Cranford, NJ – UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ is proud to announce that Dr. Maris Lown, who serves as the College’s Vice President for Academic Affairs, has been promoted to Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs. In her role as Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Lown manages all academic divisions of the College overseeing the deans of the respective academic divisions and is responsible for all credit-based instructional staff, including faculty, academic specialists, and adjuncts. The title of Provost signifies that Dr. Lown is the senior most executive at the College under the President.
Since Dr. Lown joined the College in 2011, she has spearheaded a revolution of the College’s academic programs in support of UCNJ’s emphasis on student success outcomes. The Academic Affairs Division, under Dr. Lown’s leadership, is critical to ensuring that students succeed thanks to an invested and committed faculty. Through college-wide initiatives, over the past decade, the first-time, full-time on time graduation rate at the College has more than quintupled. Additionally, the College has now twice been recognized by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program, as a Top 150 Community College in 2021 and as one of 25 Semifinalists in 2023.
Beyond her role at the College, Dr. Lown has presented at conferences for the Middles States Commission on Higher Education and serves as a peer evaluator for Middle States. Her extensive experience in accreditation, assessment, curriculum development, and program development provides direction, guidance, and vision for faculty in these areas. In 2018, Dr. Lown was the first recipient of the inaugural Dr. Lawrence A. Nespoli Community College Leadership Award, given by the New Jersey Council of County Colleges. Dr. Lown earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Rowan University, her master’s degree in nursing from Boston University, and her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Boston College.
“I am grateful for Dr. Lown’s leadership and support at the College. Her dedication and work ethic make her an invaluable member of my leadership team. Over the years, she has been a trusted advisor and colleague. This is a well-deserved recognition,” stated UCNJ’s President Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin.
UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ is a public, comprehensive community college that provides quality, affordable, accessible educational programs to the greater UCNJ County region. It is the first of New Jersey’s 18 two-year colleges, serving both career-minded and transfer-oriented students since 1933. The College offers a wide variety of academic and extracurricular activities. UCNJ provides many experiential learning opportunities such as access to a Bloomberg Business Center, Innovation Center, and Student Research hub. Additionally, students at UCNJ attend one of the top 25 community colleges in the country for 2023 as designated by the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. To learn more, visit www.ucc.edu.
