The Four Columns, Summer 2025 (for website)

Alumni E-News: The Four Columns

The dog days of summer are finally here, and that is reason enough for our theme this issue, which, frankly, has gone to the dogs.

Excessive canine puns notwithstanding, this issue celebrates the special place that our dogs occupy in the hearts and culture of Hood students, staff, faculty, alumni and friends. Look below for your opportunity to receive an exclusive Hood College canine kerchief, and complete our Dog Person Quiz to win a bespoke Hood Doggie Swag Bag for your four-legged pal.

Happy belated National Dog Day!

The Hood Campus attracts many dogs and their owners. Faculty, staff and students are no exception.

Browse our adorable gallery of Best Friends, and hear from their "people" about why Hood Dogs are, in fact, Good Dogs.(GALLERY)

Hey Hood Alumni!!

I am so excited to serve YOU as the Chair of the Alumni Executive Board (AEB) for the next two years. Since retiring in January 2023, I've been excited to have more time to support Hood, including this new venture.

While higher education continues to deal with multiple challenges, I am so proud of Debbie Ricker, Ph.D., and her outstanding leadership team's response to these challenges. As AEB members, we have the privilege to support Hood in a variety of ways. Below are just a few of our ongoing and upcoming initiatives:

Alumni Representatives in President Ricker's Inauguration October 18
Coming Soon! AEB Cookbook Project
Hood Ring Partners with local jeweler

Alumni-prospective student postcard campaign
Formation of Student Alumni campus Organization

Hood was the obvious choice for Dr. Ashley Norris-Barthlow '92 P'22, who had wanted to be a veterinarian since age 10! After finishing veterinary college at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and practicing for several years, "Dr. B" and her husband Ray Barthlow P'22 acquired a practice of their own. She shares her Hood experience, her gratitude for Hood mentors and her love of caring for patients, including canine officer patients. (FULL STORY)

What kind of dog person are you, really? And what kind of person is your dog? Tino (left) wants to know. Take our "official" Dog Person Quiz. You may see your answers featured online or in a future edition of The Four Columns, and you will be entered to win our bespoke HOOD CANINE SWAG BAG.

Erin Moore Marr '02, M.A.'14, Will Randall MBA'11, and Brad Paradise M.S.'09 were looking for a new business opportunity when they brought the Camp Bow Wow franchise to Frederick in 2020. They share more about their individual Hood journeys (both in undergrad and graduate studies) and the joys and opportunities these days of curating canine "Camp Life."
(FULL STORY)

(Hint: yes. they do.)

We have the perfect summer-into-fall accessory for you – a Hood Doggie Bandana. In your class color! A limited number of these Class-y Doggie Bandanas are available to the first 100 donors who make a gift of $75 or more to the Hood Fund online between August 28 and September 19. Make a gift that matters, and make your dog's day, too!

PLUS, four lucky dogs will be randomly selected to receive a special Hood leash.

Your bandana will be available for pick-up locally at the Gambrill State Park High Knob Yappy Hour event (info below) on September 21st from 9-11 a.m.. If you can’t join us, we’ll drop your bandana in the mail the last week of September.

Get yours while supplies last! Make your gift today at www.hood.edu/give.

A perspective from Reverend Beth O'Malley, Dean of the Chapel, about celebrating St Francis Day and how the culture of pets on campus has changed. (FULL STORY)

For information about any events below or to RSVP, call 301-696-3700 or alumoffice@hood.edu

Fri Sep 5: Back to School Happy Hour for alumni and friends in the education field
4-6 p.m. at Alumnae House. RSVP
Wed Sep 17: Alumni Event in Annapolis:
5-7 p.m. at Bread and Butter Kitchen , $10 per person, register and pay HERE
Sun Sep 21: “Yappy Hour" at High Knob. Bring your dog!
9-11a.m., Gambrill State Park, invitation coming soon
Thurs Sep 25: Hood Talks (virtual), AI and the Future of Healthcare
Noon, with Tim Coffin, Ph.D., Director of the Health Informatics M.S.
Register HERE
Thurs, Sep 25: Alumni Event in Cape Cod:
4-6 p.m., hosted by Beth Sheppard Kline ’75 and Julie Murray McCaffery ’79
Sept 30: Hood College Virtual Graduate School Open House
Noon and 5:30 p.m. Learn about our skill accelerator badges and graduate degrees including certificates, masters and doctoral programs. More details and registration at hood.edu/gradevents
Fri Oct 3: Blue & Grey Golf Tournament (registration required)
Fri-Sun Oct 3-5: Fall Family Weekend
Sun Oct 5: Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, by invitation only
9 a.m.-Noon, Whitaker Campus Center, Commons
Thurs Oct 9: Alumni Networking Mixer: Biomedical Science and MBA
5:30-6:30, Hodson Science Lobby, gofurther@hood.edu
Thurs Oct 9: Alumni Networking Mixer: Counseling and Nutrition
5:30-6:30 700 Toll House Lobby, gofurther@hood.edu
Sat Oct 18: Inauguration of Debbie Ricker, Ph.D., 12th President of Hood College
Thurs October 23: Hood Talks (virtual), Mindful and Intuitive Eating
Noon, with Joanna Eaton, RDN, Director of the Nutrition Science M.S. Dietetics Track and Nutrition Science Track.
Register HERE
Tues Oct 28: Alumni Event in West Chester PA
Hosted by Ellen Urbanski ’91
Thurs Nov 13: Hood Talks (virtual), Mental Health and Addiction
Noon, with Stephanie Snyder, Ph.D., Faculty in the Clinical Mental Health M.S. and Trauma, Crisis, Grief & Loss Certificate.
Register HERE
Sun Nov 16: Alumni Event in Richmond, VA
Hosted by Tonya Thomas Finton ‘78, Chair, Board of Trustees
Wed Dec 3: Double-Decker DD Bus “Merry & Bright” tour of Frederick
6:45 p.m. leaving from Hood Campus, invitation to come
Sun Dec 7: Alumni Event in Atlanta
Hosted by Marylou Herrmann Foley ’64 and Donna Peterson ‘79