What happens when you decide it’s finally time to finish what you started?

In this episode of UMBC Mic’d Up, Dennise sits down with Samantha Drummond, B.A. ’25, Individualized Study, who returned to UMBC after several years away to complete her degree through the Finish Line program. Samantha shares what it was like balancing full-time work, family responsibilities, and school—and how she stayed motivated through the challenges. From self-doubt to walking across the stage, her journey is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to invest in yourself.

If you’ve ever thought about going back to school, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

👉 Learn more about the UMBC Finish Line program: https://finishline.umbc.edu/

Returning to school later in life can feel intimidating. For cybersecurity professional Jeff Burnett, M.S. '25, it became one of the most valuable decisions of his career.

In this episode of UMBC Mic’d Up, Jeff shares why he chose to pursue a graduate degree in cybersecurity while already established in the field. After years working in cybersecurity sales, he realized that understanding the technology behind the conversations would allow him to better serve clients and contribute more strategically.

Jeff talks about what it was like stepping back into the classroom in his 50s, learning alongside younger students, and tackling technical topics outside his original background. He also shares how the experience strengthened his confidence, deepened his industry knowledge, and helped him better understand the real challenges cybersecurity teams face every day.

If you are a working professional wondering whether going back to school is worth it, Jeff offers practical insight and encouragement from someone who made the leap. Learn more about

UMBC’s Cybersecurity graduate program: https://professionalprograms.umbc.edu/cybersecurity/masters-of-professional-studies-cybersecurity/

#Cybersecurity #CybersecurityCareers #UMBC #GraduateSchool #LifelongLearning #CybersecurityEducation #ProfessionalDevelopment

In this episode, we sit down with Kendall McWilliams, ’20 Chemical Engineering, M.P.S. Biotechnology Student, to talk about what it really takes to build a meaningful career in biotech.

Kendall shares his journey from chemical engineering into the biotech industry, and why pursuing graduate education was the logical next step. He explains how understanding quality systems, GMP regulations, clinical trials, and business operations transformed how he approaches his work—especially in bringing promising therapies from research to patients.

The conversation also dives into how AI and data modeling are being used responsibly in bioprocessing, why human judgment still matters, and how constant learning is simply part of the profession. Kendall offers honest insight into balancing full-time work with graduate school, navigating different roles within biotech, and staying grounded in the industry’s ultimate purpose: protecting and improving lives.

This episode is especially valuable for working professionals considering graduate study, career-changers exploring biotech, or anyone curious about how science, regulation, and ethics come together in real-world biotech work.

Learn more about UMBC’s M.P.S. in Biotechnology: https://professionalprograms.umbc.edu/biotechnology/