The UH Community was busy, busy, busy this summer! We asked folks to let us know what they’ve been up to and you all showed up and showed out! Hear about a few amazing summer adventures below!
*Prof. Max Barnewitz attended the Comics Studies Society’s conference in Columbus, OH to present their talk “Getting Graphic: Comics as a Resistance Pedagogy” based on their UH Change the Narrative cluster course!
*Elayna Stien was a Policy Research intern at the Comptroller of Maryland this summer!
*Dr. Alena Wigodner returned from a season of archeological fieldwork at Segesta in Sicily!
*Zaila Avant-Garde conducted virology research at Harvard Medical School and presented her research at her first symposium this summer!
*Prof. DeNeen Brown led a Summer Study Abroad course in Tanzania where her students made mini-documentaries about their research while abroad!
*Ndeye Dieng participated in the final cohort of the Summer Health Professions Program (SHPEP) where she got to be a medical track scholar!
*Jessie Reider took an Education Abroad trip to the Galápagos Islands!
*Gabriel Santiago completed the internship portion of his Hollings Scholarship at NOAA’s Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs!
A talented community of Black writers have thrived in Washington, DC for over 100 years, nurturing a rich tradition of African American intellectualism and literature predating the Harlem Renaissance. In No More Worlds to Conquer, local poet and UH Lead Fellow Brian Gilmore shares this history, writes his own life story as a poet in DC, and makes the case for the nation’s capital as a center of American literature.
Join DC History Center and The People’s Archive at MLK Library on Wednesday, September 2 to hear Gilmore in conversation with Holly Bass.
Their conversation will trace the literary life, politics, and influence of DC’s Black poets to understand the history and culture of the city. Whether you’re a poetry enthusiast, DC scholar, or interested in the city’s Black culture and history—this book talk is for you!
The darkest hours of our lives are critical moments in a friendship, the times that can determine whether the relationship continues to thrive long after the moment of need has passed.
Marisa G. Franco, an assistant clinical professor of psychology based in the University of Maryland’s Honors College, says that it can be daunting to figure out how to pull off this balancing act.
The expert in human connection is the New York Times bestselling author of ”Platonic: How The Science of Attachment Can Help You Make — and Keep — Friends” and will release her second book, ”Worth: The New Science of Self-Esteem and Secure Attachment,” next month. In an essay published Wednesday on CNBC, Franco shares things you should never say — and what to say and do instead—to support a struggling friend.
As you’ve no doubt heard by now, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Edward Eisenstein back to the UH community, this time as the program’s brand-new Director!
As a long-time faculty member in the Fischell Department of Bioengineering and a fellow at the Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, Dr. Eisenstein may be a familiar face to some of you. He led the Redesigning Life Cluster from 2022-2024 and was even a recipient of the UH Mission Award. He brings over 30 years of experience in research interdisciplinary teaching, undergraduate mentorship, and academic leadership with him to the program, including co-advising UMD’s iGEM program and leading his own lab within the University System of Maryland’s Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR).
Dr. Eisenstein has already hit the ground running alongside the rest of the UH Staff and he’s looking forward to meeting more members of the UH community this Fall. To better introduce him, we sat down with Dr. E to chat about his experiences with UH so far and what he hopes to help UH achieve during his tenure.
Q: What brought you back to University Honors?
A: It was a privilege to teach in University Honors, developing a cluster with several colleagues around Redesigning Life: what is at stake as society is able to read, write, edit and design genomes – from microbes to humans. That experience convinced me that University Honors could be a platform to link scholars at all levels to take on grand challenges. I believe that University Honors can make a difference not only on the lives of our students, but in the life of our campus, and the greater community.
Q: What is something special about University Honors?
A: The people: students, faculty, staff, alumni. Their intensity, integrity, curiosity and commitment are inspiring.
Q: What kinds of things would you like to see the UH community do during your time as the program’s Director?
A: We are a large and diverse community – that spans many different experiences, that enjoys a wide range of interests, and that is taking on many distinctive challenges. We need to find ways to come together, our entire community, to share our journeys and help one another in theirs.
Q: What are you most excited to do as the new UH Director?
A: I’m looking forward to engaging with students, and to share their aspirations with our stakeholders, within and outside the university. I’m going to work on expanding opportunities for collaboration among students, faculty and staff with other programs in the university to enrich the experience of all, and to help the university realize the goals of its strategic plan.
Q: If you could describe the benefit of being a University Honors student in 10 words or less, what would you say?
A: Our community develops character for a meaningful and impactful life.
Q: Are there any words of wisdom you’d like to share with the UH Community before the start of the Fall semester?
A: Turn curiosity into discovery, learning into leadership, and academic excellence into meaningful contributions that improve your community and the world.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. E back to University Honors in this exciting new role!
A month after the University of Maryland’s Commencement exercises, two more terrapins took their first steps into the real world this week.
Tess and Tudo, 9-month-old hatchlings raised in the College of Education, crawled down the wet sand of Poplar Island into the brackish waters of the Chesapeake Bay on Tuesday, cheered on by a crowd of eager Terps.
“The best part for me is how invested and excited the students and the faculty get—it’s the joy of connecting with and raising these turtles,” said Clinical Associate Professor Amy Green, director of UMD’s Center for Science and Technology in Education, who has now raised four cohorts of diamondback terrapins with Clinical Associate Professor Angela Stoltz.
The outing to Poplar Island included Provost and Senior Vice President of UMD, Dr. Jennifer King Rice, as well as students from Green’s Spring 2026 UH course: HNUH258O: Supporting our Watershed: Indigenous Perspectives on Biodiversity and Conservation in the Chesapeake Region.
*Photo Above: Crouching at the water’s edge on Poplar Island, Provost and Senior Vice President Jennifer King Rice (center) and music education major Lorelai Loyd ’28 release two terrapin hatchlings raised at UMD, Tess and Tudo, into the Chesapeake Bay. Loyd took the Honors College course “Inclusive Conservation: Indigenous Philosophies and Western Science for Biodiversity and Resilience in the Chesapeake and Beyond” in Spring 2026, one of three across UMD that incorporated the terrapins into the curriculum this past school year. (Photos by John T. Consoli)
Eight rising juniors at the University of Maryland have been awarded Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarships from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), one of the premier honors for undergraduates in the field.
The students will each receive $19,000 of academic assistance and a paid summer internship with NOAA next year. The UMD cohort—the largest in the nation this year and second-highest ever at UMD—brings Maryland’s total number of Hollings Scholars since 2008 to 56.
“This best-in-the-nation result in NOAA’s most prestigious undergraduate scholarship program is a testament to Maryland’s exceptional students and our institution-wide commitment to environmental excellence,” said Francis DuVinage, director of the National Scholarships Office. “We couldn’t be prouder of our Hollings Scholars and the vital work they’re doing to meet the pressing environmental challenges of our time.”
Of the 128 new Hollings Scholars, selected from a competitive applicant pool of 829 students, two scholars include UH juniors Khushi Desai and Donovan Fry.
Two University of Maryland juniors working on environmental issues have been awarded prestigious scholarships from the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation.
Vivian Maneval ’27 and Michelle Wang ’27 were among 65 students nationally selected to receive $7,500 Udall Undergraduate Scholarships, which recognize and support future leaders in environmental, tribal public policy and health care fields.
Previous UH Faculty member, Dr. Jordan Johnson, recently published a new article in Edge Effects online magazine focused entirely on her innovative approach to teaching in University Honors. Her course, HNUH238R: Invasive: Feminist Perspectives on Power, Politics, and Ecosurveillance, was a hit among UH students and included a trip to Greenbelt to help remove invasive species of plants from local parks.
A University of Maryland junior with a passion for environmental justice has been awarded a Truman Scholarship, the nation’s most selective award for underclassmen with exceptional leadership potential, a commitment to a career in government or in the nonprofit sector, and demonstrated academic excellence.
Michelle Wang ’27, a double major in environmental science and policy along with social data science, is the 12th UMD student to earn the honor established by Congress in 1975 to memorialize President Harry S. Truman. It provides up to $30,000 for graduate studies, leadership training, career counseling, and special internship and fellowship opportunities within the federal government.
It’s always an honor to celebrate the remarkable members of our UH community each spring and this year was no different. Find the full program and some photos from our most recent UH SendOff event below!
Jeremiah Carr, Alessandra Crippa, Alyssa Davies, Sarah Davis, Gabrielle Dorsey, Patrick Gee, Julianna Gray, Anika Hukmani, Naasera Husain, Tanvi Kotta, Diana Lyons, Vivian Maneval, Ryan Mathew, Benjamin Mielcarek, Kate Oyedele, Ashley Patterson, Hannah Smith, & Cricia Villanueva
House Spirit Award Winners
House Altair: Noah Oppelt (1,067 pts) House Shaula: Sanaya Moore (1,129 pts) House Eltanin: Ishan Joshi (1,186 pts) House Denebola: Chase Baldwin (1,668 pts)
Emerging Leader Award Winners
David Akamine, Sarah Davis, Rose Deguet Delury, Diana Lyons, Alisha Mansoor, & Benjamin Mielcarek
Student Scholar Award Winners
Anushka Poddar, Savannah Robbins, & LeeAnn Wong Arbelo
Vantage Point Realization Award Winners
Brooke Baney, Adam Didouchevski, Julianna Gray, & Hannah Richard
Outgoing Thematic Clusters Recognition
Artificial? Intelligence?: Roland Rust, Rebecca Jones, Cody Buntain, Kenneth Frauwirth, & Alex Harlig
Butterfly Effects: Richard Bell, Daniel Yoder Zipp, DeNeen Brown, Todd Cooke, Marisa Franco, & Robert Graham
Karim Abdallah Nishan Abeywardena William Adams Ayodele Adeyeri Ayomiposi Ajayi Madison Akers Paul Akiyama Alisa Alford Ava Allen Shayna Alter Chisom Amaikwu Simon Ambrozak Dillon Amin Simran Arora Naana Asamoah Alexandra Atherton Nisha Athrey Kendall Auffarth John Baik Anne Bair Nicole Baker Alseny Balde Paul Baliff Zoe Barbour Ava Bautista Lara Becker Maya Beckman Addis Belayneh Adam Ben Youssef Lina Berhaneyessus Alexander Bierly Deeraj Binkam Bridget Bisson Adryanna Blocker Noa Blumenthal Nathan Bogin Tanvi Bolarum Maria Bond-Lamberty Madisen Bonner Anthony Boscolo James Botti Mason Boyers Nolan Brennan Tal Bresler Violet Brungart Carleigh Buckler Fatima Bundu Sara Busch Maeve Campbell Natalie Carpenter Jenna Catlett Mia Censoprano Megan Cha Julia Chamberlin David Chang Elise Chang Nihar Chegireddy Andy Chen Austin Chen Jeffrey Chen Natalie Chen Rachel Chen Spencer Chen Tao Chen Vicky Chen David Chen Tyson Cheung Shreenitha Chikyala Joseph Cho Michelle Choi Christopher Connor Rebecca Contreras Alessandra Crippa Gwen Cuadra Jack Cullum Aya Daher Zaharias Dakoulas Kenna Dalu Caleb Daniele Calvin Davis Madison Davitt Tara Davoodi Conrad Decressin Gianna DeLucca Dylan Dembo Yemisrach Deneke Medhanit Desta Julia Devine Zoe Devine Maeya Devlin-Tremble Anna Devoto Neha Dheenadhayalan Gabrielle Dorsey Isabella Dos Santos Cole Drumgoole Leo Du Olivia Duran Sean Eby Dylan Edwards Kamryn Edwards Thomas Edwards Christina Elebeke Divine Enyi Keola Evans Monica Eze Klint Faber Benjamin Falco Ashley Fearon Gabriella Feinberg Amber Felger Emmanuel Felix Ella Ferbert Ari Ferneau Noah Ferrara Mia Ferraro Harrison Fike Jaime Fonseca Gonzalez Adelia Fontes Arya Forohar Fiona Forrest Megan Freiermuth Jake Friedman Nikko Fukui Catherine Furtado Meherzan Gai Aidan Gaines Vaibhav Garg Caroline Garrett Alston Geckle Patrick Gee Ainsley Giles Ashley Gitau Darcia Gleason Amber Godil Christian Gomez Nicholas Gonzalez Srikar Gosakan Srikar Gosakan Margaret Gouker Julianna Gray Skyler Gribbon Luke Griffith Kyle Grimsley Kathryn Grow Anthony Gu Iris Guo Daniel Guonjian-Pettit Caleb Haber Iris Ham Avipsa Hamal Dana Harel Dana Harel Rory Harmon Julion Harris Royce Hartin Joseph Hauerstein Nicholas Hearne Emily Heath Medha Hegde Trevor Hennebery Alanna Hennessey-Loyo Ian Henry Ava Hill Lauren Hill Sage Hoffman Robert Hopkins Liam Hornstein Anika Hukmani Elizabeth Ipe Neisha Islam Sarah Jacob Daniel Jamison Siddharth Jasti Shane Jayasundera Ephod Jima Mia Jocic Benjamin Johnson Hudson Jones Fredrick Jorgensen Ayush Joshi Charlotte Juengel Rebecca Kanda Kaviya Kandaswamy Alexander Kantuni Jacob Kaplan-Davis Marzan Karim Jamiesen Kavanagh Charles Keene Paul Kettlestrings Elena Khanlarbeik Irene Ki Andrew Kim Donggeon Kim Paul Kim Ryan Kim Stanley Kim Woo Kim Sai Kodali Shiri Kolom Phoebe Korang Megha Krishnakumar Katherine Krotkov Elyssa Kugler Aditya Kumbhare Steven Kuo Noah Kupinsky Nikhil Kurian Nicole Kyei-Asare Sebastien Lair Khang Lam Daniel Lamb Cailyn Lamptey Robert Latyak Jameson Lau Jackson Laub Thomas Lazzarini Alexis Le Sarah Lederman Benjamin Lee Collin Lee Eric Lee Eunice Lee Mingxin Lei Luca Lemberger Vivian Li Anthony Liberatore
Tyler Lin Amber Liu Qin Lu Rebecca Lu Sophie Lu Austin Luu Pacawat Luu Mosiah Maddox Zaina Maharoof Dennis Malikov Reva Mannan Reva Mannan Cierra Marshall Cyril Mathew Ryan Mathew Aiden McCormick Declan McGarry Ainsley McNinch Daniel Mehreteab Sunjum Mehta Tej Mehta Jonathan Mei Salem Mengistu Casey Metzger Aidan Meyer Nadia Meyerovich Zachary Miller Dorian Mitchell Kevin Mitchell Keshav Mittu Yassine Mohmand Chris Moon Hannah Moore Susanna Moore Bradley Morhiser Joan Morningstar Jonathan Moses Rachel Mroz Miku Nagao Vikram Nagarajan Praharsh Nanduri Pranav Narayan Adam Nazrul Hisham Beryl Ndofor Quinlan Ngo Christine Nguyen Huy Nguyen Amanda Nobil Obariagora Nwogu Oriel Ockerman Jaidan Odonoghue Oluwatobiloba Oloye Victoria Olyshko Jenna Omar Angel Oparaocha Devora Organic Prince Osei Arya Palan Aakash Pamnani Nicholas Pappas Tiana Parker-Bey Ansh Patel Maahi Patel Tisha Patel Kavi Patel Alexander Paul Keya Pawar Ankit Penmatcha Joseph Pennsy Flavia Peredo Barbery Yesenia Perez Mika Persaud Alex Pertea Justin Pham Ava Piatt Terra Pickett Isabel Polanco Maya Popova Carsten Portner Caitlin Powell Natalie Prieto Andy Pu Kyle Pumphrey Asbah Qadri Grant Quant Maryellen Quinn Maarij Qureshi Schanze Qureshi Silas Rager Jasmine Ramos Iara Rattner Sanchay Ravindiran Samiya Redd Paige Reed Ansh Rekhi Ansh Rekhi Quinn Renaghan Angelica Reyes Bruce Reyes Michelle Rhee Alex Ridolfi Wyatt Riker Savannah Robbins Archer Romelli David Romero Luke Rose Sophia Rowe Rona Roy Emma Rudolph Adaline Ruff Elizabeth Runsdorf Aidan Sachs Brynn Saffer Priyansu Sahu Logan Sampath Valeria Sanchez-Mendoza Nishan Sandhu Archer Sariscak Khary Sarr Jenneth Sayson Andrew Schaefer Tali Schlenoff Zachary Schneider Riley Schoch Trevor Scholz Patrick Scott Sierra Scott Curtis Sechler Parsa Sedghi Bennett Sellers Ryan Selser Maaya Senthilkumar Hannah Seok Olivia Sevy Arjun Shah Kunal Shah Archit Shankar Katherine Shen Stephen Shkeda Susan Shollenberger Anna Simpson Surabhi Singh Anna Sladic Alyson Smallhorn Hannah Smith Lindsey Smith Nathan Smith Nathaniel Smith Jakob Snyder Sriya Sogal Minjae Sohn Evan Song Anthony Spinelli Vishnu Sreekanth Campbell Stein Megan Stuller Eashana Subramanian Nadia Sumah Peampat Suphaphon Mia Swaby-Rowe Benjamin Tabor Nico Tantengco Anais Taupenot Christopher Taylor Sydney Taylor Naomi Tesfai Johann Thomas Sharvari Tirodkar Nicholas Todirita Meena Toolaabee Angelina Tran Samuel Tran Clara Tuske Sophie Umansky Franz Uriona Lizarraga Ryan Vacek Emma Vanden Berg Samuel Verbrugge Deven Verma Isabella Vidal Cricia Villanueva Sanjanaa Viswanathan Joseph Vogel Danylo Voloshyn Luke Walker Brian Wall Abigail Wambach Davin Wambogo Elliot Wang Justenn Wang Alison Wang Peter Wange Grace Warfield Matthew Welling Braden White Ryan Whittaker Noah Wigglesworth Laila Wilson Katelynn Winebrenner Benjamin Winig Ashley Witcher Alexander Wolfson Sophia Wolin Matthew Won Annika Wong Tyler Wong Leeann Wong Arbelo Kenny Wu Josephine Wu Isabella Xerri Michelle Xie Chuanhai Xu Nathan Xu Lydia Yom Ashley Yoon Meilin Yuan Azhan Zafar Doniella Zak Tahmid Zaman Zain Zarger Andrew Zhang Frank Zhang Lauren Zhang Daisy Zheng Joseph Zolkiewicz Shoshana Zuck
