Yolanda Wilson, a proud alum of the University of Maryland College of Education, became president of the College of Southern Maryland on January 3. She is the first Black president in the college’s 64-year history.
Wilson earned her bachelor’s degree in English education and her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction at the University of Maryland and her Ed.D. in adult and community college education at North Carolina State University. Because she was a Project Excellence scholarship recipient as an undergraduate, she was awarded a graduate fellowship to UMD that allowed her to continue her studies and complete her master’s degree. Wilson spent more than 22 years as a professor and administrator in the community college systems of North Carolina and South Carolina. Most recently, she served as vice president of instruction, Ashe Campus and Alleghany Center, at Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, North Carolina.
“My professional journey as a faculty member, administrator and lifelong learner is a direct reflection of the excellent foundation I received at the University of Maryland College of Education,” said Wilson. “The college has always been at the forefront of challenging the status quo to create more equitable, inclusive opportunities for its students and its community. This culture of bold, decisive action reflects its inherent belief in the value of all students and its unwavering commitment to advance social justice and diversity of thought in scholarship, research and practice. I know that I sit in the seat that I am in as a beneficiary of this forward-thinking investment in my future. For that, I am grateful; for that, I am proud to be a Terp … then, now and forever.”
