Spring 2024

May 17, 2024

UMD-themed vanity plates are the highway four-leaf clovers we love to spot. We share some of the best—and the tales behind the tags.

Explorations

May 21, 2024

Researchers Use Recipes to Test Tool for Analyzing DoD Classification Guidelines

Parting Shot

May 17, 2024

Sculpture Dedicated to Late Groundbreaking Artist

people hold hands along Baltimore Avenue

Post-Grad

May 17, 2024

An ‘Underexposed’ Photo of UMD History

Post-Grad

May 17, 2024

Terp, Teammate Complete Race Across Atlantic in Record Time

collage of Lee Mendelowitz, Di Zou and Benjamin Eidelberg

Post-Grad

May 17, 2024

3 Alums Crunch Numbers as Sports Analytics Experts for Pro Teams in the DMV

Post-Grad

May 17, 2024

Alum Astronaut Joins International Space Station

Post-Grad

May 17, 2024

Terps ‘Do Good’ on Campus and Beyond

A couple sits behind a table with some card games on it

Features

May 17, 2024

A Fluctuating, Ever-Changing, Up-and-Down Journey to Gaming Success

The image is a stylized, futuristic illustration that depicts a hilly landscape with a car winding through it.

Features

May 17, 2024

Ninety-second battery fill-ups. All-day range. Unparalleled safety. UMD researchers are powering up EVs to save the planet.

Explorations

May 17, 2024

Is Neighborhood Wildlife Spreading COVID?

Explorations

May 17, 2024

Gabbing About Others Offers Unexpected Benefits in Social Groups, UMD and Stanford Researchers Find

Explorations

May 17, 2024

Researcher Finds That Moderate Movement Can Protect Memory and Cognition

Explorations

May 17, 2024

Professor Tells Stories Behind Her Traditional Tattoos

Explorations

May 17, 2024

New Center Links Humanities, Social Change

Class Notes

News on Friends and Classmates

See all Class Notes from this issue

90s

Athena Petersen ’90

Athena Petersen ’90 is the new regional manager and senior vice president of Long & Foster’s Baltimore/Eastern Shore/Western Maryland region. Petersen most recently served as managing broker of its Reston and Fairfax Centre locations in Northern…

80s

Brian A. Balenson ’85

Brian A. Balenson ’85 was named to the Maryland Daily Record’s Estate and Trust Law Power List, which recognizes the most influential and respected practitioners in the estate & trust law sector in Maryland. Balenson is chair of the Tydings &…

Passings

Charise Joy Pfeffer ’02

Charise Joy Pfeffer ’02 of Rhinebeck, N.Y., died on May 5, 2024, from complications of Huntington's disease at age 43. She was a graduate of the Hebrew Academy of the Capital District, Bethlehem High School and UMD, where she majored in government and…

00s

Srinivas “Srini” Attili MBA ’05

Srinivas “Srini” Attili MBA ’05 was appointed executive vice president, Civilian Business Group, at Science Applications International Corp., a Fortune 500 technology integrator. He joined SAIC from McKinsey & Co., where he served as partner and…

80s

Creig Northrop ’90

Creig Northrop ’90 was named to The (Maryland) Daily Record’s “Power 100” list for 2023-24, which highlights those who play an important role in culture, lifestyle, civic conversations and economic fortunes of Maryland. Northrop is the founder, CEO and an…

90s

Raj Ratnakar M.S. ’93

Raj Ratnakar M.S. ’93 was appointed an independent director on the board of directors of Verra Mobility Corp., a provider of smart mobility technology solutions. He served as senior vice president and chief strategy officer for DuPont from 2019-23.

90s

Colleen T. McClellan ’99

Colleen T. McClellan ’99 was promoted to chief consumer officer at Datassential. McClellan has worked for the company since 2015 as a regional director and most recently as vice president of customer experience.

10s

Justin Di Palo ’11, M.S. ’12

Justin Di Palo ’11, M.S. ’12 rejoined the international engineering firm Syska Hennessy Group to serve as co-lead of its national sustainability practice and as an associate partner. He is based in the Los Angeles office. Di Palo first joined that office…