Jay Arasan, Director, Individual Studies Program
Jay Arasan serves as the Director of the UMD 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 and Assistant 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.

Lori Praniewicz, Assistant Director
301-314-0023 | ljusie1@umd.edu
Lori Praniewicz is the Assistant Director of the Individual Studies Program. She has been with the program since 2011, serving first as Coordinator. Lori earned a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Science Education from the University of Maryland. She also earned a B.S. in Elementary Education from Towson University as well as a post-baccalaureate certificate in E-Learning from UMBC. A New Jersey native, Lori came to Maryland to pursue a teaching career and never left! At home, she lives with her husband and two daughters. Lori enjoys skiing, gardening, and spending time with her family.

Connie Li, Graduate Assistant
301-314-0023 | cyanlin@umd.edu
Connie Li (she/they) is the Graduate Assistant in the Individual Studies Program. She is a current MLIS student at the University of Maryland, College Park, concentrating in Archives & Digital Curation. An artist and writer raised in Georgia and currently living in Baltimore, their creative practice across multiple disciplines concerns our dynamic relationships to place, memory and embodied knowledge, and kin. Community gatherings and collaboration anchor her work as a trainee of the 2640 Space Collective, a student of herbalism and Chinese medicine, and a violinist/composer. They also write poetry, essays, and reviews of experimental performances and recorded music, found in I Care If You Listen, Burnaway, and Which Sinfonia.