UMGC Presidential Inauguration: Gregory W. Fowler, PhD

Gregory W. Fowler, PhD

Gregory W. Fowler, PhD, is the seventh president of University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC).

A nationally recognized scholar and leader in developing innovative learning models and experiences for adult and nontraditional populations, he has served on the leadership teams that built what are now the two largest universities in America—both of which serve nontraditional students in nontraditional ways.

Most recently, Fowler served as president of Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) Global Campus and before that as SNHU’s chief academic officer and vice president for academic affairs for its College of Online and Continuing Education. In almost nine years with the university, he led efforts to develop competency-based online and hybrid programs that respond to the rapidly changing demands of the workforce and global communities, including disadvantaged students in Los Angeles, refugees in Africa and the Middle East, and learners in Mexico and Columbia.

Gregory W. Fowler, PhD

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Earlier, Fowler held senior-level academic and administrative positions at Western Governors University (WGU), where he served as associate provost and dean of liberal arts and oversaw the development of new competency-based degree programs for WGU’s colleges and—as director of Education Without Boundaries—launched a new student orientation program that exponentially increased student persistence. As the first director of Alumni and Career Services at WGU, he launched programs that drew high participation from graduates and garnered positive feedback from their employers.

Fowler was raised in Albany, Georgia, one of eight children in a family of modest means. He realized early on the power of education to change the trajectory of lives and impact communities. Working at the Six Flags Over Georgia theme park as a teenager taught him the importance of teamwork to organizational success and helped shape his management style.

After completing his undergraduate studies at Morehouse College—which included two years as a Charles A. Dana Scholar at Duke University—Fowler began his career at the National Endowment for the Humanities in Washington, D.C., serving initially as an outreach specialist helping underserved populations access funds and resources to support their communities and amplify their voices. He later served as a media affairs specialist and received several NEH employee awards for developing workshops for historically black colleges and universities and developing and administering a new summer fellows program for outstanding college students.

While in the Washington, D.C., area, he earned a master’s degree in English from George Mason University, then accepted a position as lecturer and, later, as assistant professor of literature and American studies at Penn State University–Erie while he pursued his doctorate in English/American studies from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo. As a faculty member, he was nominated three times for Penn State’s Council of Fellows Teaching award.

While at Penn State, Fowler also received the first of two Fulbright awards to Germany and Belgium, where he would collaborate with students, faculty, and lawmakers on the future of the European Union

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and impact of the Bologna Accords. He also taught courses in international issues and international affairs at the John F. Kennedy Institute for North American Studies at Freie Universität–Berlin. Upon returning to the United States, he collaborated with the German Fulbright Commission and established a new teacher exchange program between Germany and Penn State.

Fowler served as commissioner and board member of the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), which provides accreditation oversight for some of the nation’s most highly regarded institutions. In that role, he co-chaired the team responsible for the future of postpandemic remote learning experiences for colleges and universities.

He also served on the advisory board of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and currently serves as a member of the Presidents Forum, on the Board of Directors of the National Cryptologic Foundation, on the Board of Trustees of the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area, and on the UPCEA Council for Chief Online Learning Officers.

Fowler has been profiled in the Washington Post and named to the Maryland Daily Record’s Power 30 Higher Education list for 2021. He is coauthor of Anticipating and Managing Precipitous College Closures (New America, 2020), and contributed to Five Themes for Centering Student Equity, published in 2020 by the Sorenson Impact Center at the University of Utah. He has contributed numerous articles on innovation and evolution in higher education, including “Scaling an Undefined Landscape with Consumers as Our Guide” in The Futures of Universities Thoughtbook (North American edition, 2020) and a series of articles in widely read higher education publications such as The EvoLLLution. He has been a MAPS (Modeling, Analyzing, Prototyping, and Sharing) scholar with the Sorenson and Gates Foundations and an Aspen Institute scholar for the Postsecondary Success for Parents Initiative.

In addition to his degrees from Morehouse College, George Mason University, and SUNY–Buffalo, Fowler holds an MBA from Western Governors University and has completed programs in higher education administration and executive leadership and negotiation from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education and Harvard Business School, respectively.

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Message from the Honorary Chair of the UMGC Presidential Inauguration Committee

Friends, colleagues, and honored guests, Welcome to the inauguration of Gregory W. Fowler, PhD, as the seventh president of UMGC. Dr. Fowler is a distinguished scholar, thought leader, and visionary, and this ceremony marks the beginning of a new and exciting chapter for UMGC. For 75 years, this remarkable institution has served as Maryland’s open university, focused on the educational needs of adults in the workforce and the military, changing lives and strengthening communities and economies here in Maryland, across the United States, and around the world.

Today, UMGC’s institutional mission is more relevant than ever, and I am excited by the ways that Dr. Fowler’s vision and commitment are positioning the university to lead and grow in the dynamic higher education landscape.

The demand for skilled workers and principled leaders has never been greater, and Dr. Fowler’s work here at UMGC will change our world in positive ways for generations to come.

Thank you for your support and for sharing this special day with Dr. Fowler, his family, and all who believe in the power of education to transform lives.

Sincerely,

William R. Roberts Chair of the Board, UMUC Ventures

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Order of Events

Inaugural Procession

Greetings from the Global UMGC Community

Delegates from Learned Institutions

Faculty, staff, students, and alumni

Representatives from University

around the world

of Maryland Global Campus

Video presentation

Prelude Brass Quintet

History of the University Lawrence E. Leak, PhD

Masters of Ceremonies

Administrator Emeritus

Blair H. Hayes, PhD

University of Maryland Global Campus

Ombudsman, Vice President, and Chief Diversity Officer

Reflections from Colleagues

University of Maryland Global Campus

Video presentation

Nikki Sandoval

Investiture and Charge to the President

Associate Vice President,

Linda R. Gooden, DPS ’06 & ’09

Institutional Advancement

Chair, University System of Maryland

University of Maryland Global Campus

Board of Regents

UMGC Presidential Inaugural

Jay A. Perman, MD

Honorary Chair

Chancellor, University System of Maryland

William R. Roberts, DPS Chair, UMUC Ventures Board of Directors

Inaugural Address Gregory W. Fowler, PhD

Greetings from Elected Officials

President, University of Maryland Global Campus

Video presentation

Performance

Greetings from University Presidents

Capria McClearn

Aminta H. Breaux, PhD

Vocal Artist

President, Bowie State University

Recessional

Video presentation

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Symbols of Office

Presidential Chain of Office The chain of office is a centuries-old tradition and is worn by the university president during formal academic ceremonies. The chain worn by the UMGC president consists of a 3.5-inch bronze medallion bearing the university seal, suspended from 28 engraved bronze links. The custom links alternately depict each side of the globe and shields bearing the words “Asia,” “Europe,” or “United States.” These links represent UMGC’s global reach and mission. The reverse of the medallion is engraved with the names and tenure dates of the university’s past presidents. (Photo, page 10)

University Mace The mace is an age-old symbol of authority which is typically carried or displayed during formal occasions. The 42-inch-tall mace showcases UMGC history. It consists of a varnished mahogany staff (with knurled accents and a special foot) topped by a six-inch walnut “crown” bearing a double-sided four-inch bronze medallion. The medallion depicts the university seal and matches the front of the president’s chain of office. (Photo, page 11)

Presidential Regalia The regalia worn by the university president is uniquely designed for each institution. Presidential robes have four bars of velvet across the sleeves, often piped in a contrasting color, and may have velvet panels down the front. The UMGC president’s gown is apple red with black velvet facing and gold piping to represent the university’s colors, inspired by the flag of Maryland. (Photo, page 12)

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About University of Maryland Global Campus University of Maryland Global Campus was established in 1947 to serve adults in the workforce, including military servicemembers and veterans in Maryland and around the world. Today, UMGC enrolls some 90,000 students annually, in more than 90 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, specializations, and certificates that are available fully online and in a hybrid format.

UMGC has a long history of innovation in reaching students where they are, especially as a pioneer of online instruction, piloting its first online classes in 1994. The university has received numerous awards for its groundbreaking work in developing fully online degree programs, including many in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, business, data analytics, healthcare, and education.

UMGC was the first university to send faculty overseas to teach active-duty military personnel, beginning in Europe in 1949 and expanding to Asia in 1956 and the Middle East in 2005. University faculty have taught in the war zones of Vietnam, Kosovo, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

UMGC offers in-person classes or services at education centers in Maryland and across the metropolitan Washington, DC, area, as well as to military personnel and their families at 175+ locations in more than 20 countries and territories.

More than half of the university’s student body are active-duty military personnel, reservists, members of the National Guard, veterans, and dependents.

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Previous Presidents 2012–2020 Javier Miyares 2006–2012 Susan C. Aldridge, PhD 1999–2005 Gerald Heeger, PhD 1978–1998 T. Benjamin Massey, PhD 1975–1978 Stanley J. Drazek, PhD 1952–1975 William Raymond “Ray” Ehrensberger, PhD

Presidential Inauguration Committee Honorary Chair

Angela Grant ’16, Senior Event Planner Martina Hansen, Senior Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer

William R. Roberts UMUC Ventures, Board of Directors

Blair H. Hayes, PhD, Ombudsman, Vice President, and Chief Diversity Officer

Honorary Members

Angela Hutchison ’04, Director, Events

Robert L. Wallace Member, University System of Maryland Board of Regents

Lisa Jackson, Director, Executive Support Cathy Leaning, Associate Vice President, Brand Marketing Communications

Lis Driscoll ’95 President, UMGC Alumni Association

Lloyd “Milo” Miles, Senior Vice President, Global Military Operations

Bernetta Reese ’21 Past Chair, UMGC Student Advisory Council

Blakely Pomietto, Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer

University of Maryland Global Campus Representatives

Frank J. Principe Jr., Senior Vice President, Government Affairs and Strategic Partnerships

Kat Bugg, Associate Vice President, Communications

Nikki Sandoval, Associate Vice President, Institutional Advancement

Heather Date, Vice President, Communications and Engagement

Joseph Sergi, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Nicholas Eremita, Chief of Staff and Senior Vice President, Strategy

Cathy Sweet, Vice President, Institutional Advancement

Michael Freedman, Senior Vice President, Communications

Chuck Trierweiler, Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President, Admissions

Jillian George ’16, Senior Event Planner

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Make a Gift Please consider making a financial contribution to honor President Gregory W. Fowler in support of student scholarships. Many UMGC students balance family, career, and military responsibilities while earning their degrees. These students face unique challenges, and your gift helps to remove financial barriers and helps them succeed in achieving their goal.

Visit impact.umgc.edu/presidentfowler to make your gift. Thank you!