---
title: Alumni Association News
date: 2026-05-20T10:16:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://terp.umd.edu/alumni-association-news-26"
section: Articles
---
# Alumni Association News

*May 20, 2026* — by [Alumni Association Staff](/authors/alumni-association-staff)


- *Illustration via Adobe Stock*


# Letter From the Senior Executive Director


*Jessica Roberts headshot*


**Jessica K. Roberts**

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





### The Alumni Excellence Awards

From fighting climate change to creating lifesaving medical technology, our alums are making a lasting impact. The Alumni Excellence Awards honor a select group whose achievements move the university, and the world, forward. Meet the 2026 awardees below and dive deeper into their stories at [alumni.umd.edu/excellence](https://alumni.umd.edu/about/the-alumni-excellence-awards).


## Forward for TOMORROW’S TRAILBLAZERS


This award honors alums who are expanding access to education, empowering the next generation of leaders and advancing innovation. Their work supports student success—from scholarships and experiential learning to mentorship and entrepreneurship—helping Terps thrive in an evolving world.

**M. JAYSSON EICHOLTZ ’99**  
*RETIRED COO, FORGE BIOLOGICS*  
Eicholtz is an operations professional who has developed labs and other physical spaces that help biotech and pharmaceutical companies create life-saving therapeutics.

**AMY NEUGEBAUER M.C.P. ’06**  
*EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE GIVING SQUARE*  
As founder and director of the nonprofit Giving Square, Neugebauer helps kids ages 7-14 shape their world through the power of altruism.

**LYRIC AMODIA MBA ’25**  
*FOUNDER AND CEO, THE MOVEMENT STREET*  
Amodia is the founder of The Movement Street, a nonprofit that inspires, equips and mobilizes lifelong volunteers through culture, creativity and community-based service.


## Forward for STRONGER COMMUNITIES


Maryland alums honor the spirit of connection, civic responsibility and creative impact. Through service, innovation, the arts and advocacy, these distinguished Terps are uniting communities, inspiring action and driving meaningful change on campus and around the world. They exemplify what it means to Do Good and do well.

**CHRISTOPHER KOPER ’88, M.A. ’92, PH.D. ’95**  
*PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINOLOGY, LAW AND SOCIETY, GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY*  
A pioneer in evidence-based crime policy, Koper created the globally used Koper Curve Principle to help police departments organize patrols in crime hot spots.

**MARIE BRODSKY ’24**  
*COFOUNDER AND CEO, WISE CONNECT*  
Brodsky launched the digital platform WISE Connect to create social opportunities for older Americans. It seeks to cut health risks, including dementia and stroke, associated with isolation.


## Forward for BOLD AND BRAVE SOLUTIONS


These alums are advancing knowledge, driving innovation and creating real-world solutions to society’s most urgent challenges. Whether through breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, quantum science, literacy or global health, these Terps are shaping a better, more equitable future by turning bold ideas into lasting impact.

**RAM SAMUDRALA PH.D. ’97**  
*PROFESSOR AND CHIEF, DIVISION OF BIOINFORMATICS, UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO*  
Samudrala invented a pioneering technique to predict disease treatments, analyzing how every drug interacts with every protein in the human body.

**JENNIFER JENKINS MBA ’16**  
*CHIEF SCIENCE OFFICER, RUBICON CARBON*  
A 2007 Nobel Prize recipient with former Vice President Al Gore, Jenkins fights climate change through innovation in the voluntary carbon market.

**LUKE T. KUES M.P.H. ’25**  
*EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER, TRUE COMMUNITY*  
Working to galvanize a “wellness revolution,” Kues founded True Community, which provides first aid and CPR certification in 20 American cities and in Africa.



**Promo** — The Alumni Association fosters TERRAPIN PRIDE by rallying alums through programs that merge passion and purpose. Make a gift now through the *Forward* campaign. <https://forward.umd.edu/priorities/terrapin-pride>


## The Maryland Awards


Each year, we honor the exceptional achievements of seven distinguished alums at A Celebration of Terps: Featuring the Maryland Awards. Presented during an intimate ceremony in November, these awards recognize Terps who have excelled in public service, launched innovative companies and made groundbreaking discoveries. Learn more at [alumni.umd.edu/maryland-awards](https://alumni.umd.edu/about/maryland-awards).

**FIRST LADY DAWN FLYTHE MOORE ’97**  
Hall of Fame Inductee

**BRENDAN IRIBE**  
President’s Award

**OMAR TARABISHI ’13 M.A. ‘21**  
Do Good Award

**JACKIE CARDELLO ’93**  
Tyser Gottwals Award

**MARGO THOMAS PH.D. ’90**  
Elaine Johnson Coates Award

**RITA R. COLWELL**  
Spirit of Maryland Award

**KEVIN TU ’23**  
Outstanding Young Alumnus Award




**Issue:** [Spring 2026](https://terp.umd.edu/editions/spring-2026)


**Types:** [Post-Grad](https://terp.umd.edu/category/post-grad)