Who are we?

Current Terp Corps members:

Jessica Albrecht, '12

This is Jess’s second year as a TerpCorps Coordinator and we are happy to have her back. Jess is also a member of UMD’s Gymkana Troupe, the GREEN JUSTICE team of the Gemstone Program, and a research assistant at the Maryland Neurocognitive Development Lab. Jess became passionate about service through her experiences in community service-learning at UMD. Her experience volunteering with America Reads*America Counts and Beyond These Walls taught her valuable lessons about service related to education. She also learned a lot from participating in an alternative break trip to the Bahamas and another to Gaston, NC. She is very excited for her second year with TerpCorps and the opportunity to work with a great team of student service leaders! She is also excited to work on the Education & Reflection committee and designing a curriculum that will help participants engage in meaningful service-learning.


Did you know that Jess coaches girls gymnastics four days a week, and loves it?

Gillian Anku, '13

Gillian is an engaged student at UMD. She is a member of the National society of Collegiate Scholars, the college Park Scholars Alumni Board, the African Student Association, the Primannum Honor Society, and also serves as a Community Assistant in the South Campus Commons. Gillian has always been passionate about service learning. Once she came to UMD, she got involved with a mentoring program which allowed her to help others as well as to learn more about herself and her role in helping to improve her community. Gillian learned about TerpCorps through a friend and was impressed by the group’s ongoing commitment to service-learning. For Gillian, this was an opportunity to engage long-term with service-learning instead of on a one-time basis. She believes strongly in the importance of educating people on social issues and that making a difference and enacting change starts with the individual, then the community, and ultimately, the world. 

Did you know that Gillian was born in Accra, Ghana?

Megan Brown, '12

Megan Brown is a senior majoring in Cell Biology and Genetics at University of Maryland College Park. In addition to her studies, she volunteers with the Algebra Project in Baltimore City and as a coordinator for Terps Corps, an on campus service- learning program. She got involved in TerpCorps after tutoring middle school and high school students in Algebra over the past summer with the Baltimore Algebra Project. As a new TerpCorps coordinator, she is excited about promoting social change and educating people on different social issues.

Kylee Donovan, '13

Kylee is TerpCorps’ awesome intern for the 2011-2012 school year. She is a returning TerpCorps coordinator. Kylee became passionate about community service-learning after becoming involved in TerpCorps, and meeting all of the awesome people always hanging around LCSL. Being a part of TerpCorps expanded her college experience by helping her realize her presence in the larger college park and Prince Georges County community. This year, she is excited for the MPact retreat and to see TerpCorps reach out to student groups and make strong connections to other service oriented students!

Did you know that Kylie loves moving the lawn?

Oluwabukola Famakinwa, '13

Bukola is new this year to the TerpCorps team and is very involved on campus in the African Student Association and the Bethel Christian Fellowship. Bukola believes strongly in the value of giving back to one’s community. Since she was a child, she has always wanted to be a doctor because of her willingness to help those in need. Service is her motivation and a reminder to her to appreciate the life that she has the opportunity to live on a daily basis. She chose to get involved in TerpCorps because of her amazing experience while on Spring Alternative Break in New York City where she explore the issue of immigration. Ever since then, she promised herself she would continue to get involved in community service and to the promotion of social change to students at UMD. She is excited this year to get more of her peers engaged in service and to remind them that despite their busy schedules, they must make time to serve!

Did you know that Bukola's first and last name combined are 20 letters long?

Whitney Hollinshead, '12

Whitney is an active member of her sorority, Alpha Omega Epsilon, and a new TerpCorps coordinator! Whitney first became passionate about community service-learning when she participated in an Alternative Spring Break trip related to the issues of hunger and homelessness. This experience inspired her to become a TerpCorps coordinator as a way to become involved in my community throughout the school year. Her favorite part of TerpCorps is site-leading service trips and interacting with community partners.

Did you know that Whitney is a food fanatic? She loves to try all different kinds of food as well as cooking them!

Shawn Jang, '14

Shawn is very active in his campus community. He currently serves as the Vice President of finances for the RHA BCC Hall Council, is a member of the Finance, Banking & Investment Society, and a member of the Community of Aspiring Shareholders. Shawn is a highly emotionally intelligent person which inspired him to get involved with service-learning. One of his strengths is the ability to empathize with others and to see things from their perspective. He chose to get involved with TerpCorps because helping others is how he would like to leave his mark here at UMD. Service to others is something makes Shawn truly happy; knowing that service can help improve the lives of others gives him unparalleled joy.

Did you know that Shawn performed with his High School show choir for two years?

Atin Mittra, '14

Atin is a new TerpCorps coordinator, and we are happy to have him on board! Atin is involved in his educational field through his participation in American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and Engineers without Borders (EWB). Atin became involved in serve because his family has always heavily emphasized the importance of giving back to the community ever since he was little. Service is a value that is ingrained in his beliefs. Atin became involved in TerpCorps because he wanted to learn how to plan and run large-scale philanthropic events. He is looking forward to learning about the planning and execution of a successful service event and to actually running these events in the future!

Did you know that Atin plays the drums?

Adeola Olowude, '12

Dee is very active on campus. She is the founder and President of the Business of Fashion, she works with Greek alternative breaks, and also on the Homecoming Committee. Dee got her start in service-learning while on an alternative break trip to Ecuador. According to Dee, the trip helped her see the importance of making community service a bigger part of her life; as she serves more and more, she makes connections with the people where serves which increases her motivation to continue serving. After returning from Ecuador, she decided to join TerpCorps. She is excited about increasing attendance at TerpCorps’ large service events!

Did you know that Dee was the only baby born at the hospital on the day she was born?

Vanessa Pacheco, '12

Vanessa is very dedicated to service. She has shown this through her involvement with Alternative Breaks, the Maryland Association of Black Journalists, Maryland Images/Campus Tour Guides, and Circle K. Vanessa became involved with service after serving as the president of a great service organization on campus, when she realized “I LOVE doing service, promoting social change, and working with my members! I wish I could do this as a job!” Eventually, she realized she could by serving as a coordinator as LCSL. According to Vanessa, TerpCorps is her first step towards making that dream happen. Vanessa is looking forward to connecting with students who are passionate about working with their community and learning new things!

Did you know that Vanessa has an obsessive personality? Whether it’s a sports team, everything bagels, or Lisa Frank folders, she’s always obsessing about something at some point. Right now, it’s TerpCorps!

Yoon Shin, '14

Yoon is a community-focused Terp! He has shown this through his participation in Engineers without Borders, as the Academic Affairs Committee Chair of the Gemstone Student Council, and as a mentor in the Young Scholars Program. Yoon believes that as an aspiring chemical engineer he wants to ensure that his future research develops a form of energy that is efficient while being environmentally friendly. He believes TerpCorps will help him to get more involved in environmental projects to learn about the topic further. It will also provide him with opportunities to learn about other social issues. He looks forward to getting to know the TerpCorps staff and coordinators which he considers a special part of his TerpCorps experience.

Did you know that Yoon played the clarinet in a marching band for four years AND in a symphonic wind ensemble for seven years before coming to college?