CURRENT STUDENTS

My name is Alice Marini and I am a student-athlete ( swimmer ) here at UMBC. I am Italian and I lived my whole life there, until I committed to Texas A&M in 2021 from which I recently graduated. In fact, in May 2025 I got my BA in Modern Languages ( French ) along with a double minor in Spanish and Tourism Management. This is my first semester at UMBC where I will be pursuing a master in Intercultural Communication. Outside of academics, I had working experience as a swimming instructor in the past few summers and last year I was assistant coach for a club team in Texas. These two positions helped me develop my love for swimming even more and it was gratifying to see a passion blooming among these new generations. Some of my main interests are art, taking photos, and travelling. I also enjoy cooking Italian dishes that I learned from my grandmas to keep traditions alive. I chose the program of Intercultural Communication because I believe it can help me develop new skills that I could eventually use in the tourism industry in which I would like to develop a working career. Being a foreigner in the United States helped me recognize and understand my culture and my roots, it made me realize the challenges one can have in a new place. However, this experience also helped me see different points of view and people.

Maria Konyaeva (she/her/ella) was born and raised in Moscow, Russia. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and Intercultural Communication with a minor of Theatre in 2023. While studying, Maria managed to publish her research papers in different scientific journals and work as a personal tutor of English, focusing on both colloquial speech and exams preparation. Upon graduation Maria decided to pursue her Master’s degree in the States seeing this country as a melting pot for cultures and languages. Her passion and dedication to her goals helped her to make it all the way to become a Russian graduate assistant and graduate student in the Department of Modern Languages, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication. Being an event coordinator of the Russian Club in UMBC, Maria is also working on creating

 

Nils Guerard is a graduate student from Normandy, France. He studied international business and gained professional experience in various fields, including audiovisual production, laboratory equipment sales and international growth consulting. He spent 18 months in the United States on a J-1 cultural exchange program, an experience that deepened his interest in intercultural communication. He later decided to return to academic learning with a stronger focus on fundamental scientific research. His academic interests include intercultural mediation and training, the role of language and culture in international relations, and the historical representations of French–Indigenous encounters in North America. At UMBC, he is pursuing a Master’s in Intercultural Communication with the goal of continuing into higher education or international education and training. In his free time, he enjoys the American outdoors, especially hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, and fishing.

Ramlah Ahmed Amsa (she/her) was born in Ottawa, Canada, but raised in College Park, Maryland. She also spent some of her childhood living in the United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka. Having moved constantly, she attended multiple schools in North America, allowing her to gain insights into different cultures. She also has a diverse family background, so she grew up surrounded by numerous languages. She took around ten years of Arabic language classes, received her Bachelor’s degree in French at UMBC, and is now doing her Master’s in Intercultural Communication with a post baccalaureate certificate in TESOL. Her research interests lie in literary media, specifically comic books and graphic novels, in which she completed her undergraduate thesis. On the side, she works as the president of the French Club.

Bryanna Dawson (she/her) was born and raised in Baltimore County, Maryland. She
received her Bachelor of Arts in International Studies at Delaware State University
(DSU), with a double minor in Spanish and French. At her previous institution, she
served as a Grant Researcher, Track Manager, and as a board member for F.O.R.C.E.
(Focused On Renewing Christ-like Existence) Ministries. Most notably, she served as a
Study Skills, Spanish, and French Tutor which inspired her to pursue her master’s in
Intercultural Communication. The experience evoked her passion for language
education and policy, especially within marginalized communities.
Outside of academic settings, Bryanna was a previous NASA intern for the Office of
International and Interagency Relations (OIIR), where she honed her skills in diplomacy,
research, and international relations. Moreover, the internship established an interest in
space, inciting her to become the Executive Coordinator for the Women of Color
Advancing Peace, Security, and Conflict Transformation (WCAPS) Space Security, Law,
and Policy (SSLP) Working Group. Additionally, she loves to cook, run, learn languages,
listen to music, and travel nationally and internationally. Bryanna aspires to work with
international organizations to promote peace and cultural collaboration, leveraging her
diverse skill set and experiences to make a global impact. Her diverse experiences
reflect her passion for education, leadership, and service.

Mr. Luzau is pursuing a M.A in Intercultural Communication after graduating with a B.A. in Political Science with a French minor at UMBC in December 2022, and a B.A in French & African Linguistics from the “Institut Supérieur Pédagogique in Bunia, the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1997.Mr. Beni Dedieu Luzau is a Congolese by origin and a transnational human rights defender currently based in Silver Spring, Maryland. Since October 5, 2023, he has launched an initiative called “Intercultural Synergy of the Three Forest Basins.” This program aims to enhance the involvement of local communities in national discussions concerning conservation, climate mitigation and adaptation, and forest management. The objective is to enhance the opportunities for increased sub-regional and South-South exchange—focusing on best practices, lessons learned, and collaborative advocacy to assist the Amazonians in culturally interacting with communities residing in the Borneo-Mekong and Congo Basins.This synergy acts as a catalyst for further research and interventions by fostering a dialogue on how to better support these communities in sharing their insights in the battle against deforestation. The initiative has been brought up in several discussions with the embassies of Bolivia, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, and Suriname, as well as with the leadership of Conservation International, and the Afro-Interamerican Forum on Climate Change.

Amanda Evans (she/her) – was born and raised less than ten minutes from UMBC’s campus in Catonsville, Maryland. She completed her undergraduate career with degrees in Asian Studies and Korean. During her junior year, she studied abroad in Seoul, South Korea at Ewha Womans University, where she acquired a new love for the world and a new understanding of herself.
During her time as a MA student, she will be a research assistant for Dr. Yoon in the Korean
department as well as a research assistant for Dr. Celleri in the Dresher Center. While Amanda
does not know where exactly she will end up career-wise, she hopes to find a job that involves
Korean or be able to help the world understand and interact with the rest of the world better.

Kaylee Haskell is originally from Vermont but has spent the last 10 years in Central Florida. She recently completed her service as a Peace Corps Response Volunteer in South Africa, where she assisted high school students in the Northern Cape province as a Career Guidance Counselor. Prior to this, Kaylee served as an Agriculture Extension volunteer in Ghana (2020) and a Community Health volunteer in Maryland in partnership with FEMA during the pandemic (2021). Kaylee has also worked as an educator at an all-girls alternative school in Orlando, Florida and as a program leader for the Council for International Educational Exchange (CIEE). During her time with CIEE, she assisted with the facilitation of programs for American students traveling to and studying at The University of Ghana.
Kaylee is currently a Peaceworker Fellow at UMBC’s Shriver Center; through this fellowship, she is working as the writing tutor for the English Language Institute at UMBC’s Center for Global Engagement. Kaylee is excited to be a member of the INCC program and is looking forward to building new relationships and creating intercultural connections.

María del Mar Aranda Gómez-Guillamón (she/her/ella) is a graduate Fulbright student from Málaga, Spain. Her intercultural experiences abroad from a very young age led her to develop a deep curiosity about the ways culture impacts the way people approach life and connect with others. Since she was introduced to the world of International Education through her job in student services at a study abroad agency, she knew the field was a perfect fit for her. This experience inspired her to pursue a Master in Education. From that moment on she has been involved in different international and educational professional settings –in Spain and abroad. Her latest roles include being a student life coordinator for young American university students in South Spain; a Spanish teacher for international students from all over the world at the EF International Campus in Málaga; and a Spanish language and culture assistant in a middle school Spanish immersion program in Portland, Oregon. In her spare time she takes online university classes in order to obtain an additional BA in English Studies as well as French lessons to improve her French skills. Through UMBC’s Master in Intercultural Communication she aspires to develop her intercultural and cross-cultural knowledge and competences, and to be able to answer key and complex questions of the field of International Education. Her goal is to design, lead and diversify intercultural learning programs in order to make them more accessible and significant.

Chelsea Leonard (she/her) was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. She completed her undergraduate degree in Secondary Education English with a minor in Theatre. She found that teaching perfectly tied together her love for language and her desire to perform. Upon graduation, Chelsea decided to move to Taiwan to teach English. While teaching in Taiwan for nearly seven years, she traveled extensively throughout Southeast Asia. Chelsea also attended the National Taiwan Normal University where she completed several courses in intermediate-level Mandarin Chinese. Chelsea moved back to the U.S. in 2018 and began her career in higher education administration. In her spare time, you can find her playing live music, planning her next big trip, or spending quality time with her wife, corgi, and cat.

Geneva Tatem is originally from Reston, Virginia but has spent a significant portion of her life overseas. After graduating from with a B.A. in Russian from Oberlin College with minors in Theater and History, Tatem worked as an intern at a Korean NGO providing ophthalmic care to individuals in developing countries. After completing her internship, she joined the Peace Corps where she served three years in the Kyrgyz Republic. After completing her service, she returned to Korea to work as an English teacher. Currently, Tatem is a Peaceworker fellow and plans to
use her M.A. in Intercultural Communications to pursue a career in International Development.

Souhail Abinnour, Communication and Digital/Multimedia graduate with a strong background in graphic design, digital marketing, strategic and data driven communication, writing and editorial/storytelling skills, and video production. Fluent in English, French, and Arabic (Moroccan Native).

Araceli Blanco Castro is a master’s student in Intercultural Communication at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Modern Languages and Linguistics with a concentration in Latin American Studies. Her research interests include second language acquisition in both young and adult learners, with a focus on how cultural context influences language learning and retention. She currently works as a Spanish interpreter for Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) and Community Laison at an elementary school, where she supports cross-cultural communication between Spanish-speaking families and educational or community institutions. Her professional experience informs her academic interests and deepens her understanding of intercultural dynamics in real-world settings. A proud first-generation college student and Mexican American, she is the eldest daughter of seven siblings. Her identity and family background have shaped her passion for intercultural understanding, language access, and educational equity—especially for underserved communities.

Liz Fields (she/her) Born and raised in Baltimore County, Maryland. Growing up in a diverse area sparked her curiosity and interest to learn about both her own and different cultures. She has received a TEFL certificate and is currently pursuing a BA in sociology and cultural anthropology along with a certificate in Korean studies. In her time at UMBC, she has studied abroad with faculty-led programs in Morocco, Spain, and Mexico. In addition to this, she has spent a semester as an exchange student at a UMBC partner university in Seoul, South Korea. She is a BA/MA student in Intercultural communication who hopes to pursue foreign-language education.