Patricia Pierce Ramsey, Bowie State University provost and vice president for academic affairs, has been appointed interim president of the school beginning July 1, William Kirwan, chancellor of the University System of Maryland, announced Friday.
Ramsey has served in her current posts for the past two years. Prior to joining Bowie State, she was vice president for academic affairs at Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C.
Ramsey holds a doctoral degree in biology from Georgetown University, a Master of Arts in biology from Harvard University, a Master of Science in botany from Howard University and a Bachelor of Science in biology education from Norfolk State University. She is not a candidate for the full-time position.
“I am very pleased that Dr. Ramsey has accepted this appointment,” Kirwan said. “As interim president, she will have all the responsibilities of a permanent president. I look forward to working with her during this period.”
Bowie State graduated its second Education and Educational Leadership doctoral class in May, and earlier this month received initial approval by the University of Maryland Board of Regents to add a second doctoral program in Applied Science in Computer Science. The school also has received initial approval to begin a Mental Health masters program. Ramsey said she expects both new programs to win formal adoption by the board.
“I?m looking forward to building on the momentum we?ve achieved,” Ramsey said. “In fact, right now I?m interviewing candidates to fill new faculty positions.”
Ramsey especially noted the significance of the doctoral-level applied computer science program.
“In 2003 ? the last year federal government numbers are available ? only 17 African-Americans nationwide received Ph.D.s in computer [science],” Ramsey said.
The historically black university, established in 1865 and one of the University System of Maryland?s 13 institutions, has seen its enrollment increase each of the past five years and has more than 5,800 undergraduate and graduate students.
Calvin Lowe, Bowie State president for the past six years, last August announced plans to take a year of sabbatical and pursue other interests.
Search committee narrows list to 4
The 15-person presidential search committee, made up largely of university faculty and staff, alumni, student and business leaders, is chaired by William Missouri, a Prince George?s County Circuit Court judge.
The committee is expected to make its recommendation to the University of Maryland board of regents within the next two weeks, William Kirwan, chancellor of the University System of Maryland, said Tuesday.
The four finalists to take over the Bowie State leadership were on campus this week to meet for interviews and discussion group gatherings. They are: Alfred Guillaume Jr., vice chancellor of academic affairs at the University of Indiana South Bend; Algeania Warren Freeman, vice president for development at the Foundation for Independent Higher Education in Washington; Mary Evan Sias, president at Kentucky State University; and Mickey L. Burnim, chancellor at Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina.
? Ron Cassie
