Student Resources:

Student Advisory Board to the Dean

Mission   Student Survey   Meetings   Board Members   Membership Criteria   Officers

History of the Student Advisory Board

The first Student Advisory Board (SAB) convened in 2002-2003. The Student Advisory Board evolved from the Arts and Humanties Student Association (ARHUSA) which was a college-wide student organization bringing together dedicated students who planned student events and programs, participated in College programs, and who functioned as a sounding board on student-related issues.

ARHUSA was a group of strongly committed students but because they were very active in various parts of campus it became obvious that some of their goals to offer programs could not be realized. So it was decided that ARHUSA needed a change; a more specific focus and to ensure we had a wide variety of majors in the college represented that students instead of volunteering should be nominated and selected. Thereby SAB was born.

ARHUSA was the brainchild of then Associate Dean, Dr. Gabriele Strauch, who worked tirelessly with students from 1999 with ARHUSA to 2005 with SAB. In her tenure as Associate Dean, Dr. Strauch was known as a consistent advocate for students and for the development of new student programs. Dr. Strauch is still at UM, currently on sabbatical following her passion doing research on Medieval German Literature. Also, committed to this group of students is Jennifer Garcia who came to UM in 2000 and who until 2006 has been advisor to ARHUSA and then SAB. Proudly we can brag that two of ARHUSA's most committed members also participated in SAB. Katrina Martinez founding member and Chair/Co-chair of ARHUSA also became a founding member and Chair of SAB. Katrina is currently in law school at the University of Texas at Austin. Tiffany Thompson joined ARHUSA her freshman year, 2000, and later became Chair/co-Chair of ARHUSA. She participated in SAB on the 2003-2004 Board. Tiffany is still at UM currently in the Master's program in Communication and a GA advisor in the Communication advising office.

Former Board Members:

(Those without bios are because they never submitted them,
except for the first board who was never asked to submit.)

2004-2005

American Studies -- Arlen Marmel

I am a senior American Studies major and I have really loved every minute of it. I am specifically interested in films and watch everything I can get my hands on. I feel that the variety of things I have done at this University have really given me a great perspective on all it has to offer. As a freshman I was a member of Beyond These Walls, an organization that provides after-school activities for PG area kids. I was the Union Lectures Director for SEE throughout my sophomore year. As a junior I became President of ZBT and now I am the VP Internal for the InterFraternity Council. I am interested in graduate school for film but will likely take a year off after graduation.

Art History -- Abigail Choudhury

Art Studio -- Shawn Jefferson

Shawn Jefferson is a resourceful and product-oriented professional with a strong Multimedia and IT background in the area of marketing, and advertising. This includes graphic design, web publishing, publication layout/design, and audio-visual production. Shawn has a B.A. from the University of Maryland in Criminology and Criminal Justice (1999). He is presently pursuing a second Bachelor of Arts degree for Art Studio. He has plans to attend graduate school in Barcelona, Catalonia to seek a degree in Film Production/Photography. In the breaks between being a full-time student, Shawn is professional musician. He currently tours Europe and North America with a Caribbean-Jazz band, Eastern Standard Time (www.easternstandardtime.com)

Central European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies -- Leeza Miheikin

Chinese -- Jennifer Miller

I am a sophomore, Chinese major here at the University of Maryland. I have been very interested in studying Chinese from a young age. The University of Maryland is one of few universities that offers Chinese as a major. I am from Maryland so this school was perfect for me. This spring semester I am studying abroad in Beijing. My favorite hobby is playing basketball.

Classical Humanities-- Jose Ortiz

Communication -- Shannon Simpson

Dance -- Mary Beth Hanley

Mary Beth Hanley is a junior Creative and Performing Arts Scholar in the Department of Dance at the University of Maryland. While at UMD, she has performed on programs of Maryland Dance Ensemble, Choreographers' Showcase, the Millennium Stage of the Kennedy Center, and at the American College Dance Festival at George Mason. Mary Beth's own solo work "Pursuit" was presented on Anima: Music That Moves. Last semester, she was a teaching assistant for Fundamentals of Jazz. She is President of the Student Dance Association and a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society. This is her first year serving on the Dean's Student Advisory Board for the College of Arts and Humanities.

English Language and Literature -- Allison Peltzman

French Language and Literature -- Dorothy M Hayes

History -- Elizabeth Shields

Spanish Language and Literature -- Jeffrey (Jeff) Imwold

Jeff has been active in the study of Spanish for 8 years now. He has traveled to Mexico and Puerto Rico, and spent last summer studying in Costa Rica. He is now a double major with Business and Spanish and hopes one day to use these specializations to go to work for Disney. Jeff teaches classes for the Honors Department (HONR100) and for the Academic Achievement Program (COMM107). He is the Resident Assistant for The Language House in St. Mary's Hall, where he has lived for the past two years. He is also a strong human rights advocate, having participated in many consortiums for equality. This will be Jeff's second year on the Dean's Advisory Board.

Theatre -- Christina Gleason

Christina Gleason is a sophomore Theatre major. She performed in The Vagina Monologues her freshman year, and is currently the Art Director for the University of Maryland's radio station, WMUC 88.1FM. She spent the summer interning at the Annapolis law firm Hillman, Brown and Darrow. As the secretary for the Student Advisory Board, she looks forward to serving as a liason between the student community, Theatre department and the College of Arts and Humanities.

2003-2004

American Studies -- Rachel Kruth

Art History -- Rachel Fisher

Art Studio -- Julie Davidson

Classics -- Jose Ortiz

Communication -- Tiffany Thompson

Tiffany Thompson is a senior Communication, Rhetoric and Political Culture major. During her undergraduate career at the University of Maryland she has devoted a bulk of her time to environmental clubs and causes. She has held positions as the Environmental Conservation Organization President and Chairperson of the Environmental Affairs Committee, as well as devoting her time to the College of Arts and Humanities as President of the Arts and Humanities Student Association (ARHUSA). As the representative of the largest department within the college of Arts and Humanities, she understands students' need to express concerns questions and complaints to open ears. Her ears welcome your voice. As the Communication representative, she represents the undergraduates of the department to her best ability and eagerly awaits your input to perpetuate efficacy within the department.

Dance -- Brent Lawrence

Brent Lawrence, a Creative and Performing Arts Scholar, is a senior dance major. His dancing career began six years ago in Oregon, his native state. During his years in the Dance Department, he has had the honor of performing in works created by, Joe Goode and Joe Goode Performance Group, Douglas Nielsen, MFA graduates Connie Fink and Steffany Haaz, and Ronya-Lee Anderson. He has performed in the Maryland Dance Showcase, Maryland Dance Ensemble and participated in the American College Dance Festival. He looks forward to his upcoming performance at The Kennedy Center Millennium Stage. Since coming to Maryland he has played an active role with the Student Dance Association (SDA), one year as a member and two years as an officer. Outside of dance, Brent works twenty hours weeks at Banana Republic. Upon graduation he hopes to further his dance training in New York with the Trisha Brown Dance Company and eventually teach in a public elementary school.

"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening, that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost."   --Martha Graham

English -- Nicole Menton

I am a senior English major with a concentration in British literature. I hail from Connecticut; but if home is where the heart is, then London is it. I am writing my English Honors thesis about a Tom Stoppard play, Jumpers. In addition to the ARHU Student Advisory Board, I participate in the Beyond the Classroom program and serve as the Secretary for Sigma Tau Delta. In past years, I completed the Honors Humanities citation, lived in the Language House immersion program, and studied abroad in London. Next year, I will attend graduate school in English.

History -- Margaret (Meg) Lovell

Meg Lovell is a senior History and Government & Politics double major. She was president of UMCP NARAL, an activist group on campus, for two years, and has also been an ARHU peer mentor. Originally from Rockville, MD, she will be moving to London this June to pursue her legal career with UK firm Slaughter & May. Meg loves reading (really!), traveling, drinking tea, and watching Shakespeare.

Italian -- Leeanna Nassi

Japanese -- Tim Daniel

Tim Daniel is a junior pursuing a double degree in Japanese and Marketing and a citation in Business Spanish. He has participated in the Gemstone Program, Honors Program, and various student organizations including the Catholic Student Association, Students for Life, and the Business, Cultures, and Languages Organization. He is also a member of Primannum Honor Society and Golden Key International Honour Society. Tim is conducting research under the guidance of Dr. Lindsay Yotsukura in the Japanese Department, studying Korean identity in Japan. He will be spending next year in the Kansai region of Japan. After graduating, Tim hopes to obtain a career in language analysis at the National Security Agency, but considers business and education possibilities as well. He has completed internships at the Japan-America Society of Washington, D.C., and NASA, and has worked part-time for University of Maryland Resident Life and the College Park TCBY. Tim enjoys drumming, drawing, Terps basketball, and playing baseball, basketball, and ping-pong.

Jewish Studies -- Joshua Rabin

Josh is a Jewish Studies and Philosophy Major, and is also the chair of the Student Advisory Board. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Josh also serves on the Student Honor Council, the Jewish Leadership Council and is the President of Koach: The Conservative Jewish Community on Campus. Josh loves Ultimate Frisbee, Terps Basketball, The Simpsons and Texas Hold 'Em, and hopes that you come to him with any of your questions, comments or concerns. Feel to free to email him at jsrabin@wam.umd.edu.

Music -- Amy Foreman

Amy Foreman is a pianist, vocalist, and Music Education major, planning on teaching high school choir. She loves singing, which she does all day long as a member of the University Chorale and the director of the UM Treblemakers. Besides having a great interest in music, she loves Shakespeare, modern dance and ballet, and learning about criminal justice. You can ask Amy anything about the University of Maryland, including questions about football (Go Terps!), the Performing Arts Library, and especially the College of Arts and Humanities. You can contact Amy at amytimberlake@hotmail.com with any questions or comments about ARHU or the School of Music.

Philosophy -- Catherine McLeod

Cathy McLeod is a native of South Jersey, where the sand is sizzling and the tomatoes are juicy. She is currently a sophomore here at the University of Maryland (Go Terps!) where she studies Philosophy with an emphasis in Ethics. She had initially pursued Theater as a major but found herself to be among the mouthy in her freshman philosophy class and that was that. She has been a member of Maryland Students for Life since it was formed last year and has actively participated in various demonstrations with this group. She hopes to eventually either work full time in the Pro-Life movement or pursue a career in music. Cathy has been singing/songwriting on her guitar for 5 years.

Spanish -- Jeffrey (Jeff) Imwold

Jeff has been active in the study of Spanish for 7 years now. He has traveled to Mexico and Puerto Rico, and will be travelling to Costa Rica to study abroad during the summer 2004 session. He is now a double major with Business and Spanish and hopes one day to use these specializations to go to work for Disney. He is active on campus in the Honors Department, AAP, and in the Language House. He is also a strong human rights advocate, having participated in many consortiums for equality and also having created a proposal, which is currently being considered by two departments, to help fight hate crimes and violence on campus.

Theatre -- Aaron Taylor

Aaron is a junior Theatre Design and Production major doubling with Secondary Education English/Theatre. I am currently serving on the Student Advisory Board for my second year for the Department of Theatre. I am a recipient of the Creative and Performing Arts scholarship and Resident Assistant in Centreville Hall.

2002-2003 (the first Board)

Art History -- Hillery Pous

Art Studio -- Stephanie Seiler

Communication -- Carol Salley

Dance -- Kaarli Sundsmo

English Language and Literature -- Katrina Martinez (founding member)

French Language and Literature -- Katherine Leigh Carpenter

Germanic Studies -- Elizabeth Armenti

History -- Mark Baxter

Italian Language and Culture -- Melissa Sahlin

Japanese -- Keith Cunningham

Jewish Studies -- Yonatan Warren

Music -- Jonathan Woody

Theatre -- Aaron Taylor

Women's Studies -- Shalaya Henson

Jennifer Garcia was a Senior Academic Advisor in the Office of Student Affairs in the College of Arts and Humanities from 2000 to 2006. Jennifer advised undergraduate students in the College of Arts and Humanities, from new students at orientation to graduating seniors. Jennifer's additional roles were as advisor to the Student Advisory Board to the Dean, liaison to the Career Center, webmaster for the Office of Student Affairs' website,and listserv manager of the ARHU undergraduate student listserv. Jennifer has a passion for issues of diversity. In the 2002-2003 academic year, Jennifer initiated and coordinated the ARHU Multicultural Students Success Series. Jennifer was listed as a resource person for OMSE's Latino Student Guide. Last year, she became a Rainbow Terrapin, an ally to LGBT Students on campus.

Jennifer has an M.A. in English and a B.A. in English with a minor in Art History from Florida International University in Miami, Florida. Her graduate research was in 19th Century African American Women Writers. As an undergraduate student, she studied abroad at Cambridge University in England.