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Distinguished Terrapin Award

As the highest honor from the School of Public Health, the Distinguished Terrapin Award recognizes outstanding professional achievement, service to the school, cultivation of a culture of philanthropy and/or advancement of the Dean’s strategic priorities. 

Awardees have the opportunity to engage with the School of Public health community through speaking engagements and mentoring opportunities. 

Nominations for 2023 Now Open

Nomination Criteria

  • Nominees must be a part of the School of Public Health community (e.g. volunteer, alumnus/na, community partner, former faculty or staff member, etc.). They do not have to be an alum. Current employees are not eligible.
  • Nominees must be distinguished in their profession.
  • Nominees must reflect the core values of UMD and SPH.
  • Nominees must be able to attend the School of Public Health Dean's Recognition Ceremony.
  • Nominees must be able to attend the School of Public Health Dean’s Recognition Ceremony on May 5, 2023, at the University of Maryland.

Please review the School of Public Health's Strategic Plan for more information about our values and priorities. 

Self-nominations are welcome, and self-nominees are encouraged to provide supporting materials.

Nominations are reviewed by the School of Public Health’s Distinguished Terrapin Award Selection Committee comprised of the dean, assistant dean for development, two department chairs, a dean’s council member, and previous winners.

Up to four awardees are selected each year, one per category of volunteer, alumnus/na, community partner and former faculty or staff member. Though a person may only win once, nominations will carry over into the next year so long as nominees remain eligible.

2022 Distinguished Terrapin Award Recipients

  • Dr. Alyssa T. Brooks, Ph.D. ’15
  • Professor Emeritus Robert S. Gold (founding dean of the School of Public Health)
  • Mr. Diego Uriburu
  • Mr. Edward Woods IV 

Read about the 2022 Distinguished Terrapins.

2021 Distinguished Terrapin Award Recipients

  • Elaine A. Anderson, Professor Emerita of Family Science - University of Maryland School of Public Health
  • Samuel "Sam" Pizzigati, Associate Fellow, Institute for Policy Studies
  • Ching-Tzone Tien, Ph.D., Retired Deputy Program Manager - Maryland Department of Environmental Wastewater Permits Program
  • Veda E. Ward, Ph.D. '84, Professor of Recreation and Tourism Management - California State University, Northridge

Read about the 2021 Distinguished Terrapins. 

2020 Distinguished Terrapin Award Recipients

  • Professor Emerita Bonnie Braun
  • Research Professor Emerita Pamela Clark
  • Dr. Deborah Gebhardt, Ph.D., '79
  • CAPT Paul "PJ" Jung '91

Read about the 2020 Distinguished Terrapins.

2019 Distinguished Terrapin Award Recipients

  • Dr. Barbara Alving
  • Dr. Richard Eberst, Ph.D. '77
  • Mr. Jeffrey Rivest '75
  • Col. Jimmie L. Slade

Read about the 2019 Distinguished Terrapins.