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

Jeanette Epps M.S. ’94, Ph.D. ’00

Jeanette Epps M.S. ’94, Ph.D. ’00 and three crewmates returned to Earth in October after an eight-month mission aboard the International Space Station, making her the African American with the most time spent in space. She spoke at UMD a week later. Read…

00s

Nate Tibbits MBA ’01

Nate Tibbits MBA ’01, senior vice president, global government affairs and corporate responsibility at Qualcomm, was named one of D.C.’s 2024 Tech Titans by Washingtonian magazine, showcasing 219 of the most innovative and important leaders in…

00s

Dean Muhtadi ’08, MBA ’11

Former NFL player and professional wrestler Dean Muhtadi ’08, MBA ’11 was named brand ambassador of the fitness company Beachbody Co. He is known to many by his wrestling persona “Mojo Rawley” and for his social media presence; he has more than 365,000…

Passings

Bonni Anne Carr DiRenzi ’89

Bonni Anne Carr DiRenzi ’89 of Telford, Pa., died on Dec. 4, 2024, at the age of 57. Born and raised in South Jersey, she graduated from Audubon High School and earned a journalism degree at UMD and a Master of Business Administration in marketing from…

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…

70s

Cary Hatch ’78

Longtime D.C. marketing executive Cary Hatch ’78 retired from Hart Inc., the Ohio-based company she sold her advertising firm to in 2022. Hatch started her career with MDB in Baltimore in 1981 as an account executive, then went on to purchase the firm in…

90s

Natalia Luis ’95

Natalia Luis ’95 was named to the Maryland Daily Record’s 2024 Best Women-Owned Business List. She is the co-CEO of M Luis Construction. Under her leadership, the company has received numerous accolades, including the Ernst and Young Maryland Entrepreneur…

90s

Kimberly Thomas ’94

Kimberly Thomas ’94 was elected to the Michigan Supreme Court for an eight-year term. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School and a professor of law at the University of Michigan.