Alumni Association News

Letter From the Executive Director

The new coronavirus changed the lives of all of us this spring, including the Terp family here at the Alumni Association. We had to cancel events, shift operations from the office to our dining room tables and rethink what it means to work, network and stay connected.

Even in these challenging times, your Alumni Association remains uniquely positioned to connect you with fellow Terps, prepare you for new opportunities and strengthen your legacy and alma mater.

While we may not be together in person, we’ve expanded our already robust virtual programs, including:

• Webinars: Sharpen your skills in the kitchen, in the boardroom or on the yoga mat with webinars designed to help you advance personally and professionally.

• Virtual Book Club: Connect with fellow Terp readers on business, communications, leadership, productivity, fiction, leisure and more.

• Coursera: Learn something new by taking a free UMD class online.

• Online Directory: Find and connect with former classmates and friends.

• Alumni Blog: Read inspiring stories, professional advice and exciting updates from your fellow fearless alumni.

• Social Media: Find virtual throwback game watches, meet up with fellow Terps or just connect via Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

You can find these programs and more at alumni.umd.edu.

When we are able to gather again, trust that we will be ready with a diverse array of programs to appeal to our vibrant alumni community. For example, the Alumni Association outreach team is creating female-focused programming on topics such as leadership and career advancement. The upcoming initiative TerpsThrive will enable meaningful, virtual mentoring and support for alumnae.

I’m also excited to announce the new Jewish Alumni Network will be coming online soon, in partnership with Maryland Hillel. We foster the engagement of alums who share a race, religion and/or sexual orientation through other affinity networks including Asian Pacific American Alumni, Latinx Alumni, Muslim Alumni of Maryland, Black Alumni and Lambda Pride. You can expand your social circle—and boost your professional path—through their hundreds of annual networking and celebratory events. However you join us, we look forward to seeing you soon.

Amy Eichhorst

Assistant Vice President, Alumni Relations

Executive Director, University of Maryland Alumni Association

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Career Resources

Your Alumni Association is here to support your personal and professional advancement. We can connect you with others in your industry, provide career development and help you discover your passion. Get started with these programs and offerings:

TERRAPINS CONNECT

As a Terp, you have exclusive access to our digital networking and mentorship platform: Terrapins Connect. You can mentor the next generation of Terp leaders, get invaluable career advice or connect with Terps who can help you get hired. terrapinsconnect.umd.edu

TIPS FOR TERPS

Sign up for a new monthly e-newsletter that will share key resources that UMD provides to alumni and will keep you up-to-date on career trends. To start receiving this newsletter, email Ellie Geraghty at ellieg@umd.edu.

MARYLAND MASTER CLASS

The Alumni Association’s Maryland Master Class webinar series, a members-only benefit, can kick-start your career and professional development while broadening your network of Terp professionals—all from the comfort of your home. Learn more about the series and our bimonthly webinar program featuring noteable Terp alumni speakers. alumni.umd.edu/webinars

CAREERS FOR TERPS

A partnership with the University of Maryland Career Center, Careers4Terps is the primary online career management tool for students and alumni. Whether you’re looking for a job or to hire a Terp, Careers4Terps is a one-stop shop. careers.umd.edu/careers4terps

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New Conference Gives Startups 100 TEN Percent

Terp Entrepreneur Network Hosts Hundreds of Savvy Startup Terps

Photo by Lisa Helfert

More than 225 enterprising alumni, students and faculty gathered in March for the first EnTERPreneur Conference, co-hosted by the Terp Entrepreneur Network (TEN) and the Alumni Association.

During the daylong event, company founders mingled with successful business owners, advisers and potential investors to build connections and a deeper understanding of the ups and downs of startup life.

“We were able to offer this incredibly galvanizing experience for alumni who consider themselves innovative or enterprising with no regard to which college they graduated from,” says Sammy Popat ’02, campus connector and Discovery District manager for the university’s Office of Innovation and Economic Development.

“We’re finding there’s great excitement and interest in sharing resources and strategies.”

The conference offered panels on female entrepreneurs, technology ventures and social responsibility, which drew overwhelming interest and complemented the university’s role as the nation’s first Do Good campus.

Future TEN events may incorporate additional content about female founders, paths to financial and investment success and how to build successful partnerships.

For Shyon Parsadoust ’19, the conference offered a new opportunity to meet like-minded creatives and business owners. The founder of ToucanFamily (toucanfamily.com)—a web platform enabling college students to find freelance jobs in graphic design, photography and videography—donned a tropical Toucan shirt and went in hoping to pick up some new strategies.

He walked out with several prospective clients.

“There are so many incredible people who have graduated from Maryland,” Parsadoust said.

The conference also featured a TEN Resource Center, an Apple Genius Bar-style experience that allowed students and alumni to share their needs and desires with the TEN board.

As an undergraduate, Nikhil Balakumar ’14 struggled to find the support he craved to foster his innovator’s spirit. After seeing a university vision take shape, Balakumar, now principal at climate solutions company Greentel Group, has returned to lead TEN’s board.

“We really want Terp entrepreneurs to feel heard and that we’re actively working with each and every one of them to discover and unleash their entrepreneurial goals,” he says. —KIMBERLY MARSELAS ’00