When Jacqueline Rhoden-Trader, modern languages and linguistics '89, was deciding where to
go for college, she chose UMBC because it offered her major and was close to home. A native of St.
Catherine, Jamaica, Rhoden-Trader immigrated to the United States in the late 70s.
Now the director of the Maryland State Mentoring Resource Center, she admits that proximity was a
major factor in deciding where to go to college. She also notes, "In retrospect, there were many
other reasons I chose to attend UMBC. It was a close-knit environment where I couldn't get lost,
it provided me with a well-rounded education and it afforded me the opportunity to express my
cultural heritage." Her involvement in the Caribbean Students Club and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
allowed her to forge friendships that remain with her to this day.
After graduation, Rhoden-Trader pursued her master's degree in criminal justice from Coppin State
College and her doctorate in policy sciences from the Union Institute. Since 1993, she has worked to
advance the efforts of mentoring statewide.
Under her leadership, the Maryland State Mentoring Resource Center serves as a clearinghouse for
information, conducts research, offers training, technical assistance and consultation. In 1993, the
center served 8,000 students. Today, it provides over 23,000 students with the opportunity to be
paired with a caring adult. Her vision doesn't stop there, however, as she hopes to increase the
number of children involved in mentoring relationships to at least 38,000 statewide by 2002.
The center creates mentoring opportunities with the support of from corporations, institutions
of higher education, communities, faith-based organizations and government agencies, "The rewards of
mentoring are numerous. Not only do students perform better academically, but adults gain personal
satisfaction from having guided the students toward achieving their dreams," says Rhoden-Trader.
Still active at UMBC, Rhoden-Trader often returns to speak to the Modern Languages and Linguistics
Council of Majors and participates in several Alumni Association events. "Two classes I remember
vividly, Spanish Conversation and Speech 101, have been fundamental in preparing me for the work I'm
doing now," she says. While proximity was the deciding factor in the selection of UMBC as her college
of choice, the strong academic foundation it provided and the friendships it fostered strengthened
Rhoden-Trader's commitment to giving back to the community.
Katherine Amanda Kingsland is working toward her certification in Japanese and plans to pursue
a career in writing.
