UMUC Links of Interest Speaker: Dr. Susan C. Aldridge Stay Connected (Alumni Association) Press Release (PDF 164KB) 2007 Commencement Photo Gallery

University of Maryland University College is pleased to announce that President Susan C. Aldridge will address the Class of 2008.

Dr. Susan C. Aldridge, a highly accomplished leader in adult and distance education, joined the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) as its fifth president on February 1, 2006. As UMUC’s chief executive, Dr. Aldridge oversees the nation’s 12th largest degree-granting institution, which includes three divisions in the United States, Europe, and Asia; the world’s largest and fastest growing virtual campus; and more than 90,000 students in 24 countries.

A Commitment to Quality and Access

Dr. Aldridge has been widely recognized both here at home and abroad for her outstanding service to and numerous accomplishments in higher education, business, and government. A passionate educator and seasoned administrator, with a distinguished career spanning over two decades, Dr. Aldridge is deeply committed to creating high-quality academic programs and world-class services for non-traditional students. In just two short years at UMUC, Dr. Aldridge has focused her extraordinary vision, energy, and intellect on expanding the university’s global outreach and presence; strengthening its infrastructure; and streamlining its massive business operation.

Accomplishments to Date

Not long after arriving at UMUC, Dr. Aldridge successfully led efforts to increase university enrollment by just over 10,000 students in only six months, or by more students than are enrolled on all but a very few campuses in Maryland. Dr. Aldridge also moved quickly to integrate the university’s three divisions under one central information system; a new strategic plan and growth strategy; restructure its financial aid process to eliminate costly delays; launch new degree programs and international locations; reorganize its marketing department into an in-house ad agency; and develop a university-wide data warehouse and business intelligence system to track performance among key university units. And by automating UMUC’s transfer credit process, while at the same time growing the university’s portfolio of 2+2 articulation agreements, Dr. Aldridge has paved the way for literally thousands of course equivalencies with some of the largest community college systems in the country.

Previous Leadership Positions

As former Vice Chancellor for Troy University’s University College and eCampus in Alabama, Dr. Aldridge served as chief executive officer for all of the institution’s graduate and undergraduate degree programs outside the state. As such, she oversaw university operations in 17 states and 14 countries; enrolling more than 18,000 students across 13 time zones. While there, she doubled revenues, and expanded the student body by 6,000 students in three years. Before joining the Troy University leadership team, she served as a faculty member of the National University of Singapore, as well as a lecturer at Hong Kong University. Dr. Aldridge also distinguished herself as a member of the senior management team at the Denver Regional Council of Governments.

Prior Awards and Honors

Among her many academic and civic awards, Dr. Aldridge was recognized by both the State of Colorado and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for “outstanding leadership” in the field of health care planning and management. Additionally, her extensive contributions in the areas of program planning and evaluation, and quality assurance earned her both a Distinguished Service Award from HHS and an Outstanding Public Service Award from the U. S. Social Security Administration.

State and National Leadership Roles

Since becoming the President of UMUC, Dr. Aldridge has taken a leading role in numerous higher education panels and various academic conferences across the country and around the world, including a delegation led by U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. This delegation, which included eight U.S. college and university presidents, traveled to Chile and Brazil to bring America’s higher education message to students, university administrators, government officials, and business leaders there.

Moreover, Dr. Aldridge served as both chair and co-chair of the US-China Forum on Distance Education, as well as co-chair of the Department of Defense Task Force on Distance Learning Standards. She currently sits on the Maryland Council of University System Presidents, the PreK-16 Leadership Council, and the board of the Servicemembers Opportunities Colleges; is an elected board member of the International Academy of Business Disciplines; and is a member of the NASULGC-Sloan National Commission on Online Learning. And in 2008, Dr. Aldridge was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Defense to the Air University Board of Visitors.

Education and Research Interests

Dr. Aldridge has authored numerous scholarly journal articles and conference papers in the areas of adult education; distance learning; the emerging global university; expanded access to student support services; health care administration and cost containment; and service planning for older populations. She earned both a PhD and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado, after receiving her bachelor's degree in sociology/psychology from Colorado Women's College.

Last updated: 14 May 2008