The winning team of Rocky Lopes ’80 and director of planned giving Tiffanie Purvis is an inspiring story of two dedicated Terps and how their mutual passion for philanthropy and people—each from their respective sides of the table—benefits everyone in the university family.

Rocky on Passing the Torch

My Maryland Experience: “I was passionate about making the University of Maryland more than a place to commute from my home in Silver Spring to take classes. I wanted to make a home on campus by becoming involved.”

As a Freshman, Rocky was invited to join the Homecoming Committee through a letter to incoming students. So he jumped in and was assigned to liaise with the Alumni Association.

That led to the creation of a Student Alumni Board where he was its first President. As if that weren’t enough, Lopes also helped to create University Sing—a Spring counterpart to Fall Homecoming. He also was a founding brother of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity Chapter and was elected to serve as a Commuter Legislator for the SGA.

All this while pursuing two degrees—Microbiology and Elementary Education.

After Graduation: Rocky taught sixth grade for 2 years, then took a job at the University’s Physical Plant Department where he created an Apprenticeship Training Program and earned his master’s degree.

With a focus on public safety, Rocky transitioned to work at the American Red Cross Headquarters as Manager of Disaster Education for 18 years. That’s when he earned a PhD in Sociology.

He was “headhunted” to work for the National Weather Service where he served as an Administrator of a group of Federal, State, and Territory officials engaged in tsunami safety and manage its $6M annual grant program.

Rocky worked on the national stage where he taught, trained, and collaborated with thousands of people all over the U.S. for 40+ years. He is a professional Emergency Manager, National-level Educator, public speaker, and consensus collaborator—skills he says were developed during his Maryland undergrad years.

Why I Give to Maryland and How I Want to Make a Difference: “I wanted to give back to my undergraduate alma mater and to recognize what prepared me for life and a distinguished career. The current use and endowed scholarship funds will help students in the College of Education who will be classroom teachers, and a second set of scholarships for students who are leaders of student organizations. This is my way of paying what “made me me” forward.”

The Dr. Rocky Lopes ’80 Current Use and Endowed Scholarships for Leadership and The Dr. Rocky Lopes ’80 Current Use and Endowed Scholarships in Education are his Maryland legacy today and for generations to come.

Read Lopes’ heartfelt blog about giving back to UMD.