Undergraduate experiences ignite two alumsā career paths
Honors alumna Caroline Etherton ā23 works passionately for environmental sustainability in the Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps
The designation āUniversity Honors Scholarā is only bestowed on Honors College graduates.
The Towson University Honors College is committed to enhancing the relationship between the college and its former students. The Honors College works to keep alumni, parents and friends informed, interested, and active through a variety of programs and activities throughout the year.
The Honors College is committed to identifying meaningful ways to enrich the lives of Honors alumni by providing resources and opportunities that include:
Alumni are active in the life of the college by giving through their time, talents and treasure. There are many opportunities to get involved in the TU Honors community such as:
Achievement is a way of life in Honors. The same passion and motivation that is characteristic of Honors students is evident in the lives of Honors alumnae. In 2013, the Honors College inaugurated the annual Distinguished Honors College Alumni Award to honor their professional achievements and contributions to society.
No Distinguished Honors College Alumni Award winners were named in 2020 or 2021 due to to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This award is given to an alumnus/a who demonstrates their dedication to the TU Honors College by volunteering their time and expertise to the Honors program and its students. Through mentorship, serving on the alumni council, and volunteering to assist with Honors programs and events, the Alumni Volunteer of the Year is an avid supporter of the TU Honors College.
The inaugural 2021 Honors College Alumni Volunteer Award winner is Sheariah Yousefi '13.
Sheariah Yousefi is a 2013 graduate from the TU Honors College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education. As a transfer from the Community College of Baltimore County, she began at TU in 2010 and quickly became involved and a standout student. Yousefi was a member of the many Honor societies, was on the Deanās List every term, and was selected for TUās Fine Arts University Scholarship.
During her senior year at TU, a faculty member recommended her to the Honors College
administration as someone who should be considered for some competitive programs the
Honors College was hosting in the coming months; one being for an internship with
The Washington Center in D.C. and one for a program with the South Korean Ministry
of Education. Yousefiās impressive academic prowess landed her a position with both
organizations. She spent her final term at TU in Washington D.C. working with the
Executive Director of the National Association of Federally Impacted Schools. Just
three weeks after the D.C. internship was completed, Sheariah found herself on a plane
to South Korea to start her position as a Government Scholar and an English Language
Teacher for a Korean elementary school.
These two experiences helped pave the way for her career in D.C. and beyond. When
she returned to the US, she secured as position as the Head Staff Intern for U.S.
House of Representatives Congresswoman Mimi Walters. With one experience building
on another, Yousefi crafted her journey through Washington and became a lead policy
staffer for issues relating to foster children in schools and students who are experiencing
homelessness. Following her time in Washington D.C. Yousefi returned to South Korea
again, this time as a lead English instructor for a prestigious foreign language academy.
She spent three-and-a-half years in South Korea as a Foreign Language instructor,
working for private academies as well as the Ministry of Education.
After recently returning to Maryland with her husband and young son, Yousefi didnāt waste any time volunteering for the Honors College and served as a judge for the most recent Celebration of Scholarship and Learning. āI remember participating in the program when the program started, so itās exciting to see how its grown, how the college has grown, and to see the diversity in studentsā experiences. I loved learning about the student presentations and offering feedback. There was a lot of pride watching them present,ā said Yousefi.
Yousefi served on the TU Honors Alumni Council since its start in 2013. Even during her time spent thousands of miles away from TUās campus, she volunteered to mentor Honors students interested in learning more about South Korean teaching programs for US students and served as creator and author of the Honors College Alumni Spotlight by writing profiles of other distinguished alumni each year. Yousefi noted āif it wasnāt for the Honors College, I would not have known about the D.C. Internship experience or the opportunity to teach in South Korea. Those experiences paved the way for my future and wouldnāt have applied to them if it wasnāt for Honors. Honors was integral to my undergraduate experience, my career, and my life. I am incredibly thankful for what Honors has given me and I want to give back in any way I can.ā
Alumni Features highlight the outstanding things our alumni are accomplishing around the world. The idea for the feature came from Alumni Council member Sheariah Yousefi '13. Yousefi will author the features going forward, but the first piece was written about her. Click the links below to read the profiles.
November 2021 - Lindsay Robbins and Lily McFeeters (PDF)
May 2019 - Tiana E. Cruz (PDF)
November 2018 - Vincent Glynn (PDF)
May 2018 - Michelle Weber Laird (PDF)
March 2018 - Michael Ukoha, D.P.T. (PDF)
November 2017 - Sarah Elfreth (PDF)
October 2017 - Sheariah Yousefi (PDF)
The mission of the Towson University Honors College Alumni Council is to establish on-going relationships with and among Honors College alumni. It is also the mission of the Honors Alumni Council to strengthen the Honors College and its students through mentoring, supporting, and advocating on their behalf.
The goals of the Towson University Honors College Alumni Council are:
The core values of the Towson University Honors College Alumni Council are:
The members of the Honors Alumni Council are: