Spring 2023

Photo

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

Passings

Col. Walter E. Scheyett ’52

Col. Walter E. Scheyett ’52 of Southern Pines, N.C., died on March 28, 2023. He was 95 years old. He was a letterwinner in football at McKinley High School then enlisted in the army and served in Japan with the occupation forces in the 1st Cavalry…

00s

Bryan Shuy ’05

Bryan Shuy ’05 was appointed senior vice president of the Conafay Group. He has over a decade of experience in the legislative and executive branches of government. He most recently served as chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Andy Harris (R-Maryland).

Passings

Karen Anne Kobolka Farber MBA ’05

Karen Anne Kobolka Farber MBA ’05, of Earlysville, Va., died on April 12, 2023 at age 73. Farber was born in New Kensington, Pa., and graduated from Springdale (Pa.) High School, the University of Pittsburgh (magna cum laude) with a degree in sociology,…

Passings

William Sawtelle Ratchford II M.A. ’62

William Sawtelle Ratchford II M.A. ’62 died at his Annapolis, Md., home on April 23, 2023, at age 90. He spent his childhood in Baltimore and summers on the Magothy River and in Bethany Beach, Del. He graduated from Poly High School in 1950. He served as…

90s

Dian Seidel Ph.D. ’92

Dian Seidel Ph.D. ’92 wrote a memoir, “Kindergarten at 60” which will be published on June 20. A longtime climate scientist, she chronicles her adventure traveling to Thailand with her husband where she navigates a new career and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Passings

Leslie Leibowitz ’56, M.S. ’90

Leslie Leibowitz ’56, M.S. ’90, of LaValle, Md., died on April 7, 2023, after a yearlong battle with ovarian cancer. She attended Allegany High School and earned a bachelor's degree in radio and television communications at UMD. Leibowitz became a…

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.

“Ulysses Translated for the Armchair Reader” book cover

00s

Eric Thompson ’07

Eric Thompson ’07 wrote “Ulysses Translated for the Armchair Reader,” a version of James Joyce's classic in which he translated dialogue in more than 10 languages into English, making it more approachable to the average reader.