Sumaiya Latif

After I graduated from Richard Montgomery High School, I enrolled in the Food and Beverage program at Montgomery College (MC). While I was at MC, I heard about The Universities at Shady Grove (USG) from students enrolled in the University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s (UMES) Hospitality and Tourism Management program at USG. I knew I wanted to major in Hospitality ever since I was in high school and when I came to visit USG I knew that this was the right place for me.

A few other reasons I chose to complete my program at USG:

• It is close to home, with a lot of internship and career opportunities in the area
• I am earning the same degree that I would if I had gone away to UMES’s main campus
• My classes at USG are preparing me for the real-world, with classes like Law in the Hospitality Industry, Human Resources, and Facility Management
• I am managing events that are giving me skills to graduate work-ready, events like Shady Grove Bistro, Dinning with the Chefs, and the Etiquette Dinner
• Off-campus experiences such as hotel and restaurant tours to learn how different business/properties operate
• Leadership and volunteer opportunities like Campus Kitchens and Civic Engagement events

After I graduate, I plan to enroll in a MBA program. I hope to get a job in a management position at a hotel. Later in life, I plan to buy a hotel franchise and travel the world exploring different cultures.