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.

Parting Shot

Track Record

Newly Laid Tracks for Purple Line Curve Up to Campus Drive

Post-Grad

four students leap over four others on stage during step show

Spring in Their Step

An ‘Underexposed’ Photo of UMD History

Post-Grad

Isaac Hirsch and Ken Jennings on "Jeopardy!" set

Back to the Buzzer

After 9 Wins on ‘Jeopardy!,’ History Grad to Return for Tournament of Champions

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

Post-Grad

What Happens in Vegas (Is Thanks to a Terp)

Alum Brings Big Concerts to Sin City

Post-Grad

Large group of young people taking a selfie

Alumni Association News

Tailgates, Touchdowns and Togetherness

Explorations

Seal of AI-pproval

System Could Derail Video Fakes, Deep or Shallow

Explorations

Clear ‘View’ of Road Dangers

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

Explorations

An Insider’s Look at a Prison’s Imprint

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

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

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

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

A New Reflection on History

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

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

Campus Life

Book Throws Jab at Art of Black Boxers

Researcher Reveals How Stereotypes Were Reinforced

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

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

Farm to Table, UMD Style

Terp Farm Celebrates 10 Years of Growing Fresh Produce for Campus

Class Notes

News on Friends and Classmates

See all Class Notes from this issue

80s

Michelle Singletary ’84

Washington Post personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary ’84 received a Salute to Excellence award from the National Association of Black Journalists. She took first place in the commentary/essay category for large newsrooms for two of her…

Passings

Nancy Ellwanger White M.Ed. ’76

Nancy Ellwanger White M.Ed. ’76 died on May 25, 2024, at age 96. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Wilson Teachers College, then with husband Howard raised three daughters. She worked for the Prince George’s County Board of Education from the mid-1960s…

Passings

George Theodore Bachmann Jr. ’52, M.A. ’60

George Theodore Bachmann Jr. ’52, M.A. ’60 died on May 27, 2024, at his home in Westminster, Maryland. He was 94. Bachmann served in the Army during the Korean War but since he spoke French was sent to France, where he was a lieutenant and supply clerk.…

Passings

Mary Louise Lucas ’57

Mary Louise Lucas ’57 died on May 21, 2024, in Columbia, Maryland. Raised in University Park, she attended the Academy of Notre Dame before graduating from UMD. Her love of sports led her to become a physical education teacher and coach at Bladensburg…

Passings

Martin "Marty" E. Karmann-Bauer ’89

Martin "Marty" E. Karmann-Bauer ’89 of Annapolis, Maryland, died on May 12, 2024, from Stage 4 intestinal cancer. He was 59. Karmann-Bauer graduated from Severna Park High school, earned a B.S. in finance from UMD and shortly after joined the U.S. Navy.…

90s

Ken Sharp ’93

Ken Sharp ’93 was appointed executive vice president and chief financial officer of Peraton. He most recently served as executive vice president and CFO at DXC Technology, and before then as CFO of Northrop Grumman’s Defense Systems sector. He holds an…

00s

Mark Selig ’09

Mark Selig ’09 was promoted to sports assignment editor at The Washington Post, overseeing coverage of the Commanders, Wizards, Mystics, local women’s college basketball and high school sports. He joined The Post in 2017 and previously worked at The…

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…