Meet Katie Ataviado

Any other major, minor, certificate, and/or honors that will be on your graduation records

• President List
• Dean List 

Degree Mentors

• Dr. David Beard, Assistant Professor, Linguistics and Spanish in the Department of Modern Languages, Linguistics & Intercultural Communication, Principal investigator and Head of UMBC’s laboratory on Bilingualism: Education, Acquisition, Research and Design
• Eric Brown, Assistant Teaching Professor, Individualized Study 

Why did you choose to major in INDS?

When I first started at UMBC, I was in the Pre-Physical Therapy program and hadn’t yet decided on a major. As I immersed myself in different subjects and explored several majors and minors—including Psychology and Public Health—I realized that my interests spanned multiple disciplines and that my true passion was in pursuing Speech Therapy rather than Physical Therapy. During my sophomore year, while taking BIOL 142, Dr. Freeland, the INDS director, introduced our class to the Individualized Study program. At the time, I was majoring in Psychology with minors in Biology and Linguistics, trying to “design” a degree that would allow me to study Communication Sciences and Disorders without transferring schools. After meeting with Ms. Sauter, I quickly confirmed that the INDS program was the perfect fit. This program has allowed me to combine my interests in psychology, allied health, child development, communication studies, and patient-centered care while pursuing my goal of becoming a Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist. Through INDS, I’ve had the opportunity to refine my research skills, strengthen my writing and public speaking abilities, and develop my professionalism—all with the support of a tight-knit, encouraging faculty community.

What are your plans for after graduation, and how do you see using your INDS degree?

After graduation, I plan to pursue graduate school to earn my master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. I’m confident that my INDS degree will set me apart as a candidate because it reflects the intentional and interdisciplinary approach I’ve taken towards receiving my education. By designing a program that integrates the fields of Psychology, Linguistics, Biology, and Public Health, I’ve been able to develop a strong foundation that aligns with my career goals. My INDS degree is not just a reflection of my academic interests—it’s evidence of how I’ve taken ownership of my learning journey, demonstrating initiative and commitment to pursuing Speech-Language Pathology in a unique and meaningful way.

Were you involved in any clubs or organizations? Did you hold any leadership positions? URCAD? URA? Off-campus internships? On-campus research experiences?

Throughout my time at UMBC, I’ve been actively involved in various organizations and experiences that have enriched my academic and personal growth. I am a member of Phi Sigma Sigma, where I held both an Executive Board position as Membership Recruitment Chair and an Executive Council position in Public Relations for a year. These leadership roles allowed me to develop strong organizational, communication, and team management skills. In addition to my involvement in Greek life, I began conducting research during my junior year with Dr. Brenda Hussey-Gardner, assisting with data collection for a collaboration between the Baltimore Infants and Toddlers Program (BITP) and the Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope (CASH) Campaign. Our research findings have been presented at conferences across the country, and we are currently working on publishing a journal article. Beyond campus, I work as an assistant teacher at a preschool, where I gain hands-on experience in child development, and as a technician at Verbal Beginnings, where I am working toward my Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) certification. These experiences have not only strengthened my academic foundation but also deepened my passion for working with children and pursuing a career in Speech-Language Pathology.

Katie has been Accepted into the University of Delaware’s Speech-Language Pathology Master's Program! Congrats Katie 

For more information on Katie's INDS journey please click here: