Winter 2025

Winter 2025 Kan Cao holds flask as she works in lab

A UMD researcher of a rare disease that fatally ages children has discovered how an obscure blue compound could help us all look younger.

Explorations

strawberry holding umbrella with crabs on it; a pear holding a "RIPE" sign shaking hands with a banana; a sparkling steak

Fresh Takes on Fighting Food Waste

Researchers Devise Spoilage-Stopping Tech That Could Change How We Grow, Buy and Store Produce

Photo

Kermit sits with statue of himself and Jim Henson on UMD campus

Kermit Comes Home

Famed Frog Makes a Rainbow Connection With Terps

Post-Grad

Ag Day A-moo-sment

An ‘Underexposed’ Photo of UMD History

Post-Grad

Creating a Cartoon You

Terp Promotes On-Screen Representation by Making Avatars More Customizable

Post-Grad

Pup ‘Reels’ in the Likes

Antics of Alums’ Goldendoodle Bring Joy to Millions on Social Media

Post-Grad

At Home With a Continent’s Cultural Heritage

Alumna’s Book Weaves Together African Design Principles and Contemporary Decor

Post-Grad

Alumni Association News

The Alumni Excellence Awards

Features

collage of photos: cars driving on Route 1 at night; students standing in Rendezvous; students dancing; students standing outside on sidewalk; man wearing hat playing pinball with beer; man in aviator sunglasses

The Lost Haunts of Route 1

No matter the decade, Terps found refuges and ‘Rendezvous’ points on College Park’s Main Street

Features

Joi Howard poses by brick columns and greenery

A Fresh Start for ‘Maryland’s Shame’

Joi Howard ’03 seeks to turn a shuttered, segregated psychiatric hospital into a working farm and wellness site for the Black community.

Explorations

one person says "Bonjour!" and the other says "Tres bien!"

How to Make a Second Language Second Nature

Ask the Expert: Advice for Real Life

Explorations

house with fertilizer, salt shaker, cleaning products, cinder block and ice melt

Salt Life

Take a Home Tour to Learn How We’re Worsening Salinity Around the World

Explorations

AI Confronts Seagoing ‘Rogues’

System Can Predict Approach of Giant Waves

Explorations

Jill Bradbury signs in front of stage next to electronic sign that reads, "Welcome to the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center"

Signs of Accessibility in Performing Arts

School’s First Deaf Leader to Expand Options to Guests

Explorations

Commuter Crunch

Management Researcher Eyes Steps to Improve Escalator Efficiency

Class Notes

News on Friends and Classmates

See all Class Notes from this issue

90s

Todd McDonald ’90

Todd McDonald ’90 was promoted to head of technology lending and senior managing director Horizon Technology Finance Management. He joined Horizon in 2012 and has most recently served as senior managing director responsible for business development in the…

90s

Michael Dorsher Ph.D. ’99

The Fulbright Association named Michael Dorsher Ph.D. ’99 the “outstanding former leader” among its 54 state chapters and worldwide interest groups. Dorsher completed a third two-year term in June as president of the Minnesota Chapter of the Fulbright…

00s

Amy Burke Friedman '02

Amy Burke Friedman '02 was named to the Maryland Daily Record 2024 Best Women-Owned Business List. She is the owner and CEO of Profiles LLC, a public relations and marketing firm based in Baltimore. She has been recognized as one of The Baltimore Sun’s…

90s

Hong Suk “Paul” Chung ’92

Hong Suk ‘Paul’ Chung ’92, a shareholder with Shulman Rogers, was named to The Daily Record’s 2024 Personal Injury & Medical Malpractice Law Power List.

10s

Justin Garcia ’16

Justin Garcia ’16, chief marketing officer at SunMed Growers, was named to the Baltimore Business Journal’s 2024 class of 40 Under 40 honorees, spotlighting the next generation of local business leaders.

10s

Victoria Ortega M.A. ’11

Victoria Ortega M.A. ’11 was promoted to partner at Blank Rome LLP’s Washington, D.C., office. She works in corporate litigation, advocating for clients from a wide array of industries, including restaurants and hospitality, government contracting, and…

00s

Wynne Briscoe ’01

Wynne Briscoe ’01, director of the Small Business Development Center at the College of Southern Maryland, was named one of Maryland’s 2024 Manufacturing Stars by the Regional Manufacturing Institute of Maryland. After eight years with the Maryland SBDC…

10s

Tom Foster '14 and Francis Smith '14

Tom Foster '14 and Francis Smith '14, co-owners of Diamondback Brewing Co. in Baltimore, opened a combination coffee cafe, brewery and pizza kitchen in Timonium. The partnership with Aveley Farms Coffee Roasters is born out of the Terps’ friendship with…