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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

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…

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…

Passings

Helen Louise Hedrick M.S. ’67

Helen Louise Hedrick M.S. ’67 of Maysville, W.V., died on Oct. 19, 2023, at age 81. She attended Petersburg High School, Potomac State College, West Virginia University and the University of Maryland. She worked for the West Virginia Extension Service.
Mary Ethel Jacocks McCorkle headshot

Passings

Mary Ethel Jacocks McCorkle ’68

Mary Ethel Jacocks McCorkle ’68 of Hillsborough, N.C., died Dec. 18, 2023, at the age of 79. She majored in sociology at UMD and was an accountant at Saint Mary’s School in Raleigh, N.C., for many years. After moving to Emerald Isle, McCorckle enjoyed…

Passings

Nancy Nealy Ragsdale M.S. ’66, Ph.D. ’74

Nancy Nealy Ragsdale M.S. ’66, Ph.D. ’74, a research associate for UMD’s botany department, died on Oct. 2, 2023, at her home near Crozet, Va., after a battle with lung cancer. She was 85. Ragsdale graduated from Griffin High School and attended Emory…

90s

Joshua Janow ’99

Joshua Janow ’99 was promoted to CEO of SMI Aware. He brings over two decades of experience as an attorney in big law and corporate general counsel, and executive business leadership to the role. He earned his law degree at Georgetown University.
Steve Elliott headshot

00s

Steve Elliott MFA ’03

Steve Elliott MFA ’03 was named president of Black Hills State University in Spearfish, S.D. He was previously vice president of academic affairs at Wayne State College in Wayne, Neb. He held various positions there, including faculty member, department…
Vanessa Smith headshot

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…