Following an extensive national search, Towson University has appointed Dr. Laila J. Richman as the dean of its College of Graduate Studies. Dr. Richman will assume the role effective July 1, 2026, providing strategic leadership for the university鈥檚 expanding and increasingly interdisciplinary graduate programs.

Dr. Richman currently serves as associate dean in Towson University鈥檚 College of Education and is a professor in the Department of Special Education, where she has provided exceptional academic and administrative 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, while collaborating closely with faculty across campus to strengthen academic quality, student success and institutional effectiveness.

鈥淒r. Richman is an outstanding scholar, administrator and collaborator whose vision for graduate education aligns perfectly with Towson University鈥檚 mission and momentum,鈥� says Melanie Perreault, Ph.D., provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. 鈥淗er deep expertise in accreditation, assessment and enrollment strategy, combined with her commitment to access, equity and workforce relevance, make her exceptionally well suited to lead this new college at such a pivotal moment for 撸先生.鈥�

A nationally respected leader in educator preparation and graduate education, Dr. Richman has played a central role in successful accreditation efforts spanning programs across the university. She has also 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 inclusive excellence, innovation and graduate education that responds to regional, state and national workforce needs.

鈥淚 am deeply honored to be appointed as the inaugural dean of the College of Graduate Studies,鈥� says Dr. Richman. 鈥淭owson University has a strong foundation of high-quality graduate programs and dedicated faculty. I am excited to work collaboratively across disciplines to elevate the coherence, visibility and impact of graduate education at 撸先生, while expanding access and ensuring our programs serve students, employers and communities in meaningful ways.鈥�

Dr. Richman earned her Ph.D. in special education (instructional technology and research) from the University of Kansas, along with a master鈥檚 degree in special education and a bachelor鈥檚 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鈥搒chool partnerships. Widely regarded as a trusted institutional leader, she is known for building consensus and advancing a forward-looking vision centered on student and faculty success.

As founding dean, Dr. Richman will guide the growth, strategic alignment and national profile of Towson University鈥檚 graduate programs, while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and positioning the College of Graduate Studies to respond to evolving societal and workforce demands.

Towson University further recognizes the campus-wide contributions that helped establish the College of Graduate Studies and shape its mission, as well as David Ownby for his thoughtful and committed service as interim dean during this period of transition.

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About Towson University

Towson University is Maryland鈥檚 university of opportunities. With more than 150 years of experience pushing possibilities, 撸先生 is a nationally recognized leader in inclusive excellence, social mobility, research and discovery. As the largest university in greater Baltimore, 撸先生鈥檚 momentum is always accelerating, with nearly 20,000 students and nearly 200 bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degree programs in the liberal arts and sciences and applied professional fields. Located amid one of the East Coast鈥檚 cultural and economic epicenters, 撸先生 is a beacon and powerful catalyst in the Mid-Atlantic, partnering with hundreds of businesses and organizations, impacting communities and fueling change. 撸先生 meets the holistic needs of each student to achieve success, a result of a deeply inclusive culture with a focus on equity among all students, faculty and staff.