Category Archives: QUEST News

Cohort 26 Presents at the Fall 2017 QUEST Conference

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Cohort 26 presented for the last time as QUEST students on December 7, 2017 at the QUEST Conference. The students led the audience through their 490H presentations that showed the culmination of all their hard work and talent. Parents, friends, QUEST alumni, and corporate partners all came to support the 490H students as they showcased a semester’s worth of work on their capstone projects.

The event started with an hour of flavorful hors d’oeuvres accompanied by great conversation. During this time, guests were invited to walk around and peruse all of the great posters. Old cohorts got to reunite while the newest cohorts got a taste of what is to come. Then, everyone was directed into two rooms where for the next hour great, thoughtful presentations were carried out. From nBD’s work with Becton Dickinson on “Designing an Imaging Device for Microbiological Automation” to Call Sign SkyLine’s work for Leidos on “Optimizing Training for International SkyLine Product Area,” the variety of projects was immense. It was clear that Q26 managed to process a lot of data and was able to produce great solutions worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Cohort 26

Being a member of Cohort 29 and only just finishing 190H, it was a great glimpse into the future. To get to envision myself and fellow peers presenting at the high level that we got to observe is very exciting. These projects are clearly high stakes with companies like Orbital ATK providing a million dollar budget, and BD expecting to make an additional 3.6 million dollars in revenue thanks to their QUEST team. I know that it seems intimidating now, but I also know that QUEST will continue to train and prepare us for our turn in 490H.

The final presentation to round out the night was the one to win the Most Outstanding Capstone Award. The Caterpillar Effect not only performed to the highest level but also achieved the Best Poster Award. The group members are Rohan Bajaj, Chloe Berman, Alyssa Hu, Sam Lewando, and Julia Lomakina, and they spoke about their work “Improving the User Experience of Authentication.”

The QUEST community had a blast celebrating Cohort 26’s accomplishments through their QUEST journeys. Students of Cohorts 27, 28, 29 and 30 admire the work Cohort 26 put into QUEST and hope to carry on the success as we each have a go at the 490H experience. Congrats on a successful night Q26, you made it!

Spirit of Maryland Award goes to QUEST’s own Cece Ukejianya!

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Cece Ukejianya (Q26)

 

One thing is certain about Maryland Terps, we have A LOT of school pride! You can count on finding someone wearing red, black, or gold, and there is always a new sacrifice for our favorite turtle, Testudo! While we have a very spirited campus, QUEST is proud to say that Cece Ukejianya of Cohort 26 has the most Maryland pride! Yes, that’s right, Cece recently won the Spirit of Maryland Award!

Each year, faculty and administration nominate students who they feel best represent our university for the Spirit of Maryland award. After nomination, students are invited to apply for this award. Through this application, administration chooses ten finalists who participate in a series of interviews and events. Subsequently, two winners are chosen. Specifically for Cece, Dean Victor Mullins of the Smith Business School recognized her talents and recommended her for this prestigious honor.

The Spirit of Maryland Award not only celebrates who has the most Maryland pride, but also recognizes the student who best embodies our University’s goals in terms of academics, extracurriculars, and leadership. “I was in disbelief when I won just because there are so many great leaders on this campus who I look up to for a certain skill or character trait that I one day hope to embody,” expressed Cece.  While she said it was a nice surprise, Cece points out that “no leader does what he or she does for recognition, rather any true leader does what he or she does because of their passion, drive, and motivation to better a cause he or she believes in and finds enjoyment through benefiting.” Cece says that while it is great to see how you are impacting the community, you know you have truly touched others when they “recognize how you specifically contribute to society. That’s how you know what you did was real.”

Cece is part of the academic committee in the Deans Student Advisory Council (DSAC), the President of ABA, Vice President of the Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) Honors Fraternity, Sargent of Arms for Phi Chi Business Fraternity, and Chaplin of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.

We are so proud of Cece for all that she has accomplished. We know that after her graduation this spring, she will continue to demonstrate quality leadership within her community, and we wish her good luck in her future endeavors.

Cece with President Loh after being awarded the Spirit of Maryland award

QUEST Spotlight: Catching up With Dr. Herrmann Before His Sabbatical

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Dr. Jeffrey Herrmann has been a staple in the QUEST community for the past decade. Occupying a position as the Associate Director when he first joined and most recently, as the BMGT/ENES 490H instructor, he has changed the program in many ways.

He has a unique perspective that only comes with years of experience, so before leaving for his sabbatical, I made sure to sit down with him to better understand who he is and the impact he’s had on the QUEST program.

 

When did you join the QUEST program, and how were things different back then?

When I first joined, I was working with Dr. Suarez, who was the Executive Director at the time. I’d been a faculty advisor for a couple of projects before that, and in 2007, I got asked to serve as the Associate Director.

From my perspective, the mission of the program has stayed the same all these years. It’s an undergraduate program that gives students from three colleges the opportunity to learn timeless skills. Along with that, the core courses have stayed the same despite us adding new electives such as the data analysis, scoping, and study abroad courses.

If the core mission and structure have stayed the same, have the methods shifted during your time here?

We’ve always had an emphasis on active learning. Having said that, the nature of the projects, especially in 190H, has changed over the years with the introduction of atoms-, bits-based, and on-campus consulting projects. It’s safe to say these types of classes have become even more active as time has passed.

Thinking back on your time with the program, what would you say are your happiest moments?

The happiest moments come from being with the great people in QUEST. I’ve been fortunate to be the faculty advisor for numerous 490H projects in which I’ve been able to see the students go on site visits to clients, and their excitement for learning more is infectious. At the end of the project, the QUEST conference and client presentations are also amazing. To see them deliver value and solve difficult problems is a great feeling.

On the other hand, working with Dr. Bailey, Dr. Armstrong, Jessica Macklin, and everyone else who’s been involved with the program has been a great experience. Working with them in a professional context has been eye opening, but even the casual experiences, like making our cheer at QUEST camp, have been a lot of fun.

Which course do you think provides the most value to students?

The students are very different. Some will see 490H and the consulting project as the opportunity where they learned the most. For some, 390H was their favorite part of QUEST because it gives them a chance to explore new ideas and gain new techniques. For a lot of other students, 190H is the course they connect with the most. It’s difficult to pick one course because they’re designed in a sequence so that students learn more as they go through.

If you can’t pin one course, then is there one skill that you think all students should pick up from QUEST?

That skill would be the general skill of being able to talk to a client, understand their situation, and identify ways to make it better, then to do the analysis and evaluation needed to make an effective recommendation. It’s a skill that’s reinforced in every course and even some of the electives as well.

What is something that you hope to see change in the future of the QUEST program?

I believe the QUEST students will continue to find ways to make the QUEST community a better place to be based on their interests and skills. What makes QUEST so special is the support that students receive to pursue their ideas. I imagine students coming up with activities, events, and different structures to help each other learn and feel more connected to the program.

Shifting away from the program, what do you hope to accomplish during your sabbatical?

I’m looking forward to spending a lot of time working with engineers and researchers at the Naval Air Warfare Center at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River down in southern Maryland. They have a group that works on route planning for autonomous systems (unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned surface ships, etc.) for different Navy missions. I’m very excited to learn more about what they’re doing in terms of their systems and their research.

I’ll be looking into difficult problems that occur when planning missions that involve unmanned vehicles, and I’ll be continuing the research I do here on campus. I’ll also be working on proposals for funding with different agencies and meeting a lot of new people during the process.

After the sabbatical, do you have plans on coming back to the program, and if so, what do you want to bring with you when you return?

Being a faculty advisor would be a fun thing to do again. In terms of how my sabbatical will impact things, I’ll be learning about new technologies and new techniques (data analysis and optimization) so maybe those techniques will be relevant to different project areas throughout the program.

Thanks Dr. Herrmann for your 10 years of service to QUEST!

QUEST & Constellation: Thoughts on the Site Visit

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In early November, a group of QUEST students had the opportunity to visit Constellation in Baltimore and get a tour of the facility while talking to some higher ups in the organizations. The following is a short recap from some students who were on the visit and their thoughts about the entire experience.

How did this visit change your opinion of Constellation?

Jeff Zhao (Q28)

I originally thought that Constellation was just an energy provider to commercial homes, but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Constellation is actually the nation’s largest supplier of electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial customers. A huge part of their operations takes place in their trading group (where Ricky Wilson, our QUEST Alumni Board Chair works) that hedges against price fluctuations by selling and buying units of megawatts/hr. The parent company, Exelon, is the nation’s largest power generation company as well! This site visit really opened my eyes to understanding the size of Constellation and its parent company Exelon.

Brian Yuwen (Q28)

I didn’t really know what Constellation did prior to the visit. I knew that they provided energy, but I learned that they aren’t just an energy provider—they also provide risk assessments about the energy industry so that Exelon’s energy providers know when and where to supply energy. Also, the office is really nice.

Michael Vetter (Q28)

I originally thought that Constellation was just an energy producer and supplier. However, I did not realize that the company is only focused on wholesale and retail. Many of their employees just focus on trading and finance, which fit my career goals more closely. I now see them as a possible future employer.

 

How do you think the QUEST tools and mission align with the work that Constellation does?

Jeff Zhao

QUEST’s dedication to quality really mirrors Constellation’s mission to ensure quality and reliable energy to customers. The most prominent QUEST tool that I saw was “data-backed recommendations” where the trading group takes into account the root causes that affect electricity prices and aggregates large amounts of data to really be able to accurately send competitive prices to its consumers.

Brian Yuwen

Constellation’s work goes towards providing service, results, and recommendations for Exelon, which aligns with QUEST principles.

Michael Vetter

Constellation is constantly working in multi-disciplinary teams and combines quantifiable data with qualitative information as employees know how to speak both technically and conversationally with each other and with customers. Thus, they work very similarly to QUEST. Also, when they acquire new companies, they usually re-design their systems, which is one of the three pillars of QUEST.

 

In what ways do you think Constellation is an innovator in comparison to other players in their industry?

 Jeff Zhao

Constellation has a smaller “VC” group dedicated to up-and-coming companies in the energy business. We weren’t able to meet many people from that team, so I wasn’t able to really gleam anything else from that.

Brian Yuwen

I don’t know much about Constellation’s competition, but their trading floor is pretty neat. I think the general atmosphere of the office implies that they care about moving toward more collaborative spaces and innovative practices. I’m pretty sure we saw a group conducting a stand-up meeting when we got in that morning.

Michael Vetter

Constellation’s main source of innovation comes from its acquisitions. That is why their main innovative unit is their venture capital department that searches for disruptive start-ups that will change their systems and business model.

 

What other strategies do you think Constellation could employ to remain a leader in their industry?

Jeff Zhao

In order to remain competitive and continue to innovate, Constellation should continue to look into new energy generation methods outside coal and fossil fuels such as wind and solar as the world continues to move in a “greener” direction.

Thanks to Ricky Wilson (Q6) and Constellation for hosting QUEST!

Introducing— New QUESTPress Leadership

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Each month, QUESTPress writers face a blank page and will themselves to fill it with the very best story they can find from the QUEST community. While on the surface this may seem simple, a quality article always requires a writer to express him or herself. The article serves as a proxy for the author’s skills, ideas, and emotions – and once published leaves him or her vulnerable to criticism. In addition, these articles often take a ton of time to produce and are written by students spread thin by academic obligations, clubs, and the career search process. However, despite the sacrifice required, there are a group of students in QUESTPress who do this semester after semester—since 2008.

While I cannot speak to why others in QUESTPress contribute, for me, I believe it is critical to connect the QUEST community. I believe in the vision of the program as a force for good in the world. Most importantly, I believe in the leadership of QUESTPress for the past five semesters—Andrew Jones (Q26), Chineme Obiefune (Q25), Sam Weaver (Q26), and Joseph Piscitelli (Q25). They’ve led by example and I wish, for their sake, they could stay students forever. However, they are passing their classes and securing jobs, and it is as good as a time as ever to introduce the next generation.

 

Celine Moarkech (Q29) 

Celine is a cell biology and genetics major from New Jersey planning on attending medical school. She joined QUEST out of a desire to learn about business. If you are having a potluck, make sure to give Celine a call (she’s a whiz in the kitchen). Also, give her a ring if you want to go on a hike (she crosses the line at sleeping outside though).

celinemm2008@gmail.com

 

 

 

Caitlin Thompson (Q28)

Caitlin is an economics major from West Virginia. She became interested in QUEST because she likes learning about different subjects, was interested in the three schools, wanted to learn how other people think, and loves to problem solve. She’s an Images tour guide so she is solid at walking backward (she downplays her skills, but I think she is just being modest). She also loves to play tennis.

cthomp15@terpmail.umd.edu

Annesha Goswami (Q29)

Annesha is an information systems and operations management major from Maryland. She has a ton of interests including animal welfare, book club, and business IT. For her 190H project, her team created an “Oasis Mobile Market” solution to combat food deserts. Annesha is originally from Assam, India, a land which has been continuously occupied since the stone ages and is known for its silk and tea.

annesha.goswami@gmail.com

 

 

Kara Eppel (Q29)

Kara is a bioengineering major from Maryland. She’s always been involved in English, even working in the county executive office of tourism and communication. There, she wrote a lot of declarations and citations for honors, blogs from the county executive, and advertisements. She also had the distinct honor of being the editor for her high school literary magazine, The Shalshelet (if that name looks familiar it is because I mentioned being the editor for the same magazine in my last article!).

karaeppel@gmail.com

Matthew Masison (Q27)

 

Mathew is a mechanical engineering major from Maryland. In his spare time, he works as a CAD technician for a professor on campus working on UAV’s. He is also involved in Terps Racing and is a huge Maryland sports fan. If you want to socialize with Matthew, you may have to meet him at the top of the Epply rock wall – he can often be found hanging out there.

mmmasison@gmail.com

 

 

Jacob King (Q27)

Jacob is an operations management and business analytics information systems major from Maryland. He is super busy between his academics, QUEST, AKPSI, and Army-ROTC. However, with all of his commitments, Jacob still manages to keep the real priority in perspective—food. Jacob dreams of one day, after he retires, opening a restaurant. Last I heard, he was leaning towards Spanish tapas.

kingjacob1515@gmail.com

We’ve got a great group of new students in QUESTPress, carrying on a tradition of almost nine years now. It’s exciting to meet new faces, and I can’t wait to read the stories they capture from the QUEST community. For those looking to share their stories or the stories of others, you know who to reach out to.

Meet QUEST’s New Graduate Assistant, Russell Ottalini!

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Russell Ottalini, QUEST’s New GA

The QUEST program is excited to have a new addition to the guild this academic year, Russell Ottalini! Having grown up in Silver Spring and attended Montgomery Blair High School, Russell comes to QUEST with experiences both from undergrad and his years of volunteering and working out of the classroom.

He attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he majored in Sociology and Japanese. After he graduated, Russell worked with the Princeton to Asia (PiA) program for two years, teaching English in Japan. After PiA, Russell came back to Pittsburgh to work at HCL America for a year and a half. Shortly thereafter, he came back to his roots in Maryland, where he is now a graduate student at UMD studying Urban Studies and Planning.

When asked what brought him to work with the QUEST program and why he took on the assistantship, he said that he connected well with the mission and ideals of QUEST. Having been involved with honors programs in the past, Russell is keen on the overarching theme of honors students being enthused and invested into their futures and forming relationships with alumni and staff within those programs.

With QUEST in particular, Russell expressed enthusiasm about seeing students pursuing new innovations, which parallels well with his current studies in urban planning. With the recent changes in the Quality Guild, such as the addition of our new (but not really new) Executive Director Joe Bailey, Russell mentioned he’s more than excited for the potential for impact that he could have in the QUEST program in the upcoming years, as well as growth in professional and personal development.

If you found Russell at karaoke, he says that you’d be catching him singing the 60s top 100 hit Sukiyaki, which, by contrary to the suggested name of a food, translates to “I walk as I look up.” It’s great to have you on board, Russell, and the QUEST community is looking forward to getting to know you and seeing what you have in store for the future!

Dr. Joe Bailey Returns to QUEST

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By: Caitlin Thompson (Q28)

Dr. Bailey served as the Executive Director of QUEST from 2009-2014 and has now returned to the position. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with him to discuss how QUEST has evolved and will continue its legacy in the years to come.

So what has Dr. Bailey been up to over the past three years? In one word, Dr. Bailey has been: “busy.”

In fact, a better question might be what hasn’t he been doing. To begin, he conducted research as an Edison Scholar at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, focusing on machine learning to uncover prior art for patents. He also started mQuest, a QUEST-like MBA program through the Smith School. The program, now called DesignED due to its connection with design thinking, just graduated Cohort 3, with 18 students currently in Cohort 4.

In addition, Dr. Bailey co-taught an innovation and entrepreneurship Action Learning Project course as part of the Executive MBA program with the Dingman Center’s Executive Director, Elana Fine. The two also launched a podcast together called Bootstrapped focused on founders, investors, and entrepreneurs. One episode featured QUEST’s very own Kanchan Singh (Q17), founder of D.C.’s first cat cafe, Crumbs and Whiskers!

However, Dr. Bailey returned to something that hasn’t changed over the past three years, the QUEST students. When asked how he has seen the program evolve, he remarked that the students are still “smart, ambitious, team players, innovative, and creative,” and the community makes him excited to be back. He also discussed how the program has expanded and improved through new student run organizations such as QDeS, the alumni board, and the upcoming 25th Anniversary Gala.

What is Dr. Bailey’s favorite part of being involved in QUEST?

It’s “incredibly fun to be surrounded by really smart people who want to do cool things.” He also enjoys his friendships with QUEST alumni and is looking forward to getting to know the current and future QUEST students.

While it’s clear that the program has evolved, Dr. Bailey hopes to continue to expand the program by lowering the walls surrounding the tight-knit community to better serve people not in QUEST. This could potentially include high school students, upperclassmen, and the community as many people can benefit from some exposure to the QUEST experience. He also sees the QUEST community members further coordinating with each other to get support in their endeavors.

Dr. Bailey’s piece of advice to QUEST students past, present, and future is that “you’re all really smart, ambitious, and hardworking, and you’ll be that for the rest of your life. However, if you can pay more attention to your inner voice over what others say, you will be successful. Trust yourself.”

Thank you Dr. Bailey. We are all looking forward to QUEST’s future!

 

Kylie King: A Happy Farewell

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By: Chineme Obiefune (Q25)

Kylie King, QUEST’s Program Director, recently announced that she will be leaving QUEST after seven years and taking on a faculty position at Champlain College in Vermont. As Kylie embarks on the next leg of her journey, we wanted to take the time to talk with her and reflect on her experience at Maryland and her work with the QUEST program. I recently had the privilege of interviewing her and getting a better understanding of where her mind is at prior to the big move. The following is a transcript of the discussion that ensued:

Kylie King (right) was honored at QSO’s End of the Year BBQ on May 7th

If you had 3 words to describe how you feel in this moment, what would they be?

Excited, Hopeful, Heavyhearted

Looking back on your time here, what are you most proud of?

I love the relationships that I’ve formed with people and the ones that I’ve helped people form with each other.

I’ve had the opportunity to teach and advise cohorts 18 through 28, and it’s wonderful meeting them as students and getting to know them better as they move on as alumni. Seeing where their careers go and what different ventures they move on to is a very rewarding experience. I’m actually still in touch with many alumni, and I hope to keep those connections open forever.

I also love that I’ve been able to help students and alumni meet each other. I believe it’s important for all members of the community to get an understanding of who is in the program and how they can leverage their connections and knowledge.

Is there anything that you would have done differently?

Looking back, when we moved into this new space, I think we could have thought a bit more about the design of the QUEST lab and the new QUEST classroom. There are so many different tweaks and changes that are just coming to mind now, and it’s a shame they couldn’t have been implemented the first time around.

Where are you headed to next?

I am going to be an Assistant Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont. It’s a small private school, and I’m looking forward to it since I don’t have much experience working within small institutions. Having said that, I think QUEST has prepared me well for that since it’s a very tight knit program in its own right.

I’m also excited for the opportunity to have a role as a faculty member as opposed to a staff member. I plan on continuing my research and shifting it to focus on how teams work in entrepreneurial settings. I have plans to continue partnering with people at the University of Maryland, so I’m excited to continue that connection!

What do you think you’ll take with you from your time in QUEST?

I’ve been around some really great teachers in the QUEST program. I remember when I was a Grad Assistant and I commented on Dr. Bailey’s classroom being like a magic show. It was as if the students were on the edges of their seats waiting to see what would come next! All the instructors in the program have been great role models and have taught me the value of relationships. I hope to build a community of learners in my own classroom at Champlain where discussions can flow and students can feel open to asking questions.

What words do you have for people taking 190H, 390H, and 490H?

For those in 190H, say yes to as many opportunities that you can in the QUEST program. The bulk of the academic content is already under your belt so don’t forget to apply that content in future classes. I encourage you to go to social events and say yes to meeting alumni or going to the conference. Try to put yourself out there as much as possible to maximize all that QUEST has to offer.

For those in 390H, you have a gap next semester so I encourage you all to stay invested in QUEST. At the end of the day, it’s not just about the classes that you take. When I talk to alumni, what really sticks with them are the opportunities that they took outside the classroom. Try to get involved with things and get to know people. If you think the first 2 years went by fast, just wait until the next two disappear!

For those in 490H, I hope that you continue to work hard. You’ve all worked hard in 490H and I hope you recognize that hard work is valuable in and of itself. You should want to do your very best at all times, but don’t do it just to impress people and get a good job. Do it so that you can feel good about the work that you’ve done! I hope you learn to appreciate the value of working hard for the sake of working hard, not just for what comes next.

What advice would you have to people considering making a big move in their career?

The first piece of advice is to believe in yourself. If you think a job is out of your reach, then apply yourself and put yourself out there. The worst thing that could happen is that you update your resume, build a bigger network, and put yourself in a better position for the next job. Having said that, make sure to take risks as your risk tolerance will allow!

The second piece of advice is to not be paralyzed by looking for the best possible option. Don’t be afraid to make a decision because you’re not sure if it’s the best decision. If making a move is better than staying where you are right now then you shouldn’t be afraid to make that move!

Thanks Kylie for all you’ve done for QUEST!

Meet the New Faces of Q29/30!

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By: Matthew Masison (Q27)

This March, QUEST admitted 90 new students into Cohorts 29 and 30! We look forward to welcoming them into the QUEST community. I reached out to three new students, Haley, Cavan, and Barret, to learn more about them and what they hope to gain from QUEST.

Haley Greenspan

Hometown: Columbia, MD 

Cohort: 29

Majors: Finance and Computer Science

Things Haley does on campus: Phi Chi Theta business fraternity, peer mentor, intramural volleyball

Fun fact: Accidentally slammed the door on Britney Spears

What Haley hopes to gain from QUEST: As part of the Business, Society, and the Economy scholars program, I live in the same dorm as and take classes with only business majors. While it helps in making friends with people with similar interests, I think QUEST will be a great opportunity to make both new friends and experiences outside the business school.

Message to new cohort: Congrats on making it in and I’m excited to meet everyone!

Future aspirations: Unsure of what I want to do right after college, but I would eventually like to work in finance for a film production company.

 

Cavan Morley

Hometown: Los Alamos, New Mexico, but I moved to Jessup, Maryland around seven years ago. 

Cohort: 29

Majors: Mechanical Engineering and Government and Politics

Things Cavan does on campus (clubs, activities, etc): I can usually be found studying. Otherwise, I am relaxing with friends.

Fun fact: I have a first degree black-belt in martial arts.

What Cavan hopes to gain from QUEST: I was concerned that college would provide me with a great deal of technical experience but not much practical experience. I hope that QUEST can make up for the latter through project management, teamwork, and real world projects.

Message to new cohort: I can’t wait to meet everyone and get started!

Future aspirations: I hope to pursue a masters in either mechanical or aerospace engineering, eventually going into aerospace as a career.

 

Barret Rus

Hometown: Reisterstown, MD

Cohort: 30

Major: Finance

Things Barret does on campus: Maryland Images Tour Guide, Club Climbing Team, TAMID Group, Change the World Consulting, Terrapin Trail Club, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program, Sophomore Wall Street Fellows

Fun fact: Last semester, with Terrapin Trail Club, I hiked 45 miles in one day and completed the Four State Challenge.

What Barret hopes to gain from QUEST: I want to interact in a community of innovative and passionate individuals who are able to share their interests and ideas with me, see problems from unique mindsets, and build my network on Maryland’s campus and beyond.

Message to new Cohort: Embrace the QUEST community. Q30 brings together some of the top leaders, innovators, and thinkers across three prestigious schools on Maryland’s campus. Get to know people outside of your major and outside of your school. Ask questions, build new ideas, and constantly work with your QUEST peers to better the world around you.

Future aspirations: I want to go into the field of management or strategy/operations consulting, hopefully working for one of the Big 3 consulting firms. After making connections in the industry, I want to pursue my passion for politics and work in the lobbying field or for the State Department. My dream job is to be the United States Ambassador to Australia.

Thanks Haley, Cavan, and Barret, and welcome to all of our new students!

Ishaan Parikh: KPCB Fellows Spotlight

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By: Chineme Obiefune (Q25)

QUEST student Ishaan Parikh (Q28) was one of only two UMD students accepted into the KPCB Design and Engineering Fellows this summer. This program has just a 5% acceptance rate across the country! Learn more about Ishaan’s plans this summer below!

Congrats on your acceptance! What KPCB track are you in?

There’s the design track, the product track, and the engineering track. I decided to pursue the engineering track.

What is it that drew you to the program?

I’m a computer science major, and I really want to be in Silicon Valley and get into the startup culture, but I don’t want to dive too deeply into the coding aspects of it. I find coding interesting, and I think it’s the backbone of many companies, but I want to experience the entrepreneurial part of things.

KPCB understands the need to mold these two disciplines and will be giving me the opportunity to intern with their portfolio companies and receive advice from the founders of these companies. I see this as a chance to learn from the founders of the companies and build my network with the people in my cohort and the Venture Capitalists in the program as well.

Do you know what company you’ll be interning with?

I’ll be at a crowd funding startup called Indiegogo (https://www.indiegogo.com/#/picks_for_you).

Where do you see this taking you in the short term (after summer) and the long term (after graduation)?

I’m interning with a lot of cool people from across the country. UMD only has a few people in the program, but there are over 50 other interns from the country who I hope to connect with. In the short term, I’m hoping to make friends and gain an immediate network of people.

In the long term, I’m confident that these people will go on to do amazing things so I’m looking forward to learning from them. I know they all share the same goal of potentially starting a venture or being involved in the startup sphere, and I can’t wait to interact with them.

How do you think QUEST and your other activities at UMD are preparing you for your internship?

QUEST and the Academy of Innovation and Entrepreneurship are teaching me a lot about the design process, which is going to be very important if I want to start a company. I’ve learned about empathizing, defining, and prototyping, which I’m sure will be beneficial during my time in the program.

What advice would you give to those interested in the KPCB fellows program?

Reach out to me when I come back from the summer and be sure to talk to other fellows at Maryland to hear their experience. I know they want more Maryland people so check out the website and apply!