Nancy S. Grasmick, who served as the Maryland state superintendent of schools for 20 years, joined the University of Maryland College of Education faculty in February 2018. Dr. Grasmick received the appointment of College Park Professor, a University of Maryland designation that is conferred on nationally distinguished scholars, creative or performing artists, or researchers.
“Dr. Grasmick’s experience as a state and national leader in education, as well as her strong partnerships across the state, are a welcome addition to the College of Education,” Dean Jennifer King Rice said. “Her expertise in educator preparation and education policy will be an asset to the College and our students.”
With a wealth of achievements and a multitude of prominent positions, Dr. Grasmick has a strong record of leadership in education. She was Maryland’s first female state superintendent of schools, where she demonstrated a commitment to student performance, teacher quality, and public school funding during the two decades—from 1991 to 2011—she spent overseeing the Maryland school system. During her tenure as state superintendent, Maryland won significant education grants and the state’s public school system received a number of top-rankings for its quality and academic offerings.
Dr. Grasmick served on the National Academies Committee on Prospering in the Global Economy in the 21st Century, which produced the 2005 study, Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. She is a recipient of a number of prestigious awards, including the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education.
“Throughout my career, I have been devoted to excellence in education and to instituting education policies that enhance teaching and learning,” Dr. Grasmick said. “I look forward to continuing that work at the UMD College of Education, as the College provides leadership to the state on education policy and innovations in educator preparation.”
Early in her career, Dr. Grasmick taught deaf children in Baltimore City at the William S. Baer School. She subsequently held many leadership roles in the school system, including principal, supervisor, assistant superintendent, and associate superintendent in Baltimore County Public Schools. Most recently, Dr. Grasmick has served as a presidential scholar at Towson University and co-director of the Center for Innovation and Leadership in Special Education at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, where she also is Vice President of the Board.
“As a policymaker of great stature and leading voice on education in the state of Maryland, Dr. Grasmick is a very valuable addition to the University of Maryland,” said UMD Senior Vice President and Provost Mary Ann Rankin.
In the role of College Park Professor, Dr. Grasmick will bring her wealth of knowledge and experience to the faculty and students in the College of Education, as well as provide expertise that helps guide important research initiatives.
