Fall 2024

Lung illustration with bellhop outline inside. Viruses throughout

September 06, 2024

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

Parting Shot

September 06, 2024

Newly Laid Tracks for Purple Line Curve Up to Campus Drive

four students leap over four others on stage during step show

Post-Grad

September 06, 2024

An ‘Underexposed’ Photo of UMD History

Isaac Hirsch and Ken Jennings on "Jeopardy!" set

Post-Grad

September 06, 2024

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

Katie Labor outside brick house with red door

Post-Grad

September 06, 2024

Alumna Investigates the Small Histories in Charm City’s Houses

Post-Grad

September 06, 2024

Alum Brings Big Concerts to Sin City

Large group of young people taking a selfie

Post-Grad

September 06, 2024

Tailgates, Touchdowns and Togetherness

Explorations

September 06, 2024

System Could Derail Video Fakes, Deep or Shallow

Explorations

September 06, 2024

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

Explorations

September 06, 2024

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

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

Explorations

September 06, 2024

Ask the Expert: Advice for Real Life

blue radiation emerges from the UMD reactor

Explorations

September 06, 2024

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

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

Explorations

September 06, 2024

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

Explorations

September 06, 2024

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

Esports athletes with arms folded looking at the camera

Campus Life

September 06, 2024

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

Class Notes

News on Friends and Classmates

See all Class Notes from this issue

70s

James "Jim" Magee ’76

James "Jim" Magee ’76 was named to the advisory committee for GenFlat Holdings, a company developing collapsible shipping container technology. He is president and chief executive officer of Carrbridge Management Corp. Prior to his time at CAI, Magee was…

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

Melanie Knouse Cline ’12

Melanie Knouse Cline ’12 died on June 3, 2024, at age 33. At UMD, she was the captain of the Ultimate Frisbee intramural team and a frequent attendee at the drop-in softball group that her father Ernest Knouse established in 1976. She enjoyed cooking,…

00s

K. Venu Venugopal MBA ’00

K. Venu Venugopal MBA ’00 was appointed chief operating officer at MaxVal Group, a provider of intellectual property management solutions. Most recently, he was global head of product management at NICE Actimize. He also held leadership roles at Knovel…

90s

Sonia Chase ’98

Sonia Chase ’98, president and chief executive officer of the nonprofit Chase Your Dreams Academy, was awarded the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from the Teachers Festival for her efforts to improve the quality of life for at-risk youth. She is…

Passings

Henry Albert Taitt M.S. ’58

Henry Albert Taitt M.S. ’58, died on June 17, 2024, in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, at the age of 90. He earned a B.S. in physics from Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College), a M.S. in education administration from UMD, a M.S. in physics from the…

90s

Jonathan L. Lewis ’92, M.P.M. ’93

Antitrust and consumer protection attorney Jonathan L. Lewis ’92, M.P.M. ’93 joined Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP as counsel in its Washington, D.C., office. He previously worked at Lowenstein Sandler LLP and earned his law degree from the University of…

10s

Simone Lee ’15

Simone Lee ’15 of Merrill Wealth Management in Bedminster, N.J., was named the 100,000th certified financial professional in the U.S. The milestone marks the highest number of CFP professionals, who represent about one-third of retail financial advisers.…