Fall 2024

Lung illustration with bellhop outline inside. Viruses throughout

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

News

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

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

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

An Insider’s Look at a Prison’s Imprint

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

Explorations

Clear ‘View’ of Road Dangers

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

Explorations

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

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

10s

Christine Mahan Ph.D. ’10

Christine Mahan Ph.D. ’10, chief of staff and vice president for planning and effectiveness at Eastern University, was selected by City & State Pennsylvania as one its 2024 Trailblazers in Higher Education. Mahan has been with Eastern for almost 15…

90s

Andrew Sears Ph.D. ’93

Andrew Sears Ph.D. ’93 was appointed provost and senior vice president at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He was most recently professor and dean of the School of Information Studies at Syracuse University, and before that held similar roles at Penn…

00s

Naseema Shafi ’00

Naseema Shafi ’00 was named to the Washington Business Journal 2024 Women Who Mean Business list, which recognizes the region's most influential women. She has been the CEO of Whitman-Walker Health, one of the nation’s oldest LGBTQ health centers, since…

80s

Craig P. Abod ’86

Craig P. Abod ’86, president and founder of Carahsoft Technology, was named to Virginia Business’ Power 50 of the state’s most powerful executives. He started the privately owned IT and cybersecurity solutions provider in 2004; it landed at No. 45 on…

80s

Steve Hoffman ’89

Steve Hoffman ’89 was named to the AFCEA (Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association) International Executive Committee. He is president of Fortinet Federal, a provider of cybersecurity platforms for federal agencies.

90s

Sylvia Bigio ’93

Sylvia Bigio ’93 joined the board of PRISA, a business group for the creation and distribution of education, news and entertainment content in the Spanish-speaking markets. A dual Peruvian-U.S. citizen, she is an analyst and portfolio manager specializing…

Passings

Jesse Parker ’81, M.M. ’87, D.M.A. ’98

Jesse Parker ’81, M.M. ’87, D.M.A. ’98 died on June 8, 2024, a month shy of his 66th birthday. He played cello throughout his school years and became interested in conducting while attending Fairfax High School. He earned three degrees at UMD, where he…

80s

Todd Ehrlich ’86

“The 20 Greatest Moments in New York Sports History,” by journalists Todd Ehrlich ’86 (a five-time Emmy winner) and New York Times bestselling author Gary Myers, is nearing its second printing. It features over 100 original interviews and previously…