Senior Profile: Maia Hanlon

Maia Hanlon. (Photo courtesy of Maia Hanlon).

What is your major and minor? What other academic programs were you a part of?

Mathematics and computer science major and the Honors Program.

What are some of the jobs you held while at McDaniel?

Engagement peer, department tutor, peer mentor, and intern with Northrop Grumman.

What organizations were you a part of at McDaniel? What positions did you hold?

Green Terror Programs (member, secretary/treasurer, president), Heroes Helping Hopkins (member, treasurer, president), Alpha Sigma Tau, Alpha Phi Omega (member, treasurer), Kappa Mu Epsilon (member, vice president), Honors Program (member, secretary, vice president), Green Life (member).

Did you enjoy your time at McDaniel? How?

I enjoyed my time at McDaniel because of the people I was able to meet. If I’m being honest, McDaniel is full of some really strange people, but I think that’s what makes being a part of this community so amazing. The people in the math department have also become a big part of my life and the professors have given me amazing opportunities that I didn’t ever think I would have, which has also made my time at McDaniel special.

Who do you think was/is your best mentor?

It’s hard to choose one “best” mentor, especially with the wonderful professors in the math/computer science department. But I think Dr. Steinhurst would have to be one of my biggest mentors, even if he didn’t realize it. From dealing with us in California, Chicago, and Baltimore at various math conferences to sitting with us in Lewis 113 for hours talking about math and other random things, Steinhurst has helped me become the person I am today. I think one of the greatest compliments I’ve ever received was when he told me I reminded him of himself.

What is your best memory at McDaniel?

Picking just one is hard, but I think the one that stands out the most is the math conference Jan Term in California because I was able to spend time with some of my favorite people, go to math talks that went above my head, and bother Steinhurst for like four days straight.

What are some of the challenges you encountered and how did you overcome them?

Time management and motivation were major struggles simply because of the amount of things I had in my schedule and the amount of work we have to complete in math courses. Utilizing Google Calendar was the best way for me to overcome my overwhelming day to day schedule, and being able to do work with friends in my major kept me motivated while getting work done.

What are your plans for after graduation?

I plan to become a mathematician in national defense.

What would you tell yourself as a first-year at McDaniel?

Stop literally scheduling napping times into your calendar and do something useful with your life…

Is there anything else you’d like to share with the McDaniel community?

The P in GTP stands for programs, not productions.