Fall 2025

Features

September 15, 2025

UMD scientists built a fungus that wipes out mosquitoes. With African partners, they hope to save millions of lives.

view from behind Kermit the Frog as he addresses graduates at UMD Commencement at SECU Stadium

News

September 15, 2025

At 2025 Commencement, Famed Amphibian Implores Students to Make, Keep Connections

Jim Smith and Darryll J. Pines smile at introduction event

News

September 15, 2025

Smith Brings Leadership and Business Experience to Build on Maryland Athletics’ Success

News

September 15, 2025

Campus Core Gets First Traffic Signal

Buzz Williams dribbles basketball, with red, white and gold background

Campus Life

September 15, 2025

Get to Know New Men’s Basketball Head Coach

exterior of Barry P. Gossett Basketball Performance Center

Campus Life

September 15, 2025

Men’s, Women’s Teams Celebrate Opening of Barry P. Gossett BasketballPerformance Center

Brat Pack in academic regalia walk on Frat Row in "St. Elmo's Fire" movie

Campus Life

September 15, 2025

At 40th Anniversary of ‘St. Elmo’s Fire,’ Alums Remember Filming on Frat Row

Jan Plane speaks to students during the CompSciConnect summer camp

Campus Life

September 15, 2025

Donation Launches University of Maryland Computing Catalyst

Jose-Luis Izursa works in aquaponics lab

Campus Life

September 15, 2025

Aquaponics Greenhouse Grows Lettuce and Fish for Education on Sustainable Systems

handwritten letters with portraits of George Mason and George Washington

Campus Life

September 15, 2025

Student Finds Little-Known Correspondence Between George Mason and George Washington

Campus Life

September 15, 2025

Run Club Started by UMD Faculty Members Is Biggest in North America

Explorations

September 15, 2025

Entomology Team Delves Into Benefits, Challenges of Eating Insects

Explorations

September 15, 2025

UMD’s Unique Forest-Monitoring Capabilities Revealed an Alarming Wildfire Spike

Illustration of Warren Buffett with money

Explorations

September 15, 2025

Buffett Scholar Reflects on Role Model’s Retirement

chatbot with text boxes on screen and magnifying glass

Explorations

September 15, 2025

Ask the Expert: Advice for Real Life

Class Notes

News on Friends and Classmates

See all Class Notes from this issue

10s

Hannah (Scanlan) Thole M.P.H. ’17 and Joey Thole ’12

Hannah (Scanlan) Thole M.P.H. ’17 and Joey Thole ’12 welcomed a daughter, Genevieve Danielle Thole, on March 15.

Passings

Matthew Joseph McCormack MBA ’20

Matthew Joseph McCormack MBA ’20 of Alexandria, Va., died on Aug. 19, 2025, at age 51. He grew up there and graduated from Bishop Ireton High School and the College of William & Mary, where he majored in art history and was a Division I swimmer,…

10s

Ikenna C. Ejimonyeugwo ’17

Ikenna C. Ejimonyeugwo ’17, an associate at Philadelphia law firm Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP, was named a finalist for the Most Promising Newcomer Award by The Legal Intelligencer in its 2025 Pennsylvania Legal Awards. He specializes in…

90s

Erek L. Barron ’96

Erek L. Barron ’96 joined law firm Mintz in the firm’s white collar defense and government investigations practice. He will also lead Mintz’s crisis management and strategic response team, and his practice will include complex civil, criminal and…

Passings

Jean Winebrener Martz ’47

Jean Winebrener Martz ’47, age 99, died on May 30, 2025, at her home outside of Frederick, Md. She graduated from Frederick High School, attended St. Mary's College and majored in human ecology at UMD, where she was active with her sister, Peggy Kinsey,…

20s

Michael Ravenscroft MBA ’21

Michael Ravenscroft MBA ’21, managing director of the University System of Maryland Momentum Fund, was named among the Baltimore Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Honorees for 2025, a roundup of rising stars in the Greater Baltimore business scene. The…

60s

Roy Eskow ’68 and Rick Race ’68

Roy Eskow ’68 and Rick Race ’68 (flanked by their wives Julie Eskow, left, and Suzanne Race) met for dinner in Florida. “Together we co-chaired the senior prom, which was held in the grand ballroom of the Washington Hilton,” Eskow recalled. “Great to know…

90s

Jennifer Aguilar Hester ’95

Jennifer Aguilar Hester ’95 will participate in the 2025 Coast 2 Coast 4 Cancer ride in September to raise money for the V Foundation for Cancer Research. She will bike about 225 miles from Indianapolis to Pittsburgh. Hester is among more than 100 Bristol…