Spring 2023

red shoes peek out of a teal hammock on McKeldin Mall

Parting Shot

June 02, 2023

Students Embrace Warmer Weather on McKeldin Mall

Post-Grad

June 02, 2023

Can You Help Us Identify These Terps?

Kylie D’Alessio films Alex measuring wall

Post-Grad

June 02, 2023

Thousands Follow Alums on TikTok, Instagram

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

Post-Grad

June 02, 2023

Alum to Head International Wizard of Oz Club

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

Post-Grad

June 02, 2023

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

Amber Mayfield with "While Entertaining" magazine cover

Post-Grad

June 02, 2023

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

Post-Grad

June 02, 2023

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

woman with briefcase walking through red tape

Explorations

June 02, 2023

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

Explorations

June 02, 2023

New Compound Fights Both Fentanyl and Meth in Bloodstream

Explorations

June 02, 2023

REI-Funded Center Promotes Nature-Based Research and Reparation

Explorations

June 02, 2023

Engineers’ Picker-Upper Is Even Quicker

Explorations

June 02, 2023

Researcher Executive-Produced Lauded Documentary

Explorations

June 02, 2023

Ask a Researcher: Advice for Real Life

car going from house to brick office building

Explorations

June 02, 2023

Survey Shows Cars Fuel Post-COVID Commute

Explorations

June 02, 2023

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

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

Campus Life

June 02, 2023

Achievements by Women’s Basketball, Softball and Gymnastics Teams

Class Notes

News on Friends and Classmates

See all Class Notes from this issue

90s

Latanya (Mapp) Frett ’91

Latanya (Mapp) Frett ’91 wrote the book “The Everyday Feminist: The Key to Sustainable Social Impact – Driving Movements We Need Now More Than Ever.” The Global Fund for Women president and CEO shows how grassroots feminists are changing the world—and…

Passings

Juline Larsen M.L.S. ’72, ’

Juline Larsen M.L.S. ’72, ’83 of Silver Spring, Md., died on May 2, 2023, at the age of 87. Larsen attended the American University in Beirut and obtained a B.A. in Russian literature at George Washington University, followed by a master’s in library…

Passings

Norine M. Walker ’81, ’83

Norine M. Walker ’81, ’83, of Franconia, Va., died on Jan. 24, 2023. She was 63 years old. Born at Fort Belvoir, Va., Walker spent her early years in California before her parents settled in Laurel, Md. She earned dual degrees in civil engineering and…

Passings

Dr. Charles Pellicane ’60

Dr. Charles Pellicane ’60 died on May 12, 2023, at the age of 85 after a brief illness. Pellicane graduated from St. John's Prep, Brooklyn, N.Y., studied zoology at UMD and completed his degree at Georgetown University Dental School. He served for three…

70s

Susan Lee ’76

Susan Lee ’76, an attorney and former state senator, was sworn in as Maryland’s first Asian American secretary of state.

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…

Passings

Robert Henry Merson Jr. ’56

Robert Henry Merson Jr. ’56 of Laurel, Md., died on May 6, 2023 at age 91. He grew up in Mount Rainier, Md., and graduated from McKinley Tech High School. He went on to study marketing at UMD. An accountant, Merson spent the first years of his career at…

Passings

Sean Durkin ’68, M.S. ’72

Sean Durkin ’68, M.S. ’72, of Phoenix, Ariz., died on April 22, 2023. He was 76 years old. Born in 1946 in Baltimore, Md, He earned a B.S. in electrical engineering and a master’s degree in electro-physics at UMD and spent his career in the defense…