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

Passings

Martha Sue Alexander ’67

Martha Sue Alexander ’67 of Gambrills, Md., died on Dec. 6, 2024, at age 79. She attended Northwestern High School, received a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Maryland and a master's in library science from The Catholic University of…

80s

Larry Goldberg ’88

Larry Goldberg ’88, senior vice president of global advisory and consulting services at Ensono, joined the board of Dataprise, a provider of managed IT, cybersecurity and cloud solutions.

20s

Ray Islam (Mohammad Rubyet Islam) Ph.D. ’23

Ray Islam (Mohammad Rubyet Islam) Ph.D. ’23 is the author of “Generative AI, Cybersecurity, and Ethics,” a textbook and a reference guide for policymakers published by Wiley. He previously served as a lecturer in UMD’s ACES program and is now an adjunct…

80s

Jolene Ivey ’82

Prince George’s County Council Chair Jolene Ivey ’82 was honored by Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., at its annual Impact Gala with its Ally Award. It recognized her work supporting policies to protect equitable and compassionate…

00s

Fernando Gonzalez MBA ’04

Fernando Gonzalez MBA ’04, partner and CEO in residence at QED Investors, was named one of DC’s 2024 Tech Titans by Washingtonian magazine, showcasing 219 of the most innovative and important leaders in Washington’s tech scene.

90s

Rana Khan Ph.D. ’99

Rana Khan Ph.D. ’99 was named the inaugural director of Hood College’s new Biomedical Research and Training Center. She previously served as the founding director of the biotechnology management and entrepreneurship master’s of science program at Yeshiva…

00s

Shahid Rana M.RED ’09

Shahid Rana M.RED ’09 was named to the Charlotte Business Journal's 40 Under 40 for 2024. He is the deputy director of the Mecklenburg County Office of Economic Development, where he is leading a Siemens Energy expansion that includes an advanced…

90s

Dan Groman ’98

Dan Groman ’98 was promoted to executive vice president, general counsel, secretary and chief compliance officer at Walker & Dunlop. He has worked at the real estate finance and advisory services firm since 2012, and before that served as associate…