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Maryland Today

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

80s

Matt Hicks ’83

Longtime Texas Rangers radio play-by-play announcer Matt Hicks ’83 fulfilled a career dream by covering the World Series. Hicks started his career at WMUC.
McKayla Kelly headshot

20s

McKayla Kelly ’20

McKayla Kelly ’20 joined Choptank Community Health System’s Fassett Magee Medical and Cambridge Dental Center as a physician assistant. She received her Master of Health Science degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
Joe Feldmann on "Jeopardy!" set

00s

Joe Feldmann '04

Joe Feldmann '04, who took home $45,000 on the TV series “Jeopardy!” in June 2022, returned this fall for the new Champions Wildcard tournament; it pitted winners from the previous two seasons against each other for a spot in the Tournament of Champions.…
Seema Verma headshot

90s

Seema Verma ’93

Seema Verma ’93 was named senior vice president and general manager, life sciences at Oracle. Most recently, Verma served as a senior advisor to private equity firms Cressy and Co. and TPG. Prior to those roles, she was administrator of the Centers for…

90s

Jeong H. Kim Ph.D. ’91

President Joe Biden awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the nation’s highest award for technological achievement, to Jeong H. Kim Ph.D. ’91, namesake of an A. James Clark School of Engineering building. The chairman and co-founder of…
Raylena Church Fields headshot

Passings

Raylena Church Fields ’75

Raylena Church Fields ’75 died on Dec. 10, 2023, at home in Salisbury, Md. She was 70. She was born in Allen, Md., and after earning a journalism degree at UMD, she built a 30-year career in newsrooms in Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York. Her coverage…
Juliet Gilliam headshot

90s

Juliet Gilliam M.A. ’92

Juliet Gilliam M.A. ’92 was named to the new position of vice president of media and entertainment relationships at the National Park Foundation. Most recently, Gilliam served as head of impact entertainment and talent integration at Special Olympics…
Miriam Hull headshot

Passings

Miriam Hull ’71

Miriam Hull ’71 of Towson, Md., died on Oct. 22, 2023 at age 74. She was a graduate of Westminster High School, where she was its first majorette to incorporate twirling the baton with fire. She majored in elementary education at UMD, and became a teacher…