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Winter 2025

Winter 2025 Kan Cao holds flask as she works in lab

The Age of Skin

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 three women smile with cow

Ag Day A-moo-sment

An ‘Underexposed’ Photo of UMD History

Post-Grad Nasozi Kakembo poses next to Juju hat

At Home With a Continent’s Cultural Heritage

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

Post-Grad goldendoodle with UMD bandana

Pup ‘Reels’ in the Likes

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

Post-Grad avatar wearing black hoodie

Creating a Cartoon You

Terp Promotes On-Screen Representation by Making Avatars More Customizable

Post-Grad gold star on red background

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 man in red hoodie going up escalator

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 waves crash

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
Paul C. Barrett ’04 headshot

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Paul C. Barrett ’04

Paul C. Barrett ’04 was named chief financial officer of Cleveland. Most recently, he managed the debt and investment portfolios for the city of Jacksonville. Barrett also brings over 10 years of experience in client service, operations, research,…
“Fighting to Be Seen: A Civil Rights Baby Reflects on Life in Post-Integration America” book cover

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Jennifer E. Mabry Ph.D. ’97

Jennifer E. Mabry Ph.D. ’97 wrote the new book, “Fighting to Be Seen: A Civil Rights Baby Reflects on Life in Post-Integration America,” a memoir that explores the impacts of civil rights policy and integration, from a personal perspective, on a…
Gerald Abrams MBA ’08 headshot

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Gerald Abrams MBA ’08

Gerald Abrams MBA ’08, senior director of sales operations at U.S. Lubricants, was named to the Baltimore Business Journal’s 2024 class of 40 Under 40 honorees, spotlighting the next generation of local business leaders.
Fred A. Balkin ’85 headshot

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Fred A. Balkin ’85

Fred A. Balkin ’85, principal at Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll PC, was named to The Daily Record’s 2024 Personal Injury & Medical Malpractice Law Power List.

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Sara Bernstein '95

Sara Bernstein '95, president of Imagine Documentaries, was a producer of the film “Jim Henson Idea Man," directed by Ron Howard and released on Disney+. She returned to campus in October for a screening at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism.
Leon Smith ’01 receives framed award

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Leon Smith ’01

Leon Smith ’01, a longtime social studies teacher at Haverford High School, was named the teacher of the year in Pennsylvania. He also serves as the African American cultural enrichment adviser, freshmen boys’ basketball coach and mentor, who started a…
Bakul Chibber MBA ’95

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Bakul Chibber MBA ’95

Bakul Chibber MBA ’95 hiked 100 kilometers of the El Camino Trail in Spain in August, raising $1,000 from family and friends for the UMD Campus Pantry. He is a Terp parent, member of the Student Affairs Alumni Group for Engagement and vice president,…
Heather Guarch ’05 headshot

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Heather Guarch ’05

Heather Guarch ’05 was appointed to serve as judge on the Orange County (Fla.) Court. She has served as a regional legal advisor for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement since 2018. Previously, she served as an assistant state attorney in the Ninth…