Four faculty and staff members from the University of Maryland College of Education will be recognized at the 43rd Annual University of Maryland Faculty & Staff Convocation on September 9 at the Memorial Chapel. Gregory R. Hancock, professor, will be honored as a Distinguished University Professor; Jing Lin, professor of international education policy, will be recognized as a Distinguished Scholar-Teacher; and Anisha M. Campbell, associate director of Terrapin Teachers, and Blesilda Ladines-Lim, director of finance and administration in the Department of Counseling, Higher Education and Special Education (CHSE), will receive President’s Distinguished Service Awards.
“I am proud and delighted that four outstanding members of our community will receive these prestigious accolades this year,” said Dean Kimberly Griffin. “These well-deserved honors reflect our colleagues’ extraordinary dedication to transforming education for good and their deep commitments to teaching, scholarship and service to the university community.”
Distinguished University Professor: Gregory R. Hancock
Hancock will receive the designation of Distinguished University Professor, the university’s highest faculty honor, which is bestowed upon those with an exceptional record in teaching, research and scholarly work in their field of study.
Hancock is a prolific quantitative methodologist whose work has shaped how researchers model and interpret data across the social and behavioral sciences. He is internationally recognized for advancing structural equation modeling, latent growth modeling, measurement reliability and power analysis. His methodological innovations make it possible to measure psychological constructs that cannot be directly observed, like motivation, temperament and intelligence.
Hancock’s papers have appeared in top journals in his field, such as Psychological Methods, Multivariate Behavioral Research and Psychometrika, and have tallied more than 20,000 citations.
“His work empowers applied researchers to engage more deeply with data, theory and evidence, thereby elevating the quality of scientific practice across a broad range of disciplines,” said Craig Enders, psychology professor at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Hancock earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Washington before joining UMD in 1995. He moved up to full professor in 2003.
He distinguishes his work by making complex quantitative methods accessible for students and professional scholars alike, achieved in part by co-hosting a popular podcast, “Quantitude.” The weekly show, with more than a million downloads since debuting in 2020, explores quantitative methods using a healthy dose of humor.
“Among the psychology students and scholars I talk with at my institution, at international conferences and across numerous social media platforms, the latest episode of ‘Quantitude’ is anticipated and discussed with only slightly less enthusiasm than the latest episode of ‘Real Housewives,’” said Jeffrey A. Greene M.Ed. ’98, M.A. ’06, Ph.D. ’07, the McMichael Professor of Educational Psychology and Learning Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a former student of Hancock’s.
In addition, Hancock is a fellow of the American Educational Research Association, American Psychological Association and Association for Psychological Science, and he organizes workshops as founding director of the influential Center for Integrated Latent Variable Research.
“Dr. Hancock is not simply a preeminent scholar; he is also a world-class teacher, a mentor of mentors and a visionary communicator,” said D. Betsy McCoach, the Anne Anastasi Endowed Chair of Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology at Fordham University. “His career demonstrates that methodological rigor and human connection can co-exist at the highest levels of academic achievement.”
Distinguished Scholar-Teacher: Jing Lin
Lin will be recognized as a Distinguished Scholar-Teacher at this year’s Convocation. The Distinguished Scholar-Teacher Program honors UMD faculty who have demonstrated outstanding accomplishments as both scholars and teachers, thereby serving as models of excellence for the faculty of a top research university.
At a time when humanity faces unprecedented challenges, Jing Lin is internationally recognized for reimagining education as a transformative force that cultivates wisdom and compassion and leads to a more peaceful, sustainable world.
Her pioneering scholarship has helped establish contemplative, holistic, peace and sustainability education as significant fields, integrating insights from Eastern and global wisdom traditions and contemporary educational research. She has authored or co-authored seven books, edited or co-edited nine, and created four book series, including the world’s first on peace education. In 2022, she launched the first free, open-access academic journal with a focus on contemplative and holistic education.
“Not only is her research productivity extraordinary,” said Hongyu Wang, professor of curriculum studies at Oklahoma State University, “but her intellectual advocacy of scholarly areas is ahead of her time with significant social, scholarly and global impact.”
In addition, she has held leadership roles in two major professional societies, the Comparative and International Education Society and the American Educational Research Association, and has inspired educators through keynote addresses, international collaborations and innovative university courses.
“Scholars around the world are not just awed by her contributions, but also professionally energized by her ideas,” said Rebecca L. Oxford, UMD professor emerita of teaching and learning, policy and leadership.
Lin received her bachelor’s degree from Guangxi University in China, her master’s degree from Michigan State University and her Doctor of Education degree from the University of Michigan. She joined UMD’s College of Education in 2000 and was promoted to full professor in 2007.
She employs pedagogies that foster holistic learning, integrating the body, heart, mind and spirit. For instance, she leads students in grounding practices to help them relax their bodies and engage more fully in class. She treats the classroom as a mutual learning community in which teachers and learners co-create knowledge, designing presentations, simulations, storytelling and reflective journals to provide ample opportunities for students to share their insights.
“Dr. Lin's integration of scholarship and teaching, her innovative pedagogical approaches and her commitment to educating the whole person set her apart as truly exemplary,” said Erin Sorensen Ph.D. ’22, one of Lin’s former doctoral advisees.
President’s Distinguished Service Award: Anisha M. Campbell and Blesilda Ladines-Lim
Campbell and Ladines-Lim will receive President’s Distinguished Service Awards. This award recognizes exceptional performance, leadership and service by university staff members who have demonstrated initiative toward the improvement of university programs or activities and have shown commitment to the campus community as a whole.
As Maryland continues to face a significant K-12 teacher shortage, Campbell is helping to lead UMD’s efforts to fill those gaps, especially for STEM educators. Since 2014, she has served as associate director of Terrapin Teachers, a collaboration between the College of Education and the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences. She has recruited more than 1,200 students across four colleges to take an introductory teaching course, and over 100 have graduated as certified secondary STEM teachers.
Campbell “embodies the qualities of an exceptional leader and collaborator. Her dedication to the students she serves, her team and the future of STEM education is visionary and unwavering,” said Shared Master Teacher Steve Karig, a high school biology teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools.
She drives every aspect of the program, from developing relationships with school districts to broadening recruitment efforts on and off campus to reach historically underrepresented students, minimizing barriers to completing teacher certification. She has secured major grants and spearheaded the creation of the shared master teacher and part-time paid internships positions as well as a program to support new teachers.
Her contributions “have expanded well beyond her original role, driving program growth through creative process improvements, innovative initiatives and mentorship,” said the Terrapin Teachers team.
For UMD students, she is a constant source of support. She not only hires tutors, connects students with scholarships and financial aid, and helps them manage the challenges of bureaucracy, but also brings in snacks and creates community.
“Before I committed to the university, she took the time to speak with me one on one about the program. Her warmth and enthusiasm for the program immediately inspired me to join,” said Zoe Chabria ’26. “Dr. Campbell has created an inclusive space for students, including myself, and has made a big university feel like a tight-knit community.”
Ladines-Lim has navigated the complex financial needs of CHSE’s faculty, staff and students for more than 30 years, from administering multimillion-dollar research contracts to securing fellowships for graduate student leaders.
“She is the embodiment of distinguished service, of a lifelong commitment to this institution, and of a values-driven dedication to the lives of students, staff and faculty,” said department Chair and Professor William Ming Liu.
As CHSE’s director of finance and administration, Ladines-Lim oversees fiscal management, strategic planning, grant development and post-award management, human resources, student financial support and facilities maintenance and improvement.
Her expertise has helped the department increase its external funding—now more than $20 million—including grants and contracts from the Gates Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education. She stays up-to-date on not only UMD policies but also state and federal laws and policies, and passes on her knowledge to faculty, staff and students. Her support has been critical, in particular, to the success of the Center for Transition and Career Innovation and the Institute for the Study of Exceptional Children and Youth.
Ladines-Lim’s behind-the-scenes work enables faculty “to train educators, research important issues in education policy and practice, and support the needs of underserved learners and communities locally and nationally,” said Senior Contract Administrator Maura Collinge.
Ladines-Lim earned a B.S. and MBA from the University of the Philippines and joined UMD’s College of Education in 1990. She “builds a more collaborative, diverse and welcoming community,” said former colleague David Toledo, now director of finance and business services for the Division of Student Affairs. “When anyone is having a stressful day, they can count on her ability to cheer them up, to put things into perspective and to guide us all through any problem we may be facing.”
