Dear colleagues,
I am excited to announce the appointment of Marc Seigar as the next dean of the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences. Marc comes to us from the University of Toledo where he currently serves as the dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. He will join UMBC on August 3, 2026.
Marc is a proven leader and scholar that will build on the strong foundation laid by Bill LaCourse during his 15-year tenure as dean of CNMS. Bill will be returning to the faculty following a research leave. I want to personally thank Bill who has been a valuable member of the academic leadership team. I also want to thank Jeanne van Briesen and the search committee who put in countless hours throughout the process. Thank you for your time and dedication.
Marc brings a strong background in academic leadership to his new role. Prior to his leadership at the University of Toledo, he served as a rotating program director in the Division of Astronomical Sciences at the National Science Foundation and as an associate dean in the Swenson College of Science and Engineering and head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Minnesota Duluth. His administrative work has focused on developing programs that attract new students, grow research, and promote engagement and academic success through student-centered systems.
Marc earned his Ph.D. in astrophysics from the Liverpool Astrophysics Research Institute and his bachelor of science in physics from Imperial College London. He began his career as an assistant professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
An accomplished scholar, Marc has published more than 100 articles on galaxy structure and dynamics, supermassive black holes, and dark matter distribution in galaxies. His articles are widely cited. Marc is the author of two books. His work has been supported by federal funding agencies including NASA and NSF, as well as private foundations.
Marc is a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and an associate of the Royal College of Science. He is also a member of the American Astronomical Society and the Sigma Xi honors society. He has served in editorial roles for journals in his field and currently serves on the editorial board of the Effective Practices for Physics Programs project, a project that is led by the American Physical Society and the American Association of Physics Teachers.
Please join me in welcoming Marc to the UMBC family.
Sincerely,
Manfred H.M. van Dulmen
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs