Douglas W. Oard named Interim Dean of UMD’s College of Information, bringing decades of leadership and research expertise
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — The University of Maryland College of Information (INFO) has appointed Douglas W. Oard as Interim Dean, effective July 1, 2025. Oard, an experienced leader and professor and a distinguished researcher with nearly three decades of service to the college, will lead INFO during this transitional period.
Douglas W. Oard, Interim Dean of the College of Information
A renowned expert in information retrieval, Oard has been instrumental in advancing the college’s research and academic mission. Since joining INFO in 1996, his work has explored how emerging technologies can help to transform the ways in which people find and interact with information.
“I’m honored to step into this role and build on the college’s strong foundation,” said Oard. “This is an exciting time for INFO, and I look forward to working with our faculty, students, staff, and partners. Together we continue to drive innovation and academic excellence.”
Oard holds a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland. He previously served as the college’s Associate Dean for Research and Associate Dean for Faculty, and his teaching has spanned four of the college’s seven degree programs. As a research leader, he has directed the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS) Computational Linguistics and Information Processing laboratory, one of the top research groups in that field. This broad range of interdisciplinary expertise aligns well with the college’s commitment to high-impact research and education.
Under Oard’s interim leadership, INFO will continue its trajectory of excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement. The college extends its gratitude to outgoing Dean Keith Marzullo for his decade of leadership and wishes him success in his new role at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Media Contact: Mia Hinckle, Communications Team, UMD INFO College, mhinckle@umd.edu.
About the University of Maryland College of Information
Founded in 1965, the University of Maryland College of Information (INFO) is a leading research and teaching college in the field of information science, ranked #3 in the USA by the U.S. News & World Report. INFO faculty, staff, and students are expanding the frontiers of how people access and use information and technology in an evolving world—in government, education, business, social media, and more. The college offers top-ranked academic degree programs and leads cutting-edge academic and industry research, specializing in library and information science, digital curation, data systems and management, human-computer interaction, AI and machine learning, accessible and inclusive technology design, sociotechnical systems, and cybersecurity and privacy. Located just outside of Washington, D.C., INFO faculty, staff, and students have unmatched research, internship, and career opportunities. https://info.umd.edu/