Colleagues,
I write today to share the bittersweet news that Elizabeth (or Betsy as she’s known to us) Beise will be stepping down from her role as senior associate provost this summer after more than 15 years of service to the Office of the Provost. It’s nearly impossible to fully describe the impact Betsy has had across every corner of our campus—from her time as a faculty member to her leadership roles in the Office of the Provost.
Betsy began her role in the Provost’s office in 2009 in an interim role, and transitioned in 2010 to Associate Provost for Academic Planning and Programs. Since that time, she has played a leading role in several transformational initiatives in Academic Affairs, including the design and establishment of our current general education program, the merger of two colleges into the College of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, and the visioning and development of the Edward St. John Teaching and Learning Center.
She has been exceptional in her ability to conceptualize and launch new programs. For example, she provided mentoring and support in the development of the First Year Innovation and Research Experience (FIRE) program, ultimately leading to our new Office of Undergraduate Research, and she was an early partner and co-PI on the University’s NSF-funded ADVANCE grant to support the retention and advancement of women faculty. Under her leadership, our office of Extended Studies has seen significant growth, including the transition of the Shady Grove undergraduate programs to Extended Studies, the development of non-credit options through Open Learning, and growth in executive education and MOOC programs.
Betsy has always been an extraordinary advocate for our university both internally and externally. She shepherded the University Senate review of numerous new academic programs, and advocated for them to the USM Board of Regents and Maryland Higher Education Commission. As the university’s Accreditation Liaison Officer, she led a team of nearly 100 campus members in the university’s 2017 Middle States re-accreditation self-study.
In 2023, Betsy took on the new role of Senior Associate Provost, and in just two years, she has been a driving force behind several university-wide initiatives, including partnering with the Division of Research in the development and support of the Grand Challenges Grants program. She also serves as a key member of the Provost’s Academic Facilities team in planning for the use and renovation of our academic spaces across the campus. In addition, she worked tirelessly in support of our community with both internal and external partners to facilitate the establishment of a fall break.
In addition to being a remarkable leader, Betsy is an accomplished physicist. An internationally-recognized expert in experimental nuclear physics, her research explores the fundamental, underlying properties of neutrons and protons. She is a Fellow of the American Physical Society and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She has mentored numerous undergraduates and graduate students in research. A Distinguished Scholar Teacher, she was the recipient of the Physics Department’s 2008 George A. Snow Memorial Award for her work to help advance the representation of women in physics, and she has served as a University of Maryland Philip Merrill Scholar mentor.
Betsy will continue in her position through June, and transition into a role of special advisor to the Provost for a year. We have launched an internal search for a new Associate Provost for Academic Affairs , and thank Will Reed, Assistant Provost for Academic Planning, for leading the search. The full committee is listed below.
Whether you’ve worked directly with Betsy or not, I am certain that every member of our campus community has felt her impact in some way. Please join me in thanking Betsy for her service in the Provost’s office, recognizing all she has contributed to our great university over three decades.
Sincerely,
Jennifer King Rice
Senior Vice President and Provost
She/Her/Hers
Associate Provost for Academic Affairs Search Committee:
Will Reed, Chair | Assistant Provost for Academic Planning & Professor, BSOS
Lawrence Clark | Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies
Shannon Gundy | Interim Associate Vice President, Enrollment Management
Erica Estrada-Liou | Director, Academy for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Kris Phillips | Director of Facilities Planning, Division of Administration
Leslie Pick | Professor of Entomology, CMNS
Bradley Bower | Staff to the Committee, Office of the Provost