“UMBC has allowed me to pursue two seemingly unrelated interests and find ways to connect my passions. I’ve incorporated environmental ideas into my dance choreography while at UMBC, and I hope to continue building upon this in the future.”
Plans: Environmental Educator, San Joaquin Outdoor School
B.A., Environmental Studies; B.A., Dance
Summa Cum Laude
Hometown: Eagle River, Alaska
A Linehan Artist Scholar, Molissa has been recognized in both of her fields, receiving the dance department’s Outstanding Senior in Choreography Award and the geography and environmental systems (GES) department’s Outstanding Senior Award. A dance she choreographed for her senior capstone project was selected to be performed at the American College Dance Festival Association Mid-Atlantic conference in spring 2015. Molissa began working as a research assistant in environmental health during her freshman year, and went on to serve as a UMBC eco-ambassador, helping to educate the campus about sustainability. Molissa studied abroad for a semester with a sustainability program in Costa Rica and spent two summers presenting educational programs to the public as an interpretation intern for Lake Clark National Park in Alaska. She is also a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and the Gamma Theta Upsilon International Geographic Honor Society.