The search is on to replace the University of Maryland, Baltimore County's outgoing president, Freeman Hrabowski, with the appointment of a screening committee made up of 19 of the school's stakeholders.
Hrabowski, renowned for turning the Baltimore County school into an academic powerhouse, will stay on board until his retirement on June 30, 2022. He has served in leadership roles at UMBC for 35 years. He initially came to the school to serve as vice provost, then was ultimately elevated to the role of president in 1992.
"We know UMBC was transformed under Dr. Hrabowski, establishing itself as a leader in teaching, research, and equity — in student achievement and community engagement," said University System of Maryland Chancellor Dr. Jay Perman in announcing the committee. "So we know we need a president who can harness the scholarly firepower of UMBC’s people, who can harness untapped potential, to keep that national — and international — prominence rising.”
Perman appointed the committee members before the USM Board of Regents approved them. The group, made up of faculty, students, alumni and others with ties to the school, is charged with coming up with a shortlist to present to Perman and the Board of Regents. The board will make the final decision, a process that USM officials say has historically taken four to six months.
The search committee members are:
- Michelle Gourdine, Search Committee Chair; regent, University System of Maryland
- Brian Barrio, director of athletics
- Lee Blaney, associate professor, chemical, biochemical and environmental engineering
- Belay Demoz, director, Joint Center for Earth Systems Technology
- Kathy Dettloff, associate vice president, administration and finance
- Mehrshad Fahim Devin ’21, president, UMBC Student Government Association
- Ellen Fish, regent, University System of Maryland
- Patricia Florestano, former USM regent and former Secretary Maryland Higher Education Commission
- Brian Frazee ’11, ’12, resident, Alumni Association Board; vice president, government affairs, Maryland Hospital Association
- Beatriz Gutierrez-Malagon, co-Secretary, Professional Staff Senate; coordinator for leadership, Campus Life
- Preminda Jacob, Associate Dean, College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
- William LaCourse, dean, UMBC College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences
- Carole McCann, professor and chair, gender, women’s and sexuality studies
- Yvette Mozie-Ross ’88, vice provost, Office of Enrollment Management and Planning
- Sarah Shin, associate provost, Office of Academic Affairs
- Orianne Smith, president, Faculty Senate; associate professor, English
- Joel Tyson ’18, president, Graduate Student Association
- Shelly Wiechelt, associate dean and chair, Department of Social Work
- Melody Wright, ’21, president, Nonexempt Staff Senate; academic business services specialist, biological sciences
