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

90s

Michael “Jarmo” Jarmolowich ’92

Michael “Jarmo” Jarmolowich ’92 was hired as a managing director at PACE Loan Group, a provider of Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing. He held that same title at Stifel Financial Corp.; his experience also includes progressively…

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,…

10s

Greg Schimmel ’10

Greg Schimmel ’10 was named editor of the breaking news desk in sports at The Washington Post. He came to the department in 2006 as a part-time editorial aide while a UMD student, then served as a news aide, high school sports reporter and high school…

90s

Seema Verma ’93

Seema Verma ’93 was elected to the board of directors of LifeStance Health, one of the nation's largest providers of outpatient mental health care. Verma is a leading national health policy expert with over two decades of experience in the healthcare…

Passings

William Levenson ’83

William Levenson ’83 died April 29 from esophageal cancer. He played an instrumental role in the space industry and successfully launched over 100 Atlas and Delta rockets. His passions included aviation flying, diving, motorcycling, hiking and sailing. He…

10s

Franz Payer ’17

Franz Payer ’17 was named the national Cyber Hero for May 2021 by the nonprofit SynED, which identifies emerging best practices for effective articulation between employers, job seekers and educators. Payer is the founder and CEO of Cyber Skyline, a…

90s

Victoria Lobley ’93

Victoria Lobley ’93 was appointed by Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan to serve on the Washington County District Court. Lobley has been a sole practitioner since 2015 under the name Lobley Law Office. She has a general practice with a concentration on criminal…

90s

Christopher Griffith M.S. ’91

Christopher Griffith M.S. ’91 was promoted from chief operating officer to president of KCI, an engineering, consulting and construction firm. Griffith joined KCI in 1997 after serving as an officer in the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps. Griffith earned a…