In the lab, chemistry Ph.D. student Mya Gaddy uses light to build synthetic molecules for drug development. She also supports her peers as vice president of UMD’s Chemistry and Biochemistry Graduate Student Organization.

She has been on the faculty for 22 years and previously served as associate chair for undergraduate education for four years.

Recently dubbed the “hot-girl hobby of the year,” a new birding course at UMD filled up within minutes of enrollment opening.