Angelica Thomas is joining us from Rockville, Maryland. She served as an English Education volunteer with Peace Corps Indonesia. Angelica will be pursuing a Master’s in Engineering Management while working with the Grand Challenge Scholars Program here at UMBC. She looks forward to diving into her area of concentration, human-centered computing, and working with students as they research ways to address the challenges of the 21st century.

Ashley Flateland is originally from Fox Island, Washington. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, she worked as a Youth and HIV/AIDS Capacity Building Volunteer in Botswana from 2012-2015. She will be getting her Masters in Public Health with concentration in Population and Community Health. At Walden’s Circle, she will be designing and implementing a health-oriented after-school youth program. She is both excited and grateful for the opportunity.

Ashley Ramos was born and raised in Southern California. She moved to Washington, D.C. four years ago for a new change of pace and growth opportunities. Ashley was a Community Health Improvement Program volunteer at Peace Corps in Zambia, where she educated host country nationals on malaria prevention, HIV/AIDS prevention, and child and maternal childhood nutrition. She will be studying for her Masters In Social Work and working with the Choice program. She is excited for this new endeavor and can’t wait to see what’s in store for her!

Zara Pollack is joining us from the Pacific Northwest, specifically Spokane, Washington. She was a Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Volunteer in Peace Corps Guatemala from 2017-2019. She will be studying for her Masters of Social Work at the University of Maryland, Baltimore and serving with the Commodore John Rodgers Elementary-Middle School. Zara enjoys a good cup of coffee, genuine connections and is excited to be part of this vibrant community.

Walter Watts is joining us from Michigan. He is excited to join the Shriver Peaceworker Fellowship at UMBC. With over 12 years of experience in supply chain and procurement, he has held key roles at Real Truck, Source Link Consulting LLC, and Novartis. He holds an MBA in Supply Chain Management and an MA in International Affairs from Penn State University, as well as a BS in Biology from Eastern Michigan University. He is currently pursuing an MPS in Biotechnology at UMBC. From 2012 to 2014, he served in the Peace Corps in Po, Burkina Faso, focusing on agribusiness and water & sanitation projects. Outside of his professional life, he is passionate about environmental sustainability, technology, global cultures, ecology, and surfing.

Kate Calhoun is originally from the Cincinnati area, but is joining us from Hawai’i where she has lived for the last three years. She served in the PC in Zambia in the Linking Income, Food, and Environment (LIFE) program. Kate will be studying for a Masters in Social Work and serving with the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services.

Alejandra Quintero is originally from Minnesota but has been living in Washington, D.C. for the last 5 years. As a Peace Corps volunteer she worked in English Education in the Republic of Georgia. She will be studying for a Masters of Social Work and serving with the Choice program as a Latinx Liaison.

Geneva Tatem joins us from Reston, Virginia. She served in the Peace Corps in the Kyrgyz Republic for 3 years, 2 as a TEFL Volunteer and 1 as a Community Youth Development Volunteer. She will be studying for a Masters in Intercultural Communication, and says she is most looking forward learning new things and meeting new people.

Vathani Logendran comes from Corvallis, Oregon. She served in the Peace Corps in Botswana as a youth and development specialist. She will be studying for a Masters of Public health and serving with Retriever Essentials.