John Thode started going to UMD more than four decades ago, but "then life happened." As his dream of getting his degree is realized, his life's mission has taken shape. "It's not so much I want to be an artist, per se. It's 'I want to connect with people," he says.

The Individualized Integrated major program in UMD's College of Education and Human Service Professions was the right fit for Thode's unique path. Through his studies, Thode is making connections between psychology and art, specifically in relation to people experiencing homelessness.

Learn more about the Individualized Integrated B.I.S.