"At UMBC I have consistently been challenged, not only academically, but also through opportunities to improve my leadership, time management, teamwork, and communication skills."
Plans: M.S., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan
Cum Laude
B.S., Biological Sciences
Hometown: Towson, Maryland
After a conversation with her freshman advisor, Dr. Kevin Omland, MARC U*STAR scholar Susanna discovered her passion for evolutionary biology research. She started working in Dr. Omland's lab and traveled to Puerto Rico with a research team to study the birdsong of the female Puerto Rican oriole. That freshman experience had a profound impact on her undergraduate career, leading Susanna to research in Puerto Rico every year, win top poster prizes at several academic conferences, and receive two Undergraduate Research Awards, as well as honors from the biological sciences department. Susanna is also a leader in several student organizations, serving as the president of the Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority and vice president of UMBC’s Women of Color Coalition.