Fall 2023

Explorations

water from air absorbing into black cube

Water Out of Thin Air

Invention Offers Trickle of Hope for Climate-Driven Crisis

Explorations

‘Mallpark’ Figure

How MLB Stadiums Scored With Fans by Adding Shopping, Theme Park Elements

Campus Life

five Team USA lacrosse players pose with gold medals

Sports Briefs

5 Terps Win Gold in Lacrosse Championship; Shortstop Becomes UMD’s Highest MLB Draft Pick

Campus Life

‘Tau-ring’ Over Maryland’s Record Books

After Setting Nearly Every Terps Passing Mark, Star Quarterback ‘Not Done Yet’

Campus Life

‘Rising’ Awareness

Libraries Exhibit Looks at Century of Student Activism

Campus Life

Blast From the Past—and Into the Future

75 Years After Its Groundbreaking, Revived UMD Wind Tunnel Revs Up

Campus Life

Summ-AR Immersion

Using Emerging Tech, Students Create Innovative Art, Interactive Games in Incubator Program

Campus Life

UMD’s Stumble Bees

Gardens Host Pollen-Fueled Rager, Earning National Recognition

Campus Life

A Commencement Speech Fit for a King

News Anchor Gayle King ’76 Recalls Life, Love and Ledo on First Return to Campus

News

electric Shuttle-UM bus at charging station

Electrifying!

$40M Grant to Fund Climate-Friendly Shuttle-UM Buses

News

Rendering of new basketball performance center

Basketball Performance Center Breaks Ground

Facility Will House Practice Court, Locker Rooms, Strength and Conditioning Areas, and More

Class Notes

News on Friends and Classmates

See all Class Notes from this issue

20s

Brandon Bennett Young ’22

Brandon Bennett Young ’22 (above) won the National Havoc Robot League’s August tournament and "Golden Dumpster" trophy in Norwalk, Conn., in the 30-pound category with his vertical spinner bot "Vorion.” This win qualified Young for the league’s…

80s

Ed Novak ’80

Ed Novak ’80 was appointed managing director, North America of Acclime, Asia-Pacific’s leading tech-enabled professional services provider. He has held significant roles in the technology and professional services sectors, including at IBM, PwC, Amdocs,…

Passings

Jack Lee Holcomb ’62

Jack Lee Holcomb ’62 died on July 18, 2023, at his home in Melbourne, Fla. He was 87. He was born in Monroe County, Tenn., where he was raised until age 13. He then lived with his family on naval bases in California, Hawaii and Maryland. He graduated from…

80s

Michael Medick ’83

Michael Medick ’83 joined architecture firm Lessard Design as principal of land planning, single family and townhomes. He is a registered architect and urban planner whose notable works include the planning and architecture for Uptown Memphis, the Gulch,…

Passings

Paul David Fox ’93

Paul David Fox ’93 of San Diego died on May 9, 2023, from complications of hyperthermia while mountain biking in Palm Springs, Calif. He was 53. Paul was the youngest of six children growing up in Rockville, Md. After graduating from UMD with a degree in…

00s

Ann Claycomb ’01

“Silenced,” a #metoo fairy tale and the second novel by Ann Claycomb ’01, was published by Titan Books. "Fans of feminist fairy tales will find plenty to enjoy,” according to Publishers Weekly. She is director of faculty recognition at Colorado State…

00s

Karen Johnston ’00

Gunnery Sgt. Karen Johnston ’00, concertmaster of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, recently soloed with the United States Marine Band at the John F. Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. She performed the theme from…

00s

A. Michelle West

A. Michelle West ’03 joined Fox Rothschild LLP in Washington, D.C., as counsel in the federal government contracts and the procurement and construction practice groups. West was most recently an attorney at a boutique government contracts and construction…