Our Alumni

                                                                                      Manisha Vepa ’18 is a Manager of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.- Korea and U.S.- Pakistan Business Councils, where she works to advance U.S.-Korea economic relations and U.S.- Pakistan economic relations. In this role, she advocates on behalf of U.S. pharmaceutical companies for greater regulatory transparency and predictability to improve access to innovative treatments and vaccines for US, Korean, and Pakistani consumers. Manisha has previously worked as a Contractor for SelectUSA at the Department of Commerce, helping foreign companies – including healthcare and biotech startups – identify possible locations for investments in the United States and understand healthcare and pharmaceutical regulations in the United States. She also worked as a researcher for Freedom House and worked on two annual indices: Freedom in the World, which reviewed political rights and civil liberties around the world, and Freedom on the Net, which measured internet freedom in 72 countries around the world.
Manisha graduated with a B.A. in Global Studies and a B.A. in Economics from UMBC in 2018. Through her Global Studies and Economics coursework, Manisha gained experience in conducting qualitative and quantitative research, which prepared her for the research roles she has held since graduating. She also developed public speaking skills and policy writing skills through her coursework and involvement in Model United Nations and Moot Court. After graduation, Manisha taught English in South Korea as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant before returning to Washington D.C. to complete her M.A. in International Economics and Korea Studies from Johns HopkinsSchool of Advanced International Studies. 
Since graduating from UMBC’s Global Studies program, I’ve pursued roles that have deepened my understanding of how culture and place shape identity in a globalized world. I’m currently serving as a Youth Ambassador at the USA Pavilion for the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Kansai, where I engage with international visitors on cultural exchange and shared global challenges. Prior to this, I spent six months in Canada on a working holiday, volunteering at a Japanese-Canadian assisted living facility on my days off—an experience that highlighted the enduring cultural ties and identity preservation within diaspora communities. Before that, I lived and worked for three years in northern Osaka Japan as an English language teacher at a public elementary school through the JET Program. During that time, I also volunteered with the TOMODACHI Initiative asan alumni regional representative for the Kansai region, bringing together Japanese alumni from various U.S.-Japan youth exchange programs to reconnect and explore their ties to American culture. The interdisciplinary and globally conscious education I received at UMBC, especially in cultural analysis and intercultural communication, has been foundational in helping me navigate and contribute meaningfully to these diverse spaces.