Headline, Fearless Ideas THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER FOR SUPPORTERS OF THE CAMPAIGN FOR MARYLAND � NOVEMBER 2021 Testudo jumping through a finish line on the mall Headline Fearless to the Finish UMD REACHES HISTORIC $1.5B FUNDRAISING GOAL Aerial photo of University of Maryland campus DEAR FRIENDS OF MARYLAND, We are at a pivotal point in our university�s history. From the promise of quantum computing research to bold innovations in the arts to the exciting ideas coming out of new buildings on campus and throughout Greater College Park, the University of Maryland is poised for greatness. It couldn�t have happened without all of you. As we conclude Fearless Ideas: The Campaign for Maryland�UMD�s largest and most successful campaign�we are extremely thankful for all of your generosity, dedication and hard work to reach our ambitious $1.5 billion goal. Whether you supported new scholarships that opened the door to a Maryland education for deserving students or helped us attract and keep faculty members on the cutting edge of their fields, your impact has been and will be felt for generations in every corner of campus. In this issue, we show how your gifts helped create world-class facilities for computer science and engineering; assisted athletes in balancing their pursuits on the field with the demands of the classroom; and provided critical aid for financially struggling Terps. I also extend a special thank you to our campaign co-chairs and honorary co-chairs, whose tireless advocacy for the University of Maryland gave us the momentum we needed to achieve success now and in the years to come: Albert Carey �74, Alma Gildenhorn �53, Barry Gossett �62, William E. �Brit� Kirwan, Karen Levenson �76, Craig Thompson �92, �95, Courtney Clark Pastrick, Brendan Iribe �01 and Kevin Plank �96. While we should all enjoy a sense of accomplishment, we also know that there is far more work to be done to continue addressing the grand challenges of our time�from the COVID-19 pandemic to climate change and civil rights�and to achieving inclusive excellence. This campaign has provided us with a spectacular foundation; now is the time to keep building on it. Sincerely, Darryll J. Pines President, University of Maryland RETURNS ON AN INVESTMENT The $219.5 million Building Together investment from the A. JAMES & ALICE B. CLARK FOUNDATION, the largest in UMD�s history, is having a transformational impact on campus and beyond. Strengthening the legacy of the late philanthropist and builder A. James Clark �50, the investment has created scholarships to expand access to a University of Maryland education, endowed professorships to recruit and retain world-class faculty members, and funded new facilities and research opportunities to inspire groundbreaking discoveries and tackle the grand challenges of our time. 5 CLARK LEADERSHIP CHAIRS ANTICIPATED to promote interdisciplinary research and learning Biology Professor and Brain and Behavior Institute Director Elizabeth Quinlan is showing how sensory experiences change�and even rejuvenate�our brains. 7 CLARK DISTINGUISHED CHAIRS anticipated to recruit and retain distinguished faculty members in engineering Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Deb Niemeier is exposing the impact of pollution on health and climate to build a more sustainable, equitable world. THE E.A. FERNANDEZ IDEA FACTORY, a 7-story, 61,000-square-foot facility with 20+ labs, moveable walls and shared spaces to encourage collaboration and innovation 40 A. JAMES CLARK SCHOLARS, outstanding engineering undergrads from the state of Maryland 57 CLARK CHALLENGE FOR THE MARYLAND PROMISE SCHOLARS, promising undergraduates from Maryland and D.C. with financial need 10 FEARLESS MPACT CHALLENGE PROGRAM RESEARCH PROJECTS by select Clark School teams to develop solutions and innovations Nanoparticles in a �smart bra� sense pressure from early-stage lumps in the breast to aid in earlier cancer detection. 127 CLARK DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS IN FALL 2021 for accomplished engineering graduate students Justin Pearson Ph.D. �22 has long aspired to be an astronaut; his research to build safer batteries could one day aid space travel. 37 CLARK OPPORTUNITY TRANSFER SCHOLARS IN FALL 2021, talented students coming to UMD from Maryland community colleges THANK YOU! Gifts to Fearless Ideas: The Campaign for Maryland touched the lives of students, staff and faculty�and will transform UMD for years to come. Students use virtual reality headsets in a class in the Iribe Center The BRENDAN IRIBE CENTER FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING, spurred by a leadership gift from a Terp co-founder of Oculus VR, is a hub for innovation in virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, robotics and computer vision. �The building has made a lot of things possible. When we moved into the Iribe Center, our lab area increased 60% to 80%, which gives us much more freedom to test our drones. For the first time, we have space for conferences, and AV equipment for remote collaboration that has been really important during the pandemic. And for undergraduate and master�s students who need space for group projects�it�s so much easier to find in Iribe.� �CHAHAT DEEP SINGH �18, PH.D. �22 (COMPUTER SCIENCE) The BARRY AND MARY GOSSETT CENTER FOR ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL EXCELLENCE, named for longtime university supporters, prepares student-athletes for post-college life through paid internships and stipends, workshops and mentoring. �Right from the get-go, as a freshman, the Gossett Center was my go-to place to do my work and figure out what classes I needed to take to really get me on the right track. Coming from Canada, education is a little bit different here�I hadn�t really worked with an advisor before. Getting me into a major, kinesiology, was a big thing, and just making sure my grades were up. But as much as the center is about academics, it�s also about career-building and networking. �It�s definitely a tricky balance, academics and athletics, but at some point, that does end. I�m so thankful for this center and all the generosity that the Gossetts and other donors have provided student-athletes to grow their brand, their platform, and figure out where they want to go next in life.� �KIRSTEN PETERMAN �19, M.A. �21 (PUBLIC HEALTH), FORMER UMD GYMNAST, NOW ACADEMICS MANAGEMENT INTERN AT THE GOSSETT CENTER Dancer leaping while on stage A major gift from mathematics Professor Emeritus Michael and Eugenia Brin and the Brin Family Foundation founded the MAYA BRIN INSTITUTE FOR NEW PERFORMANCE, where students and faculty explore how technology can reimagine the performing arts. �The gift from the Brin family helps us expand upon the experience of innovating theater and dance during the pandemic. With remote performances and virtual performances, we have different ways of seeing art that don�t have to be in person. We can venture outside of traditional spaces. All of my colleagues and I can jump into a new wave of theater and dance. The Brin family�s gift supports that research.� �ANDRES POCH MFA �21 The DO GOOD INSTITUTE, generously funded by anonymous benefactors, hosts the annual Do Good Challenge that awards student projects and ventures addressing pressing societal issues. �ROOTS Africa strives to improve the productivity of small-hold farmers in Africa. We do this by connecting them to agricultural extension agents, experts and trained students and passing on education, training and knowledge to communities. So far, our five chapters have trained more than 2,000 farmers in Liberia and Uganda in areas such as recordkeeping, cultivation, soil health improvement, animal husbandry and more. �We wouldn�t have reached that number without the help of the Do Good grant. It was a huge step for us. It really is going to move our organization even further to reach remarkable levels.� �DELINA PETER �22, (GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS) TREASURER AND FORMER PRESIDENT, ROOTS AFRICA Endowed chairs and professorships in high-impact fields such as QUANTUM SCIENCE have allowed UMD to hire and encourage the work of leading researchers and scholars. �I was close friends with Richard Prange for more than 25 years. The endowed chair allows me something that can�t be done with any other money�to spend it as I see fit, which was how the donor, Dr. Madeleine Joulli�, his widow, was kind enough to design it. For instance, it can pay for travel for people to visit and work with us. Not every dollar is equal; this kind of flexible money is very valuable, and I use it strategically.� �SANKAR DAS SARMA, DISTINGUISHED UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR AND RICHARD E. PRANGE CHAIR IN PHYSICS Person doing research in a quantum computing lab Gifts to the CENTER FOR MINORITIES IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING have strengthened its 40-year legacy of providing academic and personal support to engineering students from underrepresented minority groups. �I transferred from Prince George�s Community College and had changed (majors) from computer science to engineering, so it was like starting from scratch. The support and community I gained from CMSE were key in helping me overcome the academic and social differences of a big school. It helped me to not be afraid to raise my hand in front of hundreds of people, or approach a professor, or go to office hours. It enlightened me to things I otherwise wouldn�t have managed as well.� �EXCEL ALALE �22 (COMPUTER ENGINEERING), SOFTWARE AUTOMATION ENGINEERING INTERN, PALO ALTO NETWORKS Scholarships enhance the unique experiences in LIVING-LEARNING PROGRAMS, which bring together first- and second-year students with a common interest�such as the arts, the environment or the law�to share residence halls, classes and faculty. �The co-curricular scholarship supported me through my unpaid internship, which eventually led to me getting a paid position at the Legal Aid Office. If it were not for this scholarship, I would not have been able to take the leap of faith to accept the internship, but looking back, I am so thankful that I was supported through the process.� �ASHA DAVIS '21 (CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE), COLLEGE PARK SCHOLAR, STUDENT ADVOCATE AT UMD'S STUDENT LEGAL AID OFFICE A Maryland Promise recipient giving a presentation The MARYLAND PROMISE PROGRAM, funded by the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation, other generous donors and UMD, opens access to a life-changing UMD education to students with financial need from Maryland and D.C. �Getting into college is a big barrier, but once you�re accepted, being able to afford it is yet another one. I didn�t know if I was going to be able to afford the tuition. I had proposed (to my family) that I would take a gap year to raise money for the second half of my college education. The scholarship made it so that I didn�t have to do that. It was a weight lifted.� �CAROLA ROJAS �24 (BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES) The CAMPUS PANTRY, which provides free and nutritious emergency food, saw its usage nearly triple during the pandemic and moved in June to a larger home with a commercial refrigerator and teaching kitchen funded in part by donors. �Once people realized that there was such a need on our campus�20% of students are food-insecure�generosity has been overwhelming. It�s been the entire spectrum of �I�ve got $5� or �I�ve got a box of food� to �I�ve got $200,000.� As the pantry has expanded, every single effort has made a difference. It�s really been uplifting to see the community rally around this cause.� �COLLEEN WRIGHT-RIVA, DIRECTOR OF DINING SERVICES A man stocks the shelf in the campus pantry Since the pandemic began, the STUDENT CRISIS FUND has ..distributed nearly $2 million in donations to more than 3,000 students to pay for housing, utilities and other basic necessities. �Everything happened this year. In January I had surgery. In April I became homeless, then I lost my job. I also didn�t have a car. I needed transportation, so I had to use all my savings. I was in a really bad place. My counselor suggested I try the Student Crisis Fund because I had so much going on. I don�t know how I would have been able to survive without it. It was helpful in a practical sense, but it was extremely encouraging, too.� �RACHEL WALLACE �24 (DIETETICS AND PSYCHOLOGY) 117,046 DONORS 60 NEW FUNDS SUPPORTING FACULTY 869 NEW SCHOLARSHIPS $334M FOR STUDENT INITIATIVES BUILDINGS TOWARD UMD�S FUTURE From cutting-edge labs to next-generation classrooms, the Fearless Ideas campaign created new spaces for Terps to learn, study and grow. These are the buildings where the future of science, business, government and more will take shape. Illustration of the School of Public Policy Building SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY BUILDING A hub for the school to lead Terps into the next frontier of government, nonprofit and philanthropic education Illustration of Edward St. John Learning and Teaching Center EDWARD ST. JOHN LEARNING AND TEACHING CENTER Home to 13 high-tech classrooms and nine state-of-the-art chemistry labs Illustration of the New Cole Field House NEW COLE FIELD HOUSE A reinvented campus landmark featuring Jones-Hill House for Maryland Football and a hub for academics and research through centers focused on entrepreneurship and brain and behavior studies Illustration of A James Clark Hall A. JAMES CLARK HALL Instructional and research space with technology in digital fabrication, rapid prototyping, 3-D printing, optics and bioinformatics, and three floors for bioengineering Illustration of Brendan Iribe Center for Computer Science and Engineering BRENDAN IRIBE CENTER FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING Focused on innovating in virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, robotics and computer vision Illustration of the E.A. Fernandez Idea (Innovate, Design and Engineer for America) Factory E.A. FERNANDEZ IDEA (INNOVATE, DESIGN AND ENGINEER FOR AMERICA) FACTORY Designed to spark creativity and collaboration, and home to centers for robotics, quantum technology, rotorcraft research and the student-run Startup Shell