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

Parting Shot

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

00s

Jennifer D. Sciubba Ph.D. ’05

Jennifer D. Sciubba Ph.D. ’05 was appointed president and chief executive officer of the Population Reference Bureau. A frequently consulted expert on population trends, she has published several books, including “8 Billion and Counting: How Sex, Death,…

90s

Dawn Flythe Moore ’97

Maryland first lady Dawn Flythe Moore ’97 was honored by Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., at its annual Impact Gala with its Champion of Reproductive Health Award. It recognized her work advancing reproductive health care access and…

10s

David Cockey MBA ’11

David Cockey MBA ’11 was promoted from chief operating officer to partner at PointBlank Ventures, a Charlotte-based investment management and advisory firm.

90s

Mindi B. (Pollak) Levin ’98

Mindi B. (Pollak) Levin ’98 received the Ernest Lyman Stebbins Medal, the highest honor bestowed by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health for educational excellence. The award is presented to a member of the faculty annually for…

00s

Paul C. Barrett ’04

Paul C. Barrett ’04 was named chief financial officer of Cleveland. Most recently, he managed the debt and investment portfolios for the city of Jacksonville. Barrett also brings over 10 years of experience in client service, operations, research,…

00s

Matt Tippets M.S. ’06

Matt Tippets M.S. ’06 was appointed chief product and technology officer at Brandwatch, a provider of social media intelligence. He previously held senior roles at Drift, Total Expert and Salesforce, and has extensive experience in product innovation and…

00s

Anna W. Gavin '04

Anna W. Gavin '04 was named to the Maryland Daily Record’s 2024 Best Women-Owned Business List. She is the president of Fireline Corp., a Baltimore-based fire protection services company.

“Out of Place: Coming of Age in Cold War West Germany” book cover

80s

Mary E. McKnight ’85

Mary E. McKnight ’85 released the book “Out of Place: Coming of Age in Cold War West Germany,” the tale of one teen’s quest to establish her own voice as an Army brat living in Cold War–era West Germany. She is a teacher at UMD’s Center for Young Children…