Darryll J. Pines

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President, University of Maryland, College Park

Darryll J. Pines, president of the University of Maryland, credits the relationships he has built with students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni and community leaders for his success.

“When I started as president, I stated that I had two priorities: Achieve excellence in everything that we do (arts, academics, athletics) and create a multicultural community where everyone can reach their full potential,” said Pines. “These two priorities have not changed, and have endured multiple worldwide crises, but they have been the key to our collective success.”

In 2020, as the world fought a global pandemic and the U.S. grappled with the death of George Floyd and a contentious election, Pines said he understood his role as a servant leader for the UMD community.

“As a leader of an institution whose mascot is a Terrapin, I realized that our community is fearless in taking risks, and resilient when facing grand challenges and uncertainty in society,” said Pines. “It rises up to take on these grand challenges and to seek out actionable solutions to improve the human condition on the planet.”

At UMD, Pines spearheaded the Arts for All initiative, which integrates the arts with sciences and technology to foster creativity and problem-solving. He also launched the TerrapinSTRONG onboarding program to build community and belonging among new faculty, staff and students, as well as the Fearlessly Forward strategic plan to improve the lives of every person on earth through education, research, and community engagement.

Pines is passionate about the Do Good Campus initiative, which equips students with the skills and resources to create social impact. He is committed to advancing education and public service, through involvement in organizations such as the National Academy of Engineering and the MIT Corporation.