The board of regents of the University System of Maryland has named Maria Thompson as the next president of Coppin State University in Baltimore. She will take office on July 1. Coppin State is a historically Black educational institution that enrolls about 2,900 undergraduates and 460 graduate students. Women make up almost three quarters of the undergraduate student body, according to the latest U.S. Department of Education statistics.
Dr. Thompson has been serving as provost and vice president for academic affairs at the State University of New York at Oneonta. Before coming to SUNY-Oneonta in 2011, she held administrative posts at Tennessee State University in Nashville for 13 years.
“I look forward to working with the faculty, staff, students and other stakeholders to continue the university’s commitment to preparing graduates who are analytical, socially responsible and lifelong learners,” Dr. Thompson said. “Urban higher education plays a vital role in shaping the future of local, national and global communities and I am excited about joining a campus with a rich legacy of community engagement.”
Dr. Thompson is a graduate of Tennessee State University. She holds a master’s degree from Ohio State University and a Ph.D. in textile science and textile economics from the University of Tennessee.