COLLEGE PARK — Dr. Carol L. Rogers, the first emeritus/emerita professor of the practice in the University of Maryland’s history and a respected former faculty member at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism, died Oct. 25 at age 82 after a two-year battle with colon cancer.
Rogers was on the Merrill College faculty from 1994 to 2014, and earned her Ph.D. at the college in 1998, after a distinguished career as a science journalist.
“I will always remember Carol Rogers as a welcoming voice when I first joined the faculty,” said Merrill College Dean Rafael Lorente, who was taught by Rogers as a UMD graduate student. “She was equal parts scholar, mentor and friend. She could talk journalism, politics, science or any other topic and do it in a way that taught you something while also making you feel heard.”
At Merrill College, she worked as a visiting professional from 1990-94, and then as a lecturer until her appointment to professor of the practice in 2009. She contributed considerable service to the college by serving on the University Senate and as director of doctoral and research studies from 2005-08.
A former head of the office of communications for the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Rogers specialized in science journalism, in particular media coverage of climate change, and women in the media. She was on the Editorial Advisory Board of the international social science journal Science Communication, for which she served as editor for nine years.
Dr. Linda Steiner, Merrill College’s associate dean for faculty affairs and inclusion, remembered Rogers as a “fabulous person and wonderful member of the Merrill faculty.”
“She was a great combination of sophisticated scholar, with a rich resonant voice — no southern drawl for Carol — and up-to-date sensibility and droll sense of humor. And elegant, too, with her gleaming silver braid and cool jackets,” Steiner said. “Indeed, she bought herself a yellow sports convertible after successfully completing her Ph.D. at Merrill.
“After her husband Steve died, she wanted to be a member of the Cosmos Club in her own right, so I nominated her. After she was elected to membership, she treated me to dinner at the Cosmos Club — impressively beautiful place.”
Former Merrill College adjunct lecturer and Ph.D. alum Marlene Cimons, a former Washington reporter for the Los Angeles Times, now a freelance writer specializing in health, science and the environment, became friends with Rogers after she retired.
Cimons recalled Rogers as a terrific teacher, caring mentor to countless students — and a lover of black labradors, of which she had (and lost) three during their time as friends.
“She was a political soulmate and feminist co-conspirator, and she and I commiserated together over the perils of climate change and the hurtful things humans were doing to our planet. Also, she rarely turned down my invitation to cheer on the Lady Terps at their home basketball games,” Cimons said. “I will miss her so much. But I take comfort knowing that if there is an afterlife, she's being smothered right now by slobbery doggy kisses from Murphy, Guthrie and Splash.”
Merrill College Principal Lecturer Chris Harvey said she had the "good fortune" to work with Rogers at UMD, where they became friends and allies, sharing their love of dogs and much more.
"I loved her passion about just causes, and her kindness, and appreciated the joy she got out of teaching. I have loved teaching, too," Harvey said. "During a get-together in 2025 for lunch in Port Royal, we chatted for hours about everything and nothing. It was wonderful, as she was."
Dr. Maurine Beasley, professor emerita and a Merrill College Hall of Famer, said she “had the pleasure” of working with Rogers for dozens of years.
“She always asked good questions and was very approachable when students — or faculty — needed her help. She had a lively sense of humor and saw through academic pretensions,” Beasley said. “We particularly talked about the Women in Media class that she followed me in teaching. She wanted young women to appreciate the opportunities, responsibilities and difficulties of media careers. As a teacher, her heart was centered on the students.”
A fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Rogers served two terms on the Committee on the Public Understanding of Science and Technology and served as chair and council delegate for the AAAS Section on General Interest in Science and Engineering. She co-edited two books, “Communicating Uncertainty: Media Coverage of New and Controversial Science” and “Scientists and Journalists: Reporting Science as News.”
Rogers served on the boards of the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing; the National Association of Science Writers, of which she was a lifetime member; the University of Missouri Science Journalism Center; and the D.C. Science Writers Association.
She was an active member of the National Press Club, the Woman’s National Democratic Club and the prestigious Cosmos Club. She was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary #9808 and a member of the Cleveland Park Congregational Church of Christ in Washington, D.C. When in Virginia, she faithfully attended her family’s home church, Mathews Chapel UMC, where she joyfully sang in the choir.
Rogers earned her bachelor’s degree (magna cum laude) in chemistry and mathematics from Tusculum College in 1966, a graduate certificate in public relations from American University in 1971 and a master’s degree in special studies with a concentration in women studies and management from The George Washington University in 1975 before her Ph.D. in mass communication from the University of Maryland.
Rogers is survived by her sister, Kimberly Walker Boehme, great niece Roanin Leigh, great nephews Phoenix Leigh and Caden Henshaw. She is also survived by stepson Kevin Quigley (Cami), grandchildren Meghan Quigley, Thomas Quigley and Katie Quigley, nephews Jonny Rogers (Hillary Rogers), Danny Rogers (Miriam Boer), Matthew Leigh (Ashley Bruce), Stephen Leigh (Veronica Leigh), and nieces Megan Leigh (Daniel Murphy) and Beth Rogers.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Stephen Quigley, her mother Elsie Morgan Walker and father Milton Rogers.
A visitation is planned for Friday, Nov. 6, from 6-7:30 p.m. at Andrews Funeral Home (7192 Main Street) in Gloucester, Virginia. A funeral service will be held Saturday, Nov. 7, at 11 a.m. at Mathews Chapel United Methodist Church (4185 Buckley Hall Rd.) in Cobbs Creek, Virginia. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Memories of Carol Rogers
Maurine Beasley, Merrill College Professor Emerita
I had the pleasure of working with Carol for dozens of years. She always asked good questions and was very approachable when students — or faculty — needed her help. She had a lively sense of humor and saw through academic pretensions. We particularly talked about the Women in Media class that she followed me in teaching. She wanted young women to appreciate the opportunities, responsibilities and difficulties of media careers. Carol came to Merrill and gained a Ph.D. after a distinguished record in science communication. As a teacher, her heart was centered on the students.
Marlene Cimons (Ph.D. ’08), Former Merrill College Adjunct Lecturer
Where to start? I first met Carol when I started the Ph.D. program at Merrill more than 20 years ago and we connected over our shared backgrounds in science and health journalism. We all know what a terrific teacher she was, as well as a caring mentor to countless students. She also graciously — and insightfully — served on my doctoral dissertation committee.
But our personal friendship really took off in the years after she retired. She was a political soulmate and feminist co-conspirator, and she and I commiserated together over the perils of climate change and the hurtful things humans were doing to our planet. Also, she rarely turned down my invitation — I am a season ticket holder who always gets two seats — to cheer on the Lady Terps at their home basketball games.
And, oh, let's not forget the dogs — never forget the dogs! She had a passion for black labs. She had — and lost — three during the time I knew her, and they had to be black! Many of our encounters involved weekend playdates in my front yard with Watson, my black lab, and Splash, hers. After she lost Splash, and got that terrible diagnosis, she moved permanently to Virginia to be closer to her family, especially to her younger sister, and to undergo treatment. We stayed in touch via Facebook, emails and phone calls. I know the protocols were probably tough — chemo, radiation and more chemo — but she never complained, and always was optimistic and game to try something else.
I will miss her so much. But I take comfort knowing that if there is an afterlife, she's being smothered right now by slobbery doggy kisses from Murphy, Guthrie and Splash.
Merrilee Cox, Former Merrill College Adjunct Lecturer
Carol was the first person I got to know at the college. She was "assigned" to show me the ropes. She welcomed me in every possible way and guided me through what was, at the time, a mysterious new universe. There was never a question she couldn't answer, or a problem she wouldn't help solve. She remained a central figure — as a teacher, a guide, an advisor and ultimately, as a friend. She was an inspiration. Her death leaves a very large empty space for me — and, I'm sure, for many others.
Chris Harvey, Merrill College Principal Lecturer
I had the good fortune to work with Carol Rogers at Merrill College, where we became friends and allies. We shared a love of dogs — she even brought Splash to campus so I could see what a beauty he was — and I told her about the antics of my very energetic terrier, Harry. I loved her passion about just causes, and her kindness, and appreciated the joy she got out of teaching. I have loved teaching, too. During a get-together in 2025 for lunch in Port Royal, we chatted for hours about everything and nothing. It was wonderful, as she was.
Rafael Lorente, Merrill College Dean
I will always remember Carol Rogers as a welcoming voice when I first joined the faculty. She was equal parts scholar, mentor and friend. She could talk journalism, politics, science or any other topic and do it in a way that taught you something while also making you feel heard.
Susan Moeller, Professor and Director of Ph.D. Studies
I recall her always as a tall, striking — striding — presence in the college. She brought thoughtful — and often gentle — insights but also sharp points into every classroom and every faculty and committee meeting she was part of. She was a fellow of AAAS, edited the premier Science Communication journal for almost a decade, had friends who she drew on throughout the STEM side of campus, and cared deeply about how women were changing science — but too often were still underrepresented in science and in scientific studies.
What I’ve missed in the years since she went emerita — a time which has overlapped with so many attacks on science and climate change — is her presence, helping us understand how journalists and we in the education of journalists are managing to report on and teach these critical issues. We didn’t replace her with another hire to cover her expertise; perhaps her passing will remind us of how much she brought us and our field. She is missed.
Olive Reid, Former Merrill College Associate Dean
Carol was a lovely person, and a wonderful instructor. I remember her support and admirable personal ethics. During my time at the college, I considered her a friend.
Linda Steiner, Merrill College Associate Dean
Carol Rogers was a fabulous person and wonderful member of the Merrill faculty, responsible for teaching science journalism. She was ably leading the Ph.D. program when I arrived and I am forever grateful for her mentoring when I transitioned into that role. She was a great combination of sophisticated scholar, with a rich resonant voice — no southern drawl for Carol — and up-to-date sensibility and droll sense of humor. And elegant, too, with her gleaming silver braid and cool jackets. Indeed, she bought herself a yellow sports convertible after successfully completing her Ph.D. at Merrill. After her husband Steve died, she wanted to be a member of the Cosmos Club in her own right, so I nominated her. After she was elected to membership, she treated me to dinner at the Cosmos Club — impressively beautiful place, less impressive food. And she was passionate about politics. She worked tirelessly for Hillary Clinton’s and Elizabeth Warren's campaigns.