Iliana Zepeda De Leon

(She/her/hers)

Role on campus: Academic Advisor at the Office of Letters and Sciences

What I do: I help students navigate the university and help them gather the tools they need to succeed at UMD. 

Also: A sister, daughter, friend, an advocate for students, a plant lady, a singer (in my car or karaoke with friends), and a traveler.

Carillon Communities represented in your section: Visualizing Knowledge & Weather and Climate

Why do you teach IDEA101? I am passionate about helping students transition into college but also helping them find/create community. 

What do you do for fun? I enjoy expressing myself in creative ways mainly painting,  dancing, and I am also a plant mom. 

If we held a talent show, what would be your act? Maybe the ukulele but I have stage fright so realistically I would not participate. I would cheer for everyone participating.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? What about now?  I wanted to be a doctor as a child and now I might still become a doctor but a medical doctor. 

What is your favorite part about teaching? My favorite part about teaching is being  able to work with students and build rapport with them.

Where are you from? Born in Mexico, lived most of my life in California, and moved to Maryland for graduate school.