Gabby Khan
Degree: B.S., Computer Science (Game Development track)
Hometown: Olney, MD
Plans: Computer scientist, T. Rowe Price
“I see how much drive and passion students have, and it helps me become a more driven and passionate person. So I really just value the people around me in the community who are striving to improve themselves, because it helps me improve as well.”
Gabby Khan ‘22 came to UMBC to study computer science and game development. What she found when she arrived was a warm, supportive community. “Everyone was welcoming and felt responsive, like humans,” she says. “People in administration who I’d call with questions were welcoming and friendly.”
When she ran into challenges in her physics and calculus classes during her first year, Khan sought help from UMBC’s free tutoring resource, now known as the Academic Success Center. After a student mistook her for a tutor and a Center staff member overheard the conversation, she was offered a job. She eventually became a tutor mentor, helping other tutors build their skills.
Khan approached her Academic Success Center work in the same way she eventually approached being a resident assistant for the Honors College Living Learning Community and a leader in the Honors College Council: as an opportunity to pay forward the kindness and support she received from other members of the UMBC community.
“I feel like whenever you give a sense of excitement or passion to people, they usually do reciprocate it,” she says. “Even if you don’t see it yourself, they’ll find ways to share it with other people.”
Soon after graduation she will join the computer science team at T. Rowe Price.
Story written by David Hoffman, Ph.D. ’13, language, literacy, and culture (LLC), director of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life, and Romy Hübler ’09, modern languages and linguistics, M.A. ’11, intercultural communication, Ph.D. ’15, LLC, assistant director of the Center for Democracy and Civic Life.
Tags: COEIT, CSEE, HonorsCollege
