bigpicture Out of the Pack Pisner quints leave Maryland, each other, to launch careers AFTER SPENDING THEIR ENTIRE ACADEMIC CAREERS
together, three of Maryland’s famed Pisner quintuplets have graduated from the university and are striking out on their own. As Terps, the quints shed their group image and the cameras that followed them for much of their childhood. They enrolled in different courses, opted to live apart and took in all campus had to offer—often without their siblings. “Maryland definitely allowed us to be as close or as far apart as we wanted to be,” says Shira Pisner, a communication graduate who, along with her four brothers, turns 22 in June. Shira is embarking on events planning and hopes to specialize in trade shows. Michael created a logo and corporate identity for an interior designer firm as an intern, and wants to parlay the experience into a magazine design position. Ian seems to be the one with entrepreneurial genes. He’s hoping to work in advertising, then start his own firm. He might eventually give brother Michael an invite to come on board, but Ian has relished some “me” time in college. “There was a great feeling of being on my own and doing things for myself,” he admits. “I got a chance to meet and experience new and exciting things during my fours years and, at the same time, stay close with my siblings.” —KM
Ian, left, Shira and Michael
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TERP SPRING
2005
“Maryland definitely allowed us to be as close or as far apart as we wanted to be,” says Shira Pisner, a communication graduate who, along with her four brothers, turns 22 in June. PHOTO BY JOHN T. CONSOLI