Via STAMP
The University of Maryland Senior Marshals this year — as in years past — represent graduating seniors who have demonstrated the highest levels of scholarship, service to the campus community, extracurricular involvement, and personal growth.
Together with Robert Infantino, associate dean of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences at UMD, I have had the privilege to serve alongside student Senior Marshals each year to usher in graduating Terps at main commencement ceremonies. Of course, this year is unique as we celebrate returning back to in-person commencements after COVID sidelined the tradition in 2020.
It’s been such an honor to serve alongside these student leaders in the past at this critical point in their journey. The pandemic put a stop to that, but thankfully, we can now say that was just temporary. I am so glad this graduating class will have a chance to experience in-person community again with their peers at this important milestone in their lives.
We congratulate the Class of 2022 for their achievement in overcoming such unprecedented times and making the most of it. We celebrate the achievement of graduation for all of these Terps.
The SPP Marshalls are:
Umailla Fatima
Physiology & Neurobiology; Public Policy
Originally from Cumberland, MD, Umailla Fatima is graduating with degrees in Physiology and Neurobiology and Public Policy. During her time at UMD, Umailla has been a member of the Integrated Life Sciences Honors College, Federal Fellows, the Student Health Advisory Committee, Combating Overdoses in Rural Areas, Omicron Delta Kappa, and the Student Government Association. Off-campus, she has interned with Johns Hopkins University, Children's National Hospital, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Maryland Department of Health, and Cornerstone Government Affairs. Following graduation, Umailla plans to pursue a career in clinical medicine and health policy.
Megha Sevalia
Public Health Science; Public Policy
Sevalia is a senior studying public health science and public policy on the pre-law track. During her time at UMD, she worked at the student legal aid office and as a teaching assistant in the school of public policy. She also served as the student liaison to the city of College Park, volunteered as a peer counselor at the Help Center, and participated in Alternative Breaks, the Integrated Life Sciences Honors program, the Federal Fellows program, the student conduct review coalition, and ODK. She is looking forward to combining the skills and lessons learned at UMD, internships, and extracurriculars into a career in law and health policy.
Alon "Sherm" Sherman
Public Policy; Government & Politics - International Relations Concentration
Hailing from both Palo Alto, California, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Alon Sherman is earning dual degrees in Public Policy and International Relations. In class, Sherm honed in on environmentalism, global cooperation, using policy for good, and legal advocacy as a founding member of Dr. Spivey's Moot Court. Out of class, he was in the SGA Office as a legislator, consent educator, and director; on Fraternity Row as a DFSL-SAP intern, social chairman, and misconduct prevention chair; or in front of a quality meal he made in his kitchen or Metro'd to in the District. Sherm is eager for what the future holds as he leaves College Park, making his mark in the pursuit of the greater good; he is deciding between environmental law, policy communications, and nonprofit strategic development.
Minahil Cheema
Neurobiology & Physiology, Public Policy; Minor in Nonprofit Leadership & Social Innovation
Minahil Cheema is graduating from the Honors College with a degree in Neurobiology & Physiology and Public Policy minor in Nonprofit Leadership & Social Innovation. Minahil piloted TeleShadowing, a clinical shadowing program open to students worldwide, which she advanced as a Do Good Accelerator Fellow and Do Good Challenge Finalist. She is also involved on campus with the University Honors Student Board, the Student Health Advisory Committee, the Mental Health Coalition with Active Minds, the founding director of the Rotaract Club, and many other on- and off-campus leadership positions that culminated in her induction into the Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society. As a published author on healthcare disparities in rural areas, Minahil also co-founded a free telemedicine clinic for low-resourced patients (Sehat4All), and aspires to pursue a career in medicine as a physician.
Imani Nokuri
Government & Politics; Minor in Nonprofit Leadership and Social Innovation
Imani Nokuri is a Banneker/Key Scholar and Philip Merrill Presidential Scholar from Dayton, MD graduating from the University Honors program with a B.A. in Government and Politics and a minor in Nonprofit Leadership and Social Innovation. During her time at Maryland, Imani has engaged with the UMD community as a TA for AASP187, the Interim-AASD Representative on the BSOS Dean’s Student Advisory Council, Vice Chair of the Student Advisory Committee for the Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion, and a Ministry Team Member for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. While she has interned at the Office of the Public Defender for Prince George’s County, American Enterprise Institute, and the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, she has also worked on social justice programming in her position as a Group Fitness Instructor for UMD RecWell. She thanks God, family, friends, and mentors for their unconditional love and support through her UMD journey and is elated to attend Stanford Law School in Fall 2022.