I don't have direct connections to UMBC graduates in my immediate circle, but through my 40+ years in arts PR and media, I can point you toward resources that might help. The university's alumni association typically maintains detailed records of graduates working in creative fields. From my experience at Andy Warhol's Interview magazine and current work with artists, I've found that regional arts councils and local media outlets often have the best databases of working creatives. The Baltimore arts scene is particularly tight-knit, so reaching out to organizations like the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts could yield specific UMBC connections. I'd also suggest checking LinkedIn with targeted searches for "UMBC" plus specific arts keywords. Many of the emerging artists and writers I work with in my PR practice maintain active professional profiles there, listing their alma maters and current projects. The Maryland film commission and local theater companies like Center Stage often employ UMBC grads. When I've worked on arts campaigns in the Mid-Atlantic region, these organizations have been goldmines for finding talented alumni working across different creative disciplines.
I don't have UMBC connections specifically, but I can share how my fine arts background led me into marketing for multifamily properties - which might be a path other arts grads are exploring. The creative problem-solving skills from art school directly translate to marketing challenges in ways most people don't expect. At FLATS(r), I used my visual storytelling background to create in-house video tours that cut our lease-up time by 25% and reduced unit exposure by 50%. The artistic eye for composition and narrative that I developed in fine arts became the foundation for campaigns managing $2.9 million across 3,500 units. Most people think marketing and arts are separate, but they're really the same skillset applied differently. The data-driven creativity is where arts graduates excel in business roles. When I analyzed resident feedback through Livly and created maintenance FAQ videos, it reduced move-in dissatisfaction by 30% - that's the same creative problem-solving process as any art project, just with different metrics for success.
I'd be glad to share a few examples of UMBC graduates who have gone on to build careers in the arts: Emily Burgess (Class of 2022, Theatre Design & Asian Studies): Emily specialized in technical theatre and lighting design. Since graduation, she has been working with regional theatres in Baltimore, including Everyman Theatre, as a lighting designer and stage technician. Robin Christensen (Class of 2023, BFA Acting): Robin pursued acting at UMBC and has since transitioned into professional theatre. He's been cast in several productions with community and regional companies, focusing on contemporary drama and musical theatre. Mariah Demerest (Class of 2021, Music Education - Choral): Mariah studied choral music and now teaches music at the elementary level. She also directs a youth a cappella ensemble and continues to perform as a soloist in local competitions. Gisselle Guevara-Melendez (Class of 2022, Visual Arts - Animation): Gisselle majored in animation and currently works as a freelance animator and art educator. She has contributed to independent projects and teaches workshops for high school students interested in digital arts. These alumni highlight the breadth of UMBC's arts programs—from performance to design to education—and how graduates are actively shaping creative industries both locally and nationally.