Class Notes
Class Notes of 20s
Bradley Jopek D.M.A. ’24 is the new director of the music program and assistant professor of music at Trine University in Indiana. He graduated from Grove City College and received two Master of Music degrees, in wind and orchestral conducting, from the University of Louisville, while also serving as music and artistic director of River Cities Concert Band.
Catherine Springer-Sapp Ph.D. ’24 was named assistant professor of kinesiology and coordinator of health sciences at McDaniel College in Westminster, Md. She earned a master’s degree in kinesiology from East Carolina University and has a bachelor’s degree in applied health science from Messiah University.
M Pease ’22, a doctoral student in counseling psychology at UMD, is vice chair-elect of the Maryland Commission for LGBTQIA+ Affairs. They are the first out trans nonbinary person of color elected to leadership of a Maryland state board or commission, engaging in work to advise the governor and legislature on policy needs to continue protecting marginalized communities.
Mubassira Nur ’24 participated in the eight-week virtual Tribal Health Experiential Internship Seminar (THESIS) program. Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Office of Minority Health and Health Equity through its Lewis Scholars Program, it allows interns to delve into Native American culture, resilience and various aspects of public health.
Ray Islam (Mohammad Rubyet Islam) Ph.D. ’23 is the author of “Generative AI, Cybersecurity, and Ethics,” a textbook and a reference guide for policymakers published by Wiley. He previously served as a lecturer in UMD’s ACES program and is now an adjunct professor at George Mason University and an AI scientist in a leadership role at Booz Allen Hamilton, serving the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Class Notes of 10s
Amaiya Davis ’13 and Matthew Wynter ’10 were married Oct. 10 at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in New York City; a reception followed the next day at Ravel in Long Island City. She is the vice president of media and cultural impact and engagement at Republic Records, and he is a real estate agent with Brown Harris Stevens. The story of how they met at UMD, but didn’t romantically connect until reuniting years later at Alumni Association events in New York City, is the subject of a “Vows” column in The New York Times.
Catharine Montgomery MBA ’19 was named a finalist in the Best Female Entrepreneur – Business Products –10 or Less Employees category in the 21st annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business. The awards honor women executives, entrepreneurs, employees and the companies they run. Montgomery is the founder and CEO of Better Together, which has created initiatives focused on diversity, equity and social impact within the communications industry.
Fikre Mengistu ’13 joined the Finance Directorate of the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) as a financial analyst. He earned his master’s degree in finance and banking from DePaul University. IDA is a nonprofit that answers challenging U.S. security and science policy questions with objective analysis.
Henry Jin ’10, an energy and infrastructure attorney who advises clients on renewable energy transactions, rejoined Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP as a partner in Washington, D.C., where he started his legal career nearly a decade ago. He later joined Électricité de France Renewables Distributed Solutions as senior counsel, and in 2020, was recruited by another international law firm. Jin earned his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.
Jacqueline Marsh MRED ’11 was appointed the first director of Loudoun County (Va.)’s Office of Real Property Asset Management and Planning. She began working for the county in 2016, most recently as assistant director in the Department of Planning and Zoning. Marsh has a master’s degree in library information science from the University of Pittsburgh and a bachelor’s degree in geography from Shippensburg University.
Marek Posard Ph.D. ’15 joined the Strategy, Forces and Resources Division of the Institute for Defense Analyses’ Systems and Analyses Center as a research staff member. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science from Loyola University Chicago and is a member of the Inter-University Seminar on Armed Forces and Society. IDA is a nonprofit that answers challenging U.S. security and science policy questions with objective analysis.
Michele Hayes Dinterman ’12 was honored as one of the Maryland Daily Record's Leading Women Under 40. The awards honor women who are younger than 40 years of age for their professional accomplishments. She is a partner at Niles, Barton & Wilmer, serves on the board of the Community Law Center and is active in the Defense Research Institute, where she chairs the Young Lawyers Steering Committee’s Women’s Committee.
Rachel Grafman ’16 launched Prosperity Personal Finance, a personal finance coaching practice that helps people, largely millennials and members of Generation Z, gain the tools and skills to take control of their finances.
Ryan Merkel M.A. ’10 was hired as principal gifts officer at the National Gallery of Art. He most recently was chief development officer at Washington’s Arena Stage, and he began his career in development at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Newseum for four years as manager and then director of individual giving. Merkel holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Florida.
Tom Foster '14 and Francis Smith '14, co-owners of Diamondback Brewing Co. in Baltimore, opened a combination coffee cafe, brewery and pizza kitchen in Timonium. The partnership with Aveley Farms Coffee Roasters is born out of the Terps’ friendship with its owner, Corey Voelkel, going back to high school.
Class Notes of 00s
Amy Burke Friedman '02 was named to the Maryland Daily Record 2024 Best Women-Owned Business List. She is the owner and CEO of Profiles LLC, a public relations and marketing firm based in Baltimore. She has been recognized as one of The Baltimore Sun’s 2023 Women to Watch and a Daily Record Top 100 Woman.
Amy C. (Stouffer) Serafino ’00, a principal at Friedlander Misler, PLLC, was selected for Connect CRE’s 2024 Lawyers in Real Estate Awards in the Washington, D.C., and mid-Atlantic region. She also serves as an adjunct professor at Georgetown Law School and serves on the board of Community Forklift, a Hyattsville, Md.-based nonprofit reuse warehouse.
Bonny Ghosh ’02, M.S. ’06 was named editorial director of Inc. magazine. For the past two years, Ghosh had been producing programming for Apple’s global events team at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino. She previously served as the managing editor of Circa, overseeing a digital newsroom of approximately 50, which secured a national Edward. R. Murrow Award and three regional Emmys within a year of her leadership.
Former NFL player and professional wrestler Dean Muhtadi ’08, MBA ’11 was named brand ambassador of the fitness company Beachbody Co. He is known to many by his wrestling persona “Mojo Rawley” and for his social media presence; he has more than 365,000 followers on Instagram, which features him and cousin Laith Chaz pushing through and motivating others in LIIFT4 workouts.
Donald “DJ” Vail MBA ’00 was named chief financial officer at NCIA. He most recently served as vice president of tax and business licenses and corporate controller at Erickson Senior Living, where he worked for over a decade. Vail is also an active participant in his community, serving as a youth sports coach in the Carroll Manor Rec Council for various sports all throughout the year. He earned his B.S. in accounting from the University of Delaware.
Forrest G. Popkin ’08 joined Bates Architects in Frederick, Md., as vice president. He previously worked with Bates Architects between 2010 and 2018. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects, and certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. Popkin was in Frederick's 50 Under 40 in 2022, and is in the 2024-25 Leadership Frederick County Class.
Heather Guarch ’05 was appointed to serve as judge on the Orange County (Fla.) Court. She has served as a regional legal advisor for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement since 2018. Previously, she served as an assistant state attorney in the Ninth Judicial Circuit. She earned her juris doctor from the University of Baltimore.
Indira Sharma ’03 joined Locke Lord’s Washington, D.C., office as a partner in the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. Her experience spans complex contract and commercial disputes to matters involving commercial leases and real estate. Sharma joins Locke Lord from Saul Ewing, and has served in roles within the Maryland State Bar Association. She is also a member of the Judicial Selections Committee with the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Maryland. Additionally, Sharma has been recognized for her work in commercial litigation by The Best Lawyers in America and is a recipient of The Daily Record’s Leadership in Law Award, among others.
Jennifer D. Sciubba Ph.D. ’05 was appointed president and chief executive officer of the Population Reference Bureau. A frequently consulted expert on population trends, she has published several books, including “8 Billion and Counting: How Sex, Death, and Migration Shape Our World,” as well as articles in The Atlantic, Harvard Business Review and The Washington Post. Her 2023 TED Talk, “The Truth About Human Population Decline,” has more than 1.2 million views. Sciubba received her bachelor’s degree from Agnes Scott College in Georgia, studied at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research in Germany and served as a demographics consultant to the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy.
Kat Kayser-Bricker ’02, chief scientific officer for New Haven biotech company Halda Therapeutics, was honored as Entrepreneur of the Year in the bioscience industry by New Haven-based BioCT, Connecticut’s bioscience booster organization, and the law firm Shipman & Goodwin LLP, which has an office in New Haven.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore appointed Laura Joy Novello Fuggitti ’03 to the Prince George’s County District Court. She had worked as an associate county attorney in the litigation division of the Prince George’s County Office of Law since 2022. Previously, she served as an attorney with the Maryland Office of the Public Defender in Prince George’s for 12 years, where she served as District Court supervisor. Novello holds a J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law.
Leon Smith ’01, a longtime social studies teacher at Haverford High School, was named the teacher of the year in Pennsylvania. He also serves as the African American cultural enrichment adviser, freshmen boys’ basketball coach and mentor, who started a Grow Your Own teacher program at Haverford Township School District and is a senior fellow for Teach Plus, an organization that focuses on developing teacher leaders. He holds a master’s degree in educational leadership in technology integration from Pennsylvania State University, and a PK-12 principal certification from Cabrini University.
Luke Grossmann MBA ’08 was promoted to chief financial officer and executive vice president of the U.S. Postal Service. He’s worked there for 20 years, mostly recently as senior vice president of finance and strategy. Grossmann has a bachelor’s degree in economics and finance from American University and a Master of Science in management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a Sloan Fellow.
Maria Roeper M.P.P. ’09 was promoted to associate general counsel in the IAM Legal Department. She had served as its director and counsel for human resources since 2015 and was previously on the general secretary-treasurer’s team and an assistant general counsel. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Haverford College and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Maryland School of Law in Baltimore.
Mariana Swann ‘04 received a 2024 Community Spirit Award from NetDiligence, a provider of cyber risk readiness and response services, at the flagship Cyber Risk Summit in Philadelphia. She is the associate vice president for the legal and insurance vertical at Pondurance, where she oversees its relationships with security teams and executive stakeholders focused on cyber insurance, governance, compliance and other cyber risk issues with legal and regulatory ramifications. Swann is also one of the founding members of the Internal Women's Cyber Alliance.
Matt DeZee ’00 was promoted from CFO to chief transformation and strategy officer at Precision Medicine Group. A member of Precision's founding team in 2012, DeZee served as corporate development officer for eight years before becoming CFO in 2020. Prior to joining Precision, he held leadership roles at United BioSource Corp.
Monica Grasso Ph.D. ’00, NOAA chief economist since 2016, was named to the 2024 TIME100 Climate list. The list recognizes her as one of the world’s 100 most influential leaders working to help businesses take effective and transformative climate action. She was the author of the first-ever chapter on economics in the Fifth National Climate Assessment. She holds certificates in advanced business management from Georgetown University and executive education from Harvard Kennedy School.
Naseema Shafi ’00, CEO of Whitman-Walker Health, was named to the Washington Business Journal’s 2024 Women Who Mean Business list, which recognizes the region's most influential women. In her 17-year tenure, she has overseen the development of over 100,000 square feet of new health care facility space in both Logan Circle and Congress Heights. Whitman-Walker Health now employs 360 people and provides primary medical care, behavioral health care, dental care, and a range of health-related legal and support services to more than 20,000 individuals and families annually in the greater D.C. region, with a speciality in providing LGBTQ care.
Nate Tibbits MBA ’01, senior vice president, global government affairs and corporate responsibility at Qualcomm, was named one of D.C.’s 2024 Tech Titans by Washingtonian magazine, showcasing 219 of the most innovative and important leaders in Washington’s tech scene. Tibbits, who worked at the White House’s National Security Council earlier in his career, has spent the past decade handling the semiconductor company’s government affairs, including navigating devastating chip shortages.
Nicola “Dr. Nikki” Smith-Kea M.A. ’09 is overseeing a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to fund the implementation of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Program in Anne Arundel County, which aims to enhance the county’s approach to preventing, investigating and prosecuting hate crimes, as well as providing support to victims of hate bias incidents. She will manage the county’s Hate Crime Prevention Program under the direction of the Office of Equity and Human Rights. She previously served as a Stoneleigh Fellow and executive in residence with the Philadelphia Police Department. Smith-Kea holds a Ph.D. in leadership and change from Antioch University.
Paul C. Barrett ’04 was named chief financial officer of Cleveland. Most recently, he managed the debt and investment portfolios for the city of Jacksonville. Barrett also brings over 10 years of experience in client service, operations, research, securities trading, portfolio management and budgeting from a variety of firms and agencies including Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley and the Federal Aviation Administration.
“Behind Every Good Man,” a novel by Sara Goodman Confino ’02, M.Ed. ’03, was nominated for Goodreads’ Readers' Favorite Historical Fiction of 2024. The bestselling author of “Don’t Forget to Write,” “She’s Up to No Good” and “For the Love of Friends” also teaches high school journalism and creative writing in Montgomery County, Md.
Shahid Rana M.RED ’09 was named to the Charlotte Business Journal's 40 Under 40 for 2024. He is the deputy director of the Mecklenburg County Office of Economic Development, where he is leading a Siemens Energy expansion that includes an advanced manufacturing facility to produce large power transformers.
Shawn Crowley ’09 was named to the Delaware Business Times’ 40 Under 40, which recognizes outstanding young professionals. He is the owner and principal at Tevebaugh Architecture, chairs the Delaware ACE Mentor Program, which has provided $120,000 in scholarships over the past 13 years, serves on the New Castle County Vo-Tech Advisory Board and is a member of the DTCC Architechulat Engineering Technology Advisory Committee. A car enthusiast, he shares instructional videos on automotive maintenance, repairs and modifications on YouTube, garnering over 1 million views and 2,100 subscribers.
Wynne Briscoe ’01, director of the Small Business Development Center at the College of Southern Maryland, was named one of Maryland’s 2024 Manufacturing Stars by the Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland. After eight years with the Maryland SBDC network, Briscoe recently announced her semi-retirement. She will continue to lead Forever Eden Organics, which she founded in 20120. It is a certified organic body care manufacturer, with a production facility in St. Mary’s County.
Class Notes of 90s
Brian A. Flank ’98 joined Cole Schotz P.C. as a member in the firm’s corporate transactions practice group. He’s a member of the firm’s real estate department, with extensive experience advising clients in real estate acquisitions, dispositions, financings and other real estate-related transactions. Flank is based in the firm’s Baltimore office.
Chance Glenn ’91, a distinguished engineering professor at Alabama A&M University, released a Christmas album, “A Christmas Gift,” now available on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. His first CD, 1999’s “The Praise Project—First Fruits,” earned a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in Contemporary Christian Music the following year. He shifted his focus to academia after the release of “Jesus is Faithful” in 2005. He previously served as dean of the College of Engineering, Technology, and Physical Sciences at Alabama A&M and as provost at the University of Houston-Victoria, where he is currently on sabbatical.
Charles Wrightson ’91 joined the Salisbury, Md., office of Wilmington Trust as a senior wealth advisor. Prior to taking this role, Wrightson spent 20 years at PNC Private Bank in Easton, Md., as a senior relationship manager and team director. He is past president and a current board member of the Waterfowl Festival in Easton as well as a board member of the Critchlow Adkins Children’s Centers.
Dan Groman ’98 was promoted to executive vice president, general counsel, secretary and chief compliance officer at Walker & Dunlop. He has worked at the real estate finance and advisory services firm since 2012, and before that served as associate general counsel at Freddie Mac and attorney at Arnold & Porter LLP. Groman received his J.D. from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.
Debbie Goldman M.P.P. ’96, M.A. ’07, Ph.D. ’22 wrote the book “Disconnected: Call Center Workers Fight for Good Jobs in the Digital Age” (University of Illinois Press), based on her dissertation for the degree she earned at age 69. The former researcher at the Communications Workers of America details the transition from the days in which employees in telephone call centers once blended skill and emotional intelligence to solve customer problems to the deregulation of the phone industry and introduction of digital technology that led to the largely female workforce facing difficult new challenges.
Deborah Katz Levi ’93 was elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. She is the director of special litigation for the Maryland Office of the Public Defender in Baltimore. She also serves on the executive committee of the Maryland Equitable Justice Collaborative, a partnership aimed at eliminating mass incarceration in Maryland. She was awarded the American Bar Association's Charles H. Dorsey Award in 2018, which recognizes exceptional work by a public defender or legal aid attorney.
Derek Griffith ’93 was named the Risa Lavizzo-Mourey Population Health and Health Equity University Professor in the School of Nursing and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Griffith is an innovator in the study of health equity, especially the social, economic and political factors that impact the health of Black and Latino men. He was most recently professor of health management and policy in the School of Health, founder and director of Georgetown University’s Center for Men’s Health Equity, and co-director of the Racial Justice Institute. He received a Ph.D. and M.A. in clinical psychology from DePaul University.
Faiz Ahmad ’98, partner and head of the Wilmington office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, was named to The Delaware Times’ list of the Most Impactful Leaders in the State. He focuses on mergers and acquisitions and was involved in major deals including M&T Bank’s acquisition of Wilmington Trust and CSC’s acquisition of Intertrust. Ahmad graduated from Washington & Lee University School of Law and is on the boards of the Corporation Law Council of the Delaware State Bar Association and Delaware chapter of the North American South Asian Bar Association.
Jason D. Winn ’96 joined Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A. as a senior attorney. He serves as general counsel for the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association, Florida Podiatric Medical Association, Florida Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Foundation, Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office, Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Hearing Society, where he holds the position of executive director. He also volunteers his legal services at the Wakulla County Senior Citizens Center and Legal Services of North Florida. Before joining LLW, Winn was the managing partner of his own practice for nearly 20 years. He graduated from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law.
Jean Moody-Williams M.P.P. ’95, deputy center director for the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality at the Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) received a 2024 Presidential Rank Award from President Joe Biden. The honor recognized her leadership in the CMS Healthcare Resiliency Initiative, which strengthened health care delivery during the pandemic and set new standards for health equity and quality.
Jeanette Epps M.S. ’94, Ph.D. ’00 and three crewmates returned to Earth in October after an eight-month mission aboard the International Space Station, making her the African American with the most time spent in space. She spoke at UMD a week later. Read the story in Maryland Today.
Jeffrey Rosen ’98, MBA ’05, managing partner of Rosen, Sapperstein and Friedlander in Towson, Md., was among 31 leaders recognized by The Daily Record as the 2024 Most Admired CEOs. Honorees were selected based on professional accomplishments, community service and letters of reference submitted by co-workers, board members and community members showing their leadership and vision. Rosen joined the Circle of Leadership, having won the award for a third and final time.
Jennifer E. Mabry Ph.D. ’97 wrote the new book, “Fighting to Be Seen: A Civil Rights Baby Reflects on Life in Post-Integration America,” a memoir that explores the impacts of civil rights policy and integration, from a personal perspective, on a generation of Black Americans with a nuanced lens. It is available exclusively at Politics and Prose bookstore, online and in-store. She is a former assistant professor of media studies at the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College in New York. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, AARP The Magazine, USA Today and NPR.
Ken Shapiro ’95 was hired as chief revenue officer at Straight Arrow News. He previously held that role at both Morning Brew and Fandom. Shapiro began his career in 1995 as a sales assistant with Turner Broadcasting’s TBS and TNT and elevated through the CNN News Group and Animation divisions before helping launch the Turner Digital group in 2007. He is also the founder and executive director of the Howard Shapiro Memorial Fund, which raises money for pancreatic research.
Keri Mattox ’99 was appointed to the newly created role of chief business officer at Parexel, a clinical research organization. She most recently served as chief communications and administration officer at Zimmer Biomet, a global leader in medical technology. Earlier in her professional career, she was global lead of integrated corporate communications at W2O Group (now Real Chemistry) and served as vice president, corporate and investor relations at Fortune 20 company AmerisourceBergen (now Cencora).
The Fulbright Association named Michael Dorsher Ph.D. ’99 the “outstanding former leader” among its 54 state chapters and worldwide interest groups. Dorsher completed a third two-year term in June as president of the Minnesota Chapter of the Fulbright Association, the alumni organization for Fulbright scholars who have served the U.S. as citizen diplomats in nations all around the world. Dorsher was based at McGill University in Montréal in 2008-09, when he conducted media research all across Canada. He is a professor emeritus of journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Mindi B. (Pollak) Levin ’98 received the Ernest Lyman Stebbins Medal, the highest honor bestowed by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health for educational excellence. The award is presented to a member of the faculty annually for contributions to the teaching programs over a period of at least five years, beyond the boundaries of a single department.
Peter Hopsicker M.A. ’94, a professor of kinesiology at Penn State, was named associate vice provost for faculty affairs. Hopsicker started at Penn State Altoona in 1996 as an adjunct instructor and joined the Student Affairs staff a year later. He earned a doctorate in kinesiology from Penn State and has held roles such as program coordinator for the Department of Kinesiology and head of the Division of Education, Human Development, and Social Sciences. In 2019, he took on his most recent role of interim associate dean for academic affairs at Penn State Altoona, and later the post of vice chancellor for academic affairs.
Rami Daoud ’92 was appointed chief business and financial officer at Affinia Therapeutics, which develops therapies for devastating cardiovascular and neurological diseases. Most recently, Daoud was president of GeneSciences Pharmaceuticals USA. Before GeneSciences, he spent eight years at Amarin Corp. as a senior vice president of corporate development and a member of its executive management team. He also holds an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and an M.S. in physiology from the University of Maryland at Baltimore.
Rana Khan Ph.D. ’99 was named the inaugural director of Hood College’s new Biomedical Research and Training Center. She previously served as the founding director of the biotechnology management and entrepreneurship master’s of science program at Yeshiva University in New York. Khan also previously served as vice dean of the University of Maryland Global Campus’ graduate school and chair of its information technology systems department.
Raul Fernandez ’90, president and CEO of the government contractor DXC Technology, was named to the Washington Business Journal Power 100 of 2024. He serves as vice chairman of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, owner of the Washington Capitals and Wizards and Capital One Arena, and he sits on boards of the District of Columbia College Access Program and the Fernandez Foundation.
Tamara Wilds Lawson M.A. ’98, Ph.D. ’09, president and CEO, Washington Area Women’s Foundation, was named Washington Business Journal’s Nonprofit Leader of the Year. She joined the community-supported foundation, which invests in the power of women and girls of color in the D.C. region, in 2023. Lawson held previous stints at ActBlue and Washington Nationals Philanthropies.
Tammy Mank Wincup M.P.P. ’97 was appointed chief executive officer of Securly, a provider of solutions for K-12 school safety and wellness. She most recently served as a partner and investment committee member for Rethink Education, an impact venture fund focused on investing in global education technology.
Todd McDonald ’90 was promoted to head of technology lending and senior managing director Horizon Technology Finance Management. He joined Horizon in 2012 and has most recently served as senior managing director responsible for business development in the mid-Atlantic and Southeast technology markets.
Troy R. Anderson MBA ’95 was named executive vice president and chief financial officer of Kelly, a global specialty talent solutions provider. Most recently, he served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Universal Technical Institute, and before that was vice president, global finance and corporate controller for Conduent.
Class Notes of 80s
Brian J. Gibbons '84, chairman of the board and CEO of Greenberg Gibbons, was among 31 leaders recognized by The Daily Record as the 2024 Most Admired CEOs. Honorees were selected based on professional accomplishments, community service and letters of reference submitted by co-workers, board members and community members showing their leadership and vision. He also was named to this list in 2017.
Retired Air Force Col. David B. Bosko ’89 was named the executive director, air, space and cyber at Integrated Computer Solutions. His most recent role was as director at the Air Force Cyber College, where he led a team of 25 experts in educating over 5,000 students annually on critical cyber operations and strategy. His prior experience also includes serving as Cyber Chair at Air University and CEO of the Air Force Spectrum Management Office. He is based in ICS's Montgomery, Ala., office.
Jane Lewis-Raymond ’87 was elected to the board of Unitil Corp. She is principal of Hilltop Strategies, which provides strategic consulting services to senior executives, and also currently serves on the board of Southwest Gas Holdings. Lewis-Raymond has a J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law.
Joanna Sullivan ’87, who led the Baltimore Business Journal as editor-in-chief since 1999, accepted a senior editor position within the American City Business Journals chain, the publication’s parent company. She joined the BBJ in 1993 as a reporter and, after a stint at American Banker, returned as managing editor before taking over the top newsroom role.
Prince George’s County Council Chair Jolene Ivey ’82 was honored by Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., at its annual Impact Gala with its Ally Award. It recognized her work supporting policies to protect equitable and compassionate health care. Previously a member of PPMW’s board of directors, Ivey played an instrumental role in establishing PPMW’s Suitland health center.
Mary E. McKnight ’85 released the book “Out of Place: Coming of Age in Cold War West Germany,” the tale of one teen’s quest to establish her own voice as an Army brat living in Cold War–era West Germany. She is a teacher at UMD’s Center for Young Children and prior to that, taught for 29 years in Howard County Public Schools.
Michael Genhart M.A. ’87, Ph.D. ’89 received the Tomás Rivera Mexican American Children's Book Award from Texas State University for his latest book, “Spanish is the Language of my Family” (illustrated by John Parra and published by Neal Porter Books). It also received the 2024 Gold Medal - Alma Flor Ada Best Latino Focused Children's Book Award (International Latino Book Award) and a 2024 Américas Book Award Honor.
Rick Rudman ’84, CEO of Curbio, a pre-listing home improvement company for real estate agents and their clients, was named a 2024 HousingWire Vanguards Award recipient. It recognizes 100 executives who have led their respective organizations to greatness while overcoming the challenges the housing economy has faced over recent years. He was also named one of D.C.’s 2024 Tech Titans by Washingtonian magazine, showcasing 219 of the most innovative and important leaders in Washington’s tech scene.
Class Notes of 70s
Barbara J. Leap ’72 was one of six writers for AARP The Magazine to be honored by the National Association of Black Journalists for articles they wrote on the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington. Leap is a frequent freelance writer for AARP The Magazine, AARP Bulletin and New Jersey Monthly magazine. She retired as director of public information for Rutgers University's Camden campus and previously was a reporter and feature writer for the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Bulletin, for which she was also a weekly columnist.
Longtime D.C. marketing executive Cary Hatch ’78 retired from Hart Inc., the Ohio-based company she sold her advertising firm to in 2022. Hatch started her career with MDB in Baltimore in 1981 as an account executive, then went on to purchase the firm in 1987 and led it as CEO until selling it in 2022. Hatch is a former honoree of the Washington Business Journal’s Power 100 and Women Who Mean Business and was named the D.C. Chamber’s Small Businessperson of the Year in 2023.
Howard A. Janet ’76, a founding and managing principal with Janet, Janet & Suggs LLC, was named to The Daily Record’s 2024 Personal Injury & Medical Malpractice Law Power List. He has been named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers four times for personal injury litigation, product liability litigation and medical malpractice law, and was recognized in 2024 in The Best Lawyers of America.
Lori Keesey ’79 released her first novel, “Always Think of Me,” a love story about friendship and do-overs that features a unique perspective on life. A former journalist, Keesey has written for daily newspapers, trade publications and magazines and worked for NASA in public outreach for nearly 20 years as a communication consultant.
M. DeLois “Dee Dee” Strum ’74, M.S. ’77 was named interim CEO and president of the Blacks of the Chesapeake Foundation, which elevates Black voices in community preservation, public policy and environmental justice. She had served as the foundation’s chief administrative officer. Strum’s firm has provided planning and consulting services to more than 20 startup community-based organizations throughout the U.S. as well as hundreds of public local and state agencies across the U.S. and Caribbean. She also served as president of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.
Stephen D. Ambrose ’76 joined federal contractor Alpha Omega as its first chief scientist. His career includes leading the SAIC Climate Enterprise program and supporting initiatives for NOAA, NASA,, the Department of the Interior, Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Agriculture, among others.
William White ’72 will step down in February as vice president of advanced technology at the United States Gypsum Co., a manufacturer of construction materials and one of Home Depot’s primary suppliers of gypsum wallboard and ceiling tile. He has worked there for 52 years, since completing his degree in chemical engineering.
Class Notes of Passings
Barbara Jenkins Bull ’71 died on Dec. 3, 2024, following outpatient surgery in Gainesville, Ga. She was 75, She grew up in Essex, Md., and earned her bachelor's degree in math education from the University of Maryland. She taught middle school in St. Mary's County, but paused her career to raise her children before the family relocated to Jacksonville, Fla., in 1980. There, she carved out an exceptional career with Computer Power, later acquired by Alltel Information Systems and Fidelity, rising to senior vice president. Bull retired in 2003, and she and husband Bill retired to Franklin, Ga., in 2019. An avid traveler, Jenkins worked for two years in Leeds, and the couple enjoyed numerous cruises and toured 49 states and 10 Canadian provinces in their RV. Bull loved sharing stories, trivia nights with friends, and attending plays and concerts. A talented quilter, she was preparing to take her passion commercially. She leaves behind her husband of 54 years, Bob Bull; son, Brian; daughter, Bryce; four grandchildren; her "best friend" sister, Sharon; and many nieces and nephews.
Barrett Lee McKown ’57 of Edgewater, Md., died on Nov. 25, 2024, at age 89. After majoring in education at UMD, he received his Master of Biological Science degree from American University. McKown began his career teaching biology at Suitland and DuVal high schools in Prince George’s County, then biology, zoology, anatomy and physiology at Anne Arundel Community College. He retired in 1994 and was named professor emeritus. He served on the board of trustees of the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Public Library for 20 years, including four years as president. As a member of the U.S. Naval Academy Parents and Sponsors program, including a tour as president, he welcomed over 160 midshipmen into his home over two decades. At St. Anne's Church, he served on the altar, as a congregation greeter and on numerous committees. McKown was also appointed by the governor in 1994 to the Maryland Military Monuments Commission, and served as an archivist for the National Congress of Patriotic Organizations. Additionally, he was a member of many historical, patriotic and genealogical societies. He is survived by his wife, Anne; and numerous nephews, nieces and their families. He was predeceased by a brother, Martin.
Benjamin J. Gollub ’18 died on Dec. 19, 2024, at his Gaithersburg, Md., home at age 34. He majored in computer science at the University of Maryland, where he met his wife, Dian. Gollub became a DevOps engineer and lived and worked with a positive attitude, along with strict ethical integrity, and went the extra mile in taking care of everyone around him. In his spare time, he documented his love of travel, exploring new places and restaurants with Dian. He is survived by his wife, Dian Dong; daughter, Arielle Dong Gollub; father, Mark Gollub; mother, Yehudit Danoff; siblings Sammi Gollub and Tristan Arey; grandfather, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Kenneth Skelps; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Bonni Anne Carr DiRenzi ’89 of Telford, Pa., died on Dec. 4, 2024, at the age of 57. Born and raised in South Jersey, she graduated from Audubon High School and earned a journalism degree at UMD and a Master of Business Administration in marketing from Rutgers University. She was a dedicated genealogist, tracing her family history back to the 1600s, a history buff and an avid tennis player. DiRenzi found joy in taking walks with her beloved dog, Niko, and spending time with loved ones. She battled breast cancer in 2012 and 2019 and in October 2024 was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. DiRenzi is survived by her husband, Joseph DiRenzi; children, Breana and Reece; father, Robert Carr Sr.; siblings, Robert Carr Jr. and Heather Carr Bergan; a niece and nephew; and extended family.
Douglas John Alick ’83 died on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 28, 2024, while at his residence in Holly Springs, N.C. He was 64. Alick graduated from Crossland High School in Camp Springs, Md., where he played on the tennis team. He earned a business degree at UMD, then returned to school for additional computer training. Alick worked at Giant Food headquarters in Landover, Md., for 22 years, then the IRS for 18 years. He lived in Bowie, Md., for 36 years, and the family moved to Holly Springs three years ago. He leaves his wife, Ashley; two children, Amber and Daniel; and one brother, Michael.
Dr. Joseph Hall Jr. ’69 of Columbia, Md., died on Aug. 3, 2024, at the age of 78. Raised in a military family, Hall lived in Japan, Germany, California and Ohio before graduating from the University of Maryland with a sociology degree; Hall was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and met his companion, C.B., while employed by the Public Health Service in Augusta, Ga. Hall retired after practicing as a neonatologist employed by the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He is survived by C.B.; his brother, Kenneth, two nieces; and two grandnephews.
Hugh Robert Kennedy Sr. ’59 died on Dec. 14, 2024, at the age of 87. Kennedy was born and raised in Baltimore, and was a track and cross-country star at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute before enrolling at the University of Maryland where he majored in psychology and had an outstanding career in goal with the Terps lacrosse team. Upon graduation, Kennedy attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I., beginning a long and decorated career in the intelligence field. After his service in the Navy, Kennedy spent the first half of his civilian career at the Pentagon before attending the National War College. In the early 1980s he moved to Fort Meade, where he eventually retired. After marrying Mary Love in 1964, the couple established roots in Bowie, Md., building a circle of friends through their love of all things sports. Their homes in Bowie, Ocean City and later, Annapolis, were always open and welcoming to all. His athletic pursuits continued throughout his life as he played softball, golf and pickleball into his late seventies, and spent many years coaching hundreds of boys in baseball and basketball. Shaped by the Catholic Church, Kennedy was a devoted and dedicated husband and father. He is preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Mary Love Kennedy; and survived by sons Hugh and John; and three grandchildren.
Ina Williams ’70 of Spring, Texas, died on Sept. 2, 2024, at the age of 77. Born in Elizabeth, N.J., Willliams graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in speech. After working in media and advertising roles, she went on to direct plays and musicals for the Washington Crossing Open Air Theater in Titusville, N.J. Williams moved to Spring in 1977, where she raised her two daughters and a Cairn terrier named Buffy, and began a long career as a teacher in the Klein Independent School District. Williams was a devoted mother and friend who chaperoned school activities, decorated dance costumes and helped neighbors. In retirement, she traveled extensively and enjoyed visiting her family. Williams is survived by her two daughters, Caren and Jenifer; a granddaughter; two sisters, Lois and Wendy; and many nieces and nephews.
James Pollitt Zimmerman ’50 of Cumming, Ga., died on Dec. 15, 2024, at age 95. He was born and raised on a farm near Frederick, Md.,and earned a degree in physical education at the University of Maryland. At the University of Wisconsin School of Physical Therapy, he met and married his classmate, Jean Ann Kelly. He worked in the polio epidemics of the 1950s and served as president of the Ohio Physical Therapy Association from 1957 to 1959. In 1963 he was elected to the board of directors of the American Physical Therapy Association. In 1965 he received a master’s degree in health care administration at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and was later elected to Fellowship in the American College of Hospital Administrators. He wrote extensively in various professional journals and served on the graduate school faculty at the University of Pittsburgh for over a decade. He was a communicant at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Cumming, Ga. He is preceded in death by his wife. Survivors include his sons, Gregory and James; daughters, Robin Z. Willard, Lisa Z. Morris and Holly Z. Oliver; eight grandchildren; and five great-granddaughters.
Joanne Ruth Linduska Price ’59 of Lewes, Del., died on Dec. 13, 2024, at age 87. She was a graduate of Laurel High School and earned a degree in elementary education at UMD, where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority. Price taught kindergarten for several years in Wilmington, Del., then later taught kindergarten and second grade in the Cape Henlopen School District in Lewes. During her children's youth, she was active in Scouting and Little League. After they were grown, she volunteered at Beebe Hospital and the New Life Thrift Shop in Lewes. Price enjoyed gardening and crafting and attended St. Peter's Episcopal Church. She is survived by her two children, Kent S. Price and Cheryl P. Nelson; two grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; a brother, Dr. James J. Linduska; and cousins.
Joel Katzin ’60, Ph.D. ’68 of Venice, Fla., died on Dec. 2, 2024, at the age of 87. He was a professor at Florida Technological University (now the University of Central Florida) and later worked as a physicist for the Naval Research Laboratory and as a senior scientist for Boeing. Katzin enjoyed participating in the Great Decisions lecture series, line dancing, playing bridge and supporting the University of Michigan Wolverines. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Betty; his four daughters, Jodi Abramowitz, Nancy Thrapp, Rebecca Cohen and Anna Burling; and seven grandchildren.
Leslie Marshall Cregger ’60 of Petersburg, Pa., died on Nov. 28, 2024, at age 86. The native of Boyds, Md., earned a B.S. in education at the University of Maryland, then he taught science at a high school on the state’s Eastern Shore. Later, he and his wife moved to the State College, Pa., area, where Cregger worked in Penn State University’s Department of Agronomy until 2000. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Joan T. Cregger; three daughters, Sharon Beaver, Carolyn Janowsky and Lesley Murphy; 13 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Martha Sue Alexander ’67 of Gambrills, Md., died on Dec. 6, 2024, at age 79. She attended Northwestern High School, received a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Maryland and a master's in library science from The Catholic University of America. Alexander worked in higher education throughout her career, including the George Washington University, University of Louisville and University of Missouri, where in 2002 she retired from her role as libraries director. She enjoyed reading, following sports (especially baseball), spending time with friends and family, picking out thoughtful gifts, and contributing to the betterment of her community. Alexander is survived by her sister, Alice King; daughter, Elaine Bowman; three grandchildren; a nephew; six nieces and their families.
Michael Albert “Chief” Grieb ’66 of Garrett Park, Md., died on Aug. 21, 2024, at age 79 from complications from Parkinson's disease. He spent one year at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., then graduated with a B.A. in government and politics from the University of Maryland. Grieb was initially a sales rep for Xerox on the East Coast and in California, then spent most of his career working for the federal government as an equal employment opportunity specialist. He was also a D.C. tour guide who tried to interpret history with heart and humor as well as a lifelong Washington Senators/Nationals fan and Terps football season ticket holder for 47 years. He continued his association with the university as a contributing writer to The Terrapin Times. Grieb was an usher at the Beatles' first American concert in 1964 at the Washington Coliseum, and he participated in the 1963 March on Washington and protests to end the Vietnam War. He also volunteered in Common Cause initiatives and various political campaigns and loved movies, history, especially the American Civil War and World War II, doo-wop music and beating his family in “Jeopardy!” Grieb is survived by his wife, Regina Grieb; son, Matthew Grieb; and two grandchildren.
Norman Francis Danis Jr. M.A. ’66, died on Dec. 10, 2024, at his home in Bethesda, Md., surrounded by his loving family. He was 86 and had suffered from dementia. Danis grew up in Washington, D.C., and graduated from Archbishop Carroll High School, Catholic University and the University of Maryland. Danis is survived by his wife of 52 years, Jan; his sons John, Thomas and Robert; and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Norma Spiegel, Barbara Quinn and Sara Nolan.
Patricia Richmond Vidler ’48 of Milford, Del., died on Nov. 15, 2024, at the age of 98. She was raised in Cincinnati and in London. At the University of Maryland, she earned a bachelor's degree in history. She married Harold Richmond in 1955 and raised two sons in East Aurora, N.Y. After his 1975 death, she focused on family and was single for 15 years until meeting Edward Vidler, also a widower. They spent the next 20 years traveling the world and making friends. She was a lifetime member of the East Aurora Garden Club, the Saint Catherine’s Motor Club SCMC, the Sports Car Club of America SCCA and the East Aurora Sourdough Society. Vidler spent her last years living in lower Delaware, close to her sons. She is survived by her sons, James and Harold; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren; she was predeceased by a brother, Danny, during World War II.
Paul Allen “P.A.” Willis MLIS ’66 died on Dec. 5, 2024, at his Georgetown, S.C., home at age 83. Willis was born in Floyd County, Ind., and attended St. Joseph College in Indiana before transferring to the University of Kentucky to earn a bachelor's degree in political science and pre-law. He and wife Barbara moved to Washington, D.C., so he could pursue a master's degree in library science from UMD, before returning to UK, where Willis earned a law degree. Willis worked at UK in many capacities, including professor of law, law librarian, director of university libraries and acting dean, from 1973 to 2002. He was the dean of libraries at the University of South Carolina until his retirement in 2007. He was also an author of numerous professional articles and served as a longtime board member of the Henry Clay Estate. Upon his retirement, the Willises moved to the coast of South Carolina. He enjoyed traveling, reading, spending time with his family and working in his yard. Willis is survived by his wife of 61 years, Barbara; son, Mark; daughter, Sally; and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by three siblings, Winnie, Charlie and Danny Joe.
Regina DuVall ’70 of Washington, D.C., died on Dec. 16, 2024, at age 75. She received a B.A. in sociology from the University of Maryland and worked for the National Alliance on Mental Illness as a patient advocate. DuVall is survived by her son, Sam; two grandchildren; a brother, Kevin Morgan; and several cousins.
Retired Air Force Col. Alvin Leon Day ’62 of Pensacola, Fla., died on Dec. 12, 2024, at age 84. Day graduated with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering at UMD, where he met his wife of 58 years, Jeanne H.C. Martin. He retired from the Air Force Reserves and later from his civilian position at Tyndall Air Force Base, outside Panama City, Fla., in 2005. He served as chief of the Air Force’s Electrical-Mechanical Engineering Division, and implemented the first solar plant field in Nevada. After retirement, he and Jeanne moved to Pensacola to be closer to three grandchildren. He was great at fixing broken toys, cars and appliances and built an addition to his house, a shed, desks, hutches and countless bookcases. Day also served as an elder, Sunday School teacher, confirmation teacher and congregation president in churches; most recently he was active at Grace Lutheran Church in Pensacola. Day is survived by his wife since July 2023, Linda Faye Newbery Day; children Julia Sammons, Robert Day, Marcie Whitney, Laurie Day-Parker and Stephen and John Day; stepson Anthony Yoder; 10 grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; a brother, Robert; and nieces and nephews. Day was preceded in death by his first wife, Jeanne; and a son, David.
Robert Noble ’68 died on Sept. 6, 2024, in Severna Park, Md., at the age of 79. The son of military veterans who served in World War II, he was born in an army camp. Noble graduated from Towson High School, then from UMD with a degree in education and Johns Hopkins University with a master's degree in business. He began his career as a high school teacher and coach at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, then moved to Catonsville Community College (CCC) for 10 years, leaving as director of continuing education for business and industry. As one of the first two people to do this work within Maryland community colleges, he developed customized training for employers, including the state’s first program for machine apprentices. Even after moving on from CCC, he continued teaching there part-time and helped start the CCC Foundation. Noble worked 30 years at Westinghouse, later Northrop Grumman, rising to vice president of state/local government relations. He retired in 2011 to enjoy hunting, fishing, golfing and tending to his homes and pool. Noble was also a 32nd-degree master Mason and contributed to Shriner hospitals. He was predeceased by his wife, Pamela Zopfi Noble. He is survived by his three children, Robert, Christi and Daniel; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Thomas and John.
Robert W. Pierce ’65 of Santa Fe., N.M., died on Dec. 9, 2024, after a long battle with Lewy body dementia and complications from emergency colon surgery. He graduated from the University of Maryland with honors in business and engineering and excelled in his career as chief financial officer of major consumer products companies Noxell and Cover Girl, Maybelline and Carson Products, taking each to publicly traded status. He and wife Pam moved full-time in 2002 to Santa Fe, where Pierce became treasurer for the Santa Fe Conservation Trust and for the Council on International Relations. He supported his wife’s startup nonprofit, Silver Bullet Productions, a film company that fostered education while preserving the culture and history of New Mexico's tribes. Pierce enjoyed live music, and he cherished sharing the local sounds in Santa Fe with friends. The couple lived the last 23 years in Las Campanas, where he served on finance transition committees. He leaves behind his wife of 34 years, Pamela Ann Wolle Pierce; his sons, Robert and Christopher; four grandchildren; and a golden retriever, Valentine.
Ross Steven Lenet ’70, M.A. ’72 died in his Guilderland, N.Y., home on Dec. 21, 2024. He spent most of his life in Silver Spring, Md. He received two degrees in math from UMD, then began his career as a teacher who became the developer of computer programs in schools such as Academy of the Holy Names (Md.) and Sidwell Friends in Washington, D.C. His last position was at Doane Stuart. In retirement, Lenet wrote and worked continuously concerning climate change, and published editorials in local papers, and even in Politico. He is survived by his wife, Shannon; brother, Richard; nieces and a nephew; and a best friend of over 50 years, Danny Lanier.
Russel "Russ/Rusty" Anthony Arlotta Jr. ’78 died at his Takoma Park, Md., home on Nov. 10, 2024, after a years-long battle with mantle cell lymphoma. Arlotta graduated from Good Counsel High School, where he played football and baseball, and earned an English degree at UMD and a J.D. from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. Arlotta worked for the Prince George's County Office of Law and the Prince George's County firm Rick Kramer and Associates before joining the Upper Marlboro firm Carl A. Harris and Associates, where he spent most of his law career as managing attorney. Arlotta was a talented musician, playing guitar, mandolin and fiddle, and a singer-songwriter with three albums. For many years, Arlotta played with the music collective Takoma Zone on Saturday nights at Savory Café in his hometown, Takoma Park, among other local venues. Arlotta was also an avid long-distance and marathon runner, and a lover of sun, surf and the open road. He was a devoted, encouraging and caring dad and a loving, fun partner to Joan. He was an amazing cook who dished up mostly vegetarian, organic meals that he liked to "jazz up" with ingredients intuitively. He is survived by wife Joan Goodhue; children Caitlin, Russel, and Allison Arlotta; sisters Judith Starchild and Marianne House; and nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a sister, Jeanne McAllister.
Thomas Caldwell Morrison ’56 of Greenwich, Conn., died on Sept. 4, 2024, at age 89. At UMD, he majored in business and was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity; the Men's League named him one of the 10 outstanding seniors in his class. After graduation, he served two years in the U.S. Army, then was hired by Philipp Brothers Chemical of NYC Agriculture Chemicals. In 1974, he became one of three founders and president of Nitron Chemical in Greenwich, Conn. 35 years later, the company was sold to International Commodities of Houston. Morrison was a 60-year member of the New York Athletic Club. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Vera Ivanov.
Thomas Dercola ’63 of Catonsville, Md., died on Nov. 29, 2024. He majored in business at UMD and later worked for the U.S. Department of Energy as a contract analyst. During the 1950s and ’60s, Dercola founded and played keyboards in the band Tommy Cole and the Belvederes, which performed over 1,500 times in the DMV. Dercola also became an active member of the Montgomery County HOGS (Harley Owners Group), volunteered for Patriot Guard Riders, which provides motorcycle escorts for the families of fallen soldiers, and was honored as Montgomery County Volunteer of the Year for his efforts in transporting animals to no-kill shelters. He is survived by his partner of 20 years, Judy Stone; siblings MaryAnn Hutchinson and Gino Dercola; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister, Rose Neutzling.
Velda “Marie” Jefferies Capps ’74 of Carthage, Mo., died on Sept. 23, 2024, 23 days short of her 89th birthday. She was born in Geneseo, Kan., the youngest of nine children, and was raised by an aunt and uncle. Growing up, she attended schools in Neosho, Mo., and graduated from Joplin Junior College, where she was a member of Phi Kappa Phi. Capps, who went by “Marie,” and her family moved to Silver Spring, Md., where she completed her bachelor’s degree at UMD, then had a 35-year career as an educator there and at Montclair State University and William Patterson College in New Jersey, teaching young adults to speak, pronounce, enunciate and debate. Capps retired as an adjunct instructor at Missouri Southern State University in 2002. In the 1970s she compiled and published a Jefferies family genealogy that remains in the Library of Congress. She was also a member of the Joplin Genealogy Society. Survivors include her husband of 68 years, Robert Capps; son Paige; two granddaughters; one great-granddaughter; and a brother, Willard Jefferies.
William Jenkins ’70 of Lewes, Del., died on Dec. 20, 2024, at the age of 77, following several months of complications after surgery. Jenkins grew up in Washington, D.C., and graduated from Gonzaga High School, where he played baseball. He also played briefly at UMD, where he received his bachelor's degree in business; he then earned an MBA from George Washington University. Jenkins had a 35-year career with the General Services Administration Public Building Service, working to ensure quality office space for the federal workforce. After retiring, he worked with Trammell Crow and CBRE. He was an avid Terrapins fan, a proud member of the Terrapin Club for over 50 years and maintained season tickets for basketball and football throughout his adult life. Jenkins was also a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees Chapter 1690, where he most recently served as president. He also took a keen interest in military history, Formula 1 racing, and sampling craft bourbons. Jenkins is survived by his wife of 36 years, Jeanne; two stepchildren, Lauren Murray and Patrick Armknecht; and four grandchildren.
William Super Jr. ’73 died at home in Annapolis, Md., on Dec. 11, 2024, at age 78 after a two-year battle with prostate cancer. He grew up in Baltimore and earned a degree in mathematics at UMD, then a Master of Science in Administration degree in operations research/systems analysis from George Washington University. Super served in the U.S. Navy on an aircraft carrier and was honorably discharged in 1974. After his service, he had a career in information technology leadership that began as a program manager for the Social Security Administration, where he managed the modernization of its processing centers. He then worked as technical director, vice president and chief technology officer at companies including Philips, Aon Corp. and the MITRE Corp. Super ended his career with his own consulting business, which included serving as CTO at Allegheny Energy. He was an active member of the Fleet Reserve Club of Annapolis for over 20 years. He got his Coast Guard Captain's license and was a certified PADI Master scuba diver. He was an avid powerboater, cruising the waters of Chesapeake Bay and Assawoman Bay, and he captained a boat in the British Virgin Islands, Ireland and the French Riviera for vacations. Super enjoyed yard work at his beach house in Fenwick Island, Del. He loved seeing live music and supporting local musicians in Annapolis and Ocean City. He is survived by his partner of 34 years, Kathleen Voorhees; two children, Walter and Wendy Super; former wife Barbara Super; and numerous nieces and nephews.