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Announcements

Welcoming our New Associate Provost for Academic Affairs

June 24, 2025

Lisa Taneyhill's Headshot

Dear colleagues,


Today, I share the wonderful news that Dr. Lisa Taneyhill has been appointed our new Associate Provost for Academic Affairs. She will begin her new role on July 1, 2025. Dr. Taneyhill will join the Office of the Provost from her current position as a Professor in the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, and she brings with her nearly two decades of experience as a member of the UMD community.


As Associate Provost, Dr. Taneyhill will collaborate with university and external partners to support academic excellence and innovation, advancing the goals and priorities of our Fearlessly Forward strategic plan. Overseeing a broad range of strategic initiatives across the division, she will serve as an advisor and key member of my leadership team. She will work with partners across campus to support the ongoing implementation and advancement of the strategic plan’s key areas and track the plan’s progress. She will also play an essential role in setting enrollment goals and strategies, overseeing short- and long-term academic facilities planning, and representing the division in our system of shared governance. Dr. Taneyhill will also oversee the Office of Undergraduate Research and the Academy for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.


During her tenure at UMD, Dr. Taneyhill has been integral to both our research and academic enterprises. In addition to her primary appointment in the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences, she is a faculty member in the Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Program, and an affiliate in the Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics. She previously served as Assistant Chair for the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences where she was responsible for its administrative duties, including budget management, admissions and personnel, as well as oversight of the unit's facility renovations and equipment improvements. Prior to joining UMD, she completed her postdoctoral training in developmental biology at the California Institute of Technology. She holds a bachelor's degree in chemistry and biochemistry from McDaniel College, and master's and doctorate degrees in molecular biology from Princeton University.


Dr. Taneyhill is an accomplished scholar whose research aims to understand how neural crest and placode cells form in the body, and what roles they play in human development and disease. Her work has received significant funding from agencies such as the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and the American Cancer Society. Dr. Taneyhill recently received support from UMD's New Directions Fund, which enables important new lines of research and creative work with high potential for impact. The award will enable the development of a new approach to studying familial dysautonomia—a life-threatening disorder that affects the body's nerves.
Dr. Taneyhill has demonstrated exceptional leadership as the Principal Investigator for her lab, both in managing its operations, personnel and budgets, as well as prioritizing the importance of mentoring students, providing experiential learning opportunities, and setting them up for success in their future careers. In addition to serving as Assistant Chair, she has taken on a variety of leadership roles at the departmental and campus levels, including serving on her department's strategic planning committee, chairing the University Research Council, and serving on the University Senate. She was also a College of Agriculture and Natural Resources ADVANCE Professor, and participated in the Big 10 Academic Alliance's Academic Leadership Program.


Outside of the university, she currently serves as the Assistant Editor for Developmental Dynamics and Associate Editor for Frontiers in Craniofacial Biology and Dental Research. She is the Vice President for the Society for Craniofacial Genetics and Developmental Biology, and a member of the American Association for Anatomy Scientific Affairs Committee. She has received numerous awards and recognitions at UMD for her teaching and mentorship, and has been frequently recognized for her scholarship by the scientific community, most recently being named a fellow of the American Association for Anatomy.


Dr. Taneyhill will work in close partnership with Dr. Will Reed, Associate Provost for Academic Planning. Their complementary portfolios will ensure a cohesive approach to advancing the university's academic mission and strategic priorities.


I'm thrilled to welcome Dr. Taneyhill to the Academic Affairs leadership team. Her extensive leadership experience across multiple levels of the university, strong ability to collaborate with colleagues both on and off campus, and deep commitment to student development and success make her exceptionally well positioned to help lead our academic enterprise forward.


I offer my deep appreciation to members of the search committee, led by Will Reed, for their tremendous work selecting an excellent pool of internal candidates for the role.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Taneyhill!


Sincerely,

Jennifer King Rice
Senior Vice President and Provost
She/Her/Hers