Wallace Loh

Wallace Dzu Loh (Chinese: 陸道逵; pinyin: Lù Dàokuí; born 1946) was the president of the University of Maryland, College Park, a position assumed November 1, 2010. He retired from the presidency on June 30th, 2020 and was succeeded by Darryll J. Pines.

Wallace Loh
陸道逵
33rd President of the University of Maryland, College Park
In office
November 1, 2010 – June 30, 2020
Preceded byC. Daniel Mote Jr.
Succeeded byDarryll Pines
Personal details
Born1946 (age 74–75)
Shanghai
NationalityPeruvian / American
Academic background
Alma materGrinnell College (BA)
Cornell University (MA)
University of Michigan (PhD)
Yale University (JD)
ThesisA social psychological study of political commitment in Quebec and Belgium (1971)
Doctoral advisor 
Academic work
DisciplineLaw
Sub-disciplinelaw and social change, criminal justice reform
Institutions
Wallace Loh
Traditional Chinese陸道逵
Simplified Chinese陆道逵
The University of Maryland, College Park Art Gallery celebrated its 50th anniversary on February 24, 2016 with a memorable art exhibition. Among those attending were President Wallace Loh and his wife, Barbara, on the left; and Prof. David Driskell, along with Prof. Dagmar R. Henney, on the right. Photo courtesy University of Maryland Art Gallery, used with permission.

Early life

Loh was born in Shanghai to a prominent family. His grandparents owned five blocks' worth of downtown Shanghai property, and his father was a diplomat.[1][2] In 1949, when Mao Zedong took over China after the Communist Revolution, the Loh family sought asylum in Lima, Peru.[1] He went to the United States for college, earning a bachelor's degree from Grinnell College. He later earned a master's degree from Cornell where he was elected for membership in the Telluride House,[3] a Ph.D. degree in psychology from the University of Michigan,[4] and a J.D. degree from Yale Law School.[5]

Academic career

Before becoming the president at University of Maryland, College Park, Loh spent three decades in higher education. He has been dean of the University of Washington Law School, vice chancellor of the University of Colorado, a dean at Seattle University, and most recently provost at the University of Iowa where he oversaw budgets and personnel for the state university's eleven colleges.

During his career in academic administration, Loh has led campaigns to curb underage drinking at University of Iowa, and more recently, to diversify the University of Washington Law School.[5][6]

In his position as President of the University of Maryland he led many initiatives. During his leadership, the university saw a 13.8% increase in underrepresented minority graduation rates, and a decrease in the gap between white and underrepresented minority students by 6.1%.[7] He wrote an editorial in Time magazine discussing the importance of an open dialogue on cultural differences between the student population.[8] He also participated in the planning and development of a memorial square to Frederick Douglass to honor his contributions to America's quest for freedom, liberty, and equal rights.[9] In President Loh's vision, a university should have a social responsibility for the world to provide an education of humanities and social science programs to citizens. Therefore, Loh deems that a university should have both humanities, arts, and social programs and STEM programs balanced. He defends for humanities and social programs when other universities are eliminating these programs for reasons that these programs are not popular in job market.

The University of Maryland ranks among the top five quantum computing research universities in the United States and among the top 12 in the world, according to The Quantum Daily, a quantum computing news website. In US News and World Report's 2020 rankings of 1,500 universities (across 81 countries) of the "best global universities," University of Maryland's College Park campus is ranked 51st in the world, 30th among all U.S. universities, and 15th among all U.S. public universities. Separately, University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business is No.2 in Financial Times’ 2018 ranking of Master of Finance programs in the United States. According to U.S. News & World Report Rankings 2017, Maryland's iSchool Earns National Ranking No.8 in Library and Information Studies. [10] Moreover, Maryland Terrapins has achieved 𝟏𝟎 National Championships, 𝟑𝟖 Conference Championships in the decade. However, he endured a personnel scandal related to the death of a football player, Jordan McNair.[11]

Loh announced on October 30, 2018, that he would retire as president of the University of Maryland on June 30, 2019, following a detailed investigation into McNair's death. The following day, October 31, Loh fired D. J. Durkin against the desire of the University's Board of Regents, which voted to retain Durkin as head football coach. [12]

On January 30, 2019, Loh moved his retirement date from June 2019 to June 2020 due to the University's lack of a ready replacement.[13]

Awards and memberships
  • Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
  • Board of directors of American Council of Education
  • Advisory Board of Comptroller General of the United States
  • Recipient of American Immigration Council's 16th annual Immigrant Achievement Award

References
  1. Abutaleb, Yasmeen (October 31, 2013). "The life of Loh". The Diamondback. University of Maryland. Archived from the original on October 16, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  2. Jaffe, Harry (April 3, 2014). "What Made Me: University of Maryland President Wallace Loh". Washingtonian. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  3. "Telluride Association Newsletter" (PDF). 104 (1). May 2018: 1. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. Loh, Wallace Dzu (1971). A social psychological study of political commitment in Quebec and Belgium (Ph.D.). University of Michigan. OCLC 313382569 – via ProQuest.
  5. De Vise, Dan (August 17, 2010). "University of Iowa Provost Wallace Loh new president at University of Maryland". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
  6. Walker, Childs (August 18, 2010). "New UM president believes his job is a calling". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
  7. Brown, Crystal (December 2, 2015). "University of Maryland Ranks 'Top of Class' for Improving Minority Graduation Rates & Closing the Achievement Gap". UMD Now. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  8. Loh, Wallace (November 16, 2015). "The Clash of Ideas Strengthens Our Universities—and Our Nation". Time. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  9. Brown, Crystal (November 18, 2015). "University of Maryland Dedicates Frederick Douglass Square to Honor Maryland's Native Son". Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  10. "U.S. News National University Rankings, 2008–2015". June 13, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  11. https://www.facebook.com/doughertywashpost. "Experts say Maryland may not have acted quickly enough to save football player". Washington Post. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  12. Svrluga, Susan (November 1, 2018). "Calls grow for U-Md. president to stay, after 'courageous and important' ouster of football coach Durkin". Washington Post. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  13. Richman, Talia. "In reversal, Loh will remain University of Maryland president through June 2020". baltimoresun.com. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
Academic offices
Preceded by
C. Daniel Mote Jr.		 President of the University of Maryland, College Park
2010 – 2020		 Succeeded by
Darryll Pines
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