Dear Towson University community,

We are very pleased to announce that Dr. Laila J. Richman has been appointed as the inaugural Dean of Towson University’s College of Graduate Studies. Following an extensive national search, Dr. Richman emerged as the top candidate and will assume her new role effective July 1, 2026.

Dr. Richman currently serves as Associate Dean in the College of Education at Towson University and is a Professor in the Department of Special Education, where she has provided exceptional leadership for more than a decade. In her current role, she oversees accreditation, assessment, state and federal reporting, undergraduate and graduate programs, licensure, technology initiatives and the Center for Professional Practice. She works closely with faculty across campus to strengthen academic quality, student success and institutional effectiveness.

A nationally respected leader in educator preparation and graduate education, Dr. Richman brings deep expertise in accreditation, assessment, enrollment strategy and cross-institutional collaboration. She played a central leadership role in recent successful accreditation efforts, including programs across five colleges, and has led large-scale, externally funded initiatives totaling millions of dollars from the U.S. Department of Education, the Maryland Higher Education Commission and the Maryland State Department of Education. Her work reflects a sustained commitment to access, equity, innovation and workforce-aligned graduate education.

Dr. Richman earned her Ph.D. in Special Education (Instructional Technology and Research) from the University of Kansas, along with a master’s degree in special education and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She is a prolific scholar and presenter, with a national and international reputation for her research and leadership related to inclusive pedagogy, professional learning, assessment systems and university–school partnerships. Equally important, she is a trusted institutional leader who brings students, faculty and staff together around shared goals and a forward-looking vision.

As founding dean, Dr. Richman will provide strategic leadership for the College of Graduate Studies, guiding the growth, coherence and national profile of TU’s graduate programs while supporting interdisciplinary collaboration and responding to evolving workforce and societal needs.

The search committee conducted a very thorough and thoughtful process, and its members played a vital role in identifying and recruiting an outstanding leader for this new college. I thank Dean Laurie Mullen of the College of Education, who served as chair of the committee, for her outstanding leadership. The committee members were:

  • Andrea Chenowith, Associate Director of Graduate Admissions
  • Bev German, Executive Director, Towson Learning Network
  • Clare Muhoro, Professor and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
  • Joseph Clark, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science
  • Kim Hopkins, Associate Professor, Department of Art + Design, Art History, Art Education
  • Timm Baldwin, Associate Vice President of Marketing and Brand Strategy
  • Wei Yu, Professor and Director of Doctoral Program, Department of Computer and Information Sciences

This search would not have been possible without the strong partnership and support of our colleagues in the Office of Human Resources, especially Nyasha Lumumba, Manager of Talent Acquisition, whose expertise helped guide this comprehensive national process.

We wish to express our sincere appreciation to all those across campus who contributed to the establishment of the College of Graduate Studies and helped shape its mission during this important period of growth and transition.

I am personally grateful to David Ownby for his thoughtful and committed service as interim dean, and for the leadership he has provided during this time of transition.

Please join me in congratulating and welcoming Dr. Laila Richman as she steps into this historic leadership role for Towson University. We look forward to working with her as she helps advance graduate education and research excellence at TU.

Sincerely,

Melanie Perreault, Ph.D.
Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs