HOME AWAY MARIE PESSAGNO ’18

SOCIAL WORK AND GENDER AND WOMEN’S STUDIES

HOMETOWN: Harwood, Maryland

Support from Day One

The first day of school conjures up images of new outfits and crisp notebooks, right? For Marie Pessagno, things looked a little different.

Marie’s a returning woman student, and by the time she got to UMBC, she’d already racked up years in the mental health field, moved across the country twice, and had kids. She’d recently separated from her husband, and on the day school started, he wasn’t able to take the girls.

“I showed up and walked into [my professor’s] office with my daughters and sat down and cried,” remembers Marie. “She had me just come into class anyway—I had both girls with me, I even nursed one of them in class.” That moment was pivotal for Marie, who had stepped onto campus unsure any of this would work out and instead found herself immediately and wholly supported.

Taking the Next Step

Marie had chosen UMBC because of its strong social work program. As she began classes, she found faculty who pushed and supported her, all with an eye on helping her achieve her goals. She also found a home in the Women’s Center, where she met other returning women scholars who supported and encouraged one another. After graduating, Marie entered the University of Maryland School of Social Work. She plans to work for Child Protective Services and perhaps even earn her Ph.D.

What Drives Her

Throughout her academic journey, two inspirations have pushed Marie to always do her best: her two daughters. Calling her children the “driving force” for her success, she shares, “I am finishing school so that I can give them the best opportunities in this world that I can.”