Dr. Joseph Yazdi (B.S, Zoology, '90) became the second neurosurgeon at the Southern Illinois Brain and Spine Center at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. The Center treats a wide range of conditions, from herniated discs to brain tumors. Born in Iran, Dr. Joseph Yazdi grew up in Maryland and earned a bachelor's degree in zoology in 1990 at the University of Maryland College Park, targeting a career in marine biology. He chose to study neurosurgery in medical school at Hahnemann University in Philadelphia.

Diane Scott-Lichter (’84) was appointed as publisher and head of the scientific publishing division at the American Association for Cancer Research. As publisher, Scott-Lichter will oversee all aspects of production, marketing and strategic planning for the AACR's publications program.

Cameron Weiffenbach (MS, chemistry) has joined the Tysons Corner office of Miles & Stockbridge, where he will work in the law firm’s intellectual property and biotechnology practices. His practice focuses on serving as an expert witness in patent litigation matters, defending patent and trademark practitioners before the USPTO Office of Enrollment and Discipline, patent prosecution and counseling clients on USPTO practice and procedure.

In August 2008, Dean Norma Allewell and Chairs, Michael Doyle and Richard Payne hosted notable Chemistry alumna Marianne L. Horinko ’82, former acting administrator of the EPA. She came to campus with her business partner, Justin Oberst, of the Horinko Group, to explore mutually beneficial partnerships.

Raymond Semlitsch, a Professor in the Division of Biological Sciences at the University of Missouri-Columbia whose research on amphibian ecology has raised awareness about the need to protect small wetlands and surrounding terrestrial habitat, was one of seven wetland stewards who won a 2008 National Wetlands Awards. A diverse panel of wetland experts assembled at the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) earlier this month to select the winners of the 2008 National Wetlands Awards. This year's award winners hail from all regions of the country and exemplify the extraordinary commitment and innovation that is so instrumental to conserving wetlands in the nation's communities.

Nick Baer, alumnus of the Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Science program, received the highest faculty award given by Colby-Sawyer College in New Hampshire, the Jack Jensen Award. Baer has been an assistant professor of Natural Sciences at Colby-Sawyer College since 2004. His PhD advisor was Bill Lamp, Associate Professor of Entomology. Baer teaches courses in ecology, freshwater biology, conservation biology, and environmental issues, and uses the outdoors as community.

Xu Duan, graduate of the Sustainability and Conservation Biology program (CONS) teaches chemistry at the Bullis School in Potomac Maryland. He was selected as the only teacher from a private school in the DC area for the Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award by the Washington Post. Each year, the Post honors exceptional men and women in the teaching profession by awarding $3,000 to an outstanding teacher selected in each of the 19 local public school systems, and one award to a teacher from a private school in the metropolitan area.

Kenneth Karol, (PhD '04, Plant Biology) has taken a position as Assistant Curator of The Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Program for Molecular Systematics Studies at The New York Botanical Garden in Bronx, NY.

Two alumni of the University of Maryland College of Chemical and Life Sciences were recognized by Black Enterprise magazine for being among "America's Leading Doctors." The magazine named 140 physicians responsible for saving millions of lives through the revolutionary treatment of diseases, from cancer and diabetes to heart attacks and HIV/AIDS. Many of these doctors have been responsible for major medical breakthroughs and have participated in the creation of drugs that have vastly improved the quality of life for patients.

Alumnus Joseph V. Rodricks, M.S. ’63, Ph.D. ’68 (Department of Chemistry), was honored at the Ninth Annual Alumni Association Awards Gala on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center. Rodricks is an expert in the field of toxicology and risk analysis, and has directed and conducted hundreds of studies examining the health and environmental risks of chemical products, processes, pollutants and wastes. For nearly three decades, he has consulted for manufacturers, government agencies and the World Health Organization, and served on 15 boards and committees of the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine.