Trinity College Dean Valerie Ashby Named President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County

Valerie Sheares Ashby, dean of Trinity College of Arts and Sciences since 2015, was today named president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC).  She will leave Duke on June 30 and will assume her role on August 1.

“Valerie has been a transformative dean of Trinity College and a remarkable citizen and leader at Duke University,” said Provost Sally Kornbluth.  “She is a role model for students and faculty alike and has been a driving force for inclusive excellence in education, scholarship, and the student experience.  We will miss her as a colleague, but I could not be more excited about her extraordinary opportunity at UMBC.”

Ashby came to Duke from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was chair of the chemistry department.  During her tenure as dean, she led the development and implementation of strategic plans that resulted in significant new investments in faculty recruitment and development, philanthropy, student engagement, and a realignment of Trinity College operations to enhance service and create operational efficiencies.

Kornbluth said that an interim dean will be appointed shortly to lead Trinity College after Ashby’s departure, to be followed by a national search for her successor.