The Daily Record recognized Honors College Dean Alison Rios Millett McCartney as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women in 2026. The award recognizes leaders who demonstrate extraordinary mentorship and a commitment to community service. These women elevate, educate, mentor, support and empower other women and work to make Maryland better. 

McCartney is shaping a more inclusive future for higher education leadership. She co-founded a statewide Model United Nations program that has engaged more than 5,700 high school students. She also co-created an undergraduate research club that significantly expanded experiential learning opportunities, reinforcing TU’s commitment to hands-on, high-impact education.

In July 2024, McCartney was appointed dean of TU’s Honors College, and since then, she has grown the program to its largest enrollment in its history. Her leadership and commitment to student success have impacted thousands of lives and transformed TU programs. 

McCartney’s leadership and service have been recognized through numerous prestigious honors including the University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents Faculty Award for Mentoring, a distinguished service award from the American Political Science Association education section and the TU Outstanding Service-Learning Faculty Award. 

In 2025, she was named a recipient of the Maryland Daily Record’s Hispanic Leadership Awards and received the American Political Science Association’s highest recognition for civic engagement. These accomplishments exemplify the values of transformative leadership, mentorship and public service that Maryland’s Top 100 Women represent. 

She will be honored at SECU Arena in May. Read more about the Top 100 Women honorees.