NOVA Terps

On one night earlier this year, more than 500 Terps across the country did something simple but powerful: they showed up for each other. From snow-covered streets in Philadelphia to sunny patios in San Diego, the University of Maryland Alumni Association’s first-ever National Networking Night brought together Terps in more than 17 locations nationwide, spanning industries, interests and shared Terp pride.

“It was wonderful to host this event for the NOVA Terps community and create a space for learning and connection,” said Zoe Nicholson ’15, Board Member of the Northern Virginia Terps Alumni Network. “Our volunteer board puts so much effort into bringing these gatherings to life, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see such a positive response from the community.”

The event was part of a new initiative, Professional Development Month, which took place throughout February and featured a mix of virtual and in-person programming designed to support alums at every stage of their careers. National Networking Night served as the capstone event on Feb. 24, bringing that momentum into a powerful, face-to-face experience.

“Philly Terps loved the opportunity to share in the experience of Terps across the country holding similar events simultaneously,” said Jen Coastworth ’00, Philly Terps and AA Board of Governors Member. “We had Terps from all different industries, and despite the massive snowstorm 24 hours prior, we had a great turnout with many new faces as well as a number of returning friends.”

San Diego Terps

That spirit of connection carried across each location. In addition to regional gatherings, Affinity Networks—including the Pride Network and the Asian American Pacific Islander Network (APAAN)—hosted events tailored to their communities.

Programming throughout the evening ranged from casual networking to more structured conversations and speaker sessions. The Prince George’s County Terps, for example, heard from Moniesha L. Shorter '96, MPS '20 and Christine Kunkel, AA Director of Professional Programs, about the power of entrepreneurship at Venture X College Park. Each event also featured name badges and built-in conversation starters designed to spark dialogue from reminiscing about College Park to exploring new professional opportunities.

“I enjoyed connecting with fellow Terps and loved the smiles and memories as we spoke about and shared our unique college park experiences,” said Jonathan Slasniski ’99, Board Member of the San Diego Terps. “The name badges, with the different lines "what you were here for", were perfect and it was great to see fellow terps networking around employment opportunities, mentoring as well as wanting to connect and enjoy the company of fellow Terps.”

• Check out our upcoming Alumni Career Design Program and our alumni-exclusive Spring Career Fair
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