Student Profile Archives

Lelia Jenkins-Rockwood
"A Degree That Counts"

Lelia Jenkins-Rockwood knows all about what really counts when it comes to education, in more ways than one. When a colleague at Northrup Grumman told her that UMBC has the best Instructional Systems Development program in the country, she knew that the recommendation said a lot about the program. “I believe in word-of-mouth,” says Rockwood, “because that tells the truth about your product, whatever it may be.”

Prior to joining the program, Rockwood was a training manager for Northrup Grumman. After receiving her B.S. in computer information systems from Strayer University in 2002, she wanted to find a master’s program that would provide her with the skills she needed to advance her career. Based on her colleague’s recommendation alone, Rockwood applied to UMBC’s ISD-Training Systems Graduate Program. “I found UMBC to be the best in delivering what I needed to make my educational experience a total package,” says Rockwood.

During her time in the program, Rockwood focused her studies on e-learning and human performance technology (HPT). It was ultimately those HPT courses that really made a difference in her career. “I was able to do my internship at Northrup Grumman, and this allowed me to conduct the HPT assessment…I identified key areas of concern, [which] resulted in the program implementing my recommendations and achieving a very high rating by the government.” She is happy to add that this “resulted in me receiving a very nice bonus.”

Today, she is an alumnus of the program, enjoying the benefits of her degree. In her new position, Rockwood oversees the training for a Field Data Collection Automation System in support of the 2010 Census. Currently, her company’s products are being used by the customer to train over 550,000 census-takers. Now knowing what “counts” is a part of her daily life.

“I want to continue on the track I’m on and someday become a Chief Intelligence Officer with a major organization,” she says. Rockwood contributes much of this confidence and success to her experience as part of the ISD graduate program. “I am a direct product of the UMBC family,” she says, “and I know what they offer are some of industry’s best practices. I have and will always continue to recommend this program to each and every person that is a trainer and has no ISD background. Employers who want ISD done right the first time should seek graduates from UMBC."