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alumni profile / doron petersan ’02
’00s
For Cupcake Queen, Life Is Sweet With her tattooed arms, long ponytail and shelf of bangs, Doron Petersan ’02 comes across on the Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars” as a creative, rockabilly risk-taker. In her vegan bakery in downtown D.C., however, she’s an unabashed baking-science nerd and businesswoman who just released her first book and recently launched a wholesale line of Sticky Fingers Sweets & Eats goodies. “My advice to everyone is to take business classes no matter what you do. It’s important to know how money works,” she says. Petersan decided to pursue a degree in dietetics shortly after becoming vegan. In an effort to find delicious alternatives to some of the required ingredients—eggs, for instance, in a simulated restaurant class— she focused on ways to replicate their important properties without using animal products. “It’s totally fun, so scientific. After that class, I thought, ‘I could do this.’ I fell in love.” She opened her store five months after graduation.
She first competed, and won, on “Cupcake Wars” with head chef Jenny Webb in 2010 and emerged as the all-star victor in their third appearance in February. Their spur-of-the-moment treats included “Rolling Stones Brown Sugar” and “Man in Black Johnny Cashew.” Back in her cozy storefront, she’s excited about Sticky Fingers’ items going on sale in mid-Atlantic Whole Foods Markets, MOM’s Organic Markets and Roots Markets. A partnership with the venerable Clement’s Pastry Shop Inc. allows her to supply the stores with plenty of Jenny’s Fudgetastic Brownies (made with three types of chocolate), cookies and other sweets.
She’s also balancing a husband, two dogs and a toddler whose taste preferences include Post-It notes. And the cookbook, “Sticky Fingers’ Sweets: 100 Super-Secret Vegan Recipes,” has been selling well. Her café also sells vegan lunch fare, such as quesadillas and brunch items like biscuits and gravy and gluten-free pancakes. But it’s best known for the original cupcake creations with names like Bunny Huggers and George Carmelin. Petersan credits her staff for helping invent the clever names and such treats as the signature Sticky Buns. “I mean, Rachael Ray isn’t sitting somewhere thinking up all of her recipes, right?”–mab
“My advice to everyone is to take business classes no matter what you do. It’s important to know how money works.”
Gabriel deGuzman ’03
and Andrea Buccine ’03 welcomed a daughter, Eleanor Gail deGuzman, on Feb. 10. They’re already looking forward to her enrolling in Maryland and graduating in 2034.
In The Clutter Book: When You Can’t Let Go, Marcie Lovett ’83 shows how to let go of what you don’t need and find room for what you value. Whether your clutter is caused by things, commitments or thoughts, Lovett encourages you to make the choices to conquer your challenges.
The Resurrection of Nat Turner spans more than 60 years, sweeping from the majestic highlands of Ethiopia to the towns of Cross Keys and Jerusalem in Southampton County, Va. Award-winning author Sharon Ewell Foster ’79 uses extensive research to reveal long-buried secrets about this tragic hero.
’90s Adam Goldman ’95 and
Cherished by Kim Cash Tate ’88 explores the story of two women who recover from their mistakes and find the freedom to pursue their dreams and relationships once they realize God’s unconditional love.
— doron petersan ’o2
Making the Terp Connection Database Links Volunteers, Opportunities Love Maryland-related causes? Enjoy hanging with fellow Terps? Want to volunteer, but need some direction? The Maryland Alumni Association now offers a new online resource for volunteer opportunities. Volunteer Connections contains a wide range of ways to get involved—virtual, regional and on campus—to appeal to alumni wherever they live. It’s searchable, so users can find exactly what they’re looking for, including college fairs, alumni association events and service projects in the community. Users can also post volunteer opportunities. “We consistently receive requests from 6 terp spring 2012
Photography Doron Petersan by Johnimage T. Consoli courtesy / photo of Melissa creditsNyman
alumni to help them find a way to volunteer their time. This connects alumni to opportunities to give back to Maryland with their time, resources and networks,” says Mario Peraza M.Ed. ’04, director of alumni volunteer programs. He hopes the service will increase awareness of the vast number of opportunities available for alumni to give back and increase the number of volunteers. To learn more, visit alumni. umd.edu/volunteer. –mlb Terps participated in the Humane Society of Charlotte, N.C.’s annual Pet Palooza, one of the kinds of opportunities available on the new website.
Pet Palooza image provided by Danny Fischer / Book and Polisar images by John T. Consoli
three colleagues at the Associated Press (AP) won the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting. They detailed the New York Police Department’s widespread spying program in Muslim neighborhoods.
’70s The 2012 Grammywinning Best Children’s Album featured a song by Barry Louis Polisar ’77. Decades after he wrote “The Song of Round,” it was included on “All About Bullies Big and Small,” a fundraiser for the Pacer Center‘s National Bullying Prevention Center. It’s his second shared Grammy. President Obama has named Peter W. Bodde ’76 the new U.S. ambassador to Nepal. He was previously the assistant chief of mission for assistance transition in Iraq and coordinator for minority issues at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. spring 2012 terp 7