Letters to the editor

One of the best things about the University of Maryland is our incredible alumni. The entrepreneurs, journalists, educators, architects, astronauts, physicians, artists, writers, scientists, athletes, innovators and entertainers we are both proud and fortunate to claim as Terps are proof that when it comes to creativity, innovation and fearlessness, Maryland is one of one. We take immense pride in what every one of our graduates represents, and how they continue to live out the mission and values they embraced here—the fearless pursuit of discovery, service and storytelling that inspires, uplifts and impacts the public good.

Jeff Kinney ’93, creator of the “Wimpy Kid” phenomenon, is certainly among them, and we are excited to showcase his new, original artwork and essays in this issue of Terp. Inside these pages, Kinney uses his trademark humor to describe how even the most successful people encounter stumbling blocks, ranging from the banal to the life-changing—and how a few missteps in college (“I was a bit of a mess,” he confesses) aren’t predictive of how things will turn out if you take chances, build your skills and have a bit of good luck. His advice is both heartening and timely, especially as we celebrate Commencement.

In fact, one of the honors of my presidency was welcoming Kinney back to campus twice in 2022, first to dedicate a statue of “Wimpy Kid” Greg Heffley in the Stamp, and then as Commencement speaker. Warm, humble and honest, Kinney delivered an address no one there will forget.

This year, we are honored to have former NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps M.S. ’94, Ph.D. ’00 as our Commencement speaker. As an International Space Station flight engineer in 2024, Epps spent 235 days in orbit, a record for the longest continuous space mission by an African American woman. She was a featured CNN commentator this spring about Artemis II, the flight around the moon that once again showed how human ingenuity, innovation and endeavor know no bounds.

I hope this time of year provides each of you with an opportunity to also look back fondly on your own time in College Park, think about the lessons you learned, and appreciate how you have continued to grow and pursue the dreams you first had on our campus.

Sincerely,