---
title: Financial Wellness Center Hub Opens in McKeldin Library
date: 2026-05-06T05:30:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/financial-wellness-center-hub-opens-in-mckeldin-library"
section: Articles
---
# Financial Wellness Center Hub Opens in McKeldin Library

*May 6, 2026* — by [Carrie Handwerker](/author/carrie-handwerker)


> New Space Hosts Peer Mentoring, Workshops on Budgeting, Investing, Loans

*11 20260504 4 MRP3810 1920x1080 — The new Financial Wellness Hub in McKeldin Library includes spaces for workshops, group meetings and one-on-one mentoring sessions to prepare Terps to responsibly manage money, borrow, save and plan for the future. (Photos by Matt Ryb)*

Always financially savvy, Manasa Alur ’26 used to give her friends advice about scholarships, credit cards and other money issues in her residence hall lounge.

Now she's one of 10 trained peer mentors in the University of Maryland's new Financial Wellness Hub, an outpost of the Robert H. Smith School of Business’ Financial Wellness Center. The hub, located on the first floor of McKeldin Library, will reach students across campus with resources on budgeting, investing and financial planning through peer mentoring, classes and events.

A partnership with the Division of Student Affairs and University Libraries, it was made possible with financial support from Maryland’s State Employees Credit Union (SECU) as part of *Forward: The University of Maryland Campaign for the Fearless*, UMD’s $2.5 billion fundraising effort. Leaders from each UMD partner and SECU, plus Alur, spoke at the hub’s opening event on Monday.

“We are excited to see this space open and come to life as a central location for approachable, engaging discussions, workshops and events centered around financial education. It is so important to empower students to take ownership of their financial future—from their first year to graduation and beyond,” said Annie Weinschenk, who oversees SECU’s university partnerships. “Our goal is to arm students with the knowledge, tools, resources and, most importantly, confidence to make sound decisions and build healthy financial habits for long-term success.”

Having the Financial Wellness Hub in the library aligns with the university’s push to improve students’ information literacy across topics. “Spaces like this remind us that when institutions, campus partners, and businesses like SECU work together, we can create environments where every student feels supported and empowered to thrive,” said Holly Mercer, dean of University Libraries.


*Six people hold a discussion in a brightly painted room. — From left, Samuel Berner '28, Linh Nguyen '27 and Manasa Alur '26 talk with President Darryll J. Pines and Senior Vice President and Provost Jennifer King Rice at the hub's opening on Monday.*




**Topics:** [Campus & Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community)


**Tags:** [Student Experience](https://today.umd.edu/topic/student-experience)


**Units:** [University Libraries](https://today.umd.edu/topic/university-libraries), [Robert H. Smith School of Business](https://today.umd.edu/topic/robert-h-smith-school-business), [Division of Student Affairs](https://today.umd.edu/topic/division-student-affairs)