Winter 2023

Post-Grad

man holds microphone while presenting taxidermied sea turtle on field

Totally Turtle-y Taxidermy

Preserved Donation of Aquatic Animal Fits in Swimmingly at UMD

Post-Grad

Balancing Act

Circus Performer Combines Passions for Physics and Acrobatics

Post-Grad

Delante Desouza ’16 shoots a basketball as Michael Cooper in "Showtime" TV show

‘Showtime’ for a Terp’s Transformation

Computer Science Grad Channels ’80s Lakers Star on Hit HBO Series

Post-Grad

Three hands raise beer glasses for toast

Here’s to a Terp Toastmaster

Alum’s Toast Wins $50K in Guinness Contest

Features

Fatema Hosseini is shown in front of a projected image of Afghans lining up to board a military jet to evacuate the capital, Kabul

The Dreams of Fatema

Driven from Afghanistan by extremism, a journalism student lands at UMD and prepares to reclaim her lost homeland.

Post-Grad

Geoff Larson ’80 poses near brewing equipment with mountains in the background

Beer, Off the Beaten Track

Alum Celebrates 35 Years of Craft Brewing Success in Alaska

Post-Grad

Alumni Association News

The Alumni Excellence Awards

Explorations

The Big Question

What’s Been the Most Significant Lie or Untruth Told to the Public?

Explorations

Moving Beyond ‘Getting Tough’

Amid Spiraling Violence, Criminologist Studies New Approaches to Gun Crime

Explorations

Electromagnetic Control Could Pull Surgery Into the Future

UMD Mechanical Engineering Researcher Is ‘Disarming’ Surgery Robots

Explorations

Progressively closer photos of Dimorphos

Planetary Protectors

Terps Helped Propel NASA Mission to Redirect an Asteroid

Explorations

Backyard Climate Guard

Extension Experts: Climate-Resilient Gardening’s Just a Few Steps Away

Explorations

Roots of Injustice

Research Finds More Vulnerable Tree Canopy in Redlined Baltimore

Explorations

Cover Stories

ARHU Dean’s Podcast Debates Musical Remakes

Campus Life

Stadium Renamed in Partnership With SECU

Credit Union to Support Maryland Athletics, Financial Literacy and Community Service

Campus Life

UMD men's basketball team stands on sideline, with one player with Ukrainian flag draped over his shoulders

Showing Support on the Court

Men’s Basketball Player From Ukraine Grapples With War From Afar

Class Notes

News on Friends and Classmates

See all Class Notes from this issue

80s

Jane Lichter ’84

Jane Lichter ’84 was named chair of the Baltimore County Board of Education. She was elected to the board in November soon after her retirement as a 37-year teacher and administrator in Baltimore County Public Schools.

80s

Jeff Hamet ’88

Jeff Hamet ’88 was elevated to senior vice president of finance at Aziyo Biologics, a biological device company with a portfolio of commercial products. Previously, he served as president and chief financial officer of NeurExpand Brain Center, and vice…

90s

Michael Puelle M.P.M. ’90

Michael Puelle M.P.M. ’90 was appointed the University of New Mexico’s chief government relations officer. Since 2020, Puelle has served as chief of staff for the mayor of Albuquerque. Prior to that, he held the position of chief executive officer and…

90s

Vineet Gambhir MBA ’96

Vineet Gambhir MBA ’96 was named chief human resources officer of DataLink Software, a provider of data-driven solutions driving higher quality and cost-effective value-based care. Gambhir has held several senior leadership roles at technology companies,…

90s

Michael James M.A. ’97

Michael James M.A. ’97 was named executive director of finance and administration at Kansas State University Salina’s Aerospace and Technology Campus. Before then, James was the vice president for business and finance at Tabor College. He earned his…

00s

Brian Shepter ’05

Brian Shepter ’05 was appointed deputy chief of staff by Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. He was previously deputy director in the county’s Department of Planning and Zoning.

90s

Matthew Power M.P.M. ’97

Matthew Power M.P.M. ’97 was appointed president of the Maryland Independent College and University Association. Power also serves as managing director of the Independent College Fund of Maryland, a foundation that raises scholarship funds for students…

Passings

Mary Scarlett (Steele) Thomas M.A. ’74

Mary Scarlett (Steele) Thomas M.A. ’74, of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, died on Oct. 16. She was 83. A longtime teacher in the field of early childhood development at Fleming College, she taught thousands of students over a span of more than 30 years…