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

Donald Robert Benton Ph.D. ’85

Donald Robert Benton Ph.D. ’85 died at his home in Lower Merion, Pa., on May 5, 2023 at the age of 63. He grew up in Escondido, Calif., and obtained his bachelor’s degree from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif. While pursuing his…

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

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

Kenneth Robert Baker ’68

Kenneth Robert Baker ’68, of Greencastle, Pa., died on May 1, 2023. He was 77 years old. After graduating from UMD, he received his master’s from Shippensburg State College. He had a nearly four decade teaching career in Washington County Public Schools…

“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.

Passings

Jessica Amanda Tomlinson ’09, ’09

Jessica Amanda Tomlinson ’09, ’09 of Annapolis, Md., died on May 3, 2023 at age 40. She graduated from UMD with degrees in business and psychology. She devoted her life to helping others. She is survived by her parents, Jack and Martha Tomlinson; two…

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.

80s

Bruce Houdesheldt ’81

Bruce Houdesheldt ’81 became mayor of Roseville, Calif., after serving as vice mayor since 2020. He is the director of water quality for the Northern California Water Association.