Search for a New Dean for the Graduate School

Dear Colleagues,

After ten years of distinguished service, Dean Steve Fetter will be stepping down from his role as Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate School in June 2023. I am grateful to Dean Fetter for his dedication and service to the University of Maryland.

His vast contributions over the past decade reflect his strong commitment to improving the services offered to – and advocacy for – our graduate student community at UMD. Under his leadership, the university implemented the TerpEngage Admissions tool and created three new staff positions to support the needs of graduate students on our campus. Dean Fetter's efforts to increase minimum stipends in collaboration with university administration led to an increase of more than 58% in the minimum stipend offered to GA's over the last five years. Additionally, the number of fellowships offered to graduate students has expanded greatly during his time as dean. He has also worked to implement better connections between our faculty and graduate students, starting the Faculty-Student Research Award. While dean, he implemented the GradTerp exchange, a forum for students to present their research to a broad campus audience, and he more than doubled participation in the 3MT (three minute thesis) competition by launching a round of college competitions. Dean Fetter plans to take a year of research and sabbatical leave before returning to teaching in the School of Public Policy.

I am pleased to announce that I have appointed a search committee and launched an internal search to find an outstanding individual to fill the position of Dean of the Graduate School. Boris Lushniak, Dean of the School of Public Health, will chair the committee. The complete list of committee members is provided below.

The new Dean of the Graduate School must be committed to providing strong and visionary leadership; supporting an environment of diversity and inclusive excellence in teaching and learning; promoting a culture of impactful research, scholarship, and creative activities; encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships; fostering mission-driven engagement among graduate students, graduate school faculty and staff, and potential funders; and managing resources to effectively advance the mission of the Graduate School. We seek excellent and diverse candidates who can leverage our considerable academic strengths as a major research university, the unique advantages offered by our location, and our overriding commitment to inclusive excellence in all that we do. The new dean should be prepared to serve on the University's academic leadership team, support the advancement of our university's new strategic plan, and engage with diverse stakeholder groups to build support for the Graduate School.

We need a concerted effort that engages the entire community, working with members of the search committee, to identify a dean who can build on the strengths and forward momentum of the Graduate School. You can assist in the search process by using your personal contacts and networks in our community to identify outstanding candidates for this position. Please forward to any committee member the names of individuals within the UMD community you believe would be excellent candidates. We appreciate your assistance and support in this important effort.

The position description and further details regarding the appointment of a dean will follow.

The link to apply is found here:
https://ejobs.umd.edu/postings/103915

Sincerely,

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