January 8, 2024
Dear Colleagues,
We write to you today to announce that an internal search is underway for the next Executive Director of the Honors College. A search committee has been appointed, and Adriene Lim, Dean of University Libraries, will serve as search chair. The best consideration date is February 16, 2024.
We wish to thank Professor Peter Mallios, who is returning to the faculty in the Department of English at the end of this academic year. Dr. Mallios has made important strides as Executive Director of the Honors College, particularly in developing the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and in support of first-generation students. Under his exceptional leadership, the Honors College saw growth in enrollments across its programs, with substantial increases among students from underrepresented groups. He raised the national profile of the Honors College with a strong vision of Honors education predicated on cutting-edge programs, unique opportunities in the nation’s capital area, programming to support diversity, and the cultivation of a community of care. Additionally, two innovative programs were added to the Honors College under his leadership: Honors Global Communities and Interdisciplinary Business Honors. He also created the university’s first prison education practicum course.
The Honors College is home to eight highly acclaimed living-learning programs for students with exceptional academic talents: Advanced Cybersecurity Experience for Students, Design Cultures & Creativity, Gemstone, Honors Global Communities, Honors Humanities, Integrated Life Sciences, Interdisciplinary Business Honors, and University Honors. The Honors College features small classes taught by outstanding faculty who actively engage students and foster innovative thinking. Each year, approximately 1,050 new undergraduates are welcomed into this highly selective academic community of scholars. In addition to the courses offered in the Honors living-learning programs, Honors College students have access to special Honors versions of traditional classes (“H-versions”) hosted by academic departments.
The next Executive Director must provide visionary leadership for the Honors College, establish expectations for intellectual engagement, oversee curricular and co-curricular activities, collaborate with colleges and schools, and frequently engage with Honors students. In addition, the Executive Director will represent the Honors College and the university at student recruitment events and will be involved in a broad range of university activities, including supporting and leading the work of the Honors College living-learning programs. Operationally, the Executive Director will lead a central office and ensure all functional areas are well managed, including admissions and recruiting, education and curriculum policies, budgeting and personnel, scholarships and awards, communications, alumni and external relations, student engagement and events, diversity, equity, inclusion, and all outreach activities. The successful candidate will have a record of excellence in undergraduate scholarship and teaching.
We seek excellent and diverse candidates who can build on the strengths of the Honors College and lead it to even greater success in the future. We need a concerted effort that engages the entire community working with members of the search committee. You can assist in the search process by reviewing the full position description and sharing it with your personal contacts and networks to identify outstanding candidates for this position and to make the opportunity widely known. This position is open to all faculty within the University of Maryland, College Park, including TTK and PTK faculty. Please forward the names of individuals you believe would be excellent candidates to the search chair, Dean Adriene Lim, by email; ailim@umd.edu.
Please join us in thanking Peter Mallios for his service as Executive Director of the Honors College. We appreciate your assistance in the effort to identify his successor.
Sincerely,
Jennifer King Rice
Senior Vice President and Provost
William Cohen
Associate Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Studies
Search Committee for Executive Director of the Honors College
Adriene Lim, Dean, University Libraries, chair
Richard Bell, Professor, History
Alice Donlan, Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Studies
Traci Dula, Associate Director, Honors College
Cassie Harrington, Associate Director, ACES Honors Program
Dave Levin, Associate Professor and Departmental Honors Director, Computer Science
James Massey, Director, Undergraduate Admissions
Randy Ontiveros, Associate Professor, English, and Director, Honors Humanities
Esohe Owie, undergraduate student, Gemstone Honors Program
Dennis Passarella-George, Director, Resident Life
William Reed, Professor, Government and Politics, and Assistant Provost