Class Notes
Class Notes of 20s
Grace Darling ’25 is one of 65 Americans selected to study and work in Germany as part of the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals program, administered by the U.S. Department of State through nonprofit partners. While in Germany, she will attend a two-month intensive language course, study at a German university and complete an internship.
Leya Prezelski ’23 is a business operations associate at The Trust (Powered by the NFLPA), which provides former NFL players with resources to ensure success after the game. She previously was a player affairs coordinator with the Carolina Panthers and a team operations and player engagement associate with the Minnesota Vikings.
Chelsea Brown M.P.M. ’21, principal and lead strategist at the Black Mill, was named to The Maryland Daily Record’s 2025 Power 100 List, recognizing the 100 men and women who are shaping the state’s businesses, nonprofits, law firms and other key institutions. This past year, she was highlighted as a Black Woman to Watch in Philanthropy in BlackHer's study on Black philanthropy.
Michael Ravenscroft MBA ’21, managing director of the University System of Maryland Momentum Fund, was named among the Baltimore Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Honorees for 2025, a roundup of rising stars in the Greater Baltimore business scene. The Momentum Fund is USM's seed stage venture capital fund.
Class Notes of 10s
Elizabeth Arentz ’19 of Coldwell Banker Realty in Annapolis, was named to Coldwell Banker Real Estate’s 2025 "30 Under 30" list This annual recognition celebrates the achievements of the company’s real estate professionals under the age of 30 who have excelled in sales, community service and industry leadership.
Jessica Stern Ph.D. ’19 co-wrote the book ”Beyond Difficult: An Attachment-based Guide to Dealing With Challenging People” with Rachel Samson, an Australian clinical psychologist. They provide frameworks for understanding difficult behavior, as well as how to work on intrapersonal and interpersonal skills to communicate more effectively and mindfully with others—whether a dramatic co-worker, disengaged romantic partner or unpleasant family member. Stern is an assistant professor at Pomona College in California.
Daniela Tai M.Arch. ’19, M.H.P. ’19 was promoted to associate at the national design firm Quinn Evans, where she began her career as an intern. Today she contributes to the renewal of a wide range of buildings, from monumental federal edifices to the mid-century Kimball Recital Hall at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is a member of the National Organization of Minority Architects and was a selection committee member for the Telling the Full History Preservation Fund.
Bimbola Akinbola Ph.D. ‘18 has written the new book “Transatlantic Disbelonging: Unruliness, Pleasure, and Play in Nigerian Diasporic Women’s Art” (Duke University Press). It redirects the focus in diaspora studies from questions of loss and longing to acts of unapologetic self-definition through the study of Nigerian diasporic women artists navigating disparate geographies, allegiances. and identities. Akinbola is an assistant professor of performance studies at Northwestern University.
Ikenna C. Ejimonyeugwo ’17, an associate at Philadelphia law firm Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP, was named a finalist for the Most Promising Newcomer Award by The Legal Intelligencer in its 2025 Pennsylvania Legal Awards. He specializes in patent law as an intellectual property attorney and is a graduate of Delaware Law School.
Chelsey Green D.M.A. ’17 was elected chair of the board of trustees of the Recording Academy, making her the first Black woman and the youngest person to hold that role in the academy’s 68-year history. She is an associate professor at the Berklee College of Music and a violinist, violist and vocalist who combines classical and contemporary styles.
Gabriel A. Peoples Ph.D. ’15 wrote the new book, “Goin' Viral: Uncontrollable Black Performance” (University of Illinois Press), in which he examines Black people and representations of Black people that have gone viral from the 18th century to today. Peoples is an assistant professor of gender studies at Indiana University.
Tim Ebner M.Jour. ’12 was promoted to vice president of communications and marketing at the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI). He was previously director of communications and marketing. Prior to joining CMI, Ebner was communications director and press secretary at the American Forest and Paper Association. Ebner graduated cum laude from Fordham University.
Laura Lee M.Jour. ’11 won the 2025 Editor of the Year Award, the top recognition from the Public Media Journalists Association. Lee is Blue Ridge Public Radio news director, and she was recognized for leading coverage of Hurricane Helene. Lee is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and holds a law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Philip Ravita M.M. ’11 and his ensemble, Ravita Jazz, released the CD “Alice Blue,” which tracked No. 1 in Mainstream Jazz Albums for six weeks. “Broken light” reached No. 1 in Mainstream Jazz Singles and in the top 20 jazz albums on Roots Music Report. The group includes fellow Terps Nuc Vega ’00 (drums), Greg Small M.M. ’08 (piano) and Deirdre Jennings ’94 (vocals).
Allison Akers ’10, senior director for marketing and communications at Vision Technologies, was named to The Maryland Daily Record’s 2025 Power 100 List, recognizing the 100 men and women who are shaping the state’s businesses, nonprofits, law firms and other key institutions. She joined the company in 2021 and previously was marketing and outreach manager for Anne Arundel Economic Development.
“As We Bloom: Wisdom From Extraordinary Everyday Women And Gender Nonconforming People,” (Indigo River Publishing), the debut book by Mia Bolton ’10, is a memoir of the author’s four-month, 10,000-mile journey across America in a minivan to interview women and gender-nonconforming people charting life on their own terms. Based in Palo Alto, Calif., Bolton is a writer, photographer and life coach as well as vice president of communications at Mixte Communications, a social justice communications agency. Bolton is also a third-generation Terp.
Carolina Uechi ’10, M.Arch. ’14 was promoted to senior associate at the national design firm Quinn Evans. Since joining the company in 2016, she has made key contributions to several projects for the Smithsonian Institution, including the Bird House at the National Zoo; the Molina Family Latino Gallery, the first gallery of the National Museum of the American Latino; and the ongoing modernization of the National Air and Space Museum.
Class Notes of 00s
Jon Greenwich ’09 was named to the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 40 Under 40 list, which honors 40 people under the age of 40 who have made a difference in Alexandria. Greenwich is founder and managing executive of Virtus Capital, which has grown from a startup to over $170 million in assets under administration in less than five years. He holds a master’s degree in finance from Georgetown University.
Perri J. Koll ’09 joined the litigation group of New Jersey-based law firm Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC as counsel. She represents clients in matters involving real estate, construction litigation, premises disputes, complex commercial matters, and labor law. Previously, Koll worked at firms in New York City and Newark and at an insurance company. She earned her J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
Shahid Rana MRED ’09 was named head of economic development for the city of Charlotte, N.C. He had been Mecklenburg County’s deputy economic development director since 2023. Rana has a bachelor’s degree from Morgan State University and holds graduate certificates from the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University.
A poem by Allegra M. Marcell M.S. ’08 is featured in the Summer/Fall 2025 issue of Kaleidoscope: Exploring the Experience of Disability through Literature and the Fine Arts. Marcell’s poem “Advocacy Is” captures how Marcell advocates for herself and others. She is a neurodivergent ecologist who enjoys watching and photographing insects.
Jay Ranaweera ’08 was promoted to senior associate at the national design firm Quinn Evans. His portfolio includes affordable housing developments like Walbrook Mill and the Homes at Oxon Hill, as well as higher education projects like the Coppin State University College of Business. He holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Washington, is a member of the Urban Land Institute and is a part of the Baltimore chapter’s affordable housing committee.
Brandon K. Stanford MBA ’08 was named San Diego Business Journal's CFO of the Year in the category of Medium Private Company. He is managing partner of BuckStan Advisory Services and serves as an operating partner at Lakewood & Co., advising on financial systems and capital markets. Additionally, Stanford serves as Consulting CFO for C3 Risk & Insurance Services, He earned a bachelor’s degree in business management at Brigham Young University.
Caroline Solomon Ph.D. ’06 was named president of Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf and vice president of the university. She was previously dean of faculty at Gallaudet University. She earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and public policy from Harvard University, and a master’s degree in biological oceanography from the University of Washington’s School of Oceanography. She earned a doctorate in marine, environmental and estuarine sciences from UMD.
David Brenneman ’05 joined the law firm Latham and Watkins as a partner in the antitrust and competition practice and a member of the litigation and trial department. Brenneman’s practice focuses on the antitrust aspects of mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and other business combinations and collaborations. Brenneman joins from Morgan Lewis. He received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.
Elizabeth Jurinka ’05 was named to Washingtonian’s list of Washington, D.C.’s 500 Most Influential People in 2025. Jurinka is operating director for health care policy at the Vistria Group, a private investment firm. She was formerly a special assistant in the Biden administration working on prescription-drug reform and preventing the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. She has a master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University.
Brett Kahn ’04 rejoined the law firm McCarter & English as a partner in its Insurance Recovery, Litigation & Counseling group. Kahn, a commercial litigator with a focus on insurance coverage, is based in the firm’s Newark, N.J., office. He began his legal career at McCarter & English and spent nearly 15 years at the firm before departing in 2023. During his time away, he was a partner at Barnes & Thornburg.
LaShell Stratton-Childers ’03 has written the new murder mystery, “In Deadly Company,” (Union Square & Co.), about the assistant to a CEO who is tasked with planning a birthday party for her boss, which ends in murder and her under suspicion. A year later, she tries to set the public record straight by consulting on a feature film based on her story, but everything goes awry. Stratton-Childers is an NAACP Image Award-nominated author and former reporter who has written more than a dozen books under different pen names. She lives in Maryland with her husband, their daughter and their tuxedo cat.
Jeff Vogel ’03 was appointed vice president of legal at TOTE Services, a maritime services company specializing in vessel construction management and ship management. Before joining TOTE Services, Vogel served as a shareholder and co-chair of the government contracts practice group at law firm Cozen O’Connor, where he advised clients across the maritime and marine terminal industries. Vogel earned his J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law, and holds master’s degrees from the Naval War College and the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.
Tiffany Wright ’03 was named senior vice president and general counsel at Johns Hopkins University. Wright has served in the role on an interim basis since earlier in 2025, and served as deputy general counsel at Johns Hopkins since 2023. Before coming to Johns Hopkins, Wright served as associate counsel for racial justice and equity in the Office of the White House Counsel. She earned a J.D., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center and served as law clerk for Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Terri Grates Day M.A. ’02 was named president of Herkimer College in Herkimer, N.Y. A first-generation college graduate who earned her associate’s degree at Herkimer, Grates Day came from Volunteer State Community College, where she served as vice president for academic affairs since 2022. Grates Day holds a doctorate in educational leadership, higher education administration from the University of Dayton; a master’s degree in counseling and personnel services from UMD and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from SUNY Polytechnic Institute.
Christine Eibner Ph.D. ’01 was named to Washingtonian’s list of Washington, D.C.’s 500 Most Influential People in 2025. She is a senior economist at the nonprofit RAND corporation, a think tank, research institute and public sector consulting firm. Eibner’s work includes advising federal and state officials on the Affordable Care Act’s ongoing impact as well as on Medicaid expansion. She has a bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary.
Mika Malone ’01 was named to Chief Investment Officer magazine’s 2025 Knowledge Brokers list, which recognizes the most influential and insightful investment consultants for their strategic counsel and success. She is managing principal at Meketa and was named to the Knowledge Brokers list in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Jigar Shah MBA ’01, former director of the U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office, joined the board of directors at the Center for Sustainable Energy, a national nonprofit focused on clean transportation and distributed energy resources. A clean energy entrepreneur, investor and strategist, Shah is co-managing partner of Multiplier LLC, a boutique advisory firm helping clean energy, cleantech and climate tech companies accelerate their growth. He also co-hosts the podcast "Open Circuit" from Latitude Media and is the author of "Creating Climate Wealth: Unlocking the Impact Economy."
Tre Johnson ’00 wrote his debut book, “Black Genius: Essays on an American Legacy” (Dutton), examining how Black American culture has been the lifeblood of American ingenuity. Publishers Weekly in a starred review called it an “ auspicious first outing from an unflinching voice.” Johnson is an educator and cultural critic whose work has appeared in The Washington Post, Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair and other outlets.
Class Notes of 90s
Scott Brown Ph.D. ’99 was named dean of students at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind. Most recently, Brown served as interim dean of students at Sterling College in Vermont. He has also held leadership roles at Dartmouth College, Northern Arizona University and Colgate University, among other schools. Brown received his bachelor’s degree at the University of California, Irvine, and a master’s degree in higher education and student affairs from Indiana University.
Patricia S. Dorsey Ed.D. ’99 received the 2025 Joseph R. Bailer Award from the McDaniel College Alumni Association. The award is presented annually to a McDaniel master’s degree recipient who has made a significant contribution to the field of education. Dorsey completed a bachelor’s degree from Morgan State University and began teaching in 1972 in Carroll County Public Schools, where she had been a student herself. She continued to work in CCPS until 2011 as an elementary classroom teacher, Title I resource teacher, assistant principal and principal.
Zina Evans Ph.D. ’98 was named vice chancellor for strategic enrollment and student success at the University of Colorado Denver. She was previously senior vice president for higher ed strategy, enrollment, and student success at the Partnership for Education Advancement. Evans holds a master’s degree in human development, counseling and family studies from the University of Rhode Island and a bachelor’s degree in social ecology from the University of California, Irvine.
Lionel Howard M.A. ’98 was named interim dean of the Graduate School of Education and Human Development at George Washington University. Howard, who joined GW in 2009, previously served as academic dean and a professor of educational research in the school. He holds a doctorate and a master’s degree in education from Harvard University and a bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics from William Paterson University of New Jersey.
Vasi Philomin M.S. ’97, Ph.D. ’01 was appointed executive vice president and head of data and artificial intelligence at Siemens. He came from Amazon, where he most recently served as vice president of generative AI, leading Amazon Web Services' AI product strategy. Before that, he held senior roles at Philips, where he led global innovation initiatives in computer vision and connected systems. Philomin is also the inventor on more than 100 U.S. patents.
Craig Scanlon ’97 returned to Club Car, a manufacturer of golf cars, low-speed utility vehicles and personal-use transportation, as president and chief executive officer. He began his career in commercial sales of Club Car Carryall vehicles while at Ingersoll Rand and later held key officer roles in private equity-owned and Fortune 500 organizations, most recently as CEO of K&N Engineering. He spent 18 years at Polaris, where he rose to chief marketing officer.
Erek L. Barron ’96 joined law firm Mintz in the firm’s white collar defense and government investigations practice. He will also lead Mintz’s crisis management and strategic response team, and his practice will include complex civil, criminal and regulatory matters. Barron served as the United States attorney for the District of Maryland from 2021 to 2025. He earned a J.D. from George Washington University and an LLM in international law and national security from Georgetown University Law Center.
Moniesha Shorter ’96, M.P.S. ’20 was named Mrs. Maryland and competed in the United States of America Mrs. competition in May. She is a three-time breast cancer survivor and bodybuilder who advocates for preventative health care. Shorter also recently joined the UMD Alumni Association Board of Governors, is an entrepreneur who serves as chief creative officer of Cornerstone Creative Group, and will open a VentureX workspace in UMD’s Discovery District this fall.
Jennifer Aguilar Hester ’95 will participate in the 2025 Coast 2 Coast 4 Cancer ride in September to raise money for the V Foundation for Cancer Research. She will bike about 225 miles from Indianapolis to Pittsburgh. Hester is among more than 100 Bristol Myers Squibb employees riding nearly 3,000 miles cross-country with the goal of raising more than $1 million. More about her story and donation information is available online.
Sudafi Henry ’95 was named to Washingtonian’s list of D.C.’s 500 Most Influential People in 2025. He is managing partner of consulting firm theGROUP, and is a former aide to President Joe Biden who was enlisted by the National Rental Home Council to work on issues related to the single-family rental-home marketplace and how to improve housing affordability. He has a J.D. from the George Washington University Law School.
Jason M. St. John ’94, managing partner and chief executive officer of Saul Ewing, was named to The Maryland Daily Record’s 2025 Power 100 List, recognizing the 100 men and women who are shaping the state’s businesses, nonprofits, law firms and other key institutions. He leads the firm’s national practice of 425 attorneys across 18 offices. St. John taught at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and chaired the Maryland Zoo Board of Trustees.
Ben Kirtman Ph.D. ’92, a climate scientist known for advancing the accuracy of long-range weather and climate forecasts, became dean of the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science on Aug. 1. He joined the school's faculty in 2007 and directs the NOAA Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies and serves as deputy director of the university’s Frost Institute for Data Science and Computing.
William F. Tate IV Ph.D. ’91 was appointed president of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. The social scientist had been president of the Louisiana State University system for the past four years. He previously served as executive vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of South Carolina, department chair and dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for graduate education at Washington University in St. Louis, the William L. and Betty F. Adams Chair at Texas Christian University, and a tenured faculty member at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Creig Northrop ’90, CEO, founder and associate broker of Northrop Realty, was named to The Maryland Daily Record’s 2025 Power 100 List, recognizing the 100 men and women who are shaping the state’s businesses, nonprofits, law firms and other key institutions. He and his wife, Carla Northrop, have been ranked as the No. 1 team in the nation three times, according to Real Trends and The Wall Street Journal.
Class Notes of 80s
“‘There is No Humor in Heaven’: Mark Twain and Religious Liberalism” is a new book by Dwayne Eutsey '88. Published by the University of Missouri Press, it traces overlooked, unconventional theological influences on Twain and offers a radical re-examination of the spiritually creative vitality of the iconic humorist.
Jeffrey W. Gluck Ph.D. ’88 was again among IAM’s Strategy 300, an honor recognizing the world’s leading intellectual property strategists. With careers as an engineering researcher and as an intellectual property attorney, Gluck is now a partner at the Philadelphia intellectual property law firm of Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel. He earned his law degree from Georgetown University, his master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Massachusetts, and his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science from Princeton University.
Business valuation firm Scalar acquired Jonathan Lubick Consulting, founded by Jonathan Lubick M.A. ’88. He has conducted studies for tax examinations and controversy cases in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Germany, Israel and Mexico, among multiple other countries. He will become managing director of transfer pricing services at Scalar.
Maria Korsnick ’86 was named to Washingtonian’s list of Washington, D.C.’s 500 Most Influential People in 2025. She is president and CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute, which advocates for policies that support and expand the use of nuclear energy by promoting it as a key solution for reducing carbon emissions.
Kent Ziegler ’84 was named chief financial officer and chief administrative officer of insurance company MSIG USA. Prior to joining MSIG USA, Ziegler held multiple chief financial officer roles across the insurance and financial services sectors. He most recently served as global corporate controller at Axis Capital Holdings Limited. Ziegler holds an MBA from Pace University.
Gerard E. Evans M.A. ’82, president of Evans & Associates, was named to The Maryland Daily Record’s 2025 Power 100 List, recognizing the 100 men and women who are shaping the state’s businesses, nonprofits, law firms and other key institutions. He has represented clients in Annapolis for four decades, making him one of Maryland’s most successful lobbyists.
Bob Violino ’80 published the memoir “Life Lessons: How I’ve Learned to Embrace Gratitude, Positivity, Resilience, and Joy,” which he was inspired to write following jarring reminders of his mortality, including a sudden cardiac arrest and navigating kidney disease.
Class Notes of 70s
James A. Chance ’79 was awarded the Federal Magistrate Judges Association’s 2025 Founders Award, presented to a person who has made valuable and lasting contributions to the magistrate judges system of the U.S. courts. He has served as senior judicial education attorney at the Federal Judicial Center in Washington, D.C., since 2010. Previously, Chance was counsel to Talbot and Anne Arundel counties. He graduated from the University of Baltimore School of Law and holds an MFA in acting, which he taught to college students for nearly 20 years. He plans to return to teaching after he retires from government at the end of 2025.
John M. Silva Ph.D. ’77 was appointed a senior advisor for USA Team Handball in preparation for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He has been involved with Team Handball since 1986 as a player, coach, board member, sport psychology consultant and chair of the Sports Science and Technology Committee. Upon return from the 1988 Seoul Olympics he founded and coached the Carolina Team Handball Club, which has won three consecutive Collegiate National Championships and has produced over 15 USA National Team players, including three Olympians.
Michael Ray Smith M.A. ’77, chair of communication and global business and public engagement at LCC International University in Europe, published the peer-reviewed article “News credibility and undergraduates from Europe and the West” with co-author Stephen D. Perry, in the Journal of Media Education in July. He also penned “Ethics in the digital domain, a book review,” in the journal Teaching Journalism & Mass Communication.
Bill Proctor ’74 is president and CEO of Bill Proctor & Associates, a new Bloomfield Hills, Mich., firm providing investigative and legal support services. He is an award-winning journalist with a career spanning four decades in electronic media. He previously founded Proving Innocence, whose mission is to free the innocent in prison convicted of crimes they did not commit. Since November of 2016, he has produced insight into the issue of wrongful conviction in America on the information portal seekingjusticebp.com. A Vietnam-era veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Proctor spent more than four years as a police officer and assistant to the chief, Region 3, of the Federal Protective Service in Washington, D.C.
Class Notes of 60s
Pat Griffin ’67 was inducted in August into the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Griffin is professor emerita of social justice education in UMass’ College of Education. She was hired as the swim and dive coach at UMass in 1971, and is former director of the Women’s Sports Foundation’s It Takes a Team project and a founding director for Changing the Game: The Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network Sports Project. At UMD, she was on the women’s basketball, field hockey and swim teams.
Class Notes of Passings
Matthew Joseph McCormack MBA ’20 of Alexandria, Va., died on Aug. 19, 2025, at age 51. He grew up there and graduated from Bishop Ireton High School and the College of William & Mary, where he majored in art history and was a Division I swimmer, member of Pi Kappa Alpha, and volunteer firefighter in Williamsburg. After graduating from UMD, he and his wife Debbie married and had three children, Michaela, Maxwell and Mitchell. McCormack left investment banking to start his own company, Cook de Cuisine ("Cook DC"), where he earned a People's Choice Award, and delighted in hosting dinner parties. He was also an accomplished endurance athlete, completing 13 marathons, numerous Olympic-distance triathlons, the double metric Mountains of Misery, and four Ironman triathlons. He found joy in sharing his love of art, outdoor adventures and travel with his family. He is survived by his wife and children; his brother, Edward McCormack; a niece and nephews; and a large extended family.
Jordan Michael Adelson Ph.D. ’97 of Charleston, S.C., died on May 5, 2025. He was 55. Adelson grew up in Oceanside, N.Y., earned his undergraduate degree from Hobart College and met his future wife, Caitlin Freeman, in graduate school at the University of Maryland, where he earned a Ph.D. in environmental analytical chemistry. The two were married in 2001 and lived in Arlington, Va., before settling in Charleston. Adelson worked for the U.S. Navy for over two decades, most recently as director of the Navy’s Laboratory Quality and Accreditation Office and chair of the Department of Defense Environmental Data Quality Workgroup. Earlier in his career, he worked for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. Adelson was a tech enthusiast, especially when it came to electric vehicles. He enjoyed keeping up with the daily news and hosting events in his home. Above all, he was a devoted father. In addition to his wife, Adelson is survived by his daughter, Esther Ruth Adelson, and son, Isaac Reuben Adelson; his parents, Martin and Darlene Adelson; his sister, Jessica Adelson Alton; nieces and nephew; and extended family members.
María de los Ángeles García de Walsh ’94 died on June 18, 2025, in Los Angeles at age 96. Born in Mexico City, she and her twin sister, Marta, began careers as clerical workers for the Banco Nacional. In 1958, she met Thomas F. Walsh, a Georgetown University professor who was visiting Mexico City. Their long-distance courtship culminated in marriage in 1963, and the couple moved to the U.S., where they raised two sons in Silver Spring, Md. She took pleasure in sharing her knowledge of Mexico and its cultures and traditions, and promoting the Spanish language. In this spirit, she began teaching Spanish at Grace Episcopal Day School in 1969 until her retirement in 1994. During her working years and while raising her sons, Walsh completed a high school equivalency, an A.A. degree, and a B.A. from the University of Maryland with a concentration in Latin American literature. She was an active member of Christ the King Catholic Church and community volunteer. Walsh was committed to volunteering in the community. In the 1970s, she joined the board of directors of Suburban Maryland Fair Housing. She read children's stories in Spanish, taught ESOL and translated PTA newsletters at local elementary schools. In 1989, Walsh joined the board of the new organization now known as CASA, supporting weekly food distribution and educational programs. She served as an ESOL instructor for 20 years and pioneered a literacy program that she directed until 2007. At UMD, she served as a docent at Hornbake Library's Katherine Anne Porter Room. She also worked as assistant to anthropology Professor Judith Friedenberg. She was predeceased by her husband, Thomas Walsh; her sons, Thomas and Eugene; her twin sister, Marta; five grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Thomas L. Hollowak ’84, M.A. ’90 died on July 31, 2025, after a long battle with cancer. He was 71. Born in Baltimore, he began his career in 1973 as a page at the central branch of the city’s Enoch Pratt Free Library. In 1978, he was promoted and moved to the George Peabody Library (now part of the Johns Hopkins University) where he was the assistant to the head of the department. This later led to him returning to college to earn a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, then an M.A. in history at UMD. He worked briefly at the Albin O. Kuhn Library and Gallery at UBMC. From there, he became the Baltimore city archivist and records manager, then returned to the Special Collections of University of Baltimore in 1995, where he retired as associate director in 2013. He was later given emeritus status. Hollowak was active in Polish organizations and clubs and established his desktop publishing company in 1990. He enjoyed travel, photography, opera, spending time with family and friends, and sitting on his deck reading books of European history. He is survived by his twin brother, Stanley Adam Jr.; two sisters, Barbara A. O'Neal and Mary R. Hollowak; his partner of 26 years, David Amos; nieces and nephews; an uncle, Francis Kelly; and numerous cousins. He was predeceased by siblings William F. Hollowak and Louise M. Hyson.
Eric Sievers ’80, a former NFL tight end, died on April 10, 2024, at the age of 66 after a six-year battle with bladder cancer. Sievers grew up in Arlington, Va., and attended Washington-Lee High School (now Washington-Liberty High School) and was a standout athlete in multiple sports. He earned All-American honors in football and eventual induction into the Virginia High School Hall of Fame in 1997. At UMD, he met his future wife, Dee Dee, and continued to play. Sievers was selected in 1981 in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. He stayed with the team’s offense until 1988, and later played for the Los Angeles Rams and the New England Patriots, retiring after the 1990 season. Sievers became a general manager for a local Cadillac dealership and dedicated himself to coaching youth football, mentoring young athletes, and sharing his knowledge and love for the game with the next generation. The Eric Sievers Commitment to Excellence Award is given to three Terps football players each spring. He is survived by his wife and two sons, Tim and Christopher.
Leslie Ann Adams ’79 died at her Bethesda, Md., home on May 20, 2025, at age 69. Born in Washington, D.C. Adams was a graduate of the Sidwell Friends School and majored in journalism at the University of Maryland. Her life's work involved helping and caring for dogs and other animals and others in need, and she supported the Jimmy Carter Center. She is survived by brothers Stephen Robert Adams and Bruce Alan Adams; nieces and nephews; and many friends.
Janet Ahrens Goldfogle ’77 died on May 16, 2025, at age 93. She grew up on a farm near Leigh, Neb., attended Wayne State College and received her B.S. in special education from the University of Maryland. She began her teaching career in a one-room school and later taught second grade, then special education in Fremont, Neb., and Big Rapids, Mich. She was a flight attendant for Trans World Airlines from 1955 to 1956. She married Richard Goldfogle, an Air Force officer, in 1956. Upon his retirement, they moved to Big Rapids. He died in 1997, and Goldfogle moved to Falcons Landing Retirement Community in Potomac Falls, Va. There, she volunteered at both a local elementary and high school and participated in social groups. Besides her husband, she was predeceased by her brother, Charles Ahrens, and her grandson, Benjamin Goldfogle. Goldfogle is survived by her daughter, Catherine Schaupp; son, Thomas; siblings Marilyn Heimann and Franklin Ahrens; a granddaughter; and nieces and nephews.
Barbara Ellis Engram M.A. ’74, Ph.D. ’76 died on May 16, 2025, in Seattle at age 88. Born in Portsmouth, Va., she earned a bachelor’s degree in education, mathematics and fine arts at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, and master’s and doctoral degrees in counseling at UMD. Engram worked as a clinical psychologist at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and as clinical director at Keystone Counseling Center at the U.S. Air Force base in Okinawa, Japan, and was a lecturer in psychology at several locations of the University of Maryland Global Campus’ Far East Division in Japan. She later served as assistant director of education, counseling and personnel services at UMD, then as director of counseling at Hood College and associate dean of students at Clark University. She moved to Seattle in the mid-1990s and earned a degree in horticulture at Edmonds Community College. She then worked as a landscape designer until her death. For more than 20 years she lived on her houseboat on the north shore of Lake Union. Barbara was preceded in death by two sisters, Mary Elizabeth “Bettie” Engram and Augusta “Bootsie” Engram, and survived by two sons, John and Joe Bryant, her niece Karen Moen, several other nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren, as well as many friends.
Ralph Albert Kuebler ’72, MBA ’75 of Hockessin, Del., died on July 31, 2025, at age 78. He grew up with his family in Hackensack, N.J., and after his first year at Temple University, enlisted in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. He served with honor as a Morse code operator with top-secret security clearance in Okinawa, Japan, and Turkey. After his military service, Keubler earned his B.A. and MBA from the University of Maryland. His career in banking began with American Security Bank in Washington, D.C., followed by Maryland National Bank and later MBNA, which led his family to move from Silver Spring, Md., to Hockessin. He held a myriad of positions within the industry until his 2005 retirement, including in branch automation and expansion, ATM networking, pilot programs for the first chip credit cards, affinity marketing and executive leadership. Keubler also dedicated his time and talent to fundraising endeavors like the MBNA Walk for Education, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and March of Dimes. He spent 28 years as a board member—as was its president at his death—of the Center for Creative Arts in Yorklyn, Del., sat on the board for the Red Clay Education Foundation, chaired the Superstars in Education Selection Committee, and served on many other panels and advisory committees. An avid traveler, Keubler visited more than 130 countries and journeyed through the provinces of Canada and all 50 states, and visited countless national parks. At 47, he survived a quintuple bypass; at 70, he faced and overcame cancer; and through the years, he weathered numerous additional health challenges. Throughout it all, he built lasting bonds with each of his six grandchildren. Along with them, Keubler is survived by daughters Karen Meade and Susan Czerwin; a sister, Lynda Zaccone, and a host of nieces and nephews; as well as his former wife and mother of his children, Marilynn.
James L Miller E.D.D. ’71 died on July 25, 2025, at Carroll Lutheran Village in Westminster, Md., at age 98. Born in Tyrone Pa., Miller served in the U.S. Air Force, then earned a bachelor’s degree at Loch Haven College and his graduate degrees in education at the University of Maryland. He became a physical education teacher and rose to be a supervisor and helped develop K-12 curriculum programs in Baltimore County Public Schools. Miller was also an integral part of the Baltimore County Christian work camp for many years. He enjoyed golf, bowling, camping, travel and his family time. He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Virgie; two children, Randall Miller and Cynthia Judge; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Ellen Treem ’70 of Bethany Beach, Del., died on July 23, 2025, at Beebe Health Care in Lewes, Del., at age 76. Born in Suffern, N.Y., Treem spent her formative years in Maryland, graduating from Western High School and the University of Maryland, where she majored in history. A lover of plants, flowers and nature, Treem owned and operated a landscaping business for many years. More recently, she worked at the Inland Bays Garden Center. She was also a devoted animal lover who cared for many dogs and briefly served as a docent for the Maryland Zoo's Zoomobile program. She found great joy in traveling, and late in life developed a connection to the rainforest region of Costa Rica,which she was able to share with her grandchildren. She is survived by her children, Toby Treem Guerin, Isaac Treem and Jeffrey Treem; and four grandchildren.
Stephen Perry Edwards ’69 of Austin, Texas, died on June 26, 2025, at the age of 78. He grew up in suburban Baltimore and earned a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from UMD, where he rediscovered the viola and dove into his passion for music. He joined the viola section of the Austin Symphony Orchestra, established a successful private viola studio and gigged as a session musician for local and traveling artists. Edwards returned to academia and earned a master's degree in viola performance and a Ph.D. in music theory from the University of Texas at Austin. He taught music theory for a year at Oberlin Conservatory before returning to Austin, where he rejoined the symphony and trained as a computer programmer through the UT systems analyst program. He took up the recorder in retirement and quickly became an accomplished player. After joining the Austin Recorder Society and the Peacocks Recorder Consort he played in his final concert, Laude Musicum, in April 2025. Edwards is survived by his wife, Pat Ingram; his daughter Maggie Galewsky; stepson Matthew Whelan; stepdaughter Juliet Whelan; six grandchildren; sisters Barbara Wertz and Roberta Severo; four nephews and friends; former students and extended family.
Bonnie Lean Solomon ’68 of Tampa, Fla., died on May 31, 2025, at age 79. A native of Baltimore, she earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education at UMD. During her time there, she met and married her husband of 53 years, Dr. David Solomon. The couple moved to Chicago, where they spent seven years before settling permanently in Tampa in 1976. Since 2021, following his passing, Solomon lived at Allegro Senior Living. She is survived by her daughters, Kari Brown and Kelly Solomon; two grandchildren; siblings Gerald Lean, Lois Copeland, Micheal Lean and Charles Lean; and nieces and nephews.
Ernest “Chuck” Torain Sr., of Harrisburg, Pa., died on July 31, 2025, at age 80. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on May 31, 1945. He was a nationally renowned high school football player at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and a standout running back for the Terps. A three-year letterman, he was the team’s leading rusher in 1965. After college, Torain worked for Buxton, a personal leather goods company as a salesman and ultimately became a sales executive. He met his wife, Elaine, when they were 15, and the two married five years later—a union that lasted for almost 59 years. The couple raised two sons, Ernie Jr. and Erick, and he was often their youth sports coach. When they got older, he never missed a game and rarely missed a practice, even if that meant driving to different states on consecutive days. Torrain was a lifelong sports fan, especially dedicated to the Orioles, Ravens and Maryland Terrapins. And he was a doting grandfather to his grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Elaine, and his youngest son, Erick. Torain is survived by his son, Ernest Torain Jr.; three siblings, Mitchell, Valerie and Wanda Hopkins; five grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
Retired Air Force Col. George B. Boniface Jr. ’65, of Charleston, S.C., died on May 27, 2025. He graduated from Suitland High School and majored in accounting at UMD, where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon his graduation. After earning his pilot wings, Boniface was assigned to McDill AFB in Tampa, Fla., where he met his wife, the former Claudette M. Charron. Following assignments in Germany and New Mexico, he was transferred to the Southeast Asia conflict in Vietnam. During the next 39 months, he flew 187 combat missions in the F4C Aircraft, then trained and qualified as a B52D aircraft commander and flew another 177 combat missions. At the conclusion of his combat tours, he earned a Master's degree from Louisiana Tech University and graduated from the Naval War College while rising through the ranks. He retired in 1992 after helping to coordinate the deployment of American forces to the Middle East to confront the Iraqi Army invading Kuwait. His recognitions included 22 Air Medals for single acts of meritorious achievements, four Distinguished Flying Crosses and the Legion of Merit. He relocated to Charleston, where he was hired by Charleston County government as director of the Department of Revenue Collections, a position he held for 17 years until retirement. Surviving are his wife, Claudette Boniface; daughters, Nina Boniface and Renee Swayze; two granddaughters; and a sister, Sharon Black.
Joel Glazer ’65 of Baltimore died on June 3, 2025, at the age of 83. While carrying the weight of a difficult past, Glazer never let hardship define him. He earned two master’s degrees while working full time, always focused on supporting those he loved. Glazer gave everything he had for the good of others; whether through his work as an aerospace engineer, his leadership as Greengate Association president, or simply as a warm presence in the lives of those who knew him. He is survived by his wife, Rachel (with whom he is pictured at UMD’s Golden Terps ceremony in 2015); children, Hillel ’90 and Sharon Glazer; brothers David and Moses; six grandchildren, including three Terps, and a large extended family.
Joline Rae Krolicki ’65 of Satellite Beach, Fla., died on July 1, 2025, at age 82. A Baltimore native, she pursued an English degree at the University of Maryland, where she joined the Phi Beta Phi sorority. While teaching at Arundel High School, Joline met her future husband, Ray Krolicki. She also worked at Southern High School, then Queen Anne’s County High School while her two daughters were students there. She later found joy in being a grandmother. Krolicki also cherished her lifelong friends through a variety of Christian organizations including Women's Aglow, the Emmaus Community, and her St. Luke's Choir family, where she served as a Stephen minister and grief share facilitator. She also enjoyed cheering on all her favorite teams, whether a Terrapin, Bearcat, Seminole or Buckeye or the Baltimore Ravens and Orioles. Krolicki was preceded in death by her husband and survived by survived by her daughters, Lori Pierson and Julie Brown; two granddaughters; and a great-grandson.
Alan Richards ’62 died on Aug. 17, 2025, in Rockville, Md. After spending his early years in Salt Lake City, Utah, his family moved back east to Silver Spring, Md., and he graduated from Montgomery Blair High School, UMD (where he majored in English) and the George Washington University School of Law. He spent his career as a government relations professional and lawyer for the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Association, the Health Association of America, and ultimately as executive director of the Medicare Administration Committee. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Joanne Murray; two children: Geoffrey A. Richards and Wendy K. Greenfield; and eight grandchildren.
Frank Coleman Young Ph.D. ’62 died at Falcons Landing in Sterling, Va., on Aug. 1, 2025. He was 90. Due to the uncertainties of Depression and war, his family moved frequently throughout his childhood. Eventually they settled in Arlington, where he graduated from Washington-Lee High School. Coleman graduated from Johns Hopkins University and earned his Ph.D. in physics from UMD, where he taught for several years. Coleman spent most of his career at the Naval Research Laboratory as a research physicist. His work involved basic research experiments to enable better understanding of the principles that could ultimately lead to the development of fusion energy. He wed Carol Owen in June 1959, and the couple raised their three children in Oxon Hill Md., then spent their retirement years in Fredericksburg, Va. Coleman was an active member of the church, serving as a deacon and teaching Sunday school for many years. His passion was tennis, a game which he played well into his eighties. Frank is survived by his children: Suzanne, Lynette and Forrest; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; brothers Bill and Reeves, and sister Gayle Barron, along with many nieces and nephews.
Florence Audrey (Knott) Graf ’61 died on Aug. 29, 2025, at her Westminster, Md., home. She was 86. Born in Washington D.C., she majored in education at UMD, where she met her future husband, Charles "Chuck" Richard Graf Sr. They wed in 1960, and Graf worked in banking, then substitute-taught kindergarten classes. She often was a chaperone for her children's field trips and helped with their many fundraisers especially those for the Owl Marching Band. Graf was a member of the Women's Circle at First Presbyterian Church. She enjoyed gardening, baking, making black raspberry preserves and birdwatching. Graf tallied over 3,000 hours volunteering with the CHOPS program at Carroll County General Hospital. She is survived by her children, Charles Jr., Tammy and Laura Perry Graf; sisters Frances K. Knott and Margie Knott; three grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
David Thomas Ryan ’61, of Harford, Conn., died on Nov. 5, 2023 at age 84. At Torrington High School he was class vice president, a member of the football team and an All-American swimmer. He majored in history at UMD and worked his way through law school at Georgetown University. Ryan practiced law for many years at Robinson + Cole; he was a member of the Hartford County Bar Association and the American College of Trial Lawyers and taught at the University of Connecticut Law School. Ryan was an avid cyclist who won many championships. He enjoyed reading and cooking Italian food, which led him to take cycling trips through the Italian countryside with top competitors. Ryan was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Dale Anderson Ryan. Survivors include two daughters, Rachael Ryan and Conor Ryan Tung; three grandchildren; a brother, William Ryan; and three nieces. Ryan was predeceased by a brother, Edward Ryan.
Libby Spector Wolff ’61 of Baltimore died on July 27, 2025, at the age of 85. She graduated from Forest Park High School, later UMD with honors, and served as president of the Pikesville Chamber of Commerce. Wolff was a well-known, leading real estate agent and an avid swimmer and loved flowers, especially yellow ones. She is survived by her husband, Martin Wolff; two sons, Mark and David Berman; stepdaughter, Jennifer Gehring; two grandchildren and three step-grandchildren, She was predeceased by a daughter, Bonnie Berman.
Retired Air Force Col. Vernon A. Sevier ’55, M.A. ’69, Ph.D. ’79 died on July 19, 2025, at age 92. A native of Baltimore, he received his commission as second lieutenant through the Air Force ROTC program at UMD, where he majored in physical education and was part of Gymkana. After release from extended active duty in the 341st Bomb Wing at Dyess AFB in Texas, he returned to Maryland. In 1959, he became a member of the Maryland ANG as a pilot, where he held many positions in the 135th Tactical Airlift Group. Upon returning from military service, he had a distinguished 21-year civilian career as a YMCA executive, an organization that played an important role in his childhood. Sevier was also a full-time member of the Maryland Air Guard from 1976-93. After retirement, he became for six years the director of the Maryland Free State Challenge Program, which provides education, job training, health and fitness training, self-discipline and other life skills to at-risk youth. He was an active member of Towson United Methodist Church, particularly its Mission Work Area, and the Towson Rotary Club, with over 50 years of service and perfect attendance. He served on the board of the Patriots of Fort McHenry. In retirement, he flew many hours with the Maryland Wing Civil Air Patrol and loved to fly a little Cessna that he shared with three friends. He ran several marathons, including the Boston Marathon and Marine Corps Marathon. Sevier was predeceased by his wife, Nancy Sevier, and survived by his children, Dr. Linda Sevier, Frances Brown and Vernon Sevier Jr.; and four grandchildren.
Rona Barke Subotnik ’54 died on Feb. 26, 2025, in Savannah, Ga. She was 92. She graduated from Western High School in Baltimore, attended Baltimore Junior College and transferred to UMD, where she majored in bacteriology and made the Dean’s List each semester. After graduation, she worked at a University of Maryland medical laboratory until she married Norman Subotnik in 1956. Subotnik became the president of the Child Study Association and active in the PTA. Later, after a move to Potomac, Md., her children by now high school-age, she went work in the Infectious Diseases laboratory at the National Institutes of Health. Subotnik eventually left to earn a graduate degree in marriage, family and child counseling from Trinity College, then was a counselor at A Woman’s Place in Rockville until her husband’s retirement and their move to California. There, she established a private practice as a licensed marriage and family therapist and authored four books on infidelity, including the bestseller “Surviving Infidelity.” Outside of her practice, she made many radio appearances across the United States, Canada and Radio Free Europe, and wrote for publications such as Newsweek and the San Diego Union Tribune. Subotnik was an avid reader, enjoyed sewing and became an award-winning fiber artist. She was preceded in death by her husband, Norman; and is survived by her three children, Adrienne, Kenneth and Debra; and six grandchildren.
Diane Gartside Bennett ’52 died on Aug. 1, 2025, in Williamsburg, Va. She graduated from Catonsville High School and earned her bachelor's degree in biology from UMD, where she made lifelong friends in the Delta Gamma Fraternity. She and her late husband, Tom Bennett, raised a family in Carroll County, Md. Bennett was later active in the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and the Greensboro Garden Club. She enjoyed rug hooking, genealogy and traveling and was a faithful member of the Front Street Methodist Church in Burlington, N.C. She is survived by her son, Christopher T. Bennett; daughters Cindy Jarboe and Lisa Ours; four grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
John William Burkhard ’51 died on July 25, 2025, at Quality of Life Services in Johnstown, Pa., at age 98. After graduating from the former Johnstown Catholic High School, Burkhard served in the U.S. Navy during World War Il. Upon discharge, he graduated from Mt. St. Mary's College and the University of Maryland, earning a B.A. in economics. He became an executive for the Acme Markets chain. Burkhard was active in civic affairs, becoming executive director of the Greater Johnstown Chamber of Commerce, followed by being a founder and first executive director of Johnstown Area Regional Industries. Passionate about golf, he was a member of both Ligonier and Sunnehanna country clubs. After retirement, he and his wife B.L. enjoyed winters in Florida before returning to their home in Ligonier, Pa. He spent his final years, after her death, cared by Quality of Life and AseraCare Hospice. Burkhard is survived by his nephews, Dr. Robert Callahan; William Callahan and Dr. Daniel Callahan; and his niece, Margaret Severson. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Kathryn Burkhard and Mary Jo Callahan.
Melvin Oscar Wright ’51 of Chevy Chase, Md., died on July 22, 2025, at the age of 96. Born in Stanley, Va., he became the poster child for Thompson's Milk at 11 months old. He grew up in Washington, D.C., graduated from Calvin Coolidge High School and upon graduation at UMD was commissioned as first lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force. Stationed for two years at Dover Air Force Base, Wright was nicknamed "Junior" for being the youngest auditor on the base. He then began his career with Rouse, Brewer, Becker & Bryant in Washington. The firm was later acquired by Reynolds Securities, where Wright became a partner. Reynolds subsequently merged with Dean Witter and was ultimately acquired by Morgan Stanley. After over 40 years in wealth management, Wright retired from Morgan Stanley. He was a two-term industry advisor to the securities commissioner of the state of Maryland and the District of Columbia, and received a distinguished award for service as chairman of the Securities Industry Institute from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He served for over a decade on the boards of Smithfield Foods and Citizens Bank of Maryland, the Bullis School and the Second Genesis program. At home, Wright was known as "Marmaduke" and "Kingfish" by his children and as "Poopah" by his grandchildren. He and his wife, Jean, enjoyed family time in Bryce Mountain, Va., Avalon, N.J. and Easton, Md., as well as their annual trip with friends to St. Bart's. He was a chef and an avid train collector whose Christmas display delighted the neighborhood. Wright is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jean; three children, Bryan, Heather and Randy; and six grandchildren. He was predeceased by his sister, Elaine Brown, and his son, Jon Wright.
Jean Winebrener Martz ’47, age 99, died on May 30, 2025, at her home outside of Frederick, Md. She graduated from Frederick High School, attended St. Mary's College and majored in human ecology at UMD, where she was active with her sister, Peggy Kinsey, in Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. Martz worked in Washington, Baltimore and Hagerstown in merchandising, and married her future husband of 55 years, Walter Atlee Martz. They raised their six children on a multi-generational dairy farm, where, working with a landscape designer, Martz created award-winning flower, herb and rock gardens, and her wildflower garden, painstakingly planted with flowers from the 1700s, was recognized at the state level. She served as director of District Five and as a vice director for many years of the Frederick Garden Club. The Martzes enjoyed golf and belonged to Eaglehead and, later, Holly Hills. After Walter died in 2005, she traveled extensively. In addition to her sister, Martz is survived by her six children: Walter Clayton Martz II, Byron Winebrener Martz; Barbara Sommerfield Martz Van Allen; Elizabeth Steiner Martz; Stephen Craver Martz; and Julia Augusta Martz-Fisher; 10 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.