Spring 2026

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May 20, 2026

Jeff Kinney ’93 was a shaky student and failed newspaper cartoonist with a big dream. Recounting some of his own misadventures, he reveals that despite being one of the world’s top-selling authors, he’s still figuring things out.

Parting Shot

May 20, 2026

Light-Rail Vehicle Travels on Campus During Overnight Testing

Post-Grad

May 20, 2026

An ‘Underexposed’ Photo From UMD History

Post-Grad

May 20, 2026

Alum Infuses Tricks With Numeric Principles on Stage and in the Classroom

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Post-Grad

May 20, 2026

Alum Leads Country’s Biggest Urban National Park

Post-Grad

May 20, 2026

The Alumni Excellence Awards

Explorations

May 20, 2026

On Nation’s 250th Anniversary, UMD Celebrates and Reflects Through the Arts

Explorations

May 20, 2026

Researcher Helps Establish Possible DNA Link to ‘Mona Lisa’ Artist

Explorations

May 20, 2026

In New Book, Historian Depicts American Revolution as Global War

Explorations

May 20, 2026

UMD-built AI System Amplifies a Universal-NVIDIA Partnership

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Explorations

May 20, 2026

Armed With AI, Researchers Cook Up Greener Alternatives for Everyday Products

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Explorations

May 20, 2026

Ask the Expert: Advice for Real Life

Explorations

May 20, 2026

Professor Develops Field Guide for Providing Services to Help Communities Facing Challenges

Campus Life

May 20, 2026

How Maryland Athletics Recruited 3 Top Local Athletes

Explorations

May 20, 2026

Can Engineering Researchers Make Data Centers Better Neighbors?

Class Notes

News on Friends and Classmates

See all Class Notes from this issue

00s

Sarah Cigna ’09

Dr. Sarah Cigna ’09 was featured in the documentary “The Pink Pill: Sex, Drugs and Who Has Control,” about a company’s battle to get regulatory approval of Addyi, often called the female Viagra. It’s streaming on Paramount+. She is an assistant professor…

00s

William Wan M.Jour. ’03 and Kelley Benham French M.A. ’02

William Wan M.Jour. ’03 and editor Kelley Benham French M.A. ’02 contributed to The Washington Post’s Pulitzer Prize in Public Service for coverage of DOGE and the federal workforce.

00s

Leon Smith ’01

Leon Smith ’01 was announced as the 2026 National Teacher of the Year on “CBS Mornings” (by co-host Gayle King ’76). He teaches Advanced Placement courses in U.S. history and African American studies and coaches the freshman basketball team at Haverford…

00s

Jason Buckner ’00

Jason Buckner ’00 is co-chair of the newly launched critical minerals practice group at law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. Buckner is a 2003 graduate of Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law.

00s

Rob Albritton ’08

Rob Albritton ’08 was appointed managing director, technology and innovation at Enlightenment Capital, an aerospace, defense government and technology-focused investment firm. He was previously at Octo, where he established and led oLabs, Octo’s AI Center…

90s

Andrea Vieira ’98

Andrea Vieira ’98 was a recipient of the Washington Business Journal’s 2026 Diversity in Business Award. She is the founder and CEO of nailsaloon.

80s

David Wajsgras ’82

David Wajsgras ’82 was appointed chairman and CEO of Herndon, Va., cybersecurity company Everfox. He was most recently CEO of Tysons communications satellite company Intelsat SA and before that was a longtime executive with Raytheon, now called RTX Corp.…

10s

Melinda Nguyen ’13

Melinda Nguyen ’13 was named the first-ever coach of the women’s flag football program at the University of Texas at Arlington. Nguyen joins UTA after three seasons as the head coach at Kansas Wesleyan. She was the head coach and quarterback of two club…