Spring 2023

Parting Shot

red shoes peek out of a teal hammock on McKeldin Mall

In the Sling of Things

Students Embrace Warmer Weather on McKeldin Mall

Post-Grad

Underexposed

Can You Help Us Identify These Terps?

Post-Grad

Kylie D’Alessio films Alex measuring wall

Renovation Sensations

Thousands Follow Alums on TikTok, Instagram

Post-Grad

Ryan Bunch poses with "Oz and the Musical" book, on yellow background with white and gray Wizard of Oz illustrations

Following the Yellow Brick Road

Alum to Head International Wizard of Oz Club

Post-Grad

Sahil Rahman ’12 and Rahul Vinod ’11 pose outside Rasa restaurant

Serving Up Time-Honored Flavors Fast

Friends’ Fresh Take on Indian Cuisine Expands Across D.C. Area

Post-Grad

Amber Mayfield with "While Entertaining" magazine cover

Party Queen, Behind the Scenes

Alum Highlights Black Chefs, Artists at NYC-Based Event Agency

Post-Grad

Alumni Association News

Alums Share Advice at Terps Under 30, Women’s Leadership Development Conference

Explorations

woman with briefcase walking through red tape

Why Noncompetes Could Soon Be a Non-Thing

Maryland Economist’s Studies Fueled Federal Drive to Ban Controversial Employee Contracts

Explorations

Antidote to Overdoses: A Universal Treatment

New Compound Fights Both Fentanyl and Meth in Bloodstream

Explorations

A Season of Healing

REI-Funded Center Promotes Nature-Based Research and Reparation

Explorations

Roll Over, Paper Towels

Engineers’ Picker-Upper Is Even Quicker

Explorations

An On-Campus Oscar Nominee

Researcher Executive-Produced Lauded Documentary

Explorations

Wildlife Ecologist Explains How to Get Ticks Off, Not Ticked Off

Ask a Researcher: Advice for Real Life

Explorations

car going from house to brick office building

Maryland, Start Your Engines

Survey Shows Cars Fuel Post-COVID Commute

Explorations

$30M in Grand Challenges Grants Awarded

Unprecedented UMD Research Program Targets Climate, Racial Justice, Energy and More

Campus Life

Maryland women's basketball player shoots ball vs. South Carolina

Sports Briefs

Achievements by Women’s Basketball, Softball and Gymnastics Teams

Class Notes

News on Friends and Classmates

See all Class Notes from this issue

00s

Cindy Garman ’00

Cindy Garman ’00 was promoted to principal at SK&A Structural Engineers. She joined the company in 2004 and earned a Master of Science in civil engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

00s

Angelo Collins ’09

Angelo Collins ’09 was promoted to executive director of the Vertical Flight Society. He joined the international nonprofit dedicated to the advancement of vertical takeoff and landing aircraft and technology in 2008.

Passings

Robert Ardinger ’73

Robert Ardinger ’73, an accomplished wheelchair basketball player who fought for disability rights, died of complications from pneumonia on April 10, 2023. He was 74. Born and raised in Catonsville, Md., Ardinger contracted polio at age 2 and began his…

Passings

Dr. Carol N. Ruckman ’72

Dr. Carol N. Ruckman ’72 died on March 15, 2023, at her home in League City, Texas, after a short illness with aggressive cancer. She was 72. After graduating from UMD, she completed her medical degrees at Baylor University. She had a successful medical…

00s

Leah Valenti ’04

Leah Valenti ’04 was appointed Charlotte County supervisor of elections by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. She is a board member of the YMCA of Southwest Florida and Naples Chamber of Commerce.

Passings

Elliott W. Weiner ’62

Elliott W. Weiner ’62, of Pikesville, Md., died on April 9, 2023, at the age of 83. He graduated in 1963 from one of the first classes of the University of Maryland School of Physical Therapy. He spent many years as director of rehabilitation medicine at…

90s

Nicole Zussman MBA ’94

Nicole Zussman MBA ’94 was named president and chief executive officer of the Appalachian Mountain Club, the nation’s oldest conservation and recreation organization. She was most recently chief people officer for Rute Gilt Groupe.

Passings

Ida Barksdale Crawford Stewart ’50

Ida Barksdale Crawford Stewart ’50, a longtime vice president at the Estée Lauder Cos. and a special assistant to company founder Estée Lauder, died on March 25, 2023, at the Clinton (S.C.) Presbyterian Community. She was 100 years old. She was a graduate…