Fall 2026

September 04, 2026

The clickable hyperlink. The Universal Product Code. The Muppets. American life wouldn’t be the same without the ingenuity of UMD researchers and alums.

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Parting Shot

September 04, 2026

The newest addition to the UMD Police Department is a “facility dog” named Sammy.

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Features

September 04, 2026

Excavations by UMD researchers and students unearth new stories about the enslaved communities at the Jefferson and Madison estates.

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Features

September 04, 2026

After 60 years in public service, the longtime congressman and Terp retires with a legacy etched on American history, in Maryland and across UMD’s campus.

Post-Grad

September 04, 2026

An ‘Underexposed’ photo from UMD history.

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Post-Grad

September 04, 2026

Alum’s device enables at-home tracking of cardio, lung problems.

Post-Grad

September 04, 2026

Archaeologist alum blended personal, professional interests on reenacted battlefields.

Authored by alums Bill and Martin Maier. the “Celebrity Word Scramble: Top Terps” offers scramble puzzles on 112 of the most noteworthy alumni. Photographed on August 19, 2026.

Photo by Dylan Singleton/University of Maryland

Post-Grad

September 04, 2026

Alum brothers expand puzzle book series with UMD theme.

Post-Grad

September 04, 2026

NASA scientist leads U.S. efforts to stop asteroids.

Post-Grad

September 04, 2026

Updates from the University of Maryland Alumni Association in Fall 2026.

Explorations

September 04, 2026

Friendship expert’s new book examines self-esteem—with tips for improvement.

Explorations

September 04, 2026

Researchers create explorable audio-visual scenes from single images.

Explorations

September 04, 2026

Confused by electoral map chaos? Political scientist sets us straight.

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Explorations

September 04, 2026

Researcher leads team harvesting electricity from ocean organisms.

Explorations

September 04, 2026

Ask the Expert: Advice for Real Life

Class Notes

News on Friends and Classmates

See all Class Notes from this issue

80s

Mark K. Lewis ’87

Mark K. Lewis ’87 was appointed to the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Petroleum Council for the 2026-27 term. Lewis is managing partner of Bracewell LLP’s Washington, D.C., office, focusing his practice on oil and gas pipelines and related…

90s

Melanie Colton ’99

Melanie Colton ’99 was appointed chief product and technology officer at Convene Hospitality Group, parent company of lifestyle hospitality brands dedicated to meeting and event spaces. She most recently served as chief technology officer at Axios…

90s

Richard R. Roark ’94

Richard R. Roark ’94 is the new chief financial officer for the city of Frederick, Md. He is a certified public accountant who has served as CFO across multiple industries.

00s

Jay Pusey MBA ’05

Jay Pusey MBA ’05 was named chief executive officer of Polkadog, a Boston-based dog treat company, following an acquisition by TAW Ventures. He spent more than a decade at Only Natural Pet, a subsidiary of PetSmart, where he led initiatives across…

90s

Eric Trexler ’97, MBA ’02

Eric Trexler ’97, MBA ’02 was appointed chief operating officer at Chainalysis, a blockchain data platform and analysis firm. He most recently served as senior vice president at Palo Alto Networks and previously held senior roles at Forcepoint and…

00s

Ira Kowler ’08, MPP ’09

Ira Kowler ’08, MPP ’09 was named director of Baltimore city revitalization programs in the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. Most recently, he served as chief investment officer for the Maryland Community Investment Corporation.…

Passings

Dreama Susan Lodge M.Ed. ’66

Dreama Susan Lodge M.Ed. ’66 died on Aug. 13, 2026, at her home in Waldorf, Md. She was 98. Born in Landisburg, W.Va., Lodge earned her bachelor’s degree from Salem College, then received her graduate degree at UMD. She was a longtime teacher with Prince…

10s

Alex Levin ’10

Alex Levin ’10 was appointed to the Manasquan Board of Education in Monmouth County, N.J. Levin is an education law attorney and a partner at the Nicolson Law Group. He earned his J.D. from Rutgers Law School.