These staff members serve as part of UMBC’s Transfer Coordinating Team, a team dedicated to addressing transfer students’ unique needs and improving their experience at UMBC. Learn more about each staff member by clicking on the icon next to their name.
Advising
Desiree has been a Retriever since 2011 earning her B.A. in Media and Communications Studies with minors in Dance and Psychology from UMBC later also earning her M.A. in Texts, Technologies, and Literature here. She returned to UMBC as Coordinator for Advising and Recruiting in the Erickson School for Aging Studies in 2019. In January 2022, Desiree transitioned to her current role as Coordinator for Pre-Transfer Advising in the Office for Academic and Pre-Professional Advising. Outside of her dedication to advising prospective and current transfer students, Desiree has served as Assistant Coach for UMBC Dance Team since 2016.
Desiree identifies as a “pre-college transfer student”. She frequently moved around and transferred schools, to include high school, due to her father’s service in the US Army. Given her childhood experience, she is especially passionate about supporting transfer students in their journey of adjustment and finding a sense of belonging. When not at work, Desiree enjoys dancing, spending time with her human and animal family, singing karaoke, and traveling.
Jackson Hopkins is the CNMS Transfer Success Advisor, serving students before and after they transfer to UMBC. His office is located on the Shady Grove campus and works closely with the Translational Life Science Technology (TLST) program. Jackson earned his Bachelor’s degree in music education at Shenandoah University and went on to teach grades K-5 music in Virginia. He later moved to Georgia to pursue a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration at Georgia Southern University. While at Georgia Southern, he served as an Academic Advisor in their College of Health Professions and was active in the Graduate Assistant Placement Program and Advising Pilot Committee. He is excited to work with students in Rockville and make connections with students, staff, and faculty in Catonsville as well!
Julie is passionate about transfer student success because she was once a transfer student. After earning her Associate’s degree from CCBC she transferred to UMBC earning a B.A in Sociology and M.A. in Applied Sociology. As a first generation transfer student, transitioning from a small CCBC campus to UMBC was an eye opening experience. Luckily with the assistance of advising and the support of her fellow transfer peers Julie was able to make her transfer journey a good one. As the Assistant Director for Student Transitions in the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences (CNMS), Julie work’s with transfer students throughout their journey from pre-transfer advising to advising current transfer students.
“My goal is that the transfer students in CNMS feel supported and valued and know that I am here to support them along the way.”- Julie
Krista Wallace joined UMBC in July 2019 as the Transfer Success Advisor for the Post-Transfer Pathways (PTP) Program in the College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT).Krista earned her Bachelor’s (Early Childhood Education) from Howard University and Master’s (School Counseling) from Loyola University, Maryland. Before joining UMBC, Krista served as a Military & Veteran Advisor for University of Maryland, Global Campus.
In her current role of Assistant Director of Transfer Success Initiatives, Krista develops and maintains partnerships with MD community college advisors to strengthen UMBC connections. She also develops programs dedicated to easing the transition of new students into UMBC’s computing and engineering programs, in addition to providing prescriptive academic advising to prospective and current transfer students interested in computing and engineering majors. Krista is passionate about working with transfer students and helping them as they navigate their educational journey through graduation.
Director of Academic Advising
Assistant Vice Provost, Educational Pathways & Partnerships
Academic Advisor / General
Student Pathways & Engagement Coordinator
Director of Institutional Research
Assistant Director of CWIT
Associate Director of CWITAcademic Affairs
Abby joined UMBC in 2022 and currently serves as the Assistant Director of Transfer Experiences in the Office of Academic Transition Programs (ATP). Abby works primarily with the design and implementation of Transfer Student Seminar (UNIV 301) courses. The highlight of her semester is teaching a UNIV 301 course. Additionally, Abby leads UMBC’s Second-Year & Senior-Year Experience program. Abby earned her B.A. in Ancient Studies at UMBC and is currently pursuing a M.Ed. in Higher Education Leadership at Salisbury University. When not at work, Abby enjoys cooking, traveling, and trying new restaurants!
Director of the Academic Transition Programs
Hope joined the UMBC community in 2018 and currently serves as the Senior Academic Advocate. In this role, Hope supports the success of transfer students. Prior to this position, Hope worked in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at UMBC. Hope is also an alumna of UMBC earning her B.A. in Psychology/Sociology and M.A. in Applied Sociology. As a previous transfer student herself, Hope understands the importance of campus support, advocacy, and building a sense of community while attending UMBC. This background allows Hope to successfully navigate the unique needs of the transfer student population. When Hope isn’t in the office, you can find her grabbing a coffee/tea at Dunkin’, exercising, or listening to true crime podcasts.
Dr. Ronita Walker is the University Innovation Alliance Project Coordinator and Fellow at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). Dr. Walker is a Sociologist who utilizes an equity lens to guide her sociological courses, research, policies and program development. During her career in higher education, Dr. Walker has served in numerous capacities advancing the work of student success initiatives and college accessibility. Her experience in higher education has supported a wide range of higher education functional areas including; research assistance, student recruitment, admissions, campus life, advising, student development, and cohort retention strategies.Dr. Walker believes that education is a great equalizer and one of the many pathways that can be used to create socioeconomic mobility for limited-income students. Dr. Walker’s work is guided by her philosophy that every student has a unique gift or passion that deserves to be supported, fostered, developed, and explored.
Dr. Walker has a B.A in Psychology, M.A in Sociology and a Ph.D in Organizational Leadership. As a first generation college student, Dr. Walker is truly passionate about creating pathways, initiatives and success strategies to improve college accessibility for historically underrepresented students and their families.
Student Affairs
Amery Thompson serves as the Director for Student Affairs Success Initiatives at UMBC. In his role he works across divisions to bring resources, community development and leadership opportunities to enrich the college experience for Transfers and First Generation Students from admission to graduation while also creating culturally centered initiatives to highlight the inclusive community at UMBC. His focus on student success comes from his own experience as a first generation transfer student while his passion is found with transfer students he is dedication to the success of all students. Amery obtained his Master of Arts in higher education administration. He has been working in higher education for over seven years.
Michelle joined the UMBC Internships and Employment team in March 2023. Previously, she was the Assistant Director of the Corporate Internship Program at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Baltimore for 5 years. Prior to that, she spent 4 years in the classroom teaching International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement students in Harford County Public Schools
Coordinator, Student Organizations
Director, Off-Campus, Commuter, and Adult Learner Engagement
Assistant Vice President for Academic Partnerships and High Impact ExperiencesDr. James DeVita became the Assistant Vice President for Academic Partnerships and High- Impact Experiences in September 2024. In this inaugural role, he oversees the Career Center, the Center for Democracy and Civic Life, and Student Affairs Success Initiatives.
Assistant Director of Undergraduate RecruitmentEnrollment Management
Valentina Leon-Ledezma (she/her) is the Transfer Coordinator for the Undergraduate Admissions and Orientation office. Previously, she served as the Graduate Teaching Assistant of the Hokie Transfer Community at Virginia Tech where she supported transfer students through programming and professional development. In May 2024, she graduated with a master’s in Higher Education from Virginia Tech and moved to Baltimore upon graduation. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, baking, and playing volleyball!
Associate Director, Transfer and Targeted Populations and Partnerships
Associate Director for Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships