The Department of Geographical Sciences hosted the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Middle Atlantic Division of the Association of American Geographers November 3 and 4.  Over 60 attendees participated in paper and poster sessions and the MAD Geography Bowl over the course of the 2-day meeting. 21 papers and 2 posters presented research and work related to the theme of Challenging Sustainability.  11 of the papers and both posters were from this department.  Highlights included a keynote by Doug Richardson, Executive Director of the AAG and a tour of the recently inaugurated Center for Geospatial Information Science. Joshua Wayland (UMD, Department of Geographical Sciences PhD candidate) received the AAG Council Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Paper at a Regional Meeting ($1,000 award from the AAG to support attendance at the 2018 AAG meeting).  AND for the first time in recorded history, University of Maryland won the Geography Bowl, ending George Washington University’s 7 year streak.  MAD will build on this successful meeting to foster a more active community of geographers, with special attention to mentoring students.  Thanks to all who participated.