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

Passings

Michael John Wigglesworth M.A. ’72, Ph.D. ’77

Michael John Wigglesworth M.A. ’72, Ph.D. ’77 of SIlver Spring, Md., died on April 16, 2023. He was 79. Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Bethesda and Chevy Chase, Md., he attended Gonzaga College High School and Catholic University before joining…

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…

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

Samantha “Sam” Lee Jennings-Jones ’08

Samantha “Sam” Lee Jennings-Jones ’08 of Alexandria, Va., died unexpectedly on March 30, 2023. She was 36. Born in South Korea, she was adopted on Aug. 23, 1986, celebrated by her adoptive family each year after that as "Gotcha Day." After graduation, she…

90s

Susan Ferensic ’91

Susan Ferensic ’91 was named assistant director of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate at FBI headquarters. She most recently served as special agent in charge of the Columbia Field Office in South Carolina. Ferensic joined the FBI in 1997.

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…

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.

10s

Michelle Smirnova Ph.D. ’13

Michelle Smirnova Ph.D. ’13 wrote the book “The Prescription-to-Prison Pipeline: The Medicalization and Criminalization of Pain,” which focuses on the opioid drug epidemic. She is an associate professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.