Madeline Seck is a senior digital media communication and broadcast journalism major with a concentration in African American studies. This semester, she is focusing on managing the digital platforms for the OCC. On campus, Madeline is the president of the Maryland Association of Black Journalists and the engagement editor for the Black Explosion News. She also freelances for PGCTV as an on air reporter. She uses her oral communications skills while reporting and professionally when networking. She is excited to share her skills with the OCC!
Lucy Schneider is a senior from Cincinnati, Ohio, studying communication and minoring in nonprofit leadership and social innovation. This is Lucy’s 5th semester at the OCC. This year, Lucy is completing an independent study on leadership and project management in communication. Earlier in college, Lucy was on the UMD SGA and president of the Jewish Student Union. Outside of school, Lucy works part time on the political communication team at The Jewish Federation of North America in Washington, D.C. In her free time, Lucy enjoys going on long walks, cooking, and playing with her dogs!
Jadyn Kestenbaum is a senior from Livingston, New Jersey, studying general communication while pursuing a general business minor. During the school year, she is a corporate relations worker for the Department of Computer Science, a part of Greek life on campus, and has gained valuable insight as co-president of the Undergraduate Communication Association. In her free time, she enjoys going on walks, hanging out with friends, and listening to music. Jadyn wanted to become a peer mentor to connect with others and help people feel more comfortable with public speaking skills. She is excited to help her peers and can’t wait to meet everyone!
Emma Zaslavsky is a senior communication major with a minor in general business from New Jersey. This will be her third semester at the OCC and she is so excited to help her peers. She was eager to join the OCC to help students overcome their anxieties surrounding public speaking. On campus, Emma is the co-president of the Undergraduate Communication Association, vice president of the Public Relations Student Society of America, and an active member of Greek life. In her free time, she loves going on walks, hanging out with friends, and cooking. She looks forward to continuing being involved on campus and helping the OCC grow as a valuable resource on campus
Danah is a business major and transfer student who is eager to build meaningful connections within the UMD community. As someone who values collaboration and mentorship, becoming a peer consultant felt like a natural and exciting opportunity to engage with peers and contribute positively to campus life. Prior to transferring, Danah volunteered as a mentor for high school students and discovered a passion for helping others feel confident, supported, and capable of success. As a peer consultant, Danah is motivated to foster an inclusive and welcoming environment while mentoring peers within the university.
Sam Cohen is a senior communication major from Ridgewood, NJ with minors in general business and Jewish studies. Sam joined the OCC in the fall of 2024 because she felt anxious about public speaking and wanted to push herself by teaching others. Since joining, Sam has spent many hours in the OCC helping students approach their communication in both academic and professional contexts. Outside of class, Sam is the photo editor and photographer for The Diamondback and is involved in a sorority on campus. In her free time, Sam enjoys reading anything and everything (science fiction, fiction, romance, memoir, etc.), journaling, cooking, taking photos, and hanging out with her friends. As a consultant, Sam is eager to learn more about public speaking and the world by working with her clients in the OCC.
Lily Espinoza is a senior at the University of Maryland from Hereford, Maryland, majoring in communication with a minor in general business. Lily is returning to the Oral Communication Center for her second year as a peer consultant and is excited to take on a new role as a peer mentor. During her time at the OCC, Lily has enjoyed helping students become more confident in their communication and presentation skills. She especially values creating a comfortable environment where clients can work through their nerves, strengthen their skills, and recognize their own growth as communicators. Outside of the OCC, Lily has gained professional experience in marketing and communications, where she has worked on social media, content creation, website development, and branding. These experiences have allowed her to explore communication in a professional setting while continuing to develop her own skills. In her free time, Lily enjoys spending time with friends, practicing Pilates, and being involved in her sorority. She is excited to return to the OCC and continue supporting students as both a consultant and mentor!
Kendall Francis is a senior from Columbia, Maryland, and she is currently double majoring in English and communication. Kendall has always been passionate about helping people and improving her community, and her lifelong goal is to work with and inspire the youth through teaching them leadership skills and instilling confidence within them. For the past four years, Kendall has facilitated leadership workshops for middle and high schoolers, where her public speaking skills truly began to excel, and she was able to help the youth find their confidence and excel on their own. Kendall also holds the position of vice president in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., where she focuses on networking, community service, and sisterhood within the UMD campus. Her experience in her sorority has helped Kendall continue to develop her confidence and facilitation skills, and she is super excited to bring her skills and experience to more students within the UMD campus!
Laura Mata is a senior communication major with a minor in professional writing. Having once felt nervous about public speaking herself, she discovered that with practice and repetition, presenting can become more manageable and even enjoyable, especially when speaking about topics she is passionate about. This experience inspired her to join the Oral Communication Center (OCC) as a Peer Consultant, where she enjoyed helping students build confidence and feel more comfortable with public speaking. Now, as a Peer Mentor, Laura looks forward to continuing to support students while also helping fellow consultants grow in their roles. Laura especially enjoys creating a welcoming and encouraging environment where clients can work through their ideas, strengthen their presentations, and leave feeling more confident in their abilities. Outside of the OCC, she enjoys yoga, bouldering, trying new foods, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family.
Rebecca Overton is a senior from Columbia, Maryland, majoring in communication studies at the University of Maryland. She transferred from Howard Community College in 2024 and started working at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. Before transferring, Rebecca was involved in Student Life as the logistics coordinator on the Student Program Board, secretary-treasurer in the Student Government, and an assistant in the Honors and Undergraduate Research Office. In these roles, Rebecca developed her leadership and public speaking skills. She now hopes to support other students and connect with her peers!
Maddie Soder is a junior from Montgomery County, Maryland. She is studying communication at the University of Maryland and is on the public relations track with a minor in rhetoric. Maddie is a passionate communicator with experience working in customer service and social media. This will be her second semester working with the OCC. Public speaking is something Maddie has grown to enjoy, and through the OCC, she hopes to help others find it as fun (or at least not as scary) as she does. Outside of the classroom, Maddie is a member of the University of Maryland Dance Team and enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her friends and family. Maddie is excited to apply her communication skills at the OCC and looks forward to a great semester!
Zach Price is a senior from Germantown, Maryland, pursuing a degree in communication with a track in media and digital studies. Last spring, Zach started his journey at the OCC. Through the semester, he would learn many aspects of helping others, and gain experience. This semester, he returns to the OCC and is ready to help others again. Outside of the OCC, he is a member of the coaches video staff for the Maryland Terrapins football program, and has prior experience with the Towson Tigers football program as well as six years at his local high school. Last year, Zach was unaware of his fear of heights, which created an unexpected challenge given that working at elevated filming positions is a crucial part of his job. Through a mix of confidence, support, and perseverance, he has continued to grow in his role. He hopes to use that experience as a learning opportunity, to help other students with their potential public speaking fears, and is excited to meet everybody who walks into the OCC this semester.
Riley Ward is a senior here at UMD double majoring in psychology and communication with a minor in general business. Growing up she was terrified of public speaking but as she practiced and got better at it, now she loves it! Outside of school Riley is very active in the club Terps Raising Pups where she fostered a future seeing eye dog named Cheer. Riley is also an active member of Greek life and loves to travel. She is looking forward to helping others be the best public speakers they can be with OCC!
Kirsten Butler is a junior pursuing a degree in special education.Through leadership roles and academic projects, Kirsten has developed strong presentational speaking skills and has recently discovered a love for sharing her ideas with others. Presenting has become one of her favorite ways to connect, inform, and inspire. Kirsten decided to become a peer consultant because she wants to help fellow students find their voice and gain confidence in presentations. She believes effective communication is a powerful tool for advocacy. Kirsten is excited to support others as they strengthen their presentation skills and share their unique perspectives.
This is Jacqueline Carlos’ second year being involved with the OCC, and she's excited to return as a consultant and be of benefit to her peers! Outside of the OCC, Jackie enjoys spending time with friends and family, listening to music, going on walks, and being involved in Greek life on campus. She became a peer consultant because she wanted to help students feel more comfortable and confident when speaking in front of others. Jackie especially enjoys helping students organize their ideas, improve their delivery, and work through the nerves that can come with public speaking. She looks forward to helping students become more confident presenters!
Victoria Ebaugh is a senior from Baltimore, Maryland, majoring in media and digital communication. She transferred to UMD from Fordham University during her sophomore year. Now in her third semester with the OCC, she was first introduced while taking COMM107, and after having an appointment with a consultant, she knew that she wanted to get involved. As someone who would get very nervous about public speaking and would avoid it at all costs, Victoria now wants to help students feel more confident and show them that growth is possible. Outside of school, Victoria is working with UMD's athletic department as a marketing intern. She's super excited to work at the OCC!
Christopher Hyre is a senior communication major on the general communication track, from Gaithersburg, Maryland. He began his academic journey at Montgomery College before transferring to the University of Maryland. Although he once feared public speaking and presentations, taking a public speaking course at Montgomery College helped him to overcome those challenges, and develop a passion to help others build their confidence and improve their public speaking skills. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with his friends and playing pickleball.
Kate Mastracci is a senior majoring in communication with a minor in Italian Language and Culture. She’s from Montgomery County, Maryland and originally came to UMD to study horticulture. After taking INAG110, her whole view on public speaking changed. Her professor’s supportive, workshop-style approach, where ideas were built up instead of shut down, helped turn a big fear into something she truly loves. Soon after that class, she successfully changed majors. Kate hopes to help others feel more confident and push past their fears through reflecting on her own similar experiences. Outside of the OCC she works as a CA at the South Campus Commons apartment buildings. She also loves the outdoors, playing volleyball, thrifting, and watching hockey with her friends.
Maggie is a senior majoring in general communication and has been a part of the OCC since the spring of her sophomore year. She began as a peer consultant, later worked as a mentor for incoming students, and now serves as a public speaking in-house during the week. Maggie is extremely social and enjoys working with students, helping them become more comfortable with showing authenticity in their work and presentations. Maggie aspires to pursue a career in law and knows that her time at the OCC has helped her build a strong foundation in open group dialogue and one-on-one client communication.
Rebecca Solon is a senior from Atlanta, Georgia, majoring in operations management and business analytics. She is on an accelerated three-year track to complete her bachelor’s degree before pursuing UMD’s +1 master’s in marketing analytics program. She enjoys cooking, watching TV, and hanging out with her friends in her free time. Rebecca joined the Oral Communication Center because she enjoys empowering peers to share their voices effectively. She believes that strong speaking skills can open doors in academics, careers, and beyond, and she looks forward to supporting students as they grow into more confident and impactful communicators!
Jack Benson is a junior double majoring in criminology & criminal justice and communication. He is from Westchester, New York. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music, hanging out with friends, and going on walks. Jack is looking to go to law school after completing his undergraduate degree at UMD and through his experience he has learned the importance of effective communication and public speaking. Jack joined the Oral Communication Center to help guide and support people create something they are truly proud of and cannot wait to get started!
Liam Bill is a junior communication major who is concurrently pursuing a master’s degree in management through UMD’s Plus One program. His professional experience includes brand marketing, consulting, and video production. He has developed a strong interest in storytelling and helping others communicate their ideas with confidence. As a consultant with the Oral Communication Center, Liam looks forward to creating a supportive environment where students can strengthen their communication skills and public speaking to become confident speakers. Outside of the OCC Liam enjoys triathlete sport, hiking, and hanging out with his dog.