Wallace Loh

Wallace Loh
陸道逵
President of the University of Maryland, College Park
Assumed office
November 1, 2010
Preceded by C. Daniel Mote Jr.
Personal details
Born 1946 (age 71–72)
Shanghai, China
Nationality Peruvian / American
Academic background
Alma mater Grinnell College (BA)
Cornell University (MA)
University of Michigan (PhD)
Yale University (JD)
Thesis A social psychological study of political commitment in Quebec and Belgium (1971)
Doctoral advisor  
Academic work
Discipline Law
Sub-discipline law and social change, criminal justice reform
Institutions
Wallace Loh
Traditional Chinese 陸道逵
Simplified Chinese 陆道逵
The University of Maryland, College Park Art Gallery celebrated its 50th anniversary on Feb. 24, 2016 with a memorable art exhibition. Among those attending were President Wallace Loh and his wife, Barbara, on the left; and Prof. David C. Driskell, along with Prof. Dagmar R. Henney, on the right. Photo courtesy University of Maryland Art Gallery, used with permission.

Wallace Dzu Loh (born 1946) is the current president of the University of Maryland, College Park, having assumed his role on November 1, 2010.

Early life

Loh was born in Shanghai, and emigrated at a young age to Lima, Peru. He went to the United States for college, earning a bachelor's degree from Grinnell College. He later earned a master's degree from Cornell where he was elected for membership in the Telluride House[1], a doctorate in psychology from the University of Michigan,[2] and a law degree from Yale.[3]

Academic career

Before becoming the president at University of Maryland, College Park, Loh spent three decades in higher education. He has been dean of the University of Washington Law School, vice chancellor of the University of Colorado, a dean at Seattle University, and most recently provost at the University of Iowa where he oversaw budgets and personnel for the state university's eleven colleges.

During his career in academic administration, Loh has led campaigns to curb underage drinking at University of Iowa, and more recently, to diversify the University of Washington Law School.[3][4]

In his position as President of the University of Maryland he has led many initiatives that have benefited the campus as a whole. Some of his most notable work has been on building diversity at the University of Maryland. Under his direction, the university has seen a 13.8% increase in underrepresented minority graduation rates, and a decrease in the gap between white and underrepresented minority students by 6.1%.[5] He wrote an editorial in Time magazine discussing the importance of an open dialogue on cultural differences between the student population.[6] He also participated in the planning and development of a memorial square to Frederick Douglass to honor his contributions to America's quest for freedom, liberty, and equal rights.[7]

Under Loh's leadership, the University declined in US News rankings[8] and endured a scandal related to the death of a football player, Jordan McNair.[9]. Furthermore, Loh chose Damon Evans -- the employee who was responsible for oversight of the football program at the time of the tragedy -- to be the school's next athletic director; the appointment was announced after McNair's death, but before the results of the investigation into the incident were known.[10]

Awards and memberships

  • Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
  • Board of directors of American Council of Education
  • Advisory Board of Comptroller General of the United States
  • Recipient of American Immigration Council's 16th annual Immigrant Achievement Award

References

  1. ↑ "Telluride Association Newsletter" (PDF). 104 (1). May 2018: 1.
  2. ↑ Loh, Wallace Dzu (1971). A social psychological study of political commitment in Quebec and Belgium (Ph.D.). University of Michigan. OCLC 313382569 – via ProQuest. (Subscription required (help)).
  3. 1 2 De Vise, Dan (17 August 2010). "University of Iowa Provost Wallace Loh new president at University of Maryland". The Washington Post. Retrieved 17 August 2010.
  4. ↑ Walker, Childs (18 August 2010). "New UM president believes his job is a calling". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  5. ↑ Brown, Crystal (2 December 2015). "University of Maryland Ranks 'Top of Class' for Improving Minority Graduation Rates & Closing the Achievement Gap". UMD Now. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  6. ↑ Loh, Wallace (16 November 2015). "The Clash of Ideas Strengthens Our Universities--and Our Nation". Time. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  7. ↑ Brown, Crystal (18 November 2015). "University of Maryland Dedicates Frederick Douglass Square to Honor Maryland's Native Son". Retrieved 1 March 2016.
  8. ↑ "U.S. News National University Rankings, 2008-2015". 13 June 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  9. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/doughertywashpost. "Experts say Maryland may not have acted quickly enough to save football player". Washington Post. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  10. ↑ "Damon Evans Named UMD Athletic Director - University of Maryland". University of Maryland. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
Academic offices
Preceded by
C. Daniel Mote Jr.		 President of the University of Maryland, College Park
2010 – present		 Incumbent


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