Nicholas Allen Appointed Interim President

of University of Maryland University College

Adelphi, MD (June 8, 2005) - William E. Kirwan, chancellor of the University System of Maryland, announced today his appointment of Nicholas H. Allen, provost of University of Maryland University College (UMUC), as UMUC's interim president. The appointment is effective at the conclusion of UMUC President Gerald Heeger's tenure on August 30, 2005.

Heeger announced in May that he will step down from the UMUC presidency to assume the presidency of a new international educational initiative in Texas, Whitney International University.

"As the chief academic officer of University College, Provost Allen has been the architect of the university's phenomenal growth in online education," said Kirwan. "He is a longtime and highly respected member of the UMUC community and is well positioned to maintain stability during this time of transition, ensuring that UMUC's impressive momentum continues unabated."

Allen has served as provost and chief academic officer at UMUC since 1998. He joined the university in 1987 as a senior faculty member and director of General Management and Executive Programs. In 1991, Allen was appointed dean of the university's Graduate School of Management and Technology, which has emerged as one of the largest schools of management on the east coast.

As provost, Allen has overseen UMUC's emergence as one of the world's largest virtual universities with online enrollments reaching more than 126,000 last year. He also oversees the delivery of UMUC academic programs to U.S. military and their dependents in 28 foreign countries, under contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense.

Allen is highly regarded worldwide for his contributions to higher education. Since 2000, he has participated regularly in national and international forums on distance education. Currently, he serves on the Core Programme Committee for the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) World Conference, which will be in Rio de Janeiro next year. The conference gathers world experts and representatives of leading distance-education institutions.

Allen received his B.S. from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, MBA from Oklahoma City University, and MPA and DPA degrees from the George Washington University. He and his wife Eva reside in Crofton, Md.

Contact: Anne Moultrie

301.445.2722
E-mail: amoultrie@usmd.edu