April is National Volunteer month, a time dedicated to recognizing the many selfless volunteers in our communities and encouraging more people to spend their free time volunteering.
“Our alumni are known for their spirit of volunteerism,” says UMGC Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations Nikki Sandoval. “Whether it’s through the UMGC Alumni Association, their employers or out in their local communities, they’re inspired to serve others and make the world a better place, one opportunity at a time. It’s part of what makes our UMGC alumni community so special.”
Meet three alumnae who are dedicating their time and expertise to help others.
Laura Reno ‘21
Executive Director
Not My Child, Inc.
As a stay-at-home mom, Laura Reno has always made her family her top priority. This meant putting her degree on hold when she was in her 20s while she raised her sons. Once they had started college, though, she decided it was time to pursue her own dream of earning a degree, too.
“I wanted to show them that it's never too late to realize and achieve your goals, so I went back [to school],” she says. “I chose UMGC because that is right where I left off 20+ years ago.”
She pursued a bachelor’s degree in legal studies, something that would help her achieve what she had always dreamed of doing: Making a difference in the world.
Today, Laura serves as the executive director of a nonprofit called Not My Child, an organization her husband founded in 2017 after the devastating loss of his son to fentanyl poisoning. She started volunteering for the foundation while working on her degree. Now she runs it with her husband, and they work together to assist individuals who are recovering from substance use disorders.
Without a degree, Reno had always had a nagging feeling that something was missing, but not anymore. Earning her degree gave her a sense of personal satisfaction and the confidence she needed to run a nonprofit and make a positive change in the lives of others.
Rachel Jones ‘22
National Security Analyst
Savannah River National Laboratory
Modern-day renaissance woman Rachel Jones has fierce aspirations of becoming a leader in the emerging space cyber security industry. Through her volunteerism, she’s equally passionate about encouraging young people to pursue a career in STEM.
When Jones first began to consider a career in cyber, she had a challenging time breaking into the field with a bachelor’s degree in political science.
“Sometimes, degrees don't reflect capabilities, and it's hard to argue that I could perform the job well with others questioning my abilities. UMGC was the answer to my dilemma,” she says. “I was able to quickly obtain a second degree in computer networking and cybersecurity at night on my own time. This foundation showed the world that I do have the skills and capabilities.”
Her cyber technical skills and aerospace dynamics background uniquely qualify her for a thriving career in her chosen field. Today, she works as a winter communications technician at the McMurdo Station in Antarctica.
In addition to school, Jones is actively involved in giving back to the cyber community. For the last two years, she has presented at B-Sides Augusta—part of the Security B-sides phenomenon, a worldwide community-driven framework for building events for and by information security community members. Additionally, she leads K-12 students in STEM activities and programs such as Cyber Patriot. She also works to build the confidence and ability of women to enter cybersecurity through mentoring and groups such as Women in Cybersecurity.
“A degree in cyber helped others focus on who I am versus questioning my academics,” she says.
Sarah Brown ‘20
Senior Analyst, Financial Planning and Analysis
International Rescue Committee
Sarah Brown knew early on that she wanted to dedicate her life to serving others. Two years of volunteering for the Peace Corps confirmed her passion, and she decided to pursue a career in international development so she could help people around the world.
She earned an MBA while working full time for a USAID contractor, an accomplishment that helped her shift to a career in the nonprofit sector. A few years later, she’s working as a financial planner and advisor for the International Rescue Committee (IRC), her dream organization.
“I knew furthering my education would help my career in the long run, but I also knew I couldn't afford to give up my full-time job,” she explains. “UMGC was the perfect option. I could keep my full-time job and still progress, still get that degree to be competitive in the job market, and still be able to have a living income and afford to get the degree.”
Interested in volunteering?
Feeling inspired by these alumni stories? The UMGC Alumni Association makes it easy to find your perfect fit through the My Volunteer Program. Learn how you can make a difference in the communities and industries in which you live and work.
Find out how you can unite with your UMGC community this April and participate in UMGC Global Give 2025—an initiative empowering you to develop a greater sense of community by using your skills and education to make an impact through volunteerism.