Chief Research Officer at George Washington University and Alumnus of Yale, UCLA
to Lead UMBC’s Academic Program

CONTACT:
Mike Lurie
Office: 410-455-6380
Cellphone: 443-695-0262
mlurie@umbc.edu

Photo Caption: Elliot Hirshman is UMBC's new provost. (Click on photo to download high-resolution image).

BALTIMORE – The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) has appointed Elliot Hirshman as its next provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. Hirshman joins UMBC after serving as chief research officer at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where he was previously chair of the Department of Psychology.

Hirshman, who earned his Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology at UCLA and his undergraduate degree summa cum laude in economics and mathematics from Yale, will lead UMBC’s academic program, including instruction, research and academic support services. His appointment, effective July 1, 2008, concludes a national search that began in August with the assistance of Greenwood and Associates, a leading executive search firm.

Before joining the George Washington faculty in 2002, Hirshman chaired the Department of Psychology at the University of Colorado at Denver. He began his academic career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1989, rising to the rank of full professor while at that institution.

“My colleagues and I are delighted to welcome Dr. Hirshman to the UMBC community,” said UMBC President Freeman A. Hrabowski. “We are all very impressed by his reputation as a fine scholar, teacher and leader in both public and private universities. He is an important addition to the University and to Maryland.”

While at Chapel Hill, Hirshman was recognized by the late Michael Hooker, then chancellor there (and former UMBC president), who nominated him for the American Council on Education Fellows Program. Through that program, he participated as a fellow in the Provost’s Office at Arizona State University and, subsequently, served as special assistant to the provost at Chapel Hill.

“I am deeply honored to be selected as UMBC’s next provost,” said Hirshman. “UMBC’s reputation as a national leader in educational programs, diversity initiatives, research innovation and public-private partnerships makes the provost’s position an especially exciting opportunity. I look forward to working with President Hrabowski, the University’s academic and administrative leadership teams and UMBC’s exceptional faculty, students, staff, alumni and external partners to further enhance the University’s highly regarded educational, research and service programs.”

Hirshman is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and has served as the associate editor of the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory & Cognition(2000-2006) and Psychonomic Bulletin & Review(1998-2000). He will hold the rank of full professor in the UMBC Department of Psychology.

UMBC’s current provost, Arthur Johnson, will serve until June 30, 2008, before returning to the faculty after 10 years as provost. Johnson and Hirshman will collaborate during the coming semester to ensure a smooth transition.