Real People Profiles: Carlyn Rubin

I’m asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are their responses.

Name: Carlyn Rubin

Hometown: Gaithersburg, MD

Q: How long have you been at UMBC?

A: This is my fourth semester at UMBC.

Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?

A: I am a Program Coordinator for Health Leads at UMBC, a chapter of a national non-profit organization which mobilizes college students to connect low-income individuals and families to public benefits and community resources such as food assistance, public health insurance, and utilities subsidies. I am also a member of the SGA's Department of Health and Wellness.

Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus?

A: Advocate for health among the campus community and greater Baltimore community.

Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?

A: I love both of my roles! This is my second year with both Health Leads and SGA Health and Wellness. Health Leads has afforded me a unique opportunity to make a concrete, tangible impact on members of my community--there is nothing like the feeling of victory when a client who has been struggling to have enough food to get through the week tells you he has been approved to receive food supplements after you helped him with his application. As a first-year Program Coordinator, I now have the opportunity to work more closely with volunteers than with clients. Volunteer motivation and development are two aspects of the position I am truly passionate about, and it is extremely rewarding to see initially nervous volunteers grow to carry themselves with confidence in their interactions with clients over the course of a semester.

Being in SGA has allowed me to create a visible impact on the campus community, in the form of increased and continually availability of healthy food options on campus and new equipment at the RAC. It is always inspiring to be involved in a group of students who all feel strongly about the same cause!"

Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?

A: College is truly a time for self-discovery, so it is great to be open to new experiences and push yourself beyond your comfort zone. I was always "the quiet person" my whole life--hesitant to answer questions in class, hesitant to start conversations with people I didn't know--but coming to college allowed me to start over and branch out, and it has actually turned me into an extrovert. Go figure!

Q: Complete this sentence: "I am a big fan of __________"

A: Tea, dark chocolate, Adele, and cooking! And singing. In the shower.

Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?

A: One of my favorite places on campus is the dining hall in the early morning. You can leisurely enjoy a cup of coffee (or tea, if you're me) and just relax, or do some studying. If you're lucky, you'll even get a free concert by one of the staff--I caught a few bars of "I Will Always Love You" the other day!

BONUS VIDEO QUESTION: What else would you like to share? Ask yourself a question and answer it.