Skip site navigation

Winter 2024

Testudo turtle mascot with open arms. Vintage mascot photos in background

Features

January 12, 2024
From Turtlenappings to TikTok Shenanigans, How an Unassuming Reptile Evolved to Represent Terp Spirit
rainbow turtle, turtle with pink and light blue pattern, "Support #TransTerps" pin. "Debilitating Queerness", "they" pin

Features

January 16, 2024
Twenty-five years ago, the LGBTQ+ Equity Center opened to support queer Terps who felt invisible, isolated and harassed. Some of the founders recount its humble start and hard-won victories.
View of low, tan buildings against a large sky. Dessert terrain.

Features

January 12, 2024
American Indians have long been denied fair access to homes, health care, schooling and jobs. For Joseph Kunkel M.Arch. ’09, the mission to change that is personal.
Gold star on red backgroud

Post-Grad

January 12, 2024
The Alumni Excellence Awards
McKeldin Mall at sunrise

Parting Shot

January 12, 2024
Testudo Watches Over McKeldin Mall From Perch of Nearly 60 Years
"Testudo II" wheels near stands at football game

Post-Grad

January 12, 2024
An ‘Underexposed’ Photo of UMD History
Alex Kin ’08 and Sarah Tostanoski ’09 on wedding day

Post-Grad

January 12, 2024
Alums Celebrate Wedding at Homecoming Tailgate
Cheese board with M in middle; Kara McGrath inset portrait

Post-Grad

January 12, 2024
5 Tips for Making a Board Bursting With Flavor and Color
Zebrafish stamp

Post-Grad

January 12, 2024
Image Chosen by Postal Service Opened New Avenues to Treat Brain Diseases
Bonnie Bernstein portrait and "She Got Game: Inspiring Women, Inspired by Sports" illustration

Post-Grad

January 12, 2024
Sports Journalist’s Podcast Links Women’s Success in Careers to Experiences on the Field and Court
John Kelly at desk

Post-Grad

January 12, 2024
Departing Washington Post Columnist Shares 20 Years of Family Tales, Reader Favorites
three people sit on stage at PROGRESS launch

Explorations

January 12, 2024
Initiative to Offer Research, Solutions to National Crisis
group installs Mesonet tower

Explorations

January 12, 2024
Maryland Mesonet to Provide Early Weather Warning in a Changing Climate
adult and baby bald eagles in nest

Explorations

January 12, 2024
Bald Eagle Expert Joins Legendary Explorers Club Honorees
Arlington House perched atop Arlington National Cemetery

Explorations

January 12, 2024
At Robert E. Lee’s Former Residence, Researcher Opens Door to Overlooked Legacies

Class Notes

News on Friends and Classmates

See all Class Notes from this issue
John Randolph Katkish headshot

Passings

John Randolph Katkish ’75

John Randolph Katkish ’75 of Williamsburg, Va., died on Nov. 5, 2023, at age 70. He was born in Washington, D.C., coached his younger brother's baseball team, and traveled to visit his older sister in Mexico and Alaska. He attended St. John's College High…
Raul Fernandez

90s

Raul Fernandez ’90

Raul Fernandez ’90 was promoted to interim president and CEO of DXC Technology, an IT services provider based in Ashburn, Va. He had been CEO of DXC since 2019 and chairman since 2022, overseeing a restructuring at the IT services provider, which employed…

80s

David Gehn ’88

David Gehn ’88 became a partner at Fox Rothschild’s litigation department. Gehn has over 30 years of experience as a litigator with clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to broker-dealers. Gehn was the NFL Players Association-certified contract…
Steven Mark Rochon headshot

Passings

Steven Mark Rochon ’90, M.S. ’97

Steven Mark Rochon ’90, M.S. ’97 died on Oct. 17, 2023, at the age of 56. Born at Ft. Huachuca, Ariz., he earned two engineering degrees at UMD and began a long career as a civil engineer with the Maryland State Highway Administration. Upon retiring,…

Passings

Barbara Lee Hamilton ’63

Barbara Lee Hamilton ’63, of Lonaconing, Md., died on Dec. 14, 2023 at age 82. She was a graduate of Valley High School in Lonaconing and majored in French at UMD. She lived in Washington, D.C., and worked for the U.S. Department of the Treasury. She…

Passings

Richard Stephen Hammerschlag M.S. ’66, Ph.D. ’72

Richard Stephen Hammerschlag M.S. ’66, Ph.D. ’72 of Highland, Md., died on Dec. 28, 2023, at the age of 82. He received his B.A. in botany at Colgate University and his master’s degree in plant pathology at UMD. He was then drafted into the U.S. Army,…
Carroll "Gene" Selby headshot

Passings

Carroll "Gene" Selby ’50

Carroll "Gene" Selby ’50 of Frederick, Md., died on Oct. 22, 2023, at Homewood at Crumland Farms at age 94. Selby graduated from Frederick High School and UMD, and served in the U.S. Army for two years. He worked at Fort Detrick, Md., in the biological…
Stephanie L. Williams headshot

00s

Stephanie L. Williams M.C.P. ’04

Stephanie L. Williams M.C.P. ’04, president of Bozzuto Management Co., was named to the board of directors of Veris Residential, a real estate investment trust that primarily owns, operates, acquires and develops Class A multifamily properties.