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

Parting Shot

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

At Home With a Continent’s Cultural Heritage

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

Post-Grad

Pup ‘Reels’ in the Likes

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

Post-Grad

Creating a Cartoon You

Terp Promotes On-Screen Representation by Making Avatars More Customizable

Post-Grad

Alumni Association News

The Alumni Excellence Awards

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

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.

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

Explorations

silhouette with scribble brain and garbled words coming out of mouth

Lost (and Found) in Translation

Migraines Rob Doctoral Student of Words. He Helps Youths Find Theirs.

Explorations

Commuter Crunch

Management Researcher Eyes Steps to Improve Escalator Efficiency

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

AI Confronts Seagoing ‘Rogues’

System Can Predict Approach of Giant Waves

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

Campus Life

students sit at round tables as professor lectures; screens show slide reading, "What are the most pressing social issues of our time?"

Freshmen Philanthropists

For 10 Years, iGive Students Have Learned by Awarding Grants to Nonprofits

Campus Life

women's rifle team lies on ground to shoot

Steady Eye on the Target

Hoops Shooters and Sharpshooters Pioneered Terp Women’s Sports a Century Ago

Campus Life

collage of Edmond Dédé, flowers and musical notes

A ‘Mind-Blowing’ Premiere, 130 Years Later

UMD to Debut Oldest Existing Opera by Black Composer

Class Notes

News on Friends and Classmates

See all Class Notes from this issue

80s

Ken Hutkin ’82

Ken Hutkin ’82 joined LPL Financial’s employee advisor channel, Linsco by LPL Financial, to launch 57th Street Wealth Advisors. He brings more than 30 years of experience as a business owner and entrepreneur to the partnership.

Passings

Patricia Richmond Vidler ’48

Patricia Richmond Vidler ’48 of Milford, Del., died on Nov. 15, 2024, at the age of 98. She was raised in Cincinnati and in London. At the University of Maryland, she earned a bachelor's degree in history. She married Harold Richmond in 1955 and raised…

Passings

Ina Williams ’70

Ina Williams ’70 of Spring, Texas, died on Sept. 2, 2024, at the age of 77. Born in Elizabeth, N.J., Willliams graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in speech. After working in media and advertising roles, she went on to direct plays and…

00s

Bonny Ghosh ’02, M.S. ’06

Bonny Ghosh ’02, M.S. ’06 was named editorial director of Inc. magazine. For the past two years, Ghosh had been producing programming for Apple’s global events team at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino. She previously served as the managing editor of…

20s

Catherine Springer-Sapp Ph.D. ’24

Catherine Springer-Sapp Ph.D. ’24 was named assistant professor of kinesiology and coordinator of health sciences at McDaniel College in Westminster, Md. She earned a master’s degree in kinesiology from East Carolina University and has a bachelor’s degree…

Passings

Robert W. Pierce ’65

Robert W. Pierce ’65 of Santa Fe., N.M., died on Dec. 9, 2024, after a long battle with Lewy body dementia and complications from emergency colon surgery. He graduated from the University of Maryland with honors in business and engineering and excelled in…

10s

Michele Hayes Dinterman ’12

Michele Hayes Dinterman ’12 was honored as one of the Maryland Daily Record's Leading Women Under 40. The awards honor women who are younger than 40 years of age for their professional accomplishments. She is a partner at Niles, Barton & Wilmer,…

00s

Scott Armstrong ’05

Scott Armstrong ’05 joined Supplemental Health Care as chief revenue officer. He brings 15 years of sales and sales leadership experience from Medical Solutions.