Alumni Association News

I am deeply honored to write to you as the new senior executive director of the University of Maryland Alumni Association. This role is truly a dream come true for me. Maryland has given me so much: my education, my husband, Chad Roberts ’01, cherished friendships and a rewarding career for the past 15 years. I am overjoyed to give back to my alma mater in this new way.

My passion for our association and my fellow alums knows no bounds. It is the people I get to work with every day and the remarkable community of alums I’ve had the pleasure of meeting who inspire me daily.

As your new leader, I promise to reinforce the mission of the Alumni Association to be a partner and a resource for Terps everywhere to pursue excellence and impact in every stage of life. We are committed to:

• Helping you propel your career through enhanced professional programming and valuable corporate connections
• Empowering you to lead a life of meaning and impact with ongoing opportunities for lifelong learning
• Increasing the value of your membership with expanded benefits and more opportunities to make an impact
• Elevating the value of your degree by enhancing UMD’s reputation and rankings

I take great pride in the achievements of our Alumni Association and the incredible contributions of Maryland alums across the globe. My goal is to amplify the impact of Terps everywhere and to encourage each alum to contribute to our alma mater in at least one way each year. You can help strengthen our university by joining the association as a member or buying exclusive merchandise from our online store, attending an event or nominating a fellow alum for an award, or volunteering with a Terp network or contributing to our community service projects.

We have a shared responsibility to contribute to the university’s success and its legacy. Terps together stay fearless forever. I look forward to connecting with each and every one of you.

Jessica K. Roberts ’02
Senior Executive Director
University of Maryland Alumni Association

BROOKE PARKER ’14 & DAN ZAWACKI ’13
Hanover, Md.
Thanks to a floormate’s family tailgate over a decade ago, Homecoming is where Brooke Parker ’14 learned to pick a crab like a true Marylander. These days, she and her husband Dan Zawacki ’13 love strolling around campus at Homecoming, seeing what has changed and catching up with friends as they hop from tailgate to tailgate. But ultimately, they can’t wait to visit the spot on campus where they shared so many special memories—the Memorial Chapel gardens—and make new ones with their future Terp.

LADE GBOLADE ’21
Highland Park, N.J.
Sitting in the stadium stands and cheering on the football team is the No. 1 Homecoming tradition for Lade Gbolade ’21. This year, she is looking forward to the SEE Comedy Show, as well as reconnecting with the amazing friends she met through the Student Alumni Leadership Council. But her favorite memory? It was attending last year’s Division of Student Affairs Homecoming Leadership Celebration and commemorating the mark she and other student leaders have left on campus.

ANDREW STRING ’21
New York, N.Y.
For Andrew String ’21, Homecoming is the perfect opportunity to see all the changes at Maryland, whether new buildings, academic programs or student groups. Plus, it’s always fun to show his family and friends what his campus life was all about. He isn’t able to return to College Park this year, but plans to catch the game with fellow members of the New York Terps Alumni Network at Abbey Tavern, its official game-watch bar. He’s looking forward to connecting with recent grads and introducing them to the strong New York Terp community.

For more information on these events, visit alumni.umd.edu/homecoming.