employees? In this episode of UMBC Mic’d Up, we sit down with Sabrina Williams, M.P.S. '23, a recent graduate of UMBC’s IO Psychology program, to explore the real-world impact of industrial-organizational psychology.

Sabrina, now a Management & Program Analyst at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), shares insights on workplace development...