1. Tell me a little about your background.
I attended UMD for my undergraduate with the Smith School of Business, where I studied marketing and supply chain management with a minor in Spanish. I graduated with my Bachelor’s in 2019. When I left, I started working for Stanley Black and Decker, where I bounced around different positions, mainly in sales. Currently, I’m in Arizona, although my permanent home is in Connecticut.
I’ve always been interested in Terrorism Studies, so when I started looking at graduate programs- my mom was actually pushing me to make a decision. I started Googling graduate programs in terrorism studies, not even sure if it was something that existed. I checked out START’s website and was impressed with the faculty and the projects being done, so I decided to apply.
2. What branch of the military were you in? Can you tell me more about your experience?
I’m in the Army National Guard for New York. I enlisted at the end of January- since the program is online, I was able to do so while still enrolled- and left for training on March 3rd. I’m now in Fort Huachuca in Arizona, working as an intelligence analyst.
3. Why did you choose START? What aspects of our program appealed to you?
When I was looking for graduate studies in terrorism studies, I came upon the START website. I researched the faculty and was impressed with the credibility and experience they possess. They are working professionals with resumes and backgrounds with direct experience in the military and intelligence. Also, I did my undergrad at Maryland, and I’m biased toward it- I liked the idea of being a Terp again.
4. What are your professional or academic goals?
My goal is to finish up the Insider Risk Management and Mitigation certificate along with the MPS, and from there, I plan to stay with the military. I am always learning about more military-related opportunities, so I am excited to see the doors that open for me once I complete my MPS. One great thing about START is that you meet people in your classes who are in organizations or positions that you may have never considered or known existed, and those people are usually happy to give you advice or pass along job opportunities. That’s actually how I ended up joining the Army.
5. How do you envision START helping you achieve your goals?
Well, I’m currently in Arizona in training with the Army as an intelligence analyst, which is a job I learned about through START. My answer is twofold- academically, START very much helps improve your writing skills. You write these mammoth papers, as in 30 or 40 pages of papers. You become comfortable with the research, editing, and writing process, which is beneficial because many government jobs are writing-based, including the position I’m going to have once I graduate. The MPS really helps teach and hone your writing, research, and analytical skills.
From a personal standpoint, you have both instructors and classmates who have a wealth of experience in the field, which opens up a lot of opportunities- people might share job opportunities with you, or be resources for learning more about a particular topic or organization you’re interested in. That’s been a huge benefit from START, and I wouldn’t be on the trajectory I am today without some of my classmates. I’ve also become pretty good friends with them. It’s great that you can build these connections and relationships while being virtual.
7. What was your favorite or most memorable moment at START?
The Malaysia trip was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had in my life. I never thought I would go to a country like Malaysia, and being able to learn about the culture and speak with officials who are involved in counterterrorism, and learn about how different parts of the world handle security and security studies, was a great experience. The different cultural exchanges we had with the Malaysian students were also very valuable and interesting.
Another great part of being at START- and I know I’ve already mentioned this, but it’s true- the longer I was at START, the more I learned about opportunities available to him in the field from faculty and classmates who already had experience in intelligence and counter-terrorism. That’s how I got my START in the Army. Networking with classmates was very beneficial for learning about new opportunities, and led me to where I am now.
8. What advice would you give to someone in the military looking to advance their professional or academic goals?
Don’t be scared to go back to school! I know it’s a big step. When you’ve been out of school for a while, it can be difficult to get back into the academic mindset. Don’t be intimidated by doing it, especially if you know you want to study terrorism. Even if you don’t have experience in the field, the program is set up to bring you different perspectives and learn from the people who have been there, while also giving you the opportunity to share your own perspectives from outside the field.