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At UMBC, the provost serves as the chief academic officer of the university, overseeing the academic mission and ensuring excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship across all colleges and schools.
About the Provost
Manfred H. M. van Dulmen joined UMBC as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs in 2024. He is tasked with maintaining our community’s academic integrity by providing broad oversight of all instruction and research programs to ensure their quality and advancement.
Prior to joining UMBC, Dr. van Dulmen served as Senior Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate College at Kent State University in Ohio. He started at Kent State as a faculty member in the Department of Psychological Sciences in 2004, and served in numerous academic leadership positions at Kent State, including Interim Department Chair and Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Dr. van Dulmen is an award-winning scholar with a Ph.D. in family social science from the University of Minnesota. He has published over 100 articles and book chapters, and edited or co-edited three books. He also founded and served as editor-in-chief of the Sage Publications journal Emerging Adulthood. His research interests include adolescent and young adult relationships and experiences, externalizing behavior problems and aggression, and measurement and methodology.
Manfred H. M. van Dulmen
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
What Does the Provost Do?
At UMBC, the provost serves as the chief academic officer of the university, overseeing the academic mission and ensuring excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship across all colleges and schools.
The provost works closely with faculty, deans, and academic leaders to shape the university’s academic strategy, support student success, and uphold the highest standards of academic integrity. This includes guiding curriculum development, advancing faculty recruitment and retention, and fostering a diverse, inclusive learning environment.
As a central figure in university leadership, the provost helps ensure that UMBC remains a vibrant intellectual community dedicated to discovery, learning, and inclusive excellence.
Academic Affairs
The Academic Affairs office at UMBC oversees the institution’s academic mission, including curriculum development, academic policy, accreditation, and institutional research. It supports teaching, learning, and research excellence by coordinating academic programs, managing academic budgets, and ensuring compliance with educational standards and strategic goals.
Faculty Affairs
The Office of Faculty Affairs is dedicated to supporting faculty throughout their academic careers at UMBC. We facilitate the recruitment, development, and retention of all faculty to enhance their success and promote inclusive excellence. We also provide guidance on navigating university policies, procedures, and resources related to faculty success.
Strategic Initiatives
The Office of the Provost oversees several strategic initiatives that directly impact the student, faculty, and staff experience at the university. In support of all academic endeavors, these initiatives include planning for future needs and direction, supporting inclusive excellence in all aspects of the academic mission, and nurturing UMBC’s goal of being an access institution.
Academic Freedom
In accordance with the USM Freedom of Speech and Expression Value Statement and Guidelines, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County welcomes and respects diverse perspectives which includes the thoughtful exchange of ideas and information. The principles of free speech and academic freedom are central to the University’s mission and core value of inclusive excellence.
UMBC Faculty News
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Unlocking motivation: Grad student leads discovery of how two hippocampus regions team up to fuel goal-driven behavior
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UMBC’s Global Learning Lab receives Innovative Excellence in Internationalization Award
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Boosting resilience: UMBC secures $1M+ congressional funding to launch lab addressing flood risks in vulnerable Maryland communities