Alyssa Derr

She/Her
Class of 2028
Major: Fire Protection Engineering
Minor: Business
Hometown: Gambrills, Maryland

What motivated you to become a ClarkLEADER?
I wanted to be a ClarkLEADER because I am passionate about UMD and engineering. As a third-generation UMD student, I have grown up around Terps my whole life! With most of my family coming from the Clark school, specifically the Fire Protection Engineering program, I have witnessed first hand how much the Clark school has impacted them and their careers, which is why I'm more than happy to represent the best major ever.

What is one piece of advice you would like to share with new Maryland Engineering Students?
One piece of advice I would share with the new UMD engineering students is to prioritize having fun ALMOST as much as doing well in school. Everyone says college is the best years of your life for a reason!

What are some organizations or extracurricular activities you think new students should know about?
I think new students should know about Greek life! Whether professional or social, you can meet lots of new people and grow your social/professional network.

If you attended ClarkLEAD as a first-year student, what did you enjoy most about the event?
When I was a freshman, the thing I enjoyed most was the speeches given by the students. I love to here about how people ended up at UMD and what makes them love engineering and the Clark school.