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Fall 2024

Fall 2024 Lung illustration with bellhop outline inside. Viruses throughout

Welcome to the Hotel Influenza

A groundbreaking UMD researcher investigating how respiratory infections spread asks volunteers to check in—and get sick for science.

News lock illustration

Lab Awarded Record-Setting Research Contract of Up to $500M

Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security Addresses National Challenges With a Human-Centered Lens

Campus Life fish, water bottle, frog, person holding bag of groceries, person holding stack of serving trays, dresser with two drawers

Sustainable Developments

Grant Program Greens Campus

Campus Life Boxers in ring

Book Throws Jab at Art of Black Boxers

Researcher Reveals How Stereotypes Were Reinforced

Campus Life Esports athletes with arms folded looking at the camera

Leveling Up Gender Diversity

Women’s, Nonbinary Esports Teams Change the Game in Conference Competitions

Explorations astronaut on the moon

A New Reflection on History

Physicist Who Helped Send Mirrors to Moon on Apollo 11 Prepares to Launch an Improved Model

Explorations Atmospheric and oceanic science Associate Professor Tim Canty, UMD President Darryll J. Pines and College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences Dean Amitabh Varshney discuss the technology behind a newly installed water level sensor

UMD Casts HydroNet to Predict, Prepare for Floods

Researchers, Local Leaders to Track Real-time Data in State’s Waterfront Communities

Explorations blue radiation emerges from the UMD reactor

Glowing ‘Gem of the University’

Maryland’s Little-Known Nuclear Reactor Observes a Half-Century of Fission

Explorations pixelated people use devices with varying amounts of battery life: 80%, 4%, 100%

How to Zap Your Phone-Charging Phobias

Ask the Expert: Advice for Real Life

Explorations Robert Stewart poses with arms crossed

An Insider’s Look at a Prison’s Imprint

Criminologist, Once Convicted, Studies Ripple Effects of Legal System Involvement

Explorations collision of Lego cars

Clear ‘View’ of Road Dangers

From Sidewalks to Streetlights, Common Features Shown in Google’s Tech Linked to Crash Frequency

Explorations cartoon lock that says "fake"

Seal of AI-pproval

System Could Derail Video Fakes, Deep or Shallow

Post-Grad Large group of young people taking a selfie

Alumni Association News

Tailgates, Touchdowns and Togetherness

Post-Grad collage of musical acts

What Happens in Vegas (Is Thanks to a Terp)

Alum Brings Big Concerts to Sin City

Post-Grad Katie Labor outside brick house with red door

Behind Baltimore’s Closed Doors

Alumna Investigates the Small Histories in Charm City’s Houses

Class Notes

News on Friends and Classmates

See all Class Notes from this issue

Passings

Melissa “Moe” Gail Daston M.A. ’78, MBA ’80, M.S. ’87

Melissa “Moe” Gail Daston M.A. ’78, MBA ’80, M.S. ’87 died at her Laurel, Maryland, home on June 9, 2024, after a long illness. She was 69. Daston grew up in North Carolina and Maryland, graduating from Duke University then earning three degrees in…
St John JM web

90s

Jason St. John

Jason St. John ’94, managing partner at Saul Ewing, was named among The Baltimore Business Journal’s 2024 Leaders in Diversity. He is also chair of the board of trustees of the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore and an active member of the Leadership Council on…
Ronald Alan Mummert

Passings

Ronald Alan Mummert ’63

Ronald Alan Mummert ’63 died at his Topeka, Kansas, home on June 1, 2024. He was 83. Mummert graduated from Bladensburg High School and UMD, then served in the U.S. Army, during which time he graduated from the Presidio of Monterey's Defense Language…
Marc Russo

90s

Marc Russo MBA ’96

Marc Russo MBA ’96 was named to the board of Ophelia, an opioid addiction treatment provider. Most recently, Russo served as executive vice president of Medicaid plans at Molina. Before then, Russo was president of Medicare at Anthem and held leadership…
Alex Bryer

90s

Alex Bryer ’96

Alex Bryer ’96, a financial adviser at Snowden Lane Partners’ Riverstone Capital Wealth Group, was recognized by AdvisorHub in its ranking of 2024 Advisors.
Rodney Jones-Tyson

90s

Rodney Jones-Tyson ’90

Rodney Jones-Tyson ’90 was elected to the board of directors of Associated Banc-Corp. He is the global chief human resources officer of Robert W. Baird & Co., a privately held, employee-owned financial services company based in Milwaukee.
Justine (Ingeborg Larsen) “Julie” Li with dog

Passings

Justine (Ingeborg Larsen) “Julie” Li ’70, M.A. ’73

Justine (Ingeborg Larsen) “Julie” Li ’70, M.A. ’73 died on April 2, 2024, in Hyattsville, Maryland, at age 83. The oldest of nine siblings, she began college at the University of Utah and soon followed a friend to the University of Maryland in 1962. She…
Carissa L. Rodeheaver

80s

Carissa L. Rodeheaver ’88

Carissa L. Rodeheaver ’88 was named to The Daily Record’s 2024 Banking & Financial Services Power List, recognizing movers in the industry in Maryland. She is the chairman, president and CEO of First United Bank & Trust. She was elected to a…