Winter 2024

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

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

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.

Post-Grad

January 12, 2024

The Alumni Excellence Awards

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

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

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

Explorations

January 12, 2024

Maryland Mesonet to Provide Early Weather Warning in a Changing Climate

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

Passings

Janice Yvonne (Vieau) Jensen ’47

Janice Yvonne (Vieau) Jensen ’47 died on Oct. 20, 2023, at age 97. She majored in elementary education at UMD and became a physical education teacher and leader of the Title I program in the Sussex-Hamilton School District. She was a vivacious member of…

70s

Pia Marie Winters Jordan ’78

Pia Marie Winters Jordan ’78 wrote the book “Memories of a Tuskegee Airmen Nurse and Her Military Sisters,” focusing on the years during World War II when up to 28 Black women from the Army Nurse Corps—including her mother—staffed the station hospital on…

00s

Bryant “Mack” McGee ’07,

Bryant “Mack” McGee ’07, chief marketing officer at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, was named to the Baltimore Business Journal's “40 Under 40” for 2023.

00s

Allyn (Bloomfield)

Allyn (Bloomfield) Molina ’01 joined the board of directors of the YMCA of Montclair (N.J.). She is the group vice president, publishing at Wiley Publishing, where she manages publishing development for 2,000 research journals. Molina previously served on…

90s

Brian Chappell ’90

Brian Chappell ’90 was named to the board of trustees of Olney (Md.) Theatre Center. He is a partner at Hogan Lovells, where he is the head of a practice that concentrates on mergers and acquisitions, equity investments, joint ventures, project…

Passings

Frederick William Kaufman ’58

Frederick William Kaufman ’58 died on Dec. 19, 2023, in Owosso, Mich. He was 102. Kaufman attended Baltimore High School and majored in English at UMD. He served in the U.S. Navy.

Passings

Martin Lewis Berger ’66

Martin Lewis Berger ’66 of Rockville, Md., died Dec. 18, 2023, after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. Raised in Silver Spring, Md., Berger attended Coolidge High School and UMD, where he studied education. He began his career teaching middle school…

00s

Vanessa Smith MBA ’04

Vanessa Smith MBA ’04 was appointed chair of Teach for America-Greater Philadelphia after serving on its advisory board for the past three years. She is president of ServiceNow.org and in 2021 was named one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology by…