Staff Directory

Jay Arasan, Director, Fellows and Individual Studies Program
301-314-1130 | jarasan@umd.edu
Jayakumar Arasan serves as the Director of the Fellows Program and Individual Studies Program at the University of Maryland. With over a decade of experience at UMD, Jay previously held the role of Associate Director, where he played a pivotal role in the expansion and success of the Fellows Program. Under his leadership, the program now includes Federal, Global, and Maryland-focused components, providing students with enriching academic and hands-on experiences in public service. Before joining the University of Maryland in 2014, Jay’s diverse career spanned roles in international training and diplomacy. He served as a training manager at the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and worked as a diplomatic sales consultant in New York City. His global perspective and leadership continue to be valuable assets to the university community. In addition to his work with the Fellows Program, Jay also oversees the Individual Studies Program (IVSP), guiding students in designing their own interdisciplinary majors in collaboration with faculty mentors. Jay holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master’s in Information Technology from University Utara Malaysia, bringing both leadership and technical expertise to his role.

Sam Briglia, Operations Manager
301-314-0261 | sbriglia@umd.edu
Sam Briglia graduated from the University of Maryland in May 2023 with a B.A. in Public Policy and a minor in Spanish Literature, Linguistics, and Culture. He is an alumnus of the Energy and Environmental Policy concentration in the program's Federal branch. As an undergraduate student, Sam interned for the Maryland General Assembly and the US Department of Energy. He also has work experience from the Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation. In his free time, he enjoys biking and cooking.

Sabrina LaBold, Academic & Student Affairs Manager
301-405-6092 | slabold@umd.edu
Sabrina LaBold graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park in May 2023 with a B.A. in Government & Politics and Environmental Science & Policy with a concentration in Environmental Economics. She is an alumna of the 2022 Energy and Environmental Policy concentration in the Federal branch. She has previously worked as a program assistant and program associate for the UMD Fellows Program and as a teaching assistant for the GVPT department. She has internship experience at the Embassy of Spain, U.S. House of Representatives, and working in government affairs for a global organization. Sabrina is passionate about environmental and sustainability-based policy issues. She enjoys exploring the outdoors and is an avid reader.