10 Science Terps Honored as Senior Marshals

High-Achieving Students to Lead Classmates Into Commencement

Ten students graduating from the University of Maryland's College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences have been named 2024 senior marshals in recognition of their outstanding scholarship, service to the campus community, extracurricular involvement and personal growth.

They will carry banners representing their schools and colleges into the university’s main commencement ceremony on Monday, May 20, accompanied by Marsha Guenzler-Stevens, director of the Adele H. Stamp Student Union, and Robert Infantino, associate dean of the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences, who oversee the marshals program.

Meenakshi Pradeep Adiyodi (major: neuroscience; minor: Asian American studies) earned a certificate from the Harriet Tubman Department of Women, Gender and Sexuality studies. She served as president of the American Red Cross Club and Nu Rho Psi neuroscience national honor society, a dialogue lead for Terps for Change, programming chair for the Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program, a recruitment ambassador for CMNS, and an undergraduate teaching assistant. She was also an undergraduate researcher in the Speer Lab and involved in the Biology Honors Program. After graduation, she plans to take a gap year to work as a medical assistant before attending medical school, where she hopes to specialize in psychiatry and contribute to destigmatizing the need for mental health-related services.

Akshaya Sree Balaji (majors: biological sciences, environmental science and technology; minor: sustainability) was a Banneker/Key scholar who participated in the Honors College’s Integrated Life Sciences program. She was president of the advocacy group MaryPIRG, an intern with Alternative Breaks, a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and a Guided Study Sessions leader for organic chemistry and biochemistry. She was on the pre-medicine track and is interested in pursuing the intersection of environmental science and public health.

Toluwalope Justinah Bashua (majors: computer science, information science; minor: technology entrepreneurship and corporate innovation) is a first-generation Nigerian student and served on the Student Government Association for three years and as a student employee in two campus departments. She was also a part of Code: Black, African Students Association, Alpha Lambda Delta honor society, The Pride, the Adele H. Stamp Student Union’s Student Employee Advisory Board and more. She looks forward to pursuing a master's degree at UMD.

Nora Bui (major: neuroscience; minor: humanities, health, and medicine) served as the co-president of the Pre-Physician Assistant Club, the education and design chair for the American Medical Women’s Association and university senator for CMNS. She was also a teaching assistant for the “Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience” course and a research assistant in the Shackman Lab using neuroimaging to study the neural basis of emotions such as anxiety and fear. Off campus, she worked as a medical assistant in a family medicine clinic, engaged in experiential learning as an Nvolve Scholar, and volunteers for Crisis Text Line as a crisis counselor. She hopes to pursue a career in health care to provide culturally competent care, especially to those with neurological/psychiatric challenges.

Yasmine Kotb (majors: biological sciences, dance) participated in College Park Scholars’ Life Sciences program, earning the Academic Achievement Award. She was also Peru Project team leader for Public Health Beyond Borders, director of public relations for the Foundation for International Medical Relief in Children-UMD and a tutor with Lakeland STARs. She conducted clinical research during summer internships at the National Institutes of Health and volunteered as a research assistant at UMD’s Child Development Lab. After graduation, Kotb hopes to pursue a career as a well-rounded, well-informed physician.

Karthik Sellakumaran Latha (major: mathematics; minor: computer science) served as a teaching assistant for MATH140/141 and CMSC131/132, was a peer research mentor for the First-Year Innovation and Research Experience (FIRE) program, and created and taught a student-led course on math and art. After graduating, Latha will pursue a doctorate in mathematics and work toward becoming a math professor.

Vanshika Mehta (major: computer science) is graduating with a citation from the Gemstone program in the Honors College. She was a teaching assistant for various Gemstone and computer science classes and served as a student coordinator for the Honors College. She was an active member of the Alpha Omega Epsilon sorority and the Honors Ambassadors program. After graduation, she plans to work as a software engineer at Bank of America.

Nicole Miko (majors: biological sciences, public health science; minors: sustainability, humanities, health, and medicine) is graduating with a University Honors citation, and served as a SustainableUMD ambassador, Terps for Change coordinator, biology undergraduate teaching assistant, student leader for Kairos Christian Fellowship, Juggling Club co-president and treasurer for the Community Learning Garden as well as for the Thai Student Association. She also served as a research assistant in the Caras Lab, where she pursued an honors thesis through the Biology Honors Program. Off campus, she worked as a medical assistant in an allergy clinic and in a home health care practice, and she plans to serve in an AmeriCorps program before entering medical school.

Tyler J. Nasuta (major: neuroscience) served as a resource specialist at the Student Organization Resource Center and as an ophthalmic assistant at Seidenberg and Protzko Eye Associates. He loves sports, whether playing for the UMD flag football team or watching his favorite professional teams play. He hopes to pursue a career in ophthalmology.

Judy Song (major: computer science; minor: statistics) earned a certificate from the First-Year Innovation and Research Experience (FIRE) in the Autonomous Unmanned Systems stream. She served as a teaching assistant and professional chair of Alpha Omega Epsilon and was an active participant of the Association of Women in Computing, and the Society of Women Engineers. She was also a member of the Mighty Sound of Maryland and the Maryland Pep Band. Upon graduation, she will work as an embedded software engineer while pursuing a graduate degree in computer science.