Alumni Events

The College of Chemical and Life Sciences regularly organizes alumni events such as tailgates, game watches, scientific presentations, and student mentoring programs, among others. Here are a few of the recent alumni events we have sponsored. Please check our upcoming alumni events calendar and our list of ways to get involved for opportunities to connect with fellow alumni and current faculty, students, and staff of the college.

"Meet Your Terp Neighbors" Party Brings Together College Alumni, Students, and Families in Potomac, MD

Alumni Joyce (Crimology, ‘79) and Phil (Biochem, ‘79) Schneider (pictured at left with Dean Allewell) hosted a lively Meet Your Terp Neighbors reception in their Potomac home on June 8, 2008. About 75 alums, parents, students, and prospective students gathered to enjoy some wonderful Mexican food and beverages with their friends and neighbors. This was the first College event held at the home of alumni, and we thank the Schneiders’ for their generosity and hospitality.

Assistant Coach Chuck Drissell, the guest of honor, provided a set of insights into Maryland sports and his career at Maryland that ranged from humorous to inspirational. Dr. Schneider reminisced about his experience at Maryland, and the importance of alumni support of the University.  Dean Allewell and Brodie Remingtron, Vice President for University Relations, spoke about the University’s accomplishments and its vision for the future, and the importance of the Capital Campaign in achieving that vision.  

Alumni Face Off with Faculty for Third Annual Golf Outing

The College’s third annual golf outing at the UM golf course on May 8, 2008 brought together faculty, staff, and alumni to enjoy 18 holes, in spite of the drizzly spring weather. The winner was alumnus Jay Nixon. The best score for the faculty was Dr. Jeff DeStefano (CBMG). Afterward, Dean Allewell joined the group for happy hour at Mulligan’s Bar. Pictured l to r: Jeff DeStefano; Dean Norma Allewell; Doug Walker, Zoology BS ’81; Bill Higgins, Biology; and Jay Nixon, Entomology MS ’73.

 

 

 

The University of Maryland has more than 200 alumni from Puerto Rico, and a large number of them met for the first “Terps de Puerto Rico” event in San Juan in January 2008. The event was organized by Andrea Morris, College of Chemical and Life Sciences Assistant Dean for Development and Corporate Relations, who greeted the dozens of alumni who attended at the Caribe Hilton in San Juan. On behalf of UM President C.D. Mote, Jr. and CLFS Dean, Norma Allewell, Morris gave a warm Terp welcome and shared news of the university’s and college’s recent successes.

University representatives included Nicole Balloffet, a Latin-American graduate student in Conservation Biology. She shared updates on the College’s priority research areas in Spanish, including her specialty, Ecological Sustainability. Mariann Payne, Associate Director of the UM Scholarships Campaign, also attended to share news of the Great Expectations: Campaign for Scholarships success.

Alumni expressed gratitude for the wonderful education and experiences they had at UM, and acknowledged the difference it made in their careers and personal lives. Many shared stories and photo albums of days at College Park. Some had known each other while attending, others met afterwards on the island.

Many attendees graduated from College of Chemical and Life Sciences majors, including the former Zoology and now Biology, and have gone on to successful careers in medicine and dentistry. CLFS alumnus Dr. Jaime Suárez Igartua, Zoo '85 shared stories of playing for the Terps Football team as the only "pre-med" on the team. He arrived at UM having never played "futbol Americano" and thought he would give it try as a natural athlete. Originally planning to try out for a kicking position due to his many years playing soccer in Puerto Rico, he was selected as a wide receiver due to his speed. He got quick coaching and found it easy to master. Once picked for the team, he was told to go get suited up, yet he did not have the first idea on how to put on the protective gear and had to ask for advice after he put it on backwards. Dr. Suarez Igartua later completed an MD and a DDS degree and now has a plastic surgery practice in San Juan.

Other CLFS guests included Dr. Carmen Lebron de Oliva, PhD Bio/Edu '71, José Ayala, Bio '88, Maria E. Cruz, DDS, Zoo '85, DDS, and Felix del Rio, MD, Zoo '84 and Raimundo Espinoza, CONS '07. A practicing cardiologist, Dr. Del Rio is an active member of the UM Alumni Association and has expressed interest in leading the effort to create a formal Puerto Rico Alumni Chapter to keep the momentum of the "Terps de Puerto Rico" going. Dr. Del Rio is a long-time supporter of scholarships on campus. One goal of the Chapter would be to support one young person from a Puerto Rico high school with a scholarship to attend Maryland. It was clear that there is support for the project as alumni from majors such as Architecture, Music, Business, Psychology, English and Engineering expressed their willingness to participate.

While the "Terps de Puerto Rico" was the first such gathering on the island, it is certain not to be the last. The emotional connection to Maryland is very strong and the fellow Terps are committed to maintaining the alumni community they discovered that evening.

For more information on a Puerto Rico Alumni Chapter, contact Andrea Morris, Assistant Dean for Development and Corporate Relations.

Dean Norma M. Allewell and College of Chemical and Life Sciences alumni cheered on the Maryland Terps in a game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at DuClaw's Brewing Co. in Fells Point, Baltimore on January 12, 2008.

	VS.