Winter 2026

January 15, 2026

As UMD steps up with a bold $2.5B fundraising campaign, take an interactive jaunt through Terp pride, purpose and progress.

Features

January 15, 2026

An illegal trade in animals is booming worldwide. Now, a UMD conservation criminologist is turning to artificial intelligence to snare smugglers and expose their networks.

Post-Grad

January 15, 2026

4 Ways to Stay Connected as Maryland Moves Forward

Parting Shot

January 15, 2026

IDEA Factory Window Casts Interior in Otherworldly Light

Post-Grad

January 15, 2026

An ‘Underexposed’ Photo From UMD History

Post-Grad

January 15, 2026

Alum Serves, Protects State’s Threatened Bug Community

Post-Grad

January 15, 2026

Architect Wants Your Next Airport Experience to Feel Less Terminal

Post-Grad

January 15, 2026

Alum Flips, Fights, Tumbles Across New York Sets

Explorations

January 15, 2026

Study: Lightning Creates, and Eliminates, Pollution

Explorations

January 15, 2026

Scientist Examines Sea Ice Via Satellite, Plane and Snowmobile

Explorations

January 15, 2026

Study Aims to Improve Decision-making, Health Outcomes

Explorations

January 15, 2026

Ask the Expert: Advice for Real Life

Explorations

January 15, 2026

Wild Predators Navigate the World Similarly to Domesticated Cousins, Study Finds

Explorations

January 15, 2026

Study: Tripadvisor Readers See Lone Consumers as Invested in Activities

Explorations

January 15, 2026

VR Reading Adventure Improves Skills for Dyslexic Youth

Class Notes

News on Friends and Classmates

See all Class Notes from this issue

10s

Krystal Bailey Dixon ’12, M.S. ’14

Krystal Bailey Dixon ’12, M.S. ’14 joined BCR Cyber, a provider of comprehensive cybersecurity training and job placement services, as its controller. Her 20-plus years of accounting and financial experience includes roles at KPMG and Howard University.

90s

Jack Spencer ’99

Jack Spencer ’99 joined the Pittsburg (Kan.) Fire Department as fire chief. The Kansas native has more than 30 years of firefighting experience, most recently as battalion fire chief for the District of Columbia Fire and EMS, leading Special Operations,…

Passings

Gerald Brody ’50

Gerald Brody ’50, of Bethesda, Md., died on Dec. 29, 2025. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., he showed an entrepreneurial spirit at a young age, delivering newspapers by bicycle, selling hot dogs at Griffith Stadium, driving a taxi, and working…

70s

Jan Pottker M.A. ’72

Jan Pottker M.A. ’72 published her ninth book, “Vivien Thomas: The Man Who Overcame Racism to Save Millions of Lives,” which is the first biography for adult readers about the pioneering medical researcher. She was previously named Entrepreneur of the…

00s

Geoffrey Brown ’05

Geoffrey Brown ’05, president and CEO of the Illinois CPA Society, was named to Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting list for the third consecutive time. Honorees are nominated by their peers from across the country. In…

00s

Christina N. Billiet ’05

Christina N. Billiet ’05 was named to The Maryland Daily Record’s 2025 Medical Malpractice & Personal Injury Law Power List. She is a trial attorney and managing partner at Waranch & Brown LLC. Billiet graduated from the University of Baltimore…

10s

Sarah Lee ‘18

Sarah Lee ‘18, known professionally as Rei Ami, provided the singing voice for Zoey in Netflix’s animated “KPop Demon Hunters,” the streaming service’s most-watched film of all time. The song “Golden” clinched the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 and was…

10s

Eyob Tekalign Ph.D. ’19

Eyob Tekalign Ph.D. ’19 was appointed the governor of Ethiopia’s new central bank. He had served as a state minister of finance since 2018, and previously as minister in charge of Ethiopia's National Planning Commission.