By Jessica Weiss ’05N’deye Diop ’26 arrived at the University of Maryland firmly on a pre-med track. But the daughter of Senegalese immigrants, who grew up hearing Wolof and French at home, also carried a longtime fascination with language.

Hieu Hoang is an undergraduate student from Hanoi, Vietnam, studying supply chain management and information systems at the Robert H. Smith School of Business. Drawn to UMD for its strong academics and proximity to Washington, D.C., he values the opportunity to learn in a dynamic and globally connected environment.

More than 500 University of Maryland students have studied in locations around the world through the U.S. Department of State’s highly competitive Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, ranking UMD No. 9 nationally among large institutions for total scholars supported since its 2001 founding.

By Jess Daninhirsch '26Maryland-in-Copenhagen, Fall 2024

A childhood moment of curiosity led one UMD student across the world—and taught her the power of embracing the unexpected. Read Mia's story, in her own words.

Junbin Yang (he/him) is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Kinesiology’s Physical Cultural Studies program. Originally from Seoul, South Korea, he began his academic journey studying sociology before a personal experience with leg surgery and rehabilitation led him to also study sport management.