Kelly M. is Learning (and Advocating for Students) by Doing

Woman in climbing gear with the Sydney cityscape in the background — Kelly in Sydney, Australia

From elementary school teaching to global education at the university-level, Kelly M.’s approach has been consistent: “By combining learning-by-doing, leadership development, cross-cultural communication, and inclusion, young people become better students, teammates—and more well-rounded members of their communities,” she says.

Hands-on Global Engineering Leadership

A person posing in front of an aqueduct in Spain

Kelly specializes in experiential learning and teaches courses for the Clark in Madrid program.

As program manager for experiential learning in the Office of Global Engineering Leadership, her role encompasses study abroad, leadership education, experiential learning, and initiatives including the Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) program. She serves as the advisor for the Clark School’s Dean’s Student Advisory Council.

And she’s an instructor for ENES138, “Exploring Engineering Design Through Dialogue,” and has taught similar courses for Clark in Madrid. This winter, she will co-teach a course called “Leadership in a Global Context” in Sydney, Australia.

MESO for More Impact

On a daily basis, much of her time is spent working with student organizations and clubs. A real point of pride, she and her team launched the support network for engineering student groups, Maryland Engineering Student Organizations (MESO), last year.

In Spring 2026, the MESO grants program was launched to help fund student competitions, campus events, and networking opportunities. With three funding cycles, Kelly notes, “We’re always growing the program. It’s been exciting to see the photos coming in of students traveling and competing, having larger campus events, and making a greater impact.”

Community Connections

A person at a Terps Vote table at UMD campus

Kelly volunteers as a TerpsVote volunteer for the Clark School.

Outside of the Clark School, Kelly serves as a TerpsVote ambassador and a campus coach for Fostering Terp Success, a mentoring program for students who have been unhoused or in the foster care system. She’s involved with the LGBTQ+ Faculty and Staff Association and the Pride Alumni Network and is grateful for the network’s co-president Ambi Narula, “an impressive, kind, and welcoming colleague and friend,” she says.

Outside of campus activities, Kelly enjoys running, hiking, gardening, and traveling to new places. She pitches in with environmental cleanup of Rock Creek Park, which holds a special place in her heart; and she volunteers weekly with the Washington, D.C., chapter of Back on my Feet, which combats homelessness and addiction through running and community support programs.

Her advice to Maryland Engineering students? Go to a couple of student organization meetings or events. Pursue your passions and find ways for the Clark School to feel more like home. For students in the LGBTQ+ community, she highlights oSTEM as a great asset for community members and allies alike.

Eight staff and students pose behind an oSTEM Maryland Engineering table

Kelly (fourth from left) helped to represent the student organization oSTEM at a conference in Baltimore in 2025.

All Part of the Journey

Working in community across different backgrounds, experiences, and identities, Kelly focuses on centering her values—and advises students to do the same. In terms of her own journey, she notes that things don’t always work linearly, or quickly. “There’s no set timeline in anyone’s journey,” she says. “It took me a while to grow and feel confident in my queer identity. Know that you’re not too late. You’re right on time for you.”

Published October 1, 2026