Provost Philip Rous To Step Down

Dear UMBC Community,

I am writing to share that Dr. Philip Rous has informed me of his decision to step down from his current position as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs in anticipation of his retirement from UMBC. With eleven years in the role, Philip will leave his position as the longest serving provost in UMBC's history. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his exemplary service and for his decades long commitment to our UMBC community. 

Dr. Rous was appointed as UMBC's provost on July 1, 2012 and served previously as dean of the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences and as president of UMBC's Faculty Senate. He joined the UMBC community as an assistant professor in 1990 and holds the rank of professor in the Department of Physics. An accomplished theoretical physicist, Philip's research has been published extensively in materials science, physics, and chemistry journals. In his capacity as provost and dean, he has served as a PI and Co-PI on several major institutional grants focused on student success with a particular attention to the advancement of underrepresented students.

Throughout the years, the impact of Philip's leadership has been recognized in many collaborative campus initiatives. As provost, Philip worked with the UMBC community as it achieved several important milestones including the development and implementation of UMBC's most recent strategic plan, a successful Middle States re-accreditation, significant improvements in retention and graduation rates, and UMBC's achievement as a Carnegie Community Engaged university and R1 institution. In partnership with the Committee for the Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement of Underrepresented Minority Faculty and the Office of Faculty Affairs, Philip guided the development of several initiatives to increase the diversity of our faculty including the postdoctoral fellows for faculty diversity and STRIDE. In recognition of his leadership in advancing community engagement at UMBC, Philip received the William M. Plater Award for Leadership in Civic Engagement. He also successfully nominated and then mentored several UMBC faculty members as ACE fellows, a clear reflection of his commitment to leadership development. 

We will launch a national search for a provost and senior vice president for academic affairs in partnership with the search firm Isaacson, Miller.

Please join me in thanking Provost Rous for his years of dedicated scholarship, leadership, and service to UMBC. Additional details about a celebration to honor Philip will be announced soon. 

Sincerely, 

President Valerie Sheares Ashby