Khalil Pettus '15
Vice President, Ardea Partners
The Alumni Excellence Awards
The Alumni Excellence Awards
Graduates of the University of Maryland are among the best and brightest in their fields. From scholars and innovators to entrepreneurs, teachers and researchers, our alumni are leaving their mark on our state, nation and world. The Alumni Excellence Awards recognize the accomplishments of select Terps and honor these recipients with distinction.
Nomination Process
Nominations are collected annually from February 1 - July 21.
- All members of the Terp community are welcome to submit a deserving alumnus/a for one of the highlighted above (self-nominations are also accepted).
- Alumni may be nominated for more than one award.
- Nominations must be submitted electronically through the online nomination form which consists of:
- Nominator's contact information
- Nominee’s contact information
- The nominator's personal case for why this candidate should receive the award
- Any supporting documentation
Selection and Recognition
- All nominations must be received by July 21
- All nominations will be reviewed by a committee composed of university staff.
- There may be up to three honorees per award category.
- Honoree names and titles will appear in the Winter Issue of Terp Magazine, published in January.
The Alumni Excellence Awards - Rising Terp
Honors an alumnus/a under 30 years old who has distinguished themselves personally and professionally. Up to three Rising Terp Awards will be granted, celebrating a Terp/s who excel in their career and inspire the next generation of Terp leaders. The The Rising Terp awardee/s will also be recognized at the annual Terps Under 30 event.
2024 Honorees
Oneyda Hernandez '23
Operations Director, Audelia Community Response Team
Parinaz Fathi '15
Independent Research Scholar, National Institutes of Health
Parinaz Fathi '15
Oneyda Hernandez '23
Khalil Pettus '15
- Nora Eckert '19: Auto Industry Reporter, The Wall Street Journal
- Olivia Owens '14: Creator Relations Manager, Teachable
- Anthony Sartori '18: Co-Founder and Executive Director, Evolving Minds
- Audrey Awasom '18: Founder, Noble Uprising
- Matthew Hollister '18: Chairman and CEO, James Hollister Wellness Foundation; Co-Founder, Save Pharmaceutical
- Akash Magoon '18: Co-Founder, Nayya
- Nikhil Balakumar '14: Head of Market Development-Eastern Region, Utilidata; Co-Founder, Terp EnTERPreneur Network
- Dani Beckerman '12: Owner, Jars by Dani
- Sahil Rahman '12 and Rahul Vinod '11: Founders and Owners, Rasa
- Beth Barkley '12, M.Ed. '13: Secondary English/Language Arts Teacher, District of Columbia Public Schools
- Mackenzie Burnett '15: Co-Founder, The Next 50
- Jonathan Chen '14: Co-Founder and Technology Advisor, FiscalNote; Co-Founder and CTO, Pathover
The Alumni Excellence Awards - Research
Honors an alumnus/a whose research has made significant impact on the university, the state and/or the nation. Up to three Research Awards will be granted, celebrating a Terp/s whose transformational research is making a positive impact on the world.
2024 Honorees
Charles L. Fefferman '66
Herbert Jones Professor of Math, Princeton University
Jonathan W. White M.A. '03, Ph.D. '08
Professor of American Studies, Christopher Newport University
Simon A. Levin Ph.D. '64
James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University
- Ashley Minner Ph.D. '20: Assistant Curator, History and Culture, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
- Matthew Stamm '04, M.S. '11, Ph.D. '12: Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Drexel University
- Dr. Merdad Parsey Ph.D. '85: Chief Medical Officer, Gilead Sciences
- Faez Ahmed Ph.D. '19: Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Director, Design Computation & Digital Engineering Lab
- Bridget T. Kelly M.A. '96, Ph.D. '01: Associate Professor, Diversity Officer and Chair of The Council on Racial Equity and Justice, UMD College of Education
- Dr. Kathleen Maletic Neuzil Ph.D. '83: Myron M. Levin, M.D., DTPH, Professor in Vaccinology; Director of the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health; Chief, Division of Geographic Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine
- Autumn Griffin Ph.D. ’20: Co-Founder, Blackademia
- Ruth Kastner ’82, M.S. ’92, Ph.D. ’99: Founder of the Quantum Institute, Author, Educator and UMD Research Associate
- Samuel Ramsey Ph.D. ’18: Entomologist, U.S. Department of Agriculture Bee Research Lab
- Sharon Fries-Britt ’81, Ph.D. ’94: Professor, Higher Education, University of Maryland
- Stephen Kerber ’03, M.S. ’05: Vice President, Research, Underwriters Laboratories
The Alumni Excellence Awards - EnTERPrenuer Award
Honors an entrepreneurial alumnus/a whose company has made a significant impact on the university, the state and/or the nation. Up to three EnTERPreneur Awards will be granted, celebrating a Terp/s who has started a business which is fearlessly disrupting its industry.
2024 Honorees
- Seema Alexander '00: Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Disruptive CEO
- Adriana Avakian '12: Founder and CEO, Theinclab
- Roy Schwartz '98, MBA '01: President and Co-Founder, Axios
- David C. Quattrone MBA '05: Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Cvent
- Lauren Foundos '06: Founder & CEO, Fortë
- Pramod Raheja '91 and Evandro Valente '03, M.S. '06: Co-Founders, Airgility
- Brett Schulman ’95: CEO, Cava
- Steve Touw ’99: Founder & Chief Technology Officer, Immuta
- Cate Luzio ’97: Founder & CEO, Luminary
- Anthony Casalena ’05: Founder & CEO, Squarespace
- Evan Lutz ’14: CEO, Hungry Harvest
- Shayan Zadeh M.S. ’02: Founder & CEO, Leap Rail
The Alumni Excellence Awards - Legacy Award
Honors an alumnus/a who has made a significant impact on their community over their lifetime. Up to three Legacy Awards will be granted, celebrating the personal and professional lifetime achievement of Terps.
2024 Honorees
Margaret Moose Swallow '75
Co Founder, International Women's Coffee Alliance
Maurice Dorsey '70, Ph.D. '83
National Program Leader for Public Policy, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture (Retired)
- Sapienza Barone '77: Executive Assistant to the President (retired), University of Maryland
- Alice Horowitz Ph.D. '92: Professor Emeritus, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, University of Maryland
- Ralph Crosby '56: Founder and Chairman, Crosby Marketing Communications
- John C. Ford '64 and Sandra Sollod Poster '64: Owner, John C. Ford Associates; Communications Consultant
- Rita B. Leahy Ph.D. '89: Asphalt Technology Authority
- Jonathan Claiborne '77: Retired Partner, Whiteford Taylor Preston
- Rebecca Evans Carroll Ed.D. ’66: Author, Educator and Former Deputy Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, Baltimore City Public Schools
- Karel Petraitis: President, Prince George's County Terps Alumni Network; Volunteer with Rebounders and Fast Breakers; Former Terrapin Club Board Member
- Greg Schaub ’82: Retired Managing Director, JP Morgan Chase; Former Member, Alumni Association Board of Governors
- David Diehl ’74: Retired