Most people haven’t experienced deeply caring for an animal for weeks or months at a time, bringing them into their home to heal and get strong, knowing they will eventually be moving on to someone else's home. For the Montfort family, this kind of generosity has become a way of life. Led by SPH alumna Reka Montfort and her husband Josh Montfort, Head Coach and Director of Gymkana, this family has not only embraced the noble cause of fostering rescue dogs but is also gearing up to make an even more significant impact by training service dogs.

Throughout history, there are individuals whose actions resonate beyond their own lifetimes and shape the course of society by inspiring future generations. Harold (“Hal”) Brown stands as one of those unsung heroes whose dedication to civil rights and social justice continues to influence others, and in particular, his own son, Department of Kinesiology Chair Michael Brown.

A lot can happen in 1,260 days, but one of the most impressive is the earning of a doctorate. In November of 2023, Assistant Program Director of Human Resources Elaine Rudder completed her Doctor of Education (EdD) degree, marking the end of a three-and-a-half year quest.

Sandra Crouse Quinn, former professor and chair of the Department of Family Science, is a long-time singer and advocate for the arts. She also happens to be a renowned researcher. Combining her love of both worlds is key to keeping her active during her recent retirement. Sandra applies her public health lens to all she does, and she especially loves singing with local choral groups. 

That universal feeling of “cabin fever” during the COVID-19 pandemic is something many Americans felt during those initial months of quarantine. Days started to blend together as each one felt the same as the last. As the pandemic continued, many of us researched hobbies with the hopes of uncovering a newly found passion during this time of uncertainty.

Co-sponsored by the School of Public Health, the week-long camp teachers middle school students how to collect and analyze statistical data and then display what they discovered in creative ways.

There’s nothing quite like being on the water. Many of us reserve that kind of recreational activity for weekends, not SPH Dean Boris Lushniak. He is out to soak up the fading sunlight even on a random weekday evening.

Both Boris, and his wife Trish, love the outdoors. They especially enjoy kayaking because it combines exercise with the serenity of the water and nature. Spending time together as a couple is an additional benefit, making it a perfect trifecta for physical, mental and social well-being.

The pathway through separation and divorce is never an easy one and even more so in the middle of a pandemic. In 2020 that’s exactly what SPH’s Jennifer Reed was facing when she decided to plan a trip for herself. She would be celebrating her milestone 50th birthday in January of 2023, so she chose the destination of her dreams: the Galápagos Islands.

As a doctoral student working with a community action coalition in East Baltimore, SPH alumna Jocelyn Smith Lee, Ph.D.’13, observed firsthand how Black boys and men struggled to navigate issues of trauma, violence, loss and healing. Those observations, which sparked more than a decade of community-engaged research and action to advance racial equity, are the root of her recent storytelling campaign: In All Ways Human.

During the worldwide pandemic when school became a virtual endeavor across the United States, Principal Lecturer Dr. Kerry Tripp from the Department of Family Science identified a critical, missing element: internships. In response, she started a Virtual Global Internship Program so that UMD students who hadn’t yet satisfied this important program requirement could graduate on time. More broadly, she visualized it as a way for students to get global education experience during a time when all study abroad opportunities were shut down.