Author: UNIVERSITY-HONORS

  • Faculty Spotlight: Max Barnewitz and the Return of the Zine

    Faculty Spotlight: Max Barnewitz and the Return of the Zine

    UH Collegiate Fellow and Faculty Leader of House Shaula, Professor Max Barnewitz, has been busy! They recently worked alongside UMD’s BookLab to revive the Zine Club—and have since been featured in The Diamondback for their hard work. Check out the article below to learn more about this cultural phenomenon and to hear from Max about their love of the zine.

    Zine Club relaunch invites students to create, connect through design

    by Emely Miranda-Aguilar
    posted online October 15, 2024
    The Diamondback

    Zines — pronounced like “magazine” — are the history books of counterculture, inviting students for decades to experiment with clippings, texts and art.

    Students at the University of Maryland can design their own eclectic booklets at Zine Club, which lecturer Max Barnewitz relaunched at a meeting earlier this month in Tawes Hall with the help of the English department’s BookLab.

    BookLab previously ran a Zine Club before the pandemic, but was unable to continue the club afterward, Barnewitz said.

    Zines have historically been a form of self-expression. Barnewitz said zines can be artistically inclined, comics, scientific or informative — it is what the maker makes it.

    “[Zines] are, I think, generally described as self-published works of a small print size,” Barnewitz said. “They’re more dedicated to sharing ideas, sharing things that you’re interested in.”

    Barnewitz, also a Collegiate Fellow at this university’s Honors College, received a masters of fine arts degree in comics, coordinated zine festivals and continued their research on comics and zines at this university.

    Barnewitz and BookLab provide students with collage materials, magazines and art supplies. Immediately, students at the meeting jumped into action and started to share their ideas with each other.

    “[It’s important] to have people come together to create together,” junior geology major Charlie McFadden said. “It’s important for group creation, as well as individual.”

    McFadden was looking for arts and writing clubs to get involved with before he found Zine Club. McFadden said he enjoys mixed media creation and was glad for the friendly atmosphere.

    At the meeting, McFadden created an oceanic life-themed collage with cutouts from National Geographic magazines. McFadden is drawn to images of seascapes and wanted to show his interest in art and the ocean together in his collage, he said.

    Jamie Thurmond, a freshman technology and information design major, found the club’s atmosphere to be pleasant, and liked the community of people interested in zines.

    “What really makes a club, and also what really makes a zine is this community,” Thurmond said. “Being able to hear other people’s stories [and] perspectives, but also being able to see their zines is pretty cool.”

    Thurmond began working on the cover for a zine during the club meeting, but said she was unsure of the route to take her work, considering a more comedic route.

    For a long time, Thurmond made copies of books, soon developing an interest in alternative comics that led her to zine culture.

    Barnewitz said the club’s goal will emerge as time goes on, but they hope to build a community where students learn to make zines and connect with their artistic side.

    “I think regardless of whether students are pursuing the arts as their major, the arts can help you process your own experiences and also make connections with other people,” Barnewitz said.

    Want to learn more about Zines? Join Professor Barnewitz at the Annual DC Zine Fest! This free and accessible event is scheduled for October 26, 2024, from 11am to 4pm at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. Featuring zinesters from DC and beyond selling zines, comics, and more at their tables, this exciting event also has a full schedule of hands-on zine workshops. 

    The Fest is conveniently located off the Green Line of the DC Metro. If you need access to the metro, UH has a limited number of pre-loaded metro cards available. 

    For your attendance at Zine Fest, we are offering 50 House Cup Points! So sign up below to guarantee you receive the 50 points. This form will also ask if you need a metro card to attend DC Zine Fest! By receiving a metro card your attendance at Zine Fest is REQUIRED and we are expecting to see you there. Please sign up for a metro card by Friday, October 18th!

  • UH Students Receive 24-25 Philip Merrill Presidential Scholar Acceptance

    UH Students Receive 24-25 Philip Merrill Presidential Scholar Acceptance


    The Philip Merrill Presidential Scholars Program honors UMD’s most outstanding graduating seniors, while also recognizing the teachers who have played a significant role in ensuring their success. Each scholar is given an opportunity to recognize the high school teacher who most inspired their scholastic development and the UMD faculty member who most significantly contributed to their college experience. 

    We are thrilled to celebrate three UH students among this year’s recipients of this prestigious award: Shawn Edelstein, Avery Moe, and Anna Petersen. Learn more about each of our scholars and hear a snippet of their praises for their mentors below!

    To see the full list of Merrill Presidential Scholars, click here. 

    Shawn Edelstein, Statistics and Public Policy
    Teacher Mentor: Barbara Felicciardi, P.S. 169 Bay Terrace School, Queens, New York
    Faculty Mentor: Jiehong Lou, School of Public Policy, Center for Global Sustainability

    “…As my first ever science teacher and my primary second-grade teacher, [Ms. Barbara Felicciardi] taught me to be curious and explore the world around me… Professor Lou helped me bridge the gap between my studies in statistics and public policy, while teaching me new skills to analyze complex challenges in clean energy and environmental policy…”

    Avery Moe, Kinesiology
    Teacher Mentor: Andrea Dickie, Hammond High School, Columbia, Maryland
    Faculty Mentor: Ross Miller, Department of Kinesiology

    “My high school calculus teacher, Ms. Andrea Dickie, created a supportive, safe space where I could grow both academically and personally… [Professor Ross Miller from the Department of Kinesiology] noticed my passion for biomechanics and offered his mentorship, playing a crucial role in my research and my path towards graduate school…”

    Anna Petersen, Psychology and Criminology & Criminal Justice
    Teacher Mentor: Amber Perkins, Paint Branch High School, Burtonsville, Maryland
    Faculty Mentor: Tracy Tomlinson, Department of Psychology

    “…Both Ms. Perkins and Professor Tomlinson are committed and dedicated educators who actively engage their students in learning and in confronting the many challenges of our time. I sincerely thank them for their mentorship and meaningful impact on the trajectory of my life.”

  • Student Spotlight: Laila Wilson & Chris Moon

    Student Spotlight: Laila Wilson & Chris Moon

    From pickles to produce, UH students have been busy! This September, two University Honors students were recognized in two separate UMD publications for their extracurricular work. 

    • Laila Wilson was featured in TERP Magazine in an article celebrating the tenth anniversary of Terp Farm operations. Terp Farm, originally piloted in 2014 as part of a Sustainability Fund grant, provides fresh vegetables and herbs to the UMD Dining Halls, Catering Services, and the Campus Pantry; it also serves as a source for research initiatives across campus. Wilson is quoted in the article, explaining her reasons for joining this urban farming community: “Helping to feed people on campus is really rewarding.” Read the full article and see Laila in action here.
    • Chris Moon’s campus pickle business (alongside partner Eric Bennett) was the subject of an article in The Diamondback. From creating their own unique flavors (Hot Honey and Old Bay, for example) to canning and selling their wares across campus, Chris and Eric’s Small Batch Pickles is a small business that aspires to take McKeldin Mall by storm. Learn more about the friendship that fueled this growing pickle empire here. 

    If you know any UH students doing amazing things across campus, let us know through the form linked here. Help us celebrate the successes in our community!

  • Student Spotlight: UMD Fellows 24/25

    Student Spotlight: UMD Fellows 24/25

    UH students have been at the forefront of prestigious DC-area internships over the last few years through their participation in the Federal & Global Fellows Track. Each semester, we’ve seen more companies and administrations express a desire for specifically UH students to apply to their open opportunities.

    We caught up with a few members of the most recent cohort to hear more about their exciting experiences and how their UH connections and education influenced their professional journeys off campus.

    Autumn K. Ballard
    Public Health Practice Major, Minors in Public Leadership and Anti-Black Racism
    Maryland General Assembly- Office of Delegate Karen R. Toles

    My favorite memory as a Federal Fellow with a Public Health Policy concentration is having the privilege of being taught by an esteemed thought leader in the public health field, Dr. Woodie Kessel. As a mentor, deeply connected with government work, he generously shared his insights and experiences with us. Being a fellow connected me with hardworking students, current professionals, and opportunities that will contribute to my long-term success.

    Tal Bresler
    Neuroscience: Molecular, Cellular, and Physiological Major, Minor in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services- Office of the Inspector General

    My primary takeaway from my experience in Federal Fellows and my internship at HHS OIG is a revolutionized view of public health in the United States. As I wrote in my review of the fall Public Health Seminar, “This class was the single most impactful class I think I will ever take in college. Dr. Kessel gives you an unparalleled overview of the American Public Health system… Dr. Kessel made me want to go into public health.” Dr. Kessel truly created an unparalleled class that opened up new career and life aspirations for me.

    My internship experience was a practical look into many of the programs and the logistical backbone of our discussions in the fall Public Health Seminar. Working in the nitty-gritty of financial support for IT to support HHS OIG auditors truly showed me the process and sheer amount of human labor involved in every government action. Seeing the depth of the governmental organization and procedural rigidity myself gave me a highly increased sense of awe at how anyone can pass and implement public health legislation.

    I would recommend both the Federal Fellows program and HHS OIG to a friend. In fact, I have recommended the Federal Fellows program to several friends, one of whom ended up applying, getting accepted, and will be beginning the program this fall. I feel the Federal Fellows program has been invaluable to my college experience because of the fantastic seminar, the constant professional help from the graduate TAs, and the hands-on experience with government work, a rare opportunity for an undergraduate student.

    Medhanit Desta
    Theatre and Economics Double Major
    Maryland General Assembly- Office of Delegate Bonnie Cullison

    My most memorable moment as a fellow was at the end of my first semester in the program. My fall seminar was on Civic Leadership and Human Services (FGSM315) and it was taught by Delegate Emily Shetty. Our final for the class was a mock floor debate and this assignment is one of my most memorable moments in the program. We were assigned to either the majority or minority party and given a bill on which the debate was to be on. From there, we prepared our statements and met as a team to practice before the debate. During the debate, I was able to experience what it was like to prepare responses on the spot and got to experience what an MGA floor debate was like. I appreciated how this assignment allowed us the opportunity to expand our teamwork and presentation skills. This class prepared me for the internship I then had at the Maryland General Assembly in the spring semester. 

    Harrison Forest
    Public Policy and Government & Politics Major
    U.S. Senate- Senate Foreign Relations Committee

    My most memorable moment as a fellow was during my internship when I got to meet a foreign leader. As interns on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, when the Chairman meets with a foreign leader, the interns help prepare and work the meeting. When I worked the meeting I was lucky enough to get to meet the foreign leader. 


    Arya Forohar
    Biological Sciences: Neurobiology and Physiology Major
    U.S. Senate- Office of Senator Chris Van Hollen

    My most memorable moment as a fellow was doing the mock committee hearing with Dr. Kessel in my Public Health Policy class. The presentation was fun and intense, and helped give me a thorough understanding of committee hearings as I interned in the U.S. Senate.

    Anandita Guar
    Physiology and Neurobiology Major, Minors in Human Development and Science, Technology, Ethics, and Policy (STEP)
    Maryland General Assembly- Office of Delegate Samuel I. Rosenberg

    My most memorable moments as a fellow occurred while attending bill hearings related to current public health issues. Hearing the differing perspectives of constituents, patients, and stakeholders gave me insight into the behind-the-scenes of patient care that healthcare providers often don’t get the opportunity to see. One of the most meaningful moments for me during this process was drafting testimony for Delegate Rosenberg’s bill to improve the accessibility of medical records for patients receiving Social Security benefits and seeing him present it at the bill hearing.

    Mingxin Lei
    Dual Degree in Chemistry and Mathematics (Statistics Track)
    U.S. Department of Commerce- National Institute of Standards and Technology

    My most memorable moment as a fellow was the banquet at the end of the school year! There were posters around the room with all the fellows’ research and it was really incredible seeing all the great work everyone was doing.

    Liliana Norkaitis
    Government & Politics Major, Minor in Rhetoric
    U.S. Senate- Office of Senator Joni Ernst

    My most memorable moment as a fellow was being able to witness the delivery of the articles of impeachment against Secretary Mayorkas to the U.S. Senate. The galleries were filled, and near every senator was in their seat to watch the historic event. As an intern for U.S. Senator Joni Ernst, I had the honor of witnessing several important votes and decisions in the 118th Congress. 

    Shoshana Zuck
    Economics and Philosophy, Politics, & Economics Major
    U.S. Department of the Navy- Naval Sea Systems Command

    My most memorable moments as a fellow were listening to the exciting career experiences of Nadia Farra, my U.S. Diplomacy and Policymaking (HNUH368T) instructor. I felt inspired learning about her passion for foreign affairs in the Middle East and the fascinating ways she has represented U.S. interests abroad. Additionally, Farra gave us the opportunity to converse with several other experts in the foreign policy field. Her classes were undoubtedly some of the most engaging classes that I have taken at the University of Maryland.