Winter 2025

January 15, 2025

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

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

Explorations

January 15, 2025

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

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

Parting Shot

January 15, 2025

Famed Frog Makes a Rainbow Connection With Terps

Post-Grad

January 15, 2025

An ‘Underexposed’ Photo of UMD History

Post-Grad

January 15, 2025

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

Post-Grad

January 15, 2025

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

Post-Grad

January 15, 2025

Terp Promotes On-Screen Representation by Making Avatars More Customizable

Post-Grad

January 15, 2025

The Alumni Excellence Awards

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

Explorations

January 15, 2025

Ask the Expert: Advice for Real Life

Joi Howard poses by brick columns and greenery

Features

January 15, 2025

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

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

Features

January 15, 2025

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

silhouette with scribble brain and garbled words coming out of mouth

Explorations

January 15, 2025

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

Explorations

January 15, 2025

Management Researcher Eyes Steps to Improve Escalator Efficiency

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

Explorations

January 15, 2025

School’s First Deaf Leader to Expand Options to Guests

Explorations

January 15, 2025

System Can Predict Approach of Giant Waves

Class Notes

News on Friends and Classmates

See all Class Notes from this issue

90s

Derek Griffith ’93

Derek Griffith ’93 was named the Risa Lavizzo-Mourey Population Health and Health Equity University Professor in the School of Nursing and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Griffith is an innovator in the study of health…

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…

70s

Marty Brooks ’78

Marty Brooks ’78, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Center District since 2018, was named Milwaukee Business Journal's Executive of the Year. He is credited with revitalizing the downtown venues, including doubling the size of Baird, a convention center,…

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…

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.

00s

Luke Grossmann MBA ’08

Luke Grossmann MBA ’08 was promoted to chief financial officer and executive vice president of the U.S. Postal Service. He’s worked there for 20 years, mostly recently as senior vice president of finance and strategy. Grossmann has a bachelor’s degree in…

20s

Bradley Jopek D.M.A. ’24

Bradley Jopek D.M.A. ’24 is the new director of the music program and assistant professor of music at Trine University in Indiana. He graduated from Grove City College and received two Master of Music degrees, in wind and orchestral conducting, from the…

90s

Michelle “Sun” Choe ’91

Michelle “Sun” Choe ’91 was named to the OC500 2024, a compendium of the 500 most influential people in Orange County, Calif. She is the global brand president of Vans, and before that was chief product officer at Lululemon.