A Dean Slate

UMD this academic year has added three distinguished scholars to its corps of school and college deans. We welcome the following new leaders:

Sonia Hirt (School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation) most recently served as professor and associate dean for academic affairs in Virginia Tech’s College of Architecture and Urban Studies. She previously taught at Harvard, the University of Toledo and the University of Michigan. Her research reflects a keen interest in crossing interdisciplinary lines, specifically in architecture, urban planning, design theory and history. Her goals as dean include extending collaborations beyond school walls, in particular, to Baltimore.

Keith Marzullo (College of Information Studies) joined UMD from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Before that, Marzullo held positions at the National Science Foundation, University of California, San Diego, the University of Tromsø, Norway and Cornell University. He brings technological and administrative experience to a college working to meet the world’s expanding needs for library and information science, information management and advancements in human-computer interaction.

Dr. Boris Lushniak (School of Public Health) most recently served as chair of preventive medicine in the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, after 27 years in the U.S. Public Health Service, including as acting surgeon general. He prides himself on being accessible to students and energizing people around the mission and values of public health. His goals as dean include expanding student engagement in public health practice and influencing healthy public policy.