UMBC Mic'd Up

What does it take to turn a passion for geography into the technical skills needed for a career in GIS? And what if you don't have a background in coding? In this episode of UMBC Mic'd Up, host Dennise Cardona, M.A. '23, talks with Drishti Gandhi, a student in UMBC's Geographic Information Systems (GIS) master's program, about her journey from a geography background to con...

Artificial intelligence is making it easier than ever to write, research, brainstorm, and create. But at what point does helpful technology begin replacing our own thinking?  In this episode of UMBC Mic’d Up, host Dennise Cardona, '23, M.A., explores how to embrace the benefits of AI without losing the creativity, critical thinking, and individuality that make our work distinctly human.  From...

Group projects in graduate school can bring up plenty of concerns: uneven workloads, communication challenges, conflicting personalities, and the feeling that your success depends on someone else. But what if group work is actually preparing you for something much bigger than the assignment? In this episode of UMBC Mic’d Up, host Dennise Cardona, M.A. '23, explores why group work is an intent...

What exactly is industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology—and what can you do with a career in the field?  In this episode of UMBC Mic’d Up, host Dennise Cardona, M.A. '23 talks with Dr. Henri Maindidze, Interim Graduate Program Director of UMBC’s I-O Psychology Graduate Program, about how I-O psychology uses research, data, and evidence-based practices to improve the workplace.  They explor...

Your personal brand is more than your LinkedIn profile. It’s what people know you for, what they remember about you, and the expertise and perspective you bring to your field. In this episode of UMBC Mic’d Up , host Dennise Cardona, M.A. '23, explores how to build your personal brand beyond LinkedIn through podcasting, public speaking, sharing your ideas, and developing thought leadership. Bu...

What does a career in GIS really look like—and how can graduate education help you grow in a field that’s constantly evolving? In this episode of UMBC Mic’d Up, host Dennise Cardona, M.A. '23, talks with Meghan Arnold, a current student in UMBC’s Geographic Information Systems master’s program and a GIS technician working in local government.  Meghan shares how she uses GIS to map and maintai...

What does it really mean to be authentic in today's workplace? In this episode of UMBC Mic'd Up, host Dennise Cardona, M.A., '23, sits down with Timothy Olivella, a graduate student in UMBC's Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Leadership (EIL) program, to explore the role authenticity plays in professional success, leadership, workplace culture, and personal fulfillment. Learn m...

What separates a good leader from a truly effective one? In this episode of UMBC Mic'd Up, host Dennise Cardona, M.A. '23 sits down with Karl Douglas, L.H.D. (Hon.), Graduate Faculty in UMBC's Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Leadership (EIL) Graduate Program, to discuss leadership, communication, emotional intelligence, adaptability, and entrepreneurship in today's workplace....

What separates people who act on ideas from those who stay stuck in overthinking? In this episode of UMBC Mic'd Up, host Dennise Cardona, M.A. ’23, sits down with Shawn Wolf, D.S.L., graduate faculty member in UMBC's Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Leadership program, to explore the entrepreneurial mindset and why it matters far beyond starting a business. Shawn shares lessons from his...

How should colleges prepare students for an AI-driven world? In this episode of UMBC Mic’d Up , Dennise Cardona, M.A. ’23, sits down with Professor Ron Wilson from UMBC’s Geographic Information Systems Master’s program to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping education, critical thinking, and the future workforce. Wilson shares the powerful moment that inspired him to develop a structur...

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...

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 o...

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...

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 hig...

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...

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...

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, clinic...

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 per...

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 Alli...

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...

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...

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 da...

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 re...

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 smo...

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 gradua...