Welcoming the New Dean of the College of Education

May 23, 2022

Dear campus community,

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Kimberly Griffin has been named dean of the College of Education. She will begin her new role on July 1, 2022.

Dr. Griffin currently serves as professor and associate dean of graduate studies and faculty affairs for the College of Education. She joined the University of Maryland in 2012 as an associate professor in the Department of Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education, and has held several leadership roles in the College of Education since then, including faculty director for the Leadership Studies Program, concentration director for the student affairs specialization, and associate dean for graduate studies and faculty affairs.

Prior to Maryland, she held positions at The Pennsylvania State University, Stanford University School of Medicine and Stanford University. In addition to her scholarly experience, Dr. Griffin has experience working in higher education administration, primarily focusing in the areas of diversity recruitment, admissions, and retention in undergraduate and graduate education.

Dr. Griffin's research interests are primarily focused on equity in graduate education and the professoriate; diversity within the Black higher education community; and mentoring and career development. These interests have led her to conduct work on a variety of topics, including mentoring and career development of Ph.D. completers in science, Black professors and their engagement in student interaction, the experiences of Black immigrant college students, diversity recruitment in graduate education, and campus racial climate.

Dr. Griffin is an active scholar and researcher, engaged widely in efforts to promote diversity and equity in higher education. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation and Burroughs Wellcome Fund. Dr. Griffin's work also contributes to national conversations on equity and inclusion, and she has collaborated and consulted with the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Association of American Universities, National Academies, American Council on Education, and the Council of Graduate Schools to discuss extant research and new initiatives. She also serves as the editor of the Journal of Diversity in Higher Education.

She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in higher education and organizational change from the University of California, Los Angeles, an M.A. in education policy and leadership from the University of Maryland, and a B.A. in psychology from Stanford University.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Griffin on this new leadership role. I had the pleasure of working with her during my tenure with the College of Education, and am confident that her expertise in the field of education, coupled with her commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education, will lead to tremendous success.

I have much gratitude for Dr. Laura Stapleton for serving as interim dean for the College of Education. She has provided excellent leadership during this time of transition, and I thank her for serving us well for a one-year appointment.

I would also like to thank the search committee, led by Dean Bonnie Thornton Dill, for their work to identify a remarkable group of finalists.

Congratulations, Dr. Griffin!

Sincerely,

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