Alison Rios Millett McCartney, the dean of Towson University’s Honors College and a longtime political science professor, was named a recipient of the Maryland Daily Record’s 2025 Hispanic Leadership Awards. The recognition honors impactful leaders for professional accomplishments, community involvement and mentorship. McCartney is one of just four recipients honored within the field of higher education.

During McCartney’s 25-year tenure at TU she created an innovative course connecting civic engagement and global issues, cofounded a statewide Model United Nations program that’s engaged more than 5,700 high school students, worked with over 100 students on undergraduate research projects, and co-created an undergraduate research club that’s expanded experiential learning opportunities for students.  

Since being selected as dean in July 2024, McCartney has worked to create a broader and deeper curriculum for students and expand experiential and advanced learning within the college. She is the highest-ranking Latina leader on campus.

McCartney also received the American Political Science Association's highest recognition for civic engagement work. The Distinguished Award for Civic and Community Engagement honors significant civic or community engagement activity by a political scientist merging knowledge and practice and going beyond research to have an impact outside of their profession or university. She received the award at the association's 2025 annual conference in Vancouver, Canada this September. 

McCartney formally received the Hispanic Leadership award on September 24.  

Read the full press release from the Maryland Daily Record.