Arts and Humanities, Journalism Dean Appointments Extended

Two University of Maryland deans—Bonnie Thornton Dill of the College of Arts and Humanities (ARHU) and Lucy Dalglish of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism—were reappointed to lead their colleges for another year beyond the end of their second regular five-year terms, Senior Vice President and Provost Mary Ann Rankin announced today.

Thornton Dill, ARHU dean since 2011, was reappointed through June 2022. Under her leadership, the college has secured major donor support for its performing arts programs and initiatives, received significant grants from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in support of inclusive humanities and digital technologies, and engaged in major curriculum initiatives that include new interdisciplinary majors such as Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and Immersive Media Design. In addition, Thornton Dill has led ARHU’s emergence as a campus leader in social justice and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, recently exemplified by UMD’s first honorific naming of an academic department, the Harriet Tubman Department of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

Dalglish, Merrill College dean since 2012, was reappointed to lead the college though June 2023 after her regular term ends next year. Under her leadership, the college secured major donor support and grants, including $3 million from the Scripps Howard Foundation to establish the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, which has published its investigations in newspapers and elsewhere nationwide. In addition, a collaboration with National Public Radio that emanated from the Howard Center has received five national awards for excellence in reporting. During Dalglish’s tenure, the college created the George Solomon Endowed Chair in Sports Journalism with support from Maury Povich and Connie Chung '69, and many others. In addition, Merrill College has engaged in innovations in curriculum design that prepare students for the rapidly changing field.

Rankin, who will step down as provost this week, said she was joined in the decisions by Interim Provost Ann Wylie.