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ADELPHI, Marykand–Wallace D. Loh, top educator and currently executive vice president and provost of the University of Iowa, is the new president of the University of Maryland, College Park (UMCP).

Loh begins his term as president of UMCP, University System of Maryland’s flagship institution, on November 1.

“I am deeply honored to be entrusted with the stewardship of the flagship institution at College Park,” said Loh. “Its rapid ascension to national eminence is truly remarkable, a testament to the accomplishments and dedication of the faculty, staff, students, alumni, and supporters of the university.”

“Dr. Loh is the right person to lead our flagship university to its next level of greatness,” said Clifford M. Kendall, chair of the University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents, in announcing the appointment.

“His wealth of experience and achievements in higher education demonstrates his strong commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and service and demonstrate his exceptional ability to move institutions forward,” he added.

Remarked USM Chancellor William E. Kirwan: “Dr. Loh brings a remarkable intellect, talent, and life experience to the University of Maryland, College Park, the University System of Maryland, and the state. "His focus on excellence, inclusion, internationalization of higher education, cross-disciplinary research, and community outreach mirrors the priorities of the system and the campus. We feel privileged to welcome him to our community.”

Chancellor Kirwan has appointed Nariman Farvardin, provost of UMCP, to serve as interim president until Loh assumes his new post.

Loh will succeed C.D. (Dan) Mote Jr., who stepped down on August 31 after leading the university through a 12-year period of steady advancement to become one of the nation’s top public universities. Mote will continue at the university in his academic appointment as Glenn L. Martin Institute Professor of Engineering in the A. James Clark School of Engineering.

One of USM’s 12 institutions, UMCP, is widely recognized as a center of academic and research excellence. It ranks No. 1 in awarding undergraduate degrees to African Americans according to Diverse Issues, No. 8 among Kiplinger’s 100 Best Values in Public Colleges, and one of the nation’s top-20 public universities according to the newsmagazine U.S. News & World Report.

Higher Education

Loh has over 30 years’ experience in higher education. As executive vice president and provost of the University of Iowa since 2008, he has oversight responsibilities for budgets, personnel, and planning in the university’s eleven colleges and other academic units. The university enrolls 30,000 students and employs 4,895 faculty members. Its FY 2011 budget totals $2.8 billion, including $440 million in sponsored research.

Loh also oversees the implementation of the university’s strategic plan that emphasizes focused excellence in research and graduate education, expanded undergraduate enrollment and student success, internationalization and diversity, and partnerships with community colleges.

Under his leadership, Iowa has increased the number of honor, minority, and international students; improved retention; expanded international exchanges; and increased administrative efficiencies and effectiveness.

Said Sally Mason, president of the University of Iowa said Loh has proven himself “to be one of the nation’s top academic leaders, and certainly is well-prepared to assume the presidency of a major university.”

Loh served as dean and professor of public service and psychology at Seattle University (1999-2008), director of policy and chief policy adviser for the State of Washington’ Office of the Governor (1997-99), vice chancellor for academic affairs and dean of faculties at the University of Colorado-Boulder (1995-97), and dean and professor of law at the University of Washington Law School (1990-95).

During his service in Washington state government, Loh assembled and staffed then-Governor Gary Locke’s blue-ribbon “2020 Commission on the Future of Postsecondary Education.” Locke is currently the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. The commission’ work led to the implementation of the “Washington Promise Scholarship,” expanding affordable access to higher education to thousands of low and middle-income students.

He was elected president of the Association of American Law Schools. He received the 1993 National Asian-Pacific American Bar Association’s “Trailblazer Award,” and honorary degrees from Grinnell College and Iowa Wesleyan College.

Active in his communities, Loh serves on Iowa Wesleyan College’s Board of Trustees. He also served on the visiting board of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle and the education committee of the Seattle Opera.

Loh was born in Shanghai, China. He immigrated with his family to Lima, Peru. He graduated from high school there, and immigrated alone to Iowa in 1961, supporting himself through higher education. He holds a J.D. from Yale Law School, a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, an M.A. in psychology from Cornell University, and a B.A. in psychology from Grinnell College.

Loh and his wife Barbara have been married for 25 years. They have a daughter, Andrea, who is in college.