ADVANCE Professors are faculty members across campus who have been selected by their college or school leadership and appointed to promote faculty professional growth and success. Each college or school has one ADVANCE Professor who collaborates with the ADVANCE Program and leadership to identify and address faculty concerns, particularly around diversity, equity, and inclusion.
ADVANCE Professors help faculty access resources and provide feedback to leadership on challenges, aiming to create a more inclusive and equitable academic environment. Their role involves attending regular meetings and developing project plans to address specific issues.
April Barczewski, ADVANCE Professor for the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Principal Agent, University of Maryland Extension
Barczewski currently serves as the 4-H Youth Development Educator in Cecil County. Barczewski’s work focuses on youth development and education in agriculture, animal science, leadership, and life skills, and is committed to creating meaningful, lasting impacts for 4-H youth.
Faedra Carpenter, ADVANCE Professor for the College of Arts and Humanities
Maya Brin Professor of New Performance, School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies
While Faedra has taught at UMD for 17 years and has had the privilege of serving on several university-wide committees, she is especially excited about starting her first year as the AP for ARHU.
Eun Kyoung Choe, ADVANCE Professor for the College of Information
Professor, College of Information
She is a Human-Computer Interaction researcher aiming to design technologies that help people collect, explore, and act on their personal data to make informed, personalized health decisions and improve their health and well-being. She received her Ph.D.
Sarah Croco, ADVANCE Professor for the College of Behavioral & Social Sciences
Professor, Government and Politics
Sarah Croco is a professor in the Department of Government and Politics and a faculty associate at the Center for International Development and Conflict Management at the University of Maryland. She received her Ph.D.
Karen Denny, ADVANCE Professor for the Philip Merrill College of Journalism
Senior Lecturer & Director of Internships and Career Services, Philip Merrill College of Journalism
Karen Denny is Merrill College's director of internships and career development.
Elaine Eggleston Doherty, ADVANCE Professor for the School of Public Health
Research Professor, Behavioral and Community Health
Elaine’s research is grounded in the intersection of life course criminology and public health and focuses on the patterns and interrelationships between drug use, crime, criminal legal system involvement, and health over the life course.
Alana Hackshaw, ADVANCE Professor for the School of Public Policy
Clinical Professor, School of Public Policy
Alana Hackshaw, PhD, is a clinical professor in the School of Public Policy (SPP). She also serves on SPP's senior leadership team as the School's Chief Access and Success Officer.
Christine Hartzell, ADVANCE Professor for the A. James Clark School of Engineering
Professor, Aerospace Engineering
Christine Hartzell is a Minta Martin Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Maryland and the director of ASTRA-UMD, UMD’s newly started center for space exploration research.
Susan Kern, ADVANCE Professor for the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation
Associate Professor and Director, Historic Preservation Program
Kern’s current research looks at landmark preservation projects of the early 20th century and their role setting standards for what visitors expect from museums and historic sites. She holds a masters in architectural history from University of Virginia and a Ph.D.
Laura Mahalingappa, ADVANCE Professor for the College of Education
Professor, Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership
Laura Mahalingappa is an associate professor of Applied Linguistics and Language Education in the Department of Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership whose work focuses on the language and education of marginalized learners across PK–12 and postsecondary contexts and teacher preparat
Michelle L. Mazurek, ADVANCE Professor for the College of Computer, Mathematical, & Natural Sciences
Professor, Computer Science
Michelle Mazurek is a Professor of Computer Science and UMIACS and the Director of the Maryland Cybersecurity Center. Michelle's research aims to understand and support the human elements of digital security and privacy-decision making.
Shirley Micallef, ADVANCE Professor for the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Professor, Plant Science & Landscape Architecture
Shirley’s work lies at the intersection of agriculture and public health, researching plant-bacterial interactions and plant microbiomes to improve food safety, maximize crop nutritional quality and enhance crop resilience to environmental stresses.
Rebecca Ratner, ADVANCE Professor for the Robert H. Smith School of Business
Professor, Marketing
Rebecca Ratner is the Dean's Professor of Marketing at the Robert H. Smith School of Business. She recently served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for the Smith School. Dr. Ratner received a Ph.D.