Access2Alumni
The college's award-winning career mentoring and networking event, Access2Alumni connects undergraduate ARHU students with successful ARHU alumni to explore the variety of exciting and vital professional paths available to arts and humanities majors. Get career-ready at Access2Alumni.
Access2Alumni (A2A) is a career mentoring event that features insights and advice from successful ARHU alumni and is coordinated by the ARHU Chapter of the Alumni Association. Attendees will have the opportunity to speak with alumni from various industries to discuss their career goals and ask questions.
A2A helps students chart a path forward with support and assistance from former ARHU students who are now successful alumni. Each night includes a keynote and several small-group break-out sessions led by alumni. A2A is a great place to develop your networking skills — all of the alumni attending are friendly and want to help students succeed.
This free event is open to all UMD students, regardless of major or year. Graduate students are also welcome. Students can attend one night or both, and an optional prep session has been added.
2026 Dates
- REGISTRATION: Student Prep Session: Wednesday, October 28, 2026, from 7:30-8:30 p.m. on Zoom
- REGISTRATION: In Person: Tuesday, November 3, 2026, from 4-6 p.m. in the Colony Ballroom of the STAMP Student Union (free food) — This is Election Day, so make sure to have your voting plan in place in advance
- REGISTRATION: Virtual: Wednesday, November 4, 2026, from 5-6:15 p.m. on Zoom
Contacts
Students - For career advising and A2A questions, contact Kate Juhl at kjuhl@umd.edu
Alumni - For information and involvement, contact Greg Schofer at gschofer@umd.edu
Disability Accommodations - To request disability accommodations for Access2Alumni, please contact Greg Schofer at gschofer@umd.edu
2026 Keynote Speakers
- In-Person: Sonia Chase, English — President of the Baltimore Starlings, UpShot League and former WNBA player
- Virtual: Genna Rosenberg, women's studies and journalism — CEO of GennComm, PR expert and toy industry executive
2026 Alumni Participants
Session 1: Tuesday, November 3 • IN-PERSON
Deborah Ager, English | Founder, Radian Media Labs • LinkedIn
Kraig Ahalt, History and Criminal Justice | Attorney, US Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia • LinkedIn
Tsahai Banks, English | Founder and CEO, Read Write X • LinkedIn
Scott Berger, Communication | Vice President, Advertising Partnerships, Scripps • LinkedIn
Lisa Berglund, English and Communication | Director of Research Growth Strategy, EAB • LinkedIn
Hope Brown, English | Chief Compliance Officer, Calvert/Morgan Stanley • LinkedIn
Manique Buckmon, Art History | Founder, Artist & Educator, Creative Compass • LinkedIn
Billy Cannon, MFA Creative Writing | Managing Principal, Offit Kurman • LinkedIn
Sonia Chase, English | President, Baltimore Starlings, UpShot League • LinkedIn
Nelson Chen, Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies | University of Maryland, Prospect Research Analyst • LinkedIn
Emily Costa, Communication | Founder & Digital Marketing Strategist, Marketing Twenty Six • LinkedIn
Patty Cousins, English | Global Officer, HR Operations & Partnerships, Marriot International • LinkedIn
Emily Dammeyer, Journalism | Executive Vice President, Lumina Corps • LinkedIn
Melissa Daoulas, English | Owner and Producer, Melissa's Creative Media • LinkedIn
Kevin Davis, English, MA English | Member, Caplin & Drysdale • LinkedIn
Artis Hicks, Communication | Program Manager, HunaTek • LinkedIn
Patrick Hughes, History and Government & Politics | Assistant Attorney General, Maryland Attorney Generals Office
Latoya Jenkins, Communication | Chief of Staff & Vice President of Presidential Strategy, University of Maryland Eastern Shore • LinkedIn
Maria Kopsidas, English | Founder, Owner, and COO, Cookology • LinkedIn
Danielle Leopold Bogage, Communication and Government & Politics | Senior Director, Glen Echo Group • LinkedIn
Christopher Martin, Ph.D. Theatre and Performance Studies | Sr. Account Manager, Cloudfare • LinkedIn
Danielle Miller, Communication | Assistant Attorney General, Maryland Office of the Attorney General • LinkedIn
Jonathan Managhan, MFA Art | Artist, Jonathan Monaghan Studios • Website
Jeffrey Oguamanam, Communication | Senior Lead, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Under Armour • LinkedIn
Paul Plymouth, Communication | Director, State Government & Local Engagement, Verizon • LinkedIn
Veronica Segovia, Communication | Program Management Director, Family Caregiving, AARP • LinkedIn
Debbie Sotzsky, Art History | Founder, Art Advisory • LinkedIn
Marilyn Tomsic (Thompson), Radio, Television & Film | Freelance Announcer, C-SPAN • LinkedIn
James Wilkinson, English | CEO, American College Health Association • LinkedIn
Sarita Williams, Communication | Manager, Advocacy Campaigns, Constellation • LinkedIn
*Participant list current as of 10/19/2026
Session 2: Wednesday, November 4 • VIRTUAL
Jordan Aaronson, American Studies | Associate Director, Marketing, Penguin Random House • LinkedIn
Carlos Acosta, English, MA English | Judge, Montgomery County Circuit Court • LinkedIn
Marguerita Cheng, East Asian Languages and Business | Chief Executive Officer, Blue Ocean Global Wealth • LinkedIn
Katherine Cord, Communication | Associate Vice President, Sports Team, FINN Partners • LinkedIn
Zhe "Jeff" He, MA Communication | Sr. Director, Global Marketing, Genmab
Ariel Hoffman, History | Senior Manager, Salesforce & Ad Tech Operations, Ampersand
Rachel Hoffman, Communication | Brand Marketing Analyst, Hilton Hotels
Veda Johnson, Communication | Social Media Specialist, U.S. Department of Commerce • LinkedIn
Marcus Levy, American Studies | Agent, WME (William Morris) • LinkedIn
Mika Malone, English | Managing Partner, Meketa Investment Group • LinkedIn
Christina Martin, Spanish and Business | Founder & CEO, SourceUP • LinkedIn
Jessica McKesey, Communication | Chief Marketing Officer, University of Maryland • LinkedIn
Melissa Morales, Communication | General Manager and Partner, GMMB • LinkedIn
Julia Ring, English and Education | Empowerement Officer, Empowered Nonprofits • LinkedIn
Jessica Roberts, Communication | Senior Executive Director, UMD Alumni Association • LinkedIn
Genna Rosenberg, Journalism | CEO, GennComm • LinkedIn
Evan Shubin, MFA English | President and Founder, Candlelight Partners • LinkedIn
Alyssa Toro, Art and Graphic Design | Senior Partner/Executive Creative Director, Connelly Partners • LinkedIn
Pattie Yu, Journalism, MA Communication | Principal, The Yu Crew • LinkedIn
*Participant list current as of 10/19/2026
Top Tips for Attending Access2Alumni
- Ask questions and share your career interests as well as your uncertainties. A2A is a friendly atmosphere to explore your career goals and discover interesting career directions. You don’t need all the answers—this is where you start finding them.
- Bring an open mind—explore a variety of career fields. You never know who you will meet or where their network might take you. You may be surprised to learn about doors to careers you never knew existed.
- Dress well, but prioritize attendance. Attending is more important than attire, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt to dress to impress (business casual).
- Follow-up with the alumni you meet as well as those you do not. Alumni will enjoy hearing from you. Connect on LinkedIn and/or send an email to say thank you, ask further questions, request a resume review or inquire about a job or internship.
Access2Alumni Fall 2025 In-Person Keynote Video
Access2Alumni Fall 2025 In-Person Event Photo Gallery
Past Keynote Speakers
View Keynote Speakers by Year
Fall 2025: Len Elmore, attorney, educator, sportscaster and advocate; David Bonnett, filmmaker and producer
Spring 2025: Linda Roth, president, Linda Roth Associates; Tuliza Fleming, interim chief curator of visual arts, National Museum of African American History and Culture
2024: No keynote speaker
2023: Randy Lord, actor, producer and lawyer; Jared Paul, music industry executive
2022: Erek Barron, US attorney for Maryland; Jimmy Roberts, NBC sportscaster
2021: Carol Brown; Charlotte Triefus; Rep. Jennifer Wexton, congresswoman
2019: Jason Reynolds, author and poet
2018: Brett Wein, sales executive, SnapFish
2017: Michelle Singletary, columnist, The Washington Post
2016: Adam Shapiro, actor
2015: Cary Hatch, marketing executive, MDB Communications
2014: John Kelly, columnist, The Washington Post
2013: Domonique Foxworth, former NFL player and analyst, ESPN
2011: Norman Steinberg, producer, writer, director
2010: Harlan Weisman, healthcare executive, And-One Consulting
2009: Gail Berman Masters, producer and entertainment executive, The Jackal Group
2008: David Baggett, CEO and software creator, INKY
2007: George Pelecanos, author