This post was written by Ayanna Roberts, B.A. ’24, M.A. in Integrated Design student.
After crossing the stage with her B.A in Business Administration from The University of Baltimore in 2022, Meagan Etner felt an unshakeable pull—this university had given her a strong foundation, but she knew there was still more to gain. Determined to continue her journey, she quickly applied for UBalt’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) program, specializing in Leadership and Management.
“When I chose to do my master’s degree, I wasn’t 100 percent sure what I wanted to do, but I knew that I wanted to stay at UBalt,” she said.
Meagan’s journey in higher education began in 2003. After going to a university in Philadelphia for a year and a half, Meagan decided to come back home to Maryland.
In 2017, Meagan restarted her journey at Carroll Community College where she completed two associate degrees, one in general studies another in business administration. She was eager to transfer to a four-year university to obtain a bachelor’s degree, and a counselor who recognized her needs recommended UBalt as the ideal place.
“I wanted to go to University of Maryland, College Park. However, my counselor nicely suggested she did not think that would be the best fit and to look into University of Baltimore. That’s where she said I should go, and that’s the only place I applied. I trusted her and her judgement on that,” Meagan said.
Her acceptance into UBalt would become more than just a pathway to further her education. Here, she would find a supportive community, unmatched assistance and invaluable opportunities to get involved and lead.
“I like the class modality so you can do what’s best for you,” Meagan said. “The teachers I found are helpful and accommodating if you are struggling. This comfort zone has allowed me to make choices and do things I wouldn’t normally do.”
Meagan found herself engaging in leadership roles, speaking up in discussions and immersing herself in opportunities that once felt out of reach. She joined Sigma Na Tau, Beta Gamma Sigma, and Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK). She happily took the role as president of ODK in the fall 2024 semester.
“Before I got involved, I would just go to my class and leave, that was it,” Meagan said. “Planning events has helped me think about what’s going to benefit the student body. I’ve met a lot of people at events, and it stretches you to do the things you can’t do. Working with faculty advisers has helped me get to know faculty and staff.”
In 2023, when Meagan was vice-president for ODK, she implemented UBalt’s Pack the Pantry competition where student organizations are given an item list from the Campus Pantry, with points awarded to different items. Donations are collected throughout Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, and the group or office with the most points wins. In 2024, Pack the Pantry won the Event or Initiative of the Year Award at UBalt’s annual Eubie Awards, an annual recognition ceremony for students and campus organizations.
“That was something really important to me, because, as an adult at different points in my life, I have experienced food insecurity, and I utilized the campus pantry when I was at Carroll Community. ODK had the platform for me to give back to the campus community here,” she said. “People have helped me in the past that don’t know who I am, and I want to be able to help people now, even If I don’t know who they are.”