Class Notes

Monica McNutt M.Jour. ’13 and Justin Jackson wedding photo

Monica McNutt M.Jour. ’13 wed Justin Jackson on Aug. 17 at the Conrad hotel in Washington. (Photo by Terri Baskin Photography)

Fall 2024 Class Notes

’10s

Heewon Lee ’16 joined the Los Angeles office of Blank Rome LLP as an associate in the General Litigation practice group. She most recently worked at Larson LLP and has experience representing clients in matters involving business transactions, fraud, securities, tax, bankruptcy, government investigations, and labor and employment actions. Lee received her J.D. with honors from the George Washington University Law School.

Alex Davidson

Alex Davidson ’15 was appointed senior director of public affairs of the National Turkey Federation. He last held this role at the Beer Institute, and previously was the communications director for the late U.S. Rep. Paul Mitchell (R-Mich.) and worked in a variety of roles for Reps. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas) and Mike Bost (R-Ill.).

M.K. Foster MFA ’15 was selected for the 2024-25 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award in Creative Writing to the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University, Belfast, U.K. She is a writer, historian of science and educator from Alabama. A 2024 MacDowell Fellow in Literature, Foster holds a Ph.D. in Renaissance studies from the University of Alabama, and her work has appeared or is forthcoming in The American Poetry Review, The Gettysburg Review, Narrative, Kenyon Review, The Spenser Review and elsewhere.

Simone Lee

Simone Lee ’15 of Merrill Wealth Management in Bedminster, N.J., was named the 100,000th certified financial professional in the U.S. The milestone marks the highest number of CFP professionals, who represent about one-third of retail financial advisers. She is an immigrant from Jamaica who transitioned from a career in IT. In 2019, Lee joined her mother's practice as a financial adviser.

Ryan Harshman ’14, audit senior manager at the accounting and advisory firm Brown Plus, graduated from Leadership Frederick County in Maryland. The nine-month program aims to develop and enhance the leadership skills of individuals who are active in the community. He serves as treasurer for techfrederick as well as his local church and is a member of the Budget and Capital Improvement Projects Committee for the town of Myersville and ­the Rotary Club of Carroll Creek.

Elia Powers

Elia Powers Ph.D. ’14 wrote his first book, “Performing the News: Identity, Authority, and the Myth of Neutrality” (Rutgers University Press). It explores how journalists from historically marginalized groups have long felt pressure to conform when performing for audiences and are increasingly challenging restrictive, supposedly neutral forms of self-presentation. She is an associate professor of mass communication at Towson University.

Ryan McCarthy

Ryan McCarthy MBA ’13 was appointed to the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors by Gov. Glenn Youngkin. He was U.S. secretary of the army from 2019 to 2021. McCarthy served in the 75th Ranger Regiment during the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and was later inducted into the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame. McCarthy’s private-sector career includes working at HSBC and at Lockheed Martin, where as a vice president, he was responsible for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.

Monica McNutt M.Jour. ’13 wed Justin Jackson on Aug. 17 at the Conrad hotel in Washington. She is a basketball commentator for MSG Networks and ESPN. He is the director of basketball operations for the National Basketball Players Association. They met at the NBA Draft combine. Read The New York Times “Mini-Vows” article on them.

Michele Hayes Dinterman ’12, a partner at the Baltimore law firm of Niles, Barton & Wilmer, was named one of The (Baltimore) Daily Record’s 2024 Leading Women Under 40. The list celebrates women who are 40 years old or younger for their professional accomplishments.

Michael Drayne

Michael Drayne M.P.M. ’13 was appointed senior vice president for capital markets at the Housing Policy Council. He served from 2018-23 as senior vice president for strategic planning and policy at Ginnie Mae, and before that held senior management and business division head roles at regional banking institutions, focusing on mortgage banking.

Melany Rabideau ’12, M.P.H. ’16 was recognized as one 42 Health Care Leaders Under 40 for 2024 by Becker’s Hospital Review. She is the founder and head of Optum Match at UnitedHealth Group, based in Minnetonka, Minnesota, which matches patients with clinicians based on shared values. She also adjunct-teaches and supports academic institutions internationally.

Juan Duque

Juan Duque ’11, assistant professor and chair of psychology at Arcadia University, was appointed to its board of trustees. He completed a master’s and doctorate from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the Neuroscience and Behavior program. Duque joined the faculty at Arcadia in 2018.

Joe Engbert

Joe Engbert ’11, ’12 joined Alliant Insurance Services as senior vice president within its Alliant Americas division. He was previously partner and senior vice president at a national insurance brokerage and consulting firm and has experience working as a risk analyst in a wide range of industries.

Christine Mahan Ph.D. ’10, chief of staff and vice president for planning and effectiveness at Eastern University, was selected by City & State Pennsylvania as one its 2024 Trailblazers in Higher Education. Mahan has been with Eastern for almost 15 years, initially as the associate provost for institutional effectiveness. She earned an M.A. in English from the University of Iowa and her B.A. in English and rhetoric from the University of Illinois.

Andrew Gonnella ’11 MBA ’17 was named chief executive officer of Urban Umbrella, which provides modern sidewalk scaffolding solutions. He had been involved with the company as an investor since 2017, serving as a strategic advisor since early 2024 and as its chief commercial officer since April.

Jason T. Mastronardi

Jason T. Mastronardi ’11 joined Hilton Capital Management as an equity analyst. He focuses on small and midcap opportunities strategy. Prior to this, he was a director and senior equity investment analyst at Bank of America and a portfolio manager at Bank of America's Private Bank. He is also a CFA charterholder.

Arielle Mortimer

Arielle Mortimer ’11 was appointed chief operating officer at mental health provider Spring Health. She most recently held that role at Heyday, a skin care company, and previously worked as senior vice president of operations at Kindbody, a women’s wellness company.

Laura Hamilton

Laura Hamilton ’11 was named senior vice president of Performance Trust. She most recently served as vice president of corporate services at OTC Markets Group.

Kimberly Sullivan

Kimberly Sullivan MBA ’10 was named co‑managing director and principal of the D.C. office of the global architecture firm Gensler. She is an 11-year veteran of the firm; her career spans decades in the commercial, hospitality and workplace sectors, and she previously worked at D.C. design consultancy OPX and architecture firm Perkins Eastman.

’00s

Shiron Lindsay

Shiron Lindsay ’09, an instructional technology specialist for Baltimore City Public Schools who also rehabs city homes to sell to people in need, was named one of The (Baltimore) Daily Record’s 2024 Leading Women Under 40. The list celebrates women who are 40 years old or younger for their professional accomplishments.

Meagan O. O'Neill

Meagan O. O'Neill ’09, ’09 was hired as executive director of the Association of Cancer Care Centers, which represents over 1,700 cancer programs across the country and over 40,000 members of the cancer care team. She previously co-led the Oncology Services Practice for ECG Management Consultants.

William McClain DMA ’09 was named music director of the Columbus Symphony. He has performed in major venues across the U.S. and abroad, including the Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and the Sheremetev Palace in St. Petersburg. He plays viola in the Augusta Symphony Orchestra and the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra, and is a former member of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra and the Tri-Cities Opera Orchestra. An associate professor of music at Illinois’ Millikin University, he will also be starting his fifth year as music director and conductor of the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra this year.

Mark Selig

Mark Selig ’09 was promoted to sports assignment editor at The Washington Post, overseeing coverage of the Commanders, Wizards, Mystics, local women’s college basketball and high school sports. He joined The Post in 2017 and previously worked at The Baltimore Sun, Columbia Missourian and the Daily News-Record (Harrisonburg, Va.). He earned a master's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri.

Sarah TeDesco

Sarah TeDesco ’09 was promoted from executive vice president to chief operating officer at DonorSearch, which provides fundraising intelligence and prospect research for the nonprofit sector.

Adam Cohn ’08 was appointed chief financial officer for VSE Corp., a provider of aftermarket distribution and repair services. He most recently served in that role for Valence Surface Technologies, an aerospace supplier, and previously held numerous senior leadership roles with Triumph. He holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Ron Keesing

Ron Keesing MBA ’08 was promoted to chief AI officer at Leidos. Since joining the company in 2004, he has served as founding director of the Leidos AI Accelerator and most recently as senior vice president of technology integration.

Nathan Rutledge

Nathan Rutledge ’08 was appointed senior vice president and head of investor relations at Amentum, a global engineering and technology solutions provider. Most recently, he served as principal and head of investor relations at Booz Allen Hamilton; he also held various finance roles at Navient Corp. Rutledge holds an MBA from Georgetown University.

Ahmed Abdel-Saheb

Ahmed Abdel-Saheb ’07, ’07 joined Signal Hill, a lower-middle market private equity firm, as managing director, based in Washington, D.C. Previously, he was a partner at Godspeed Capital and an investment banking vice president at Greenhill & Co. He received an MBA from the University of Chicago.

Alexandra P. Moylan ’06, an attorney and shareholder at Baker Donelson in Baltimore, earned the Artificial Intelligence Governance Professional credential from the International Association of Privacy Professionals. It demonstrates an individual’s knowledge in promoting transparency, trust and safety in developing and deploying AI systems. She represents major medical systems, health care providers, life science companies, and other businesses, advising them on governance and risk management policies specific to AI.

Andrew Robert

Andrew Robert MBA ’06 was promoted to president of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. He had served as chief operating officer for more than three years. In 2023, Roberts was honored as a Top 100 Chief Operating Officer by the OnCon Icon Awards. He holds degrees in marketing and information technology from Florida State University.

Heidi Walsh MBA ’06 joined Goldman Sachs Asset & Wealth Management as a managing director in retirement solutions, leading client engagement with institutional D.C. plan sponsors. Before this, she was a senior sales director within the Global Investment Services Group at T. Rowe Price. Walsh earned her bachelor’s degree from Hood College.

Regina (Muhammad) Webb

Regina (Muhammad) Webb ’06, a Baltimore-based community program manager for Kaiser Permanente, was named one of The (Baltimore) Daily Record’s 2024 Leading Women Under 40. The list celebrates women who are 40 years old or younger for their professional accomplishments. She also serves as board member for Baltimore Healthy Start, an organization that works to address the needs of high-risk women and their families before, during and after pregnancy.

Thomas Van Valkenburgh MBA ’05 was appointed president and chief executive officer of LBB Specialties, a distributor of specialty chemicals and ingredients. He came from Kerry Group, where he was president of the specialty chemicals business, prior to which he was president of IMCD U.S.

Tiana Wynn ’05, ’05 was elected president of the board of directors of The Arc Baltimore. She joined the board in 2019 and previously won the organization’s President’s Cup for providing exemplary service. She is a partner at SB & Company, one of the country’s largest minority public accounting firms, and earned an MBA from Loyola College in Maryland.

Jeanelle Johnson ’04 was promoted to managing partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP's D.C. office. She oversees more than 2,400 employees, including 250 partners. Johnson has spent nine years at PwC and was previously at Deloitte for nearly 10 years. She is also a board member for the mentoring and academic support nonprofit Higher Achievement, sits on the Ambassador’s Council for N Street Village, a nonprofit that supports women experiencing homelessness in D.C., and is a member of the Economic Club of Washington D.C.

Sean P. O’Connor ’04 was named to the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers (Employment Law—Management; Litigation—Labor and Employment). The guide highlights the top 5% of practicing attorneys in the United States, covering more than 148 practice areas. It’s compiled based on a peer-review survey, in which attorneys cast more than 9.4 million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas.

Ashok Veeraraghavan

Ashok Veeraraghavan M.S. ’04, Ph.D. ’08, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Rice University, was awarded the Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Engineering from the Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science and Technology, one of the state’s highest academic honors. The O’Donnell Awards are given annually to star researchers in the state who are engaged in pathbreaking work in medicine, engineering, biological sciences, physical sciences and technology innovation. Veeraraghavan was recognized for his group’s “revolutionary imaging technology that seeks to make the invisible visible.”

The Lone Arranger: Succeeding in a Small Repository book cover

Christina Zamon M.A. ’04, M.L.S. ’04, head of Special Collections and Archives at Georgia State University, was elected a fellow of the Society of American Archivists, an honor given to seven individuals in 2024. The society published her book “The Lone Arranger: Succeeding in a Small Repository,” in 2012, and it was updated and expanded in May 2024 as “Alone in the Stacks: Succeeding as a Solo Archivist.”

Jennifer Bragg

Jennifer Bragg ’03 joined Latham & Watkins LLP’s health care and life sciences practice in the Washington, D.C. office. She previously served in the Food and Drug Administration's Office of the Chief Counsel as associate chief counsel. Bragg received a J.D. with honors from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.

Marvalee Bascus Leslie

Marvalee Bascus Leslie ’03 joined the board of trustees of Brooklyn Children’s Museum. She is vice president of loyalty marketing membership activation at American Express in the U.S. Consumer Services Business.

Madieu Williams

Madieu Williams ’03 joined Eagle Title as a settlement officer. He previously worked in corporate and nonprofit organizations,and has an MBA from the University of Maryland Global Campus and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law. His Madieu Williams Foundation focuses on education and health for underprivileged youth both in the United States and in Sierra Leone. Williams is a board member of the Elizabeth Seton High School in Prince George's County, MD, Bennett College in Greensboro, NC and Building Empowerment Pathways.

Ross A. Berman

Ross A. Berman ’02 was hired as senior vice president, commercial team lead in the Rockville market of John Marshall Bank. He most recently served as a senior vice president, commercial loan officer for Forbright Bank. Berman serves as treasurer of the Board for Interfaith Works and Rock Spring Children’s Center, both Maryland-based nonprofits.

Jeff Brewster

Jeff Brewster ’02, director of infrastructure at SS&C Advent/Black Diamond Wealth Platform, was named an Ultimate Tech Leader by the Jacksonville Business Journal.

Elizabeth Drori ’02 was named chief marketing officer of slip-on footwear brand Kizik. She came from Sperry, where she served as global chief marketing officer and general manager of the Sperry e-commerce business. Before that, she headed up marketing for Walmart's fashion business and held roles at Converse and Boston Consulting Group. Drori received her MBA from Harvard Business School.

Alan Henry ’02 was hired as managing editor of PCMag. He came from Wired magazine, where he was director of special projects, and was previously Smarter Living editor at The New York Times and editor in chief of Lifehacker. He is also the author of the book “Seen, Heard, and Paid: The New Work Rules for the Marginalized.” Henry holds an MBA from the University of Maryland Global Campus.

Joseph Stecher

Joseph Stecher ’02 is the new president and CEO of Third Party International, an aviation and aerospace component manufacturing and consulting service, bringing a background in engineering and operations. His previous roles include director of operations at Helix Steel. He has a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

Dave Melson ’01 was selected for promotion to the rank of captain in the Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps and was assigned as legal advisor to the Office of Naval Intelligence.

Naseema Shafi

Naseema Shafi ’00 was named to the Washington Business Journal 2024 Women Who Mean Business list, which recognizes the region's most influential women. She has been the CEO of Whitman-Walker Health, one of the nation’s oldest LGBTQ health centers, since 2019. She holds a law degree from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and is a board member of the Center for Medicare Advocacy, the DC Primary Care Association and the Connected Care Network.

Hadar Susskind

Hadar Susskind ’01, president of Americans for Peace Now, was named to Washingtonian magazine’s list of 50 Most Influential People 0f 2024. He is a leading progressive in the Jewish community who during Israel’s war with Hamas, has urged Israel to “choose the side of humanity” in protecting civilians.

Pradeep Sharma

Pradeep Sharma Ph.D. ’00 was promoted to dean of the University of Houston’s Cullen College of Engineering. He is the Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished University Professor and has served on the college’s faculty for 20 years, most recently as interim dean. He also served as chair of the college’s mechanical engineering department for 12 years.

K. Venu Venugopal MBA ’00 was appointed chief operating officer at MaxVal Group, a provider of intellectual property management solutions. Most recently, he was global head of product management at NICE Actimize. He also held leadership roles at Knovel and CA Technologies.

’90s

Tricia Bishop

Tricia Bishop ’99 was promoted to managing editor of The Baltimore Sun. She had been director of opinion and features content since 2019. She started as a features editorial assistant at The Sun after graduating from UMD and worked as a reporter, editorial writer, columnist and op-ed page editor.

Michelle Bimson Maggi

Michelle Bimson Maggi ’99 joined Ferrellgas’ leadership team as vice president of corporate affairs. Bimson Maggi has decades of experience within the propane industry and was the first female chair of the National Propane Gas Association’s board of directors. She received her Juris Doctor from Widener University.

Sach Sankpal M.S. ’99 was promoted from senior vice president and chief growth and transformation officer to president of Acuity Brands Lighting and Lighting Controls.

Jeremy Steinberg

Jeremy Steinberg ’99 joined Tower Partners, a lower-middle market investment bank, as a director and chief operating officer. He is a former managing partner of Baltimore-based Antson Advisors and is an adjunct faculty professor in the master’s program at the Alex. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Jeffrey Strenkowski

Telecommunications attorney Jeffrey Strenkowski ’99 joined Troutman Pepper’s Washington, D.C., office as a partner in the energy practice. He came from Uniti Group, a real estate investment trust company, where he served as vice president and deputy general counsel of government affairs. Strenkowski earned his J.D. from American University.

Sonia Chase

Sonia Chase ’98, president and chief executive officer of the nonprofit Chase Your Dreams Academy, was awarded the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from the Teachers Festival for her efforts to improve the quality of life for at-risk youth. She is a former WNBA player and former manager and senior consultant at Deloitte.

Rani Al-Mashat

Rani Al-Mashat M.A. ’98, Ph.D. ’03 was appointed Egypt’s minister of planning and international cooperation. She was most recently the minister of International Cooperation and served as the first female minister of tourism. She also worked at the Central Bank of Egypt as the sub-governor for monetary policy and at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C.

Elizabeth “Beth” Joffrion

Elizabeth “Beth” Joffrion M.L.S. ’97, director of archives and special collections at Western Washington University Libraries, was inducted as a fellow of the Society of American Archivists. She holds a master's degree in American history and archives and records management from the University of New Orleans; she previously held positions at the Smithsonian Institution’s Archives of American Art, National Portrait Gallery, North Carolina State Archives and Historic New Orleans Collection.

Christopher Jones Ph.D. ‘97 was elected to the board of Norfolk Southern Corp. He is a former corporate vice president and president of the technology services sector of Northrop Grumman Corp.

Alex Bryer

Alex Bryer ’96, a financial adviser at Snowden Lane Partners’ Riverstone Capital Wealth Group, was recognized by AdvisorHub in its ranking of 2024 Advisors.

Marc Russo

Marc Russo MBA ’96 was named to the board of Ophelia, an opioid addiction treatment provider. Most recently, Russo served as executive vice president of Medicaid plans at Molina. Before then, Russo was president of Medicare at Anthem and held leadership roles at WellCare Health Plans, Blue Shield California, UnitedHealthcare/PacificCare/SecureHorizons and Oxford Health Plans.

David Afshar

David Afshar ’95 was tapped to serve as interim chief financial officer at American Oncology Network. He replaced Dave Gould ’96 in the role.

Cava Group CEO Brett Schulman ’95 and his partners—including former UMD student Ted Xenochirstos—received the Legendary SWaN Award from SWaN & Legend Venture Partners. The original Mediterranean fast-casual brand opened its original full-service restaurant in 2006 and its first fast-casual restaurant in 2011. As of June, Cava counted 337 restaurants in 25 states and the District of Columbia.

Dan Freiman

Dan Freiman ’94, MBA ’04 was named chief financial officer at West Monroe, a management and technology consulting firm. Based in Washington, D.C., Freiman joins the firm from JSI, a telecom-focused consultancy, where he spent four years as CFO. Before that, he spent nearly 20 years with NII Holdings (Nextel), a publicly held telecom company operating in Latin America, most recently as CFO.

Tanya LeRoith

Tanya LeRoith ’94, D.V.M. ’99 is the new director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. She is keeping her previous position as director of the Virginia Tech Animal Laboratory Service (ViTALS). LeRoith is also president-elect of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians. She also earned a doctorate in microbiology/pathology from Washington State University and an MBA from Radford University.

photo ofSt John JM web

Jason St. John ’94, managing partner at Saul Ewing, was named among The Baltimore Business Journal’s 2024 Leaders in Diversity. He is also chair of the board of trustees of the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore and an active member of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity.

Robert “Bobby” Parks

Robert “Bobby” Parks ’94 was appointed chief accounting officer at Fortrea, a global contract research organization. Most recently, Parks served as CAO at SailPoint Technologies Holdings, a leader in identity security software.

Ronald Rowe Jr.

Ronald Rowe Jr. ’94 was promoted from deputy to acting director of the U.S. Secret Service after Kimberly Cheatle announced her resignation in the wake of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. A 24-year veteran of the agency, he is now responsible for leading the more than 7,800 special agents, uniformed division officers and technical law enforcement officers, as well as administrative and technical staff.

Mohamed Abdel-Mottaleb

Mohamed Abdel-Mottaleb Ph.D. ’93 was named the founding chair of the new Department of Computer Science at the Indiana University Luddy School of Informatics, Computing and Engineering. Previously, he served 15 years as professor and chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Miami.

Carolyn Goolsby

Carolyn Goolsby MLS ’93 was named dean of the Omak campus of Wenatchee Valley College in Washington State. She previously served as director of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Kuskokwim Campus, Before then, Goolsby worked extensively in public libraries in Alaska, Indiana, and Alberta, Canada. Her higher education experience includes administrative and faculty roles at Florida State University, Greenville Technical College in South Carolina and Clemson University.

Chris Bakewell

Chris Bakewell MBA ’93 joined the Intellectual property practice of Charles River Associates, a Boston-headquartered management consultancy. Bakewell brings 30 years of experience, including 17 at Kroll (formerly Duff & Phelps), where he was managing director and leader of the IP advisory services practice. He has a bachelor’s degree in finance from Bradley University.

Sylvia Bigio

Sylvia Bigio ’93 joined the board of PRISA, a business group for the creation and distribution of education, news and entertainment content in the Spanish-speaking markets. A dual Peruvian-U.S. citizen, she is an analyst and portfolio manager specializing in Latin American companies and finance. Since 2012, she has worked at the New York office of Itaú Asset Management.

Paul Carlson ’93, CEO and co-founder, and Thomas Fautrel ’03, president and co-founder of Seventy2 Capital Wealth Management, were named among Forbes’ 2024 Best-in-State Wealth Advisors.

Andrew Sears

Andrew Sears Ph.D. ’93 was appointed provost and senior vice president at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He was most recently professor and dean of the School of Information Studies at Syracuse University, and before that held similar roles at Penn State University for about eight years. He earned a B.S. in computer science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Ph.D. in computer science with an emphasis on human-computer interaction from UMD.

Ken Sharp

Ken Sharp ’93 was appointed executive vice president and chief financial officer of Peraton. He most recently served as executive vice president and CFO at DXC Technology, and before then as CFO of Northrop Grumman’s Defense Systems sector. He holds an Executive MBA from George Washington University and served in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves.

Brett Kleger

Brett Kleger ’92 was appointed chief executive officer of Inspire, an online health community and real-world data platform. He was most recently CEO of Datacubed Health and chief commercial officer and chief operating officer at DrugDev. Kleger holds a Juris Doctor from the Villanova School of Law.

Jonathan L. Lewis

Antitrust and consumer protection attorney Jonathan L. Lewis ’92, M.P.M. ’93 joined Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP as counsel in its Washington, D.C., office. He previously worked at Lowenstein Sandler LLP and earned his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School, cum laude.

Eugene J. Bredow

Eugene J. Bredow ’91, president and CEO of NVR, was named to Virginia Business’ Power 50 of the state’s most powerful executives. He joined NVR, one of the country’s largest homebuilding and mortgage banking companies, which operates under the Ryan Homes, NVHomes and Heartland Homes brands, in 2004. He also serves on the Robert H. Smith School of Business’ board of advisers.

Christopher J. Griffith

Christopher J. Griffith M.S. ’91 was promoted to CEO of engineering firm KCI Technologies. He joined the company in 1997 and most recently served as president and chief operating officer. Griffith has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and other master’s degrees in business administration and ocean engineering from Boston University and the University of Hawaii, respectively. Additionally, he is a registered professional engineer in four states, certified construction manager, and previously a U.S. Navy diver.

Nestor Benavides

Nestor Benavides ’90 was named to the strategic advisory board at Partner Engineering and Science. He led EMG Corp. as CEO for 12 years then was CEO of Bureau Veritas’ Building Assessments & Project Management Group.

Bruno Brun

Bruno Brun MBA ’90 joined Humanetics as vice president of global operations. His experience in complex manufacturing businesses includes work at Essen Biosciences, Visteon, Karmann, TRW, Johnson Controls and Meritor as well as a global perspective, having worked in France, China, Spain, Italy, India and Mexico.

Rob Dyson ’90 was tapped to lead the government contracting and information technology practice at the Freedom Bank of Virginia. He was most recently a senior vice president and market executive at Capital One, and before that, a vice president for credit at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Raul Fernandez

Raul Fernandez ’90, president and CEO of DXC Technology, was named to Virginia Business’ Power 50 of the state’s most powerful executives. He joined DXC in 2020, following a long career in tech. He founded Proxicom, an e-commerce company, in 1991, and was later CEO of Dimension Data North America and then CEO of ObjectVideo, which Alarm.com acquired in 2017. Fernandez also is a vice chairman of Monumental Sports & Entertainment and a co-owner of the Washington Capitals, Washington Wizards and Washington Mystics, as well as an alternative governor for the NBA Board of Governors and a director on Broadcom’s board.

Chris Halkyard

Chris Halkyard ’90 joined Ox, a pioneer in human-centered automation technology, as its chief operations officer. His career includes executive roles at Gilt.com, Toys"R"Us, BarkBox and Blue Apron.

Rodney Jones-Tyson

Rodney Jones-Tyson ’90 was elected to the board of directors of Associated Banc-Corp. He is the global chief human resources officer of Robert W. Baird & Co., a privately held, employee-owned financial services company based in Milwaukee.

Scott Ralls

Scott Ralls M.A. ’90, Ph.D. ’97, president of Wake Technical Community College, was named to Business North Carolina’s Power List 2024, recognizing the state’s 500 most influential people. He has spearheaded initiatives that bridge the gap between education and workforce needs, ensuring students are equipped with the skills necessary to thrive in the job market.

’80s

Kenneth J. Colaianne ’89 was promoted to vice president of marketing at Brethren Mutual Insurance Co. He joined the company in 2018 as director of marketing and previously worked for Grangers Mutual Insurance Co., USF&G, St. Paul Insurance Co., Travelers, BB&T Insurance Services and Frederick Mutual Insurance Co.

Jim Carroll

Jim Carroll M.Arch. ’89 was promoted to vice president of Facilities Management at Auburn University. He previously served as the university architect from 2011 to 2017, where he led a team managing more than 13 million square feet of space and a capital project program exceeding $1.1 billion. Prior to rejoining Auburn, Carroll served as the associate vice chancellor and university architect at the University of California, Davis.

Steve Hoffman

Steve Hoffman ’89 was named to the AFCEA (Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association) International Executive Committee. He is president of Fortinet Federal, a provider of cybersecurity platforms for federal agencies.

Sanjoy Paul Ph.D. ’88 was appointed executive director of the new Rice Nexus, an innovation factory for prototyping, testing and launching new ventures by Rice University faculty and students. Before joining Rice, he led global R&D initiatives at Accenture and previously worked at Bell Labs, Wipro and Infosys. He is a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and has 95 patents. Paul holds a bachelor’s degree in electronics from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, a doctorate in electrical engineering from UMD and an MBA from the Wharton Business School.

Carissa L. Rodeheaver

Carissa L. Rodeheaver ’88 was named to The Daily Record’s 2024 Banking & Financial Services Power List, recognizing movers in the industry in Maryland. She is the chairman, president and CEO of First United Bank & Trust. She was elected to a two-year term as treasurer to the American Banking Association in 2022 and is very active in the Maryland Bankers Association.

Sarbari Gupta

Sarbari Gupta M.S. ’87, Ph.D. ’92, CEO of Electrosoft Services, a cybersecurity and IT solutions firm, was awarded the 2024 Women in Technology Leadership Award for Small Business/Entrepreneur. She began her career as a technologist with entrepreneurial aspirations, founding Electrosoft in 2001.

Debra Cammer Hines ’87, M.P.M. ’92 joined Abt Global as chief solutions officer. She has held leadership positions at IBM and major consulting firms such as EY and PwC. Early in her career, she also worked in the U.S. Office of Management and Budget.

Dawn Hunter, Cristina M. Giannantoni and Steven R. Miller

Dawn Hunter Ph.D. '87, a professor of teaching at Chapman University for 30 years, retired in May. She is flanked in this retirement party photo by fellow Terps Cristina M. Giannantoni '80, MBA '82, Ph.D. '88, a professor of human resources management at Chapman, and Steven R. Miller '82, COO/CSO of Catalyst Pharmaceuticals, and the husband of Roxanne Greitz Miller, dean of the Attallah College of Educational Studies.

Brad Weingart

Brad Weingart ’87, a senior wealth advisor at Wilmington Trust, was named to Forbes' Best-in-State Wealth Advisor list for Pennsylvania for 2024. He also serves as a committee member for the Jewish Community Center in Margate, N.J. and has served as trustee and board member for the Jewish Community Foundation in Cherry Hill, N.J.

Craig P. Abod

Craig P. Abod ’86, president and founder of Carahsoft Technology, was named to Virginia Business’ Power 50 of the state’s most powerful executives. He started the privately owned IT and cybersecurity solutions provider in 2004; it landed at No. 45 on Forbes’ 2023 list of the nation’s largest private companies, with $11 billion in revenue and 2,470 employees. The company is one of two firms modernizing federal payroll services under a U.S. General Services Administration contract.

Joseph G. “Jay” Baldwin

Joseph G. “Jay” Baldwin ’86 was named to the board of directors of the Bank of Glen Burnie. He has served as president and CEO of Reliable Contracting Co. since 2002; his family founded the company in 1928. He has served in leadership positions with the Maryland Highway Contractors Association, Associated Builders and Contractors—Chesapeake Shores Chapter, Anne Arundel Utility Contractors Association, Maryland Asphalt Association and National Associated Builders and Contractors. His family played a pivotal role in financing and building the School of the Incarnation, and he served on the Foundation Board of Anne Arundel Medical Center for 10 years and on the Building Campaign Committee for Hospice of the Chesapeake.

“The 20 Greatest Moments in New York Sports History,” by journalists Todd Ehrlich ’86 (a five-time Emmy winner) and New York Times bestselling author Gary Myers, is nearing its second printing. It features over 100 original interviews and previously unreleased information to share why these moments are so special and the reason we still talk about them today, from Willis Reed hobbling onto the count before Game 7 against the Lakers in the 1970 NBA Finals to Tiger Woods dominating Bethpage’s “Black Course” to win the 2002 U.S. Open. Ehrlich is also president and executive producer of T-Line TV, which produced Maryland’s basketball and football tapes.

Bryan Davenport

Bryan Davenport ’85 was part of the Gateway Mortgage team recognized among the Top 50 Mortgage Companies in America 2023 by Mortgage Executive Magazine. Gateway ranked No. 30 based on total yearly mortgage volume.

Philip Hosmer '84 presented at the International Union of Forest Research Organizations' Global Congress in Stockholm in May. Founder and executive director of Maryland nonprofit Nature Worx, he discussed findings from a research study that documented the efficacy of its nature therapy programs on improving mental health and preventing substance use disorder.

For the third straight year, Rick Rudman ’84 was named a Real Estate Newsmaker by RISMedia, a recognition of top leaders in the industry. He is CEO of Curbio, which provides home repairs and improvements for Realtors getting homes ready for market.

Washington Post personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary ’84 received a Salute to Excellence award from the National Association of Black Journalists. She took first place in the commentary/essay category for large newsrooms for two of her nationally syndicated "Color of Money" columns, “Our Kids Don’t Want Our Paid-off Hours—or Our Ashes” and “Crypto Is Not the Key to Black Generational Wealth.”

Howard W. Kingsley ’83 joined Tannenbaum Helpern as a partner Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice. He has extensive expertise in New York and federal courts in real estate, commercial, and construction litigation involving mortgage foreclosures, commercial leasing disputes, fraudulent transfers, specific performance, recourse and nonrecourse guarantees, joint venture disputes and owner/contractor disputes.

Rose Mince

Rose Mince ’83, Ph.D. ’94 became Carroll Community College’s president. She joined the college in 2017 and served in positions including associate president, provost, vice president of academic and student affairs, and dean of the faculty. She also has a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

David Rosato ’83, MBA ’85 was named chief financial officer of Eastern Bankshares and Eastern Bank. He most recently served as senior executive vice president and chief financial officer of Berkshire Hills Bancorp and Berkshire Bank. Rosato sits on the NASDAQ Exchange Board, where he is a member of the Regulatory Oversight Committee. He is a chartered financial analyst.

Susan Cross

Susan Cross ’81 was named board director of SiriusPoint, a global specialty insurer and reinsurer. She has been director of Enstar Group Limited since 2020, and prior to that served as executive vice president and global chief actuary at XL Group (now AXA XL) from 2008-18. In addition, Cross serves as non-executive director at Unum Group, a Fortune 500 insurer.

Lorrie Norrington ’81 was named to the board of directors at Gupshup, a Conversation Cloud platform. She also serves on the boards of Colgate-Palmolive, Hubspot and Asana, among others. She previously held senior executive roles at eBay, including as president of eBay International. She also serves as an operating partner at Lead Edge Capital, where she advises late-stage high-growth companies. Norrington received her MBA from Harvard Business School.

’70s

Joanne Amorosi

Joanne Amorosi ’79, M.A. ’81 completed her 30-year career at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by overseeing the development of its National Environmental Museum and Education Center, which recently won the Historical Preservation and Exhibits Award from the Society for History in the Federal Government.

James "Jim" Magee

James "Jim" Magee ’76 was named to the advisory committee for GenFlat Holdings, a company developing collapsible shipping container technology. He is president and chief executive officer of Carrbridge Management Corp. Prior to his time at CAI, Magee was part of the founding management teams of Flex Leasing Corp. and All Capital Rail Management, both in the rail equipment leasing business. He holds an MBA from Loyola University in Maryland.

Carey Wright ’72, M.A. ’76, Ed.D. ’94 was promoted to state superintendent of schools by the Maryland State Board of Education in April. She had served in the role on an interim basis for six months and previously served as state superintendent of education in Mississippi. Wright began her career as a teacher in Prince George’s County Public Schools.

Andy Balo ’70 was appointed to the board of directors at Glucotrack, a medical technology company focused on designing, developing and commercializing novel technologies for people with diabetes. He retired in March as executive vice president of clinical, global access and medical affairs at Dexom, which he joined 22 years ago as part of the original executive team. Prior to that, Balo held leadership positions at St. Jude Medical, Baxter, Pacesetter and Endocardial Solutions.

’60s

Andrew W. Booth ’64, M.S. ’67 of Salisbury retired from the board of trustees of Wor-Wic Community College after 18 years of service. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in the expansion of campus facilities. A professional engineer, he founded Andrew W. Booth & Associates, a Salisbury architectural and engineering firm now known as AWB Engineers, in 1979.

Passings

Justine (Ingeborg Larsen) “Julie” Li with dog

Justine (Ingeborg Larsen) “Julie” Li ’70, M.A. ’73 died on April 2, 2024, in Hyattsville, Maryland, at age 83. The oldest of nine siblings, she began college at the University of Utah and soon followed a friend to the University of Maryland in 1962. She slowed her education for marriage and to raise two sons but eventually completed two English degrees. The couple eventually divorced. She held various jobs, including at Goddard Space Flight Center, the Maryland Book Exchange and Amtrak. She became an English teacher at Tianjin University in China for three years, returning in 1982 with a husband, Li Jun. The couple settled in Old Town College Park, and later divorced. She later built a cabin on the headwaters of the Potomac, on a piece of land she dubbed the What Joy Farm, where she lived much of the past 30 years. She continued with artistic and political endeavors with the company of her dog Beau until her passing.

Melanie Knouse Cline ’12 died on June 3, 2024, at age 33. At UMD, she was the captain of the Ultimate Frisbee intramural team and a frequent attendee at the drop-in softball group that her father Ernest Knouse established in 1976. She enjoyed cooking, gardening and Maryland’s beaches. She was artistic and created watercolor paintings and greeting cards, along with walls that displayed images of family and friends. She is survived by her husband, Greg Cline, her mother, Kari Aldridge; stepfather, Gerald Aldridge; brothers Alex, Erik and Kirk Boyd; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Ernest Knouse. Friends organized a GoFundMe to raise funds to remember her in the University of Maryland’s Listening Garden by dedicating a bench to her memory.

David Lee Herman

David Lee Herman ’00, M.S. ’02, of Charlotte, N.C., died suddenly on July 10, 2024, at the age of 46. He was part of the Gemstone honors program and earned degrees in mechanical engineering and micro-electromechanical systems at UMD. For the past 18 years, Herman was an engineer for CEM Corp., a science technology company in Matthews, N.C., developing automation and fluidics systems used globally in laboratory testing and drug discovery instrumentation. In 2013, he designed a novel pressure based amino acid delivery system that revolutionized peptide drug production, and was an inventor on more than 25 patents. His impact on science extended to many industries including quality control of food, environmental testing and drug discovery. As a teenager, he earned a black belt in Hapkido. As an adult, he enjoyed skiing, mountain biking, riding jet skis and rock climbing. His creative hobbies included acrylic pour painting and 3-D printing. He also loved fast sleek cars and motorcycles. He is survived by his parents, Dr. Martin Herman and Marilyn Herman, and his siblings, Julie Mellon, Erica Hamilton and Camille Boyle; stepbrother, Bronson Tabler; aunts; uncles, cousins; and nieces and nephews.

Raphael Haran Mingo

Raphael Haran Mingo ’00 died on May 7, 2024, at the age of 48 at Washington Hospital Center. He graduated from Laurel High School and majored in engineering at UMD, where he interned at Verizon, the company where he spent his career, eventually becoming an associate director. In high school, Mingo tried out for the UMD soccer team while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, but when unable to keep up, detoured to coach the women’s soccer team, which he enjoyed. As an adult, Raphael’s greatest sources of pleasure were God and his family. (And bowling, but mostly God and family.) He was devoted to Woodstream Church and participated in several ministries there. Mingo was preceded in death by his mother, Rosetta Mingo. He is survived by his children, Alana Kristina Abrams and Brandon Austin Mingo; their mother, Kim Austin; his father, William B. Mingo; aunts, Josephine Epps, Lucille Carter, Audrey Sizer and Mary Harris; and a host of cousins.

Vincent Kizer Shipp

Vincent Kizer Shipp ’97 of Rockville, Maryland, died on May 26, 2024, at age 60. He graduated from St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C. and earned a B.S. in chemistry from UMD and a Master of Education degree from Bowie State University. Shipp proudly followed in the steps of his uncle, Arthur Shipp, a principal in D.C. Public Schools, and his aunts, Evelyn Shipp Kaiser, Rosa Lee Shipp Wilson and Miriam Shipp Tolliver, all educators. Most recently, he was a chemistry teacher at John F. Kennedy High School. Shipp loved participating in family gatherings, eating and taking a nap on the nearest sofa. He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Essie Shipp; and his sister, Carla Shipp. He leaves behind brothers Walter and Kenneth; a niece; three nephews; aunt Merla Drew; uncles Edward “Curtis” Morris and Warren Morris; and many loving cousins.

Katherine Ruth Richards

Katherine Ruth Richards M.A. ’92 died May 23, 2024, at her home in Olney, Maryland, from complications related to her long-term fight against cancer. She was 61. Richards spent her earliest years in Elmhurst, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago; the family then moved to Missoula, Montana, which Richards considered "home" for the rest of her life. She graduated from Hellgate High School and the University of Montana; as a Rhodes Scholar she attended the University of Oxford, where she earned a degree in politics and philosophy and a graduate diploma in theology. In 1992 she completed a Master of Arts degree in journalism at UMD. She met John Roome while at Oxford, and the two were married in 1987. He took a job with the World Bank out of Washington, D.C., moving the family to Olney, where the couple raised two sons and a daughter and were part of the Sandy Spring Friends Quaker community. From 1992 to 1995, Richards was a reporter for The Baltimore Sun. More recently, she became an active volunteer with the Maryland chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. Richards was also an accomplished artist in multiple media and completed the Master Artist Program at Compass Atelier in Rockville, Maryland, showing her paintings at galleries in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Missoula and Washington state. She loved the outdoors and national parks, which she visited often and captured in her artwork. Richards is survived by her husband, John; sons: Sean and Matthew; daughter, Julia Roome; brother, Sam Richards; sister, Judith Leigh Richards; and nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by brother, Robert Richards.

Martin "Marty" E. Karmann-Bauer

Martin "Marty" E. Karmann-Bauer ’89 of Annapolis, Maryland, died on May 12, 2024, from Stage 4 intestinal cancer. He was 59. Karmann-Bauer graduated from Severna Park High school, earned a B.S. in finance from UMD and shortly after joined the U.S. Navy. He completed the Naval War College Nonresident Graduate Degree Program and obtained a Master of Arts in national security and strategic studies. Karmann-Bauer retired from the U.S. Naval Reserves as an 0-5 in 2015 and was employed by the National Security Agency, most recently serving as the chief, strategic engagement, the agency's focal point for coordination with the White House, National Security Council and Office of the Director of National Intelligence. While stationed in the Philippines he experienced the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo and the evacuation of the base in 1991; on 9/11, he was assigned to the Pentagon when one of the aircraft crashed into the building; and in 2021 Marty led the NSA presence in Afghanistan through the U.S. withdrawal. Other assignments included Germany, Djibouti, Honolulu, Miami and Ft. Meade. Karmann-Bauer was an avid runner who completed several half-marathons and kayaker, and loved live music. He is survived by his husband, Terrell "Terry" A. Karmann-Bauer; parents, Nancy and Charles Karmann; brother, Kevin Karmann; two nieces and a nephew.

Jeremiah "Jerry" Francis Durkin ’86, Kennebunk, Maine, and North Port, Florida, died in Sarasota, Fla., on June 9, 2024, following a short illness. He was 92. He grew up in Somersworth and Dover, N.H. and graduated from Dover High. Durkin served in the U.S. Naval Air Force at Naval Air Station Brunswick during the Korean War. He attended the University of New Hampshire, Lowell Institute of Technology and UMD. Durkin had a 30-year career with IBM Corp. in federal systems and retired in 1987. After that, he and his wife, Kay, moved to North Port. He is survived by his daughters Katherine Mary Durkin and Deborah Farrell; son Jeremiah Durkin II; five grandchildren: three great-grandchildren; and siblings John Durkin, Mary Abernathy, Helen Twomey and Larry Durkin. He was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Kay Comtois Durkin; daughter Jane Fox; brothers Paul, Dominic, James and Phillip Durkin; and sisters Kathleen Menounos, Sheila Stockbower and Margaret Rose Lawrence.

Jesse Parker

Jesse Parker ’81, M.M. ’87, D.M.A. ’98 died on June 8, 2024, a month shy of his 66th birthday. He played cello throughout his school years and became interested in conducting while attending Fairfax High School. He earned three degrees at UMD, where he and mentor Paul Traver prepared the University of Maryland Chorus for performances in the U.S. and Europe with renowned conductors including Leonard Slatkin, Lorin Maazel and Georg Solti. Parker became the manager and associate conductor of the Maryland Handel Festival and served on the faculty at UMD and Sweet Briar College. He was the founder and music director of the chamber chorus Voices 21, the artistic director of the Chesapeake Chorale and Chamber Singers, and the director of music at Potomac United Methodist Church. In addition, Parker lectured for the Lifelong Learning Institute at Montgomery College. He is survived by his wife, Renita; son, Colin; sister, Susan Black; niece Sam Black; and nephew, Jeb Black.

Melissa “Moe” Gail Daston M.A. ’78, MBA ’80, M.S. ’87 died at her Laurel, Maryland, home on June 9, 2024, after a long illness. She was 69. Daston grew up in North Carolina and Maryland, graduating from Duke University then earning three degrees in education and business at UMD, where she later taught courses on marketing. She worked for many years at the U.S. Department of Defense, ultimately serving as the director of human capital for the Defense Intelligence Agency. In 2010, she was a recipient of the Presidential Rank Award, the nation's highest honor for federal civil servants. She was also active in community service groups in Prince George's County. She is survived by her siblings, Cassandra, George and Lorraine Daston; two nieces, Thalia Gigerenzer and Terra Shepherd; and nephews Charles and John Daston.

Michael Wayne Keane

Michael Wayne Keane ’78 died on May 16, 2024, in Bradenton, Florida at age 74. He grew up in Berwyn and Greenbelt, Maryland, and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1967-71 and was stationed in Europe, Asia and North America. Keane completed a bachelor's degree in design at UMD and became a professional press operator for The Washington Post for 22 years retiring in 2001 to Ocean Pines, Maryland. He was a member of American Legion Post 166 in Ocean City, Maryland. An artisan, he designed and constructed many interior design and architectural projects; and created fine art pieces using glass, woodworking, specialty lighting and other materials. Keane had expertise in fine audio systems, incorporating them into many of his design projects. He also treasured his Irish heritage. He is survived by his wife, Susie Keane; daughter, Melanie Mongelli; and three grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brothers, James, Dennis and Edward Keane; and daughter, Jessica Keane.

Felix "Bob" Burns

Felix "Bob" Burns M.S. ’78 died in Albany, N.Y., on June 4, 2024. He received a Bachelor of Science from Clarkson University, a Master of Business Administration from Boston University and a master's in civil engineering from UMD. Burns had a distinguished military career, most notably receiving two Army and Navy Commendation medals, two National Defense Service medals and the Armed Forces Humanitarian Service medal. Prior to transferring to the Navy Civil Engineer Corps, Burns served 10 years in the Army Corps of Engineers. Combined, he served 20 years stationed at bases in Germany, New Jersey, Guantanamo Bay and Staten Island. After retirement, he relocated with his family to Plattsburgh, N.Y. where he worked on the redevelopment of Plattsburgh Air Force Base, then worked for an international engineering services firm, leading the construction of large projects on military bases. Burns had a soft spot for dogs and loved to travel with his family. He was a devoted Yankees and Giants fan. He is survived by his wife, Laura; daughters, Julie and Jennifer; and three grandchildren.

Nancy Ellwanger White

Nancy Ellwanger White M.Ed. ’76 died on May 25, 2024, at age 96. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Wilson Teachers College, then with husband Howard raised three daughters. She worked for the Prince George’s County Board of Education from the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s, leading parent discussion groups and co-leading the School/Community Support Team created when bussing was initiated to integrate the schools. She went on to become coordinator of volunteers for Lutheran Social Services of Washington, D.C. and for the Traditional Acupuncture Institute. She worked for Holy Cross Hospice as a leader of bereavement groups. She was a member of the Potomac Craftsmen's Guild, the Paul Hill Chorale and the Master Chorale of Washington, D.C. and Luther Place Memorial Church. She is survived by three daughters, Susan White, Janet Castellini and Dena Dahlman; a niece, Beth Buckman; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Seal White; and brother, Richard J. Ellwanger Jr.

Robert W. Loree

Robert W. Loree ’75 of San Antonio, Texas, died on June 9, 2024, after a fight with cancer. He was 71. After graduating from UMD, he earned his Juris Doctor at the University of Texas at Austin, then spent over four decades as an insurance attorney for first-party policyholders. Loree’s love of the law was second only to his love for his family. He and his wife, Sharon, had a 40-year journey together, managing their careers, raising their sons and traveling the world. Loree loved making BBQ brisket and inviting everyone to the home they built and shared for 25 years. He was especially proud of his sons, Trevis and Kendall. He is also survived by a sister, Pam Loree; brothers, Jason and Raymond Loree; and many nieces and nephews.

Joanne Frances Schneider ’74 died on July 26, 2024, in Loudoun, Virginia. She was a successful CPA providing accounting, tax preparation and bookkeeping services to many businesses in Northern Virginia during a career that spanned 1975 to 2019. She is survived by her former husband, George Bernard Schneider, who she was married to from 1972 to 2001.

Bert W. Peterka Jr.

Bert W. Peterka Jr. M.S. ’74 died at his Kailua, Oahu, home on April 15, 2024. He was 73. Peterka was owner of BWP Construction with over 35 years in the Hawaii construction industry, and his projects included being general contractor for the Gemini Observatory and structural contractor for the Subaru Japanese Telescope on the summit of Mauna Kea. Peterka was a devoted husband, father, brother, papa and cousin. He is survived by his wife, Wendy-Lee Bruhn-Peterka; son, Bert W. Peterka III; brother, Bret; sisters, Pam Kinkema and Patti Johnson; stepchildren, Mei-Lin Bruhn-Fati, Jacob Bruhn and Makana Bruhn-Balete; and nine grandchildren.

Mary E. (Caldwell) Tschabrunn

Mary E. (Caldwell) Tschabrunn ’74 of Greenbelt, Maryland, died on June 1, 2024, at age 83. She graduated from Regina High School in Hyattsville and earned a degree in special education at UMD. She was fond of Greenbelt, particularly Buddy Attick Lake and the Roosevelt Center. She is survived by her husband, Gary; daughter, Jennifer; and three grandchildren.

Ruth Ann Bates ’73, of Deale, Maryland, died on June 17, 2024, at age 73. She graduated from Richard Montgomery High School and earned a degree in WHAT at UMD and a master's degree from Trinity College. She had a successful career in microbiology working at Prince George’s Community Hospital, Washington Hospital Center and Mercy Hospital. In her free time, she enjoyed stargazing, making jewelry and hiking national parks. Bates is survived by her daughter, Elaine; sons William and Chris; three grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; a brother, John; a sister, Jean; and a niece and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Scott.

Dr. Duane Erickson ’73 of Sandy Spring, Maryland, died on June 14, 2024, after a three-year battle with ALS. He received his bachelor’s degree in zoology at UMD, his D.D.S. from University of Maryland School of Dentistry and his advanced degree in orthodontics from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He served patients for 30-plus years at his offices in Silver Spring and Olney and volunteered in outreach programs within and outside the U.S. He was also a U.S. Navy veteran, orthodontist, cyclist, nature enthusiast and air-guitar extraordinaire. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Marina Reichhart-Erickson; children, Kirin Nika Aromando, Matthew Cody Erickson and Andrew Hartley Erickson; siblings Caroline Schore, Mark Erickson and Robin Erickson; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Ronald K. Quinn

Ronald K. Quinn ’73 of North Potomac, Maryland, died on June 8, 2024, at Shady Grove Hospital after a long illness at age 73. Quinn majored in English at UMD and retired after a long career with the federal government. He was also an accomplished keyboard player in several local bands. Quinn was preceded in death by his wife of 38 years, Sharon M. Quinn, who died in 2013. He is survived by his brothers, Richard and Randall.

Sheila A. Rovelstad

Sheila A. Rovelstad ’72 died on May 20, 2024, in Venice, Florida, at the age of 73. At UMD, she was active in Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She went on to become owner of the Artistree Shop in Ellicott City, Maryland, cosmetics manager of the May Company in Columbia, Maryland, manager of the Body Shop in Columbia and a broker assistant with Merrill Lynch in Columbia. She owned Wullen Studio in Columbia, where she was a yarn maker, weaver, knitter and sock designer, and was also owner/artist/designer at Papier de Poche in Columbia and Venice, where she moved in 2014. Rovelstad was a member of PEO Chapters in Maryland and Florida, an instructor with Knitting Behind Bars in Jessup, Maryland, and a member of the North Port, Florida Art Center and Venice, Florida Art Center. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Craig Rovelstad ’73; and a daughter, Kristen Ahern.

Arnold Rheingold Ph.D. ’70, a distinguished emeritus professor of chemistry at the University of California, San Diego, died on March 3, 2024, after a long illness. He was 83. Rheingold grew up in Rockford, Illinois, and his passion for chemistry was ignited as a young teen when he was given a chemistry set. He graduated from Case Western Reserve and earned a doctorate in chemistry from UMD. After a short time at the Glidden Paint Co., Rheingold joined the research faculty at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh in 1970, where he stayed until 1980. Later academic appointments included visiting professor at SUNY-Buffalo, professor at the University of Delaware and professor and emeritus professor at UC San Diego. Rheingold made major contributions to understanding organometallic compounds via X-ray crystallography. His publications, cited over 95,000 times, make him the highest contributor to articles across all journals of the American Chemical Society. Rheingold was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and was chair of the Inorganic Chemistry Division of the American Chemical Society in 2003. In 2012, he received the society's highest honor, the Award for Distinguished Service to the Advancement of Inorganic Chemistry. Rheingold was predeceased by his wife, Janice Helen Faber Rheingold. He is survived by his partner, Nancy Trowbridge; his brother, Paul Rheingold; daughters, Margaret Westbury and Alison Rheingold; and four grandsons.

Arch Scurlock

Arch Scurlock '69, M.S. ’71 died on June 15, 2024, at age 77. He held an MBA from Harvard University and chemical engineering degrees from UMD. His career included work for the U.S. Public Health Service and Environmental Protection Agency, the Atlantic Research Corp. (founded by his father, Arch Sr.) and Research Industries, all in Washington, D.C., and Virginia. Scurlock is survived by his sister, Susan Scurlock Theiler; and four half-sisters: Tracey Ainsworth Yonick, Mary Scurlock Adamson, Nancy Scurlock Collins and Margaret Ann Scurlock; and 10 nieces and nephews.

Hall L. Moore Jr. M.S. ’66, of Sayre, Pennsylvania, died on March 31, 2024, at the age of 83. He was born in Baltimore and received degrees from Mount Saint Mary's College in Emmitsburg and from the University of Maryland. He moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1970 with Burroughs Wellcome & Company. He was an active member of Sacred Heart Cathedral parish for over 30 years. He also worked with retreat programs at Short Journey Center in Smithfield. He volunteered as a scoutmaster with BSA Troop 398 in Raleigh. Moore is survived by his wife, Johanna Carter Moore; daughter, Catherine D'Ortona; son, Hall "Butch" L. Moore III; two grandchildren; and sister, Margaret "Kate" Moore.

Dr. Robert Nadol

Dr. Robert Nadol ’65, ’69, died on June 2, 2024, at his home in Langley, Washington. He earned degrees in psychology and education at UMD, graduated from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of California, San Francisco. As a psychiatrist, he dedicated much of his career to work with veterans and others addressing past trauma. He spent 25 years as an clinical assistant professor at Brown University School of Medicine and in other teaching roles. He loved collecting antique memorabilia and ephemera, his years of living alongside the coast, and his family. He is survived by his wife, Meleesa Reichert-Nadol; a son, Michael Nadol; a daughter, Heather Martens; and four grandchildren. His siblings, Beverly Jett, Rona Purks and Jack Nadol, predeceased him.

Charles Howarth Svec

Charles Howarth Svec ’64 of Hanover, Maryland, died on May 31, 2024, at age 83. He graduated from Catonsville High School and earned an agronomy degree at UMD, which he attended as a commuter while working three jobs to help support his widowed mother. After graduation, he immediately went to work for Miller Chemical & Fertilizer, where he stayed until 2019, retiring as its president. He also served in the U.S. Army National Guard. Svec also served his community as chairman of the West Manheim Township Board of Supervisors in the 1980s. Later, he supported his high school sweetheart and wife of 58 years, Dolores, on her journey with Alzheimer’s until her 2022 death, and cultivated the farm they had bought in 1969. In the past few years, he and his companion, Faye Gobrecht, traveled, visited with family and friends, were active members of their church and community, and baked desserts that everyone loved to eat. He is also survived by two daughters, Kristen Wolf and Jennifer Meyrowitz; son, David; and four grandchildren.

Martin Joseph Higgins M.A. ’63, Ph.D. ’67, formerly of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, and Beaufort, South Carolina, died on May 21, 2024, at age 86. Higgins graduated from Harrisburg Catholic High School, attended St. Francis University in Loretto and graduated from the University of Dayton. He earned his graduate degrees in psychology from UMD. He was a professor at West Chester University, then after retirement began his second career as a certified financial planner. Higgins enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served until 1965, earning the rank of corporal. He was proud to be a Marine, and of his Irish and Coal Region roots. He loved his wife, his children and his grandchildren fiercely. Higgins is survived by his daughter, Dr. Mary Beth Higgins; sons Brian, Sean and Patrick; grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his wife, Joan Schreck Higgins; infant twin daughters, Kathryn and Mary; sisters, Teresa Mary Crowley and Nancy Higgins; and a granddaughter.

Ronald Alan Mummert

Ronald Alan Mummert ’63 died at his Topeka, Kansas, home on June 1, 2024. He was 83. Mummert graduated from Bladensburg High School and UMD, then served in the U.S. Army, during which time he graduated from the Presidio of Monterey's Defense Language School. He spent his career selling business telephone systems. Mummert was a talented visual artist and woodworker who enjoyed home improvement building and design projects. He was also a car enthusiast and was active in the Blue Ridge Miata club and Subaru SVX club. Mummert was preceded in death by his wife, Helga. He is survived by his daughter, Andrea Mummert; two grandsons; and his significant other, Cheryl Schwarz.

Claudia Brush Kidwell

Claudia Brush Kidwell ’62 of Richmond, Va., died on Feb. 29, 2024, at Westminster Canterbury. Born in Washington, D.C. and raised on the rivers of Maryland, Kidwell earned a bachelor's degree in textiles and clothing at UMD and her master's degree from Pennsylvania State University. During her 38 years as the curator of the costume collection at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, she was an author and guest lecturer on many topics as varied as women's bathing and swimming costume, the democratization of clothing in America, and the role of style in Colonial American portraits. Kidwell became the first and only female acting director of the museum. Following her retirement in 2002, she was named curator emeritus in the Division of Social History. In 2015, she moved to Richmond to be an active grandmother. She continued writing, researched family history, and taught her grandchildren how to fish and bake pumpkin pies. She was also active at Westminster Canterbury. She is survived by her daughters, Alison Kidwell and Rachel McNulty; two grandchildren; brother, Charles Brush; and a niece.

Carolyn Kalk Snow

Carolyn Kalk Snow ’62, M.S. ’64 died at home in Fernandina Beach, Florida, on June 5, 2024. She was 84 years old. Snow graduated from Chevy Chase High School and earned two degrees in microbiology at UMD. She held positions at the National Academy of Sciences, Georgetown Medical School and NASA, where she headed the office of health care. While living in Richmond, Virginia, she served on the boards of the Virginia Museum and Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Snow also loved skiing, hiking, biking and tennis, was an avid collector of modern art and enjoyed entertaining friends. She was a loving wife and devoted mother, and she doted on her grandchildren. Snow is survived by her husband of 50 years, John W. Snow; a son, Christopher; two granddaughters; siblings Lenore Zedosky, Barbara Tompary and Robert Kalk; stepsons, Bradley and Ian Snow; and 10 step-grandchildren.

Michael David Tate

Michael David Tate ’61 died in his Leesburg, Virginia, home on June 15, 2024. He was 84. As the son of an army officer, Tate grew up in Louisiana, Georgia, North Carolina, Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kansas and Japan. He graduated from George Washington High School in Alexandria, Virginia, at age 16 and completed his degree in government and politics at UMD, where he worked at WMUC and posed the first question to Fidel Castro during the Cuban leader's 1959 visit to campus, and to presidential candidate John F. Kennedy when he visited. Tate married his high school sweetheart, Margo, shortly before graduating. They raised their children in Shirlington, South Arlington and Alexandria, Virginia; and in Boston. He worked in the Nixon administration for the Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention early in his career, and he then moved on to management consulting, working for Arthur D. Little and Temple Barker and Sloan, until he opened his own consulting firm in 1990, Tate-Francesca. He loved his dogs, reading The Washington Post from front to back, watching Washington Commanders football, time with his grandkids and with his wife of 63 years, who preceded him in death by two months. He is survived by his sons, Michael, Chris and Mark; and his daughter, Julie; and 13 grandchildren.

Robert L. Parker

Robert L. Parker M.S. ’58, Ph.D. ’60, of Washington, D.C., died on April 21, 2024, at the age of 94. Raised primarily in Des Moines and Pocahontas, Iowa. Parker received his bachelor's degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his graduate degrees in physics from UMD. Parker served domestically in the U.S. armed forces during the Korean War and worked in the field of metallurgy at the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Bureau of Standards (later the National Institute of Science and Technology) from 1960 until his retirement in 1987. Parker then often hiked with the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club and grew corn and soybeans at a small farm on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. He enjoyed vacationing, dining and talking with extended family. His wife of 56 years, Vivian B. Parker, preceded him in death in 2020. He is survived by his daughter, Susan W. Parker; son, David Parker; and three grandchildren.

Henry Albert Taitt

Henry Albert Taitt M.S. ’58, died on June 17, 2024, in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, at the age of 90. He earned a B.S. in physics from Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College), a M.S. in education administration from UMD, a M.S. in physics from the University of Delaware, a M.S. in astronomy and a Ph.D. in science education from the University of Illinois. Taitt spent most of his adult life in Charleston, Illinois, where he and his wife taught at Eastern Illinois University and raised their children. He was a Cadettes Girl Scout leader and in the summer taught tennis lessons for the town, created a youth team tennis league and led science and model rocket workshops for kids through EIU. In 1978 Taitt bought a Tandy microcomputer for his children, which led to him hosting children’s computer programming classes in his home on the weekends. That led to creating CREATIVE Programming, which established after-school computer centers in many Midwestern school districts and major science museums nationwide. He also developed Science Triathlons, giving students from area schools a chance to compete against each other in unique challenges. After retirement, Taitt and his wife traveled the world, taking many cruises and visiting their children and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Nancy Paul Taitt; his brother, Robert Edgar Taitt; and his sister, Jane Marie Taitt Galla. He is survived by his daughters, Katharine Taitt Ireland, and Jennifer Taitt Ross; son, Joseph Edward Taitt; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Mary Louise Lucas ’57 died on May 21, 2024, in Columbia, Maryland. Raised in University Park, she attended the Academy of Notre Dame before graduating from UMD. Her love of sports led her to become a physical education teacher and coach at Bladensburg Senior High School for 31 years. After retiring, Lucas took a position as coordinator of information and publications with the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association for an additional 19 years. She then took on an active role in the Annapolis community. Lucas was a great supporter of UMD’s women’s basketball program, attending games regularly since the 1970s. She was one of the founding members and first president of the booster program, the Rebounders, and she funded a scholarship for female basketball players. Lucas was survived by her nephews, Charles and Robert; nieces Michelle and Pamela; and their children.

Vivian Thomas Haulton ’56, of Columbus, Georgia, died on May 23, 2024, at age 88, in Morgantown, West Virginia. She earned a B.S. degree in home economics from UMD and a master's degree in communication arts from Cornell University. Her career included positions in communications/public relations at West Virginia Cooperative Extension in Parkersburg, West Virginia; Fred Riger Advertising & Public Relations in Binghamton, New York, and New York State Electric & Gas Corp. in Binghamton. She held numerous community leadership positions, including president of the Broome County Status of Women Council, Public Relations Society of the Southern Tier and local Cornell Club. She and her first husband, Charles Franklin Thomas, were married for 32 years until his death and were the parents of Valerie and Glenn Thomas. She married a second time to Dean Haulton, and the couple held season tickets to the opera in Columbus and Atlanta, regularly attended steeplechase and were members of Green Island Country Club. Haulton each summer hosted family and friends at her beach condo in Ocean City, Maryland. She was an avid reader and shared her love of books with friends. She is survived by her husband; three stepchildren; six grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; a sister, Vesta Bissell; and niece and nephew.

William A. Rogers

William A. Rogers ’54 of Palm Harbor, Florida, died May 13, 2024, at age 89. He lived most of his life in Riverdale, Maryland. After earning his degree in education at UMD, Rogers taught English at Duval High School in Lanham, Maryland, and was a guidance counselor at Northwestern High School in Hyattsville. He retired in 1987 and moved to Clearwater. Survivors are his cousin, Margaret Scheffer; and a close friend, Leslie E. Owen.

Robert Frederick Steinlauf

Robert Frederick Steinlauf ’54 died on June 15, 2024, in Tallahassee, Florida, at the age of 91. He earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial management from UMD, then served in the U.S. Air Force, from which he was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant. Steinlauf was a financial adviser in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. After retiring, he enjoyed fly fishing and hiking in Blowing Rock and Banner Elk, North Carolina. Survivors include his daughters, Suzanne Megary and Andrea Steinlauf; their mother, Rochelle Steinlauf; his son, David Steinlauf; two grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. He is preceded in death by David's mother, Mary Steinlauf; and his wife, Elizabeth.

George Theodore Bachmann Jr. ’52, M.A. ’60 died on May 27, 2024, at his home in Westminster, Maryland. He was 94. Bachmann served in the Army during the Korean War but since he spoke French was sent to France, where he was a lieutenant and supply clerk. Back in the U.S., George graduated from UMD and Catholic University. He worked as a librarian at the Anne Arundel County Library, Catonsville Community College, United Lutheran Seminary and retired in the early 1990s after over 20 years at Hoover Library with Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College). He was a founding member of the Viola da Gamba Society of America and for years hosted a Thursday night music consortium at his house. While he started with a focus on baroque and other early music, later in life he grew interested in old-time folk music and loved to travel to the Augusta Heritage Festival in Elkins, West Virginia, to play the fiddle. For over 40 years, he composed many pieces of music, including a waltz for each of the female members of the family and a wedding march played at his own wedding and that of his son, Austin. Bachmann was predeceased by his wife, Marjorie Adele Bachmann; and his sister, Shirley Bachmann. He is survived by his two sons, Austin and Eric; two daughters, Anna Bachmann and Thea Law; niece, Dawn Gilliam; nephew; Jay Simmons; and four grandchildren.

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