Juliette B. Bell Appointed President of University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Juliette B. Bell
Bell
is Accomplished Academic Leader and Biochemist
Adelphi, MD (March 7, 2012) — Patricia S. Florestano, chair of the University
System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents, today announced the appointment of
Juliette B. Bell as president of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore
(UMES). Bell is provost and vice president for academic affairs at Central
State University in Wilberforce, OH. Her new appointment is effective July 1,
2012.
Bell, a biochemist, is
recognized as a strong advocate for increasing the number of minority
scientists. She has dedicated much of her career to providing opportunities for
students to participate in scientific research.
"We are extremely pleased
that Dr. Bell has accepted our appointment as president of UMES," said Chair Florestano.
"She has an impressive record of outstanding leadership in
many areas, including enhancing academic excellence, creating opportunities to
attract research and private support, and nurturing pathways of success for
students. The board is confident that she will serve the university, our
system, and our state extremely well in the years ahead."
Bell has 20 years of higher
education experience, spanning teaching, research, and administration. As
Central State University's academic chief since August 2009, she is responsible
for the institution's academic agenda, including improving student performance
outcomes, developing new programs, and enhancing academic excellence. Her accomplishments
are many. She restructured the academic colleges to create the first College of
Science and Engineering, developed the University College as a special unit to
support retention of freshmen and transfer students, oversaw the implementation
of the university's first online courses, and enhanced international education
programming.
Prior to joining Central
State, Bell was interim provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at
Winston-Salem State University, providing leadership in academic program
planning and implementation, strategic planning and budgeting, enrollment
management, research, faculty affairs, and information technology. During this
six-month temporary assignment, she was credited with securing an endowed
professorship in physical therapy as well as implementing academic program
review.
"It is a privilege to welcome
Dr. Bell to the University System of Maryland," said USM Chancellor William E.
Kirwan. "As an academic leader, she has increased student retention and
graduation rates and promoted academic excellence across disciplines. As an
accomplished scholar and scientist, she has the experience needed to further
align UMES' academic, research, and outreach activities with the workforce and
economic development needs of the Eastern Shore and the state, especially in
the STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields. And as a
successful grants writer and fundraiser, she brings expertise in attracting
outside resources and developing partnerships that are so critical, especially
during these difficult economic times."
Kirwan also expressed his
gratitude to the presidential search committee. "Under the outstanding
leadership of UMES Alumnus Al Cornish, the committee of faculty, staff,
students, and alumni during the past nine months did an excellent job of
carrying out its responsibilities."
A native of Talladega, AL,
Bell was the first in her family to attend college, earning a bachelor's degree
in chemistry from Talladega College. She earned her Ph.D. in chemistry with a
biochemistry concentration from Atlanta University (now Clark-Atlanta
University) and post-doctorate in biochemistry from the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill. Following her post-doctoral fellowship, she worked as
a senior staff fellow and as a research biologist at the National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, NC.
In 1992, she began her higher
education teaching and research career in chemistry as a Department of Natural
Sciences faculty member and director of biomedical research at Fayetteville
State University. There, she advanced to serving as founding dean of the
university's College of Basic and Applied Sciences from 2004 to 2006 and as
provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs from 2006-2008 prior to her
interim appointment at Winston-Salem State.
Bell serves on the National
Science Foundation's Biological Sciences Advisory Board and is a consultant to
the American Association of Colleges and Universities. Among her many honors
are the 2001 National Role Model Citation from Minority Access, Inc.; the 2000
Millennium Award for Excellence in Teaching in Mathematics, Science,
Engineering and Technology at Historically Black Colleges from the White House
Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities; and the National
Science Foundation Young Investigator Award (1993-98). In 2000,
Bell was featured with astronaut Mae Jemison and U.S. Surgeon
General Joycelyn Elders in a Chicago Museum of Science and Industry exhibit
titled "Defying Tradition-African American Women in Science and Technology."
In addition, Bell is a
graduate of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities
Millennium Leadership Institute and the Harvard Institute for Education
Management. She also has served on the boards of various community service
organizations.
Bell will succeed Thelma B.
Thompson, who stepped down as UMES president August 15, 2011. Since Thompson's departure, Mortimer
Neufville has served as interim president and will continue in that position
until Bell joins UMES in July.
"We are grateful to Dr.
Neufville for his excellent service during this period," said Chancellor
Kirwan. "Under his capable leadership, UMES has continued to move forward."
"I am extremely delighted and humbled
to be selected as the next president of the University of Maryland Eastern
Shore, a great institution," said Bell. "I look forward to working closely with
UMES faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the Board of Visitors; the greater
community of business and government leaders; the University System of Maryland
administration and colleagues; and the entire state of Maryland to continue
building upon the tremendous 125-year legacy of UMES. I thank the Board of
Regents and Chancellor Kirwan for this opportunity and this singular
honor."
One of the 12 institutions of
the University System of Maryland, UMES is a land-grant university and is
recognized as one of the nation's leading historically black institutions.
Located in Princess Anne, the institution is well known for its distinctive
array of undergraduate academic programs, including engineering and aviation
science, construction-management technology, hotel and restaurant management,
and professional golf management. Among its graduate-level offerings are
doctoral-degree programs in food science and technology,
marine-estuarine-environmental science, pharmacy, and physical therapy. For
more information about the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, visit: www.umes.edu.
Contact: Anne Moultrie
Phone: 301.445.2722
Email: amoultrie@usmd.edu
