Lara Becker is a junior majoring in communication with a focus in public relations. She has a strong background in professional writing, content creation, and presentational speaking through her external work with AstraZeneca’s Site Engagement team. Her experience includes crafting newsletters, outreach content, and communication plans, as well as mentoring students in public speaking and effective messaging. With a passion for helping others find confidence, Lara became a peer consultant to support students in refining their presentation skills. She understands that public speaking can feel daunting but believes that with the right strategies, anyone can deliver impactful presentations. Outside of consulting, she enjoys exploring public relations for large organizations, studying communication tactics in healthcare, and analyzing media rhetoric. She is excited to help fellow students communicate their ideas with clarity and confidence.
Alyson Bell is a senior majoring in Communication with a focus on PR. Originally from Connecticut, Alyson is passionate about building connections and fostering relationships. Outside of her studies, she enjoys spending time with friends, watching movies, and playing board games. Alyson is also the owner of Allie’s Animals, a growing pet-sitting business where she has developed strong communication skills by interacting with clients and managing a diverse clientele. Her experience running her business has helped her refine her ability to connect with others, while her academic journey at Maryland has further enhanced her oral communication skills. With a natural talent for engaging with people and a strong foundation in communication, Alyson is eager to help fellow students improve their presentation skills and build their confidence as public speakers.
Juliana Campbell is a senior from Baltimore Country, Maryland, majoring in media and digital communication. She has always enjoyed public speaking and hopes that through the OCC, she can help other students feel more confident as well. In her free time, she enjoys going on walks, doing a day trip to DC, or just hanging out on McKeldin with friends! She is looking forward to this semester working closely with her peers and other students!
Jackie Carlos is a sophomore communication major with a minor in general business from northern New Jersey. Before going to UMD, she didn't like public speaking that much and didn't consider herself good at it. However, since going here, she has improved so much and has grown to enjoy doing presentations for her classes! She declared her major in communication in June of 2024, and since then has been very passionate about the field and about the public speaking skills that students learn from it. She is excited to help people who feel the way she used to feel about public speaking so that they can get more comfortable in front of an audience. In her free time, she loves having movie nights with her friends, going on walks, and playing with her dog. She is looking forward to her time at the OCC!
Cate Cavarra is a junior studying general communication at UMD, originally from Denver, CO. She chose UMD because she has family in Maryland and was excited to experience a new chapter of her life. In addition to her studies, Cate works as a communications specialist, where she manages content and crafts social media posts. Beyond her professional work, Cate worked as a summer camp counselor and teacher for elementary school children, helping them grow and have fun. Outside of work, she loves hanging out with friends, working out, and reading. Cate is excited to work at the OCC!
Elise Chang is a junior communication major at the University of Maryland. She is from Baltimore County, Maryland. Outside of the OCC, Elise is involved in Lamba Pi Eta and club badminton at UMD. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, and ballet. Elise has always been drawn to writing, public speaking, and marketing, but realized in college how she could shape her passions into a career. Elise wants to continue helping others grow confident in their communication abilities. Whether this is through mentoring, advising, or simply listening to her peers, she is excited to play a role in peoples’ professional development. Elise has been a mentee and a mentor within the OCC. She is excited to consult and guide students once more!
Sam Cohen is a sophomore communication major on the digital & media track from Northern NJ. This is her second semester working in the OCC and she can't wait to continue helping people strengthen their speaking skills. Sam loves working in the OCC, as it is a chance to improve her own public speaking skills and learn in a non-traditional way. Outside of classes, she works for The Diamondback as a photographer and is involved in Greek life. In her free time, you can find Sam journaling, reading, or chatting with her mom on the phone.
Ella Cooper is a junior at the University of Maryland studying communication, with a minor in nonprofit leadership & social innovation, also pursuing a graduate degree in management studies through the Robert H. Smith School of Business. She is involved on campus and in the community as a social media manager for Map Your Ed Consulting, as well as an ambassador for UMD’s Do Good Institute and Carillon Communities. She is also an active member in Greek Life and several other organizations such as Meor. From an early age, Ella has always had a passion for public speaking and helping others, so she loves that the OCC is a place that offers both. She is a hard-working, organized individual who loves collaborating with others and learning new things. Throughout her third semester with the OCC, she is very excited to bring her preexisting knowledge to the table and continue to expand it greatly.
Raquel Crossling is a junior communication major on the public relations track, from Montgomery County, Maryland. Outside of classes, Raquel loves to be social and spend time with friends and family. Whether it's doing nothing and scrolling through TikTok or going out to DC, Raquel is always down. She loves connecting with people and building relationships. She also has two cats and loves to travel. After taking COMM107, she realized how many people struggle with public speaking and going to the OCC helped her group for their final. She hopes that while working with the OCC she can help people feel more confident talking in front of audiences. She is excited to be a part of the team this year and plans to do as much as she can to support her peers and the OCC!
Kyle D’Attilio is currently a senior communication major on the general communication track from Clarksburg, Maryland. This will be his third semester working as a consultant with the OCC. In his free time he enjoys spending time with friends on campus, working out, and is a member of the club golf team. Kyle has always enjoyed public speaking and felt that it was a strong skill set for him. He looks forward to helping others at the OCC this semester and learning from his peers at the same time.
Natalie Duverne is a general communication major from PG County, MD. She is passionate about connecting and helping others. Outside of academics, Natalie finds joy in music and spending quality time with her friends. She didn't have much of an interest in public speaking until she enrolled in COMM107, where she discovered her deep love for it. Through her experiences in customer service, she discovered satisfaction in helping others, fueling her commitment to making a positive impact.
Anna Ferrens is a senior communication major, from Baltimore County, Maryland. Her passion for communication and helping others has drawn her to the OCC, where she looks forward to assisting students in overcoming their public speaking anxieties. She is an active member of Kappa Alpha Theta, where she serves on the member development committee, fostering growth and support among her peers. In high school, Anna held leadership positions as the all-school vice president and served on the disciplinary board, as well as being a peer mentor, helping fellow students navigate their academic challenges. In her free time, Anna enjoys reading and spending time with friends and family. Anna is eager to support her fellow students on their journey to becoming confident speakers!
Dani Goldstein is a senior communication major graduating from UMD this spring. Originally from New Jersey, Dani chose UMD for its proximity to Washington, D.C., and to follow in her father’s footsteps. She has been with the OCC since 2023, and has served as a consultant, mentor, and now works as a lead mentor. In addition to her work at the OCC, Dani is an ARHU ambassador, member of Alpha Phi International Fraternity, and works as a Marketing Intern for the College of Education. Dani loves being a part of the OCC and is excited for her last semester at the school!
Nikki Hamidi is a senior studying communication on a public relations track. Her passion for public speaking started in high school when she delivered her graduation speech. Despite her self doubt and nerves, she learned how to find her confidence and speaking style through the process of planning, rewriting and practicing. Nikki has been tutoring at the OCC since she was a sophomore, and has had the opportunity to share her advice she's gained over the years in her campus roles like peer mentoring, giving campus tours and representing the College of Arts and Humanities at school events. Nikki is so excited to be back at the OCC to help her consultants with speeches ranging from COMM107 assignments to job interviews and everything in between!
Josh Herman is a senior from Crofton, Maryland, studying communication. His main passions are sports and nature. In his free time, he enjoys working out, watching sports, and exploring nature. Josh was intimidated by public speaking, but with lots of practice has improved his skills and is looking forward to helping others and continuing to grow during this semester in the OCC. Being a peer consultant has been helpful in learning more about public speaking and how to help others conquer their fear of public speaking.
Ryan Holt has had a unique college journey going from Towson University, to trade school, to Montgomery College, and finally UMD. He is a senior majoring in communication on the media and digital track. Initially, Ryan was never too excited to speak in front of an audience. That all changed after he took his first public speaking class at Towson and realized that he actually enjoyed it. He hopes to help people who may be in a similar situation that he was once in. For trade school, he studied audio engineering and works at a recording studio in his free time. He loves music, watching sports and TV shows, and hanging out with friends. He looks forward to meeting and helping those who come by the OCC!
Jadyn Kestenbaum is a sophomore from Livingston, New Jersey, studying communication on the media and digital track and pursuing a general business minor. During the school year she is a communication intern for Maryland Athletics, a part of Greek life on campus, and has gained valuable insight from being on the board 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 consultant to connect with others and help people feel more comfortable with public speaking skills. She is excited to become a tutor and can’t wait to meet everyone!
Hannah Kries is a senior from Queen Anne’s County, Maryland. She is majoring in communication, specifically on the media and digital track and minoring in history. She came to UMD undecided in her academic path, but thoroughly enjoyed taking COMM107, which ultimately led her to becoming a communication major. She enjoys coursework that involves collaboration with peers, which is one of the main reasons she decided to become a tutor at the OCC. Outside of her academics, Hannah is involved in Greek life, a four year member of Terp Thon, plays several intramural sports, and holds membership in a variety of academic honor societies. In her free time, she enjoys watching/going to sporting events and spending time with her friends! Hannah looks forward to working with her fellow UMD students at the OCC!
Eve Laforte is a senior from Stamford, Connecticut, majoring in communication on the media and digital track. She was first introduced to the OCC during her freshman year in her COMM107 class and knew she would want to serve as a peer consultant in the future. When not in class, she enjoys spending time with friends, skiing, going to the gym, reading, and hanging out with her dog. Over the summer, Eve was the communication intern for the PR firm Marathon Strategies in New York City. She worked with various clients to present tailored services such as detailed presentations, press releases, media analyses, and data analysis, which helped further improve her confidence in public speaking.
Katelynn Lam is a senior in digital and media communication. She moved to Maryland from Vietnam in 2017. Before attending UMD, she earned an associate degree in communication at Howard Community College. An interesting fact about her is that she was inspired by a communication liaison character on the TV show Criminal Minds to study communication, even though she has no desire to work for the FBI. However, it wasn't until she took public speaking classes that her passion for public speaking developed. In her free time, Katelynn enjoys watching crime shows and listening to true crime podcasts while also managing content creation and editing for her YouTube channel. Katelynn has been a part of the OCC for three semesters, where she enjoys assisting other students in overcoming their fear of public speaking.
Griffin Loftis is a senior communication major on the digital communications and social media track, from Annapolis, Maryland. He enjoys hanging out with friends, fishing, and playing soccer. With a keen interest in sports media and social media, Griffin has developed strong skills in content creation, social media strategy, and audience engagement. His experience working on sports-related digital projects has strengthened his ability to give presentations and collaborate effectively. This semester, he is looking forward to working at the OCC, helping others with their speaking skills, as well as collaborating with peer tutors.
Arianna is a senior majoring in communication on the PR track, Ari is from Silver Spring, Maryland and discovered her passion for public speaking during her high school years, where she actively participated in Model UN and enjoyed giving presentations. It was there that she first discovered her skills in engaging audiences and creating original presentations. Arianna enjoys the creative aspect of presentations, where she can design visually appealing and informative slides that enhance her delivery. Now, as a peer consultant, Arianna is excited to share her expertise with fellow students. She believes that the ability to captivate and maintain an audience's attention is a valuable skill in today's professional landscape. Her dedication to helping others develop their own presentation skills is a testament to her commitment to personal and professional growth. Beyond her academic pursuits, Arianna enjoys watching movies, exploring museums, and attending concerts.
Ryan Mungai is in his second semester tutoring and mentoring public speaking. He chose the OCC because he loves to help others. As a communication major with a digital and media track, the OCC seemed like an ideal choice to combine his experience and interest in helping others.
Ethan Novick is a senior studying communication at the University of Maryland. He is from Livingston, New Jersey. Outside of the OCC, Ethan hosts a radio show on WMUC. This show is a sports talk show. The show has been a great experience for Ethan to improve and feel confident in his public speaking ability. Ethan is always hungry to learn, and one of the best ways to learn is by teaching. He looks forward to helping as many students as he can at the OCC!
Maggie Orcev is a sophomore from Rockville, Maryland. She is a communication major on the general track but one day hopes to work in PR or marketing. In her free time, she enjoys going on long walks, getting coffee with friends and writing. She is the director of social media and marketing for Kappa Delta Sorority here at UMD and thrives when in a group. She has always had a knack for public speaking and really enjoys meeting new people and using humor to make others feel comfortable in any public setting. She hopes to use her skills and passions to help other students gain confidence in their public speaking skills and leave the OCC just a little better than they were beforehand.
Linda is a senior media and digital communication major who is also pursuing a general business minor. In her free time, Linda enjoys going on runs and hanging out with her friends. Linda first heard of the OCC when she was a freshman taking COMM107 and had intense anxiety presenting in front of large groups of people. She is now a peer consultant because she has overcome her anxiety when presenting and she wants to share the same help she received from the OCC.
Jack Radovich is a senior media and digital communication major. He is from Westchester County, New York. He loves playing and watching sports, and hopes to one day work in sports. Jack has been with the OCC for a semester, and loves helping kids enjoy public speaking. This past summer Jack had an internship with Major League Baseball and got to learn more about public speaking in the corporate context. Jack is willing to talk about anything, and has tons of different interests which allows him to have a great conversation with anyone. Lastly, Jack recognizes how important the ability to communicate is, and tries to put himself in different situations in order to learn more about himself and the other people he is surrounded by.
Lauren Rayner is a sophomore from Westchester, New York pursuing a major in finance. Lauren has been passionate about helping others reach their truest potential since she began tutoring through her high school in freshman year. She is also involved in other on campus activities such as Carillon Communities and multiple clubs. Aside from public speaking, she enjoys listening to music and being around friends/family. Through her love of spending time with others, Lauren hopes to work with the OCC to help her peers in order to promote well-equipped speakers. She believes that it is crucial for every individual to be able to communicate their ideas with confidence and ease, which she hopes to be able to instill in others.
Wendy Saltsberg is a junior from Long Island, New York. She is a theatre and communication double major at the University of Maryland. She enjoys performing in plays and musicals. She hopes to use her theatrical background to allow her to help others in the OCC. Outside of the OCC, Wendy is the president of The Muses, UMD’s all-female-led theatre troupe. Before her position as president, she was the group’s social media coordinator and ran their Instagram account. She also enjoys coffee, working out, and traveling. Wendy can’t wait to help others feel more comfortable speaking in front of an audience and hopes her experience in the OCC will help her improve upon her performance skills!
Mary Sarkis is a senior majoring in communication with a concentration in political communication and public advocacy, and a minor in public leadership. She is from Norwell, Massachusetts. She is a part of several organizations on-campus including Phi Alpha Delta, Gamma Phi Beta, and the Undergraduate Communication Association. Outside of College Park, Mary loves to travel and spend time by the water in Massachusetts with her family. Mary has always loved public speaking and enjoys sharing her enthusiasm with others. She strives to use her position at the OCC to help others overcome their public speaking fears and succeed in their presentations.
Lucy Schneider is a sophomore from Cincinnati, Ohio. Lucy is majoring in communication and minoring in nonprofit leadership and social innovation. Along with the Oral Communication Club, Lucy is involved in The Jewish Student Union on campus and works for Maryland Hillel as a development and fundraising intern. Lucy has loved the spotlight since she began singing at a young age and developed a passion for public speaking in high school. She loves to share her love for speaking with those around her. She has been involved in many public speaking opportunities, such as a TedEx Talk for her high school, tour guide, and public speaker for her local Holocaust museum. Lucy believes that public speaking is one of the most significant skills, making one appear confident and knowledgeable. In her free time, Lucy enjoys playing/watching sports, cooking, singing, playing with her dogs, and hanging out with her friends.
Madeline Seck is a senior studying communication on the digital and media track and broadcast journalism. On campus, she serves as president of the Maryland Association of Black Journalists. She is also the video and assistant engagement editor for her student publication, The Black Explosion News. During her time at UMD, she has developed networking skills and enhanced her public speaking abilities to present herself professionally. She is excited to be part of the OCC this semester to help fellow students perfect their presentations and present with confidence!
Lily Seraphin is a last semester senior at the University of Maryland. She is from Baltimore county and initially came into UMD studying nursing. In the second year she realized she wanted to pursue her passions outside of the medical field, investigating any major which fulfilled her drive for studying human relationships and interpersonal connection, which ultimately landed her into the communication department. She became a peer consultant to get the opportunity to aid students handle their public speaking fears head on. As someone who has had to take on many daunting challenges she feels most equipped to help other students who are experiencing the same. Outside the OCC classroom you can find Lily working at the Art Library as a library assistant or on the McKeldin mall hanging out with friends.
Josh Stabler is a senior from Boonsboro, Maryland. He is a communication major on the digital and media track. He began his college career at Hagerstown Community College, before transferring to Towson University for a semester and ultimately to the University of Maryland. In his free time he enjoys golfing, watching sports or movies, and hanging out with friends. Josh was never a fan of public speaking, but over time has found tricks that he has been able to use to make it much easier and less stressful. He is looking forward to assisting those that come to the OCC this semester!
Reece Temoney is naturally introverted and if he could text all the time he would. However, he realized that public speaking had more benefits if he could master it and although he’s not a master at it, right now, he feels confident and comfortable. He knows that public speaking can be scary but as his parents say “closed mouths don’t get fed”.
Lily Tobiasen is a senior from Thornwood, New York, majoring in communication on the digital and media track. She loves working at the OCC because it is the perfect place to advance her communication and public speaking skills while helping people on campus. Lily is a proud member of Terp Thon - she is the participant relations chair on the executive board and loves to help raise funds for Children's National Hospital. Outside of classes, Lily loves to cook and bake, go to Terps sporting events, and play board games with her friends. This is her second semester as a consultant for the OCC and she is excited to help mentor the new tutors!
Italy Torrico is a senior communication major on the digital and media track with a minor in rhetoric. She transferred from Montgomery College with an associates in communications in the summer of 2024. During her free time, she can be found bartending or serving at one of the restaurants here in College Park. She also enjoys spending time with her friends, working out, and listening to all genres of music depending on her mood. Italy used to avoid public speaking at all costs possible as she let her fears get in her head. Over time, she learned that nobody was judging her more than she was herself. Italy also discovered through her professional and academic journey that she enjoyed teaching people new things and watching them gain confidence in a new skill. Seeing people succeed made her feel genuinely fulfilled, knowing she had helped someone grow. She is excited and looking forward to connecting with her peers and hopefully helping them become confident within their communication skills.
Jillian Trout is a junior at the University of Maryland majoring in digital media communication. She is from outside Annapolis, MD, and came to UMD because it is close to home! She transferred to UMD in the Spring of 2024. Outside of being a peer consultant, Jillian is the president of Women's Club Lacrosse. She is super excited to have the opportunity to help other students while also strengthening her communication and public speaking skills.
Thomas Vlahos is a senior from Montgomery County, Maryland who is majoring in communication. He is from Greek descent and is passionate about his Greek culture and is even a part of the Greek Heritage Society here at UMD! Every summer he travels to Lefkada, Greece where his family has a house. In his free time, he likes to spend time with his friends, watch his favorite TV show which is Modern Family and has a passion to travel and explore new places. Thomas is also very talkative, sociable and outgoing as well as having a passion for wanting to help others. Thomas became inspired to become a communication major by realizing his passion for communicating with others and his passion for public speaking. This semester, he is looking forward to working at the OCC, helping others with their speaking skills, as well as working with the other tutors.
Nichole Wheeler is majoring in media and digital communication, with a minor in sustainability. She plans to graduate in May 2025 and begin a career in sustainable fashion, events, and general media. Nichole transferred to UMD after completing three semesters at East Carolina University. In her free time, she enjoys thrifting, up-cycling, yoga, and spending time outdoors. Having taken oral communication as a sophomore, she finds that having struggled to break through the initial anxiety of public speaking allowed her to gain a lot from the course. Nichole now encourages a less rehearsed approach, focusing more on content than specific verbiage.
Nardos Yeshitila is a junior from Silver Spring, Maryland, majoring in communication with a business minor. She enjoys spending quality time with her family, going to the gym, and doing arts and crafts. Although she initially struggled with public speaking, after taking multiple business and communication classes, she became comfortable. This experience motivated her to want to become a part of the OCC, and she also simply loves helping people.
Kelly is a senior communication major at the University of Maryland. She transferred from the College of Southern Maryland, where she obtained an associate's degree in general communications. In her free time, Kelly enjoys reading, lifting weights, jiu-jitsu, watching movies, and acting, which helped her find her love for public speaking and later drew an interest in joining the OCC team. On campus, Kelly is a part of the Women’s Network Club as a marketing coordinator, Veritas Short Films as a co-social chair, and UMD Club Jiu-jitsu as a member and competitor. She wants to help people become comfortable and confident in public speaking. Kelly is so excited to join the team and meet you all!!
Emma Zaslavsky is a sophomore studying general communication with a minor in general business. She is from Central New Jersey and chose Maryland because after her first time visiting it became her dream school. Outside of classes, she is the Vice President of the Undergraduate Communication Association, the Social Media Coordinator for the Public Relations Student Society of America, a board member of the ARHU Dean’s Advisory Board, and a part of Greek Life. She loves getting to know new people and helping in any way possible. Emma has a passion for public speaking and is eager to assist people with their public speaking skills! She can’t wait to meet you all!