Fall 2021

Terp Group’s Virtual Performance Earns First Place in International A Cappella Competition

Jones-Hill House, Named for Athletics Trailblazers, Features Tech-Filled Training Areas, a Tricked-Out Locker Room and Plenty of Maryland Pride

Campus Life

‘Inclusion Matters’

New Program Enrolls UMD Students With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Explorations

Vaccine Distrust Gets a Trim

Program to Make Barbers and Stylists Ambassadors for Public Health Goes Nationwide

Explorations

Harriet Tubman’s ‘Training Ground’

Professor Helps Discover Site of Eastern Shore Cabin Owned by Abolitionist’s Father

Post-Grad

Open Secrets

Alum Leads Renovation of NSA Museum—and Shares Some of its Treasures

Post-Grad

‘Freedom House’ at 50

Nyumburu Celebrates Milestone Anniversary as Center for Black Culture on Campus

News

Making Rooms for History

Pyon-Chen Hall Opens, Honoring Pioneering Terps

Campus Life

The ‘Ripple’ Effect

Terps to Build Sustainable Structures Near Burning Man Festival Site

Explorations

Conservation Crime Fighter

Geographical Sciences Researcher Shapes New Way to Understand Offenses Against the Earth

Explorations

Sniffing Out Climate Change

New Lab Detects Subtle Differences in Methane to Pinpoint Sources of Pollution

Explorations

How the ‘Diet Soda Effect’ Cuts the Benefit of Climate-Friendly Cars

Explorations

Diagnosis: Rude

Business Research Finds Everyday Unpleasantries Affect Doctors’ Performance

Post-Grad

An Imagined History

Alum Finds Success With Debut Novel on Vietnamese Family Immigrating to U.S.

Post-Grad

Reaching New Heights

Entrepreneur Creates Taste of Mountain Adventure in Midwest

Explorations

The Big Question

Where Should Infrastructure Investments in the U.S. Start?

Class Notes

News on Friends and Classmates

See all Class Notes from this issue

10s

Varun Murthy ’14

Varun Murthy ’14 married Rashmitha Vasa on Aug. 28 at the Grandover Resort and Spa in Greensboro, N.C., according to the New York Times. Murthy is a computer engineer in Washington for the U.S. government.

10s

Lauren DeStefano MBA ’10

Lauren DeStefano MBA ’10 joined Hotaling & Co., a San Francisco-based artisanal spirits distiller and importer, as chief financial officer. DeStefano received her bachelor’s degree in managerial economics and Spanish studies at Allegheny College.

10s

Justin Fincher Ph.D. ’14

Justin Fincher Ph.D. ’14 joined Stony Brook University as vice president for advancement and executive director of the Stony Brook Foundation. He was formerly vice president for advancement at The Ohio State University. Fincher earned his bachelor’s…

00s

Jena McNeil ’04

Jena McNeil ’04 joined East Kentucky Power Cooperative as director of legislative and government relations. McNeill, who formerly served as a key staff member for U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, will represent the interests of EKPC and its 16 owner-member electric…

80s

Karen Addis ’85

Karen Addis ’85 was elected to the national board of directors of CHC: Creating Healthier Communities, a nationwide nonprofit that serves as a catalyst for good health. She is president and CEO of Addis Communications. Addis holds a master’s certificate…

70s

Stephen Ambrose ’76

Stephen Ambrose ’76 was appointed to the new role of chief climate scientist at Science Applications International Corp. He has more than 40 years of experience working in science and technology at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,…

80s

John Fitzgerald ’86

John Fitzgerald ’86, CEO of Magyar Bank, was appointed chair of the New Jersey Bankers Association, which represents 72 banks and 172 service providers. He has been with Magyar Bank since 2001 and has 30 years of experience in the banking industry.

90s

Jason Spees M.P.M. ’97

Jason Spees M.P.M. ’97 was appointed president, chief commercial officer of Impulse Dynamics, a company offering high-tech therapy for heart failure patients. He was most recently at Biotronik, and before then was executive vice president and chief…