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

Passings

Susanne Bohrer ’73

Susanne Bohrer ’73 died on Nov. 4, 2025, after a lengthy illness. Born on Oct. 11, 1951, she was raised on a small farm in Carroll County, where she developed a love of the outdoors and horses. She majored in animal science at UMD, then worked for the…

Passings

John Francis Jones MBA ’01

John Francis Jones MBA ’01 died on Oct. 31, 2025, at the age of 54. He grew up in Newport News, Va., and played football and participated in international science fairs at Denbigh High School. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, then served in the…

10s

Ryan Leeb ’11

Ryan Leeb ’11 joined the Severna Park, Md.-based KMA Law Office. A third-generation certified financial planner in his family, he focuses on the areas of estate planning, succession planning and wealth management. Leeb graduated from the University of…

90s

Melissa Randall ’97

Melissa Randall ’97 was named chief human resources officer (CHRO) and senior managing director at asset management firm Obra Capital. She joins from Waterfall Asset Management, where she served as global CHRO and formalized internal HR processes for the…

Passings

Cynthia Rae (Neitzel) Ostroff M.S. ’76

Cynthia Rae (Neitzel) Ostroff M.S. ’76 died on Oct. 30, 2025, in Branford, Conn. She was 78. Born on November 3, 1946, in Green Bay, Wisc., Ostroff earned a Bachelor of Science from George Washington University before pursuing a master’s degree in botany…

90s

Christine E. Wormuth M.P.M. ’95

Christine E. Wormuth M.P.M. ’95 joined the Nuclear Threat Initiative as president and chief executive officer. She served as secretary of the Army from 2021-25 along with other senior roles at the Department of Defense as part of her more than 30 years of…

80s

David C. Wajsgras ’82

David C. Wajsgras ’82 was appointed the independent director of Wesco International, a provider of business-to-business distribution, logistics services and supply chain solutions. He was previously CEO of Intelsat Holdings S.A. and currently serves as a…

10s

Ryan Harshman ’14, ‘14

CPA Ryan Harshman ’14, ‘14 was promoted at accounting and advisory firm Brown Plus to audit principal, based in the Frederick, Md., office. He had been an audit senior manager there. He serves as treasurer for both the Grossnickle Church of the Brethren…