Eileen Abel.
LA PLATA, Md.—The College of Southern Maryland announced the selection of Eileen Abel as vice president of academic affairs. With more than 30 years of experience in higher education, Abel possesses a strong foundation and commitment to the administration and management of all aspects of academic programming and student support services.
“Eileen brings a vast amount of experience to the position, having served as faculty member, coordinator, dean of faculty and a vice president of academic affairs. As the college continues to develop and refine academic programs to meet the needs of our community, we are pleased to have Eileen’s enthusiasm and talent to ensure that CSM remains a top choice for Southern Maryland students whether they come to us for a certificate, an associate degree or one of our many transfer articulation opportunities,” said CSM President Dr. Brad Gottfried.
“The College of Southern Maryland has top quality academic options, a focused vision, and strong community ties, but it is the talented and dedicated faculty and staff that really make this an exceptional community college,” Abel said. “I am honored to be named CSM’s new vice president of academic affairs and am anxious to continue and add to its proud academic legacy.”
In her most recent position as vice president of academic affairs at Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC), a regional community college in Somerville, N.J., Abel provided leadership for faculty-led academic departments, academic program review and assessment, academic support services, career advisement and transfer agreements. The scope of her efforts included Honors College, and concurrent enrollment and early college academy programs as well as prison education.
During her tenure, RVCC was awarded a $4.6 million Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grant for industry-driven technical program development. She oversaw the development of articulation agreements with Greenwich University in London, American University in Paris and School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
In addition, she oversaw three years of data-driven work under “Achieving the Dream,” resulting in systematized early alert, mandatory academic planning and accelerated developmental math options. Her workforce experience includes working with faculty and local industry partners to develop programs in personal fitness and sports management, electrical utility technology, manufacturing and occupational therapy assistant.
Prior to RVCC, Abel served as coordinator for general education at Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC), as dean of faculty at College of the Redwoods, Eureka, Calif., and as assistant dean in the humanities department and as professor of English at BCTC.
Her career in education began as an adjunct faculty member at Pellissippi State Community College in Knoxville, Tenn., and later included working at Centre College in Danville, Ky., where she served as summer faculty for the college’s Governor’s Scholars Program.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in international studies from College of Wooster, Ohio, and a Master of Arts and Doctorate in English from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
She has served as a board member for Princeton University Mid-Career Fellowship Program, New Jersey Council of County Colleges Center for Student Success and Hunterdon Preparatory School in Annandale, N.J. She has served as a member with Mandala Diversity Ambassadors, Kentucky Women Writers Conference and with the Lexington Art League. She served as a facilitator with the Kentucky Center for Community and Justice’s “People to People” Conference and she volunteered with the Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center.
Abel and her husband, Bill Luyster, an adjunct professor of physics and astronomy, will reside in La Plata. They have multiple rescue pets, including three terriers. They both enjoy water sports, including kayaking and canoeing, swimming and scuba diving.
Source: CSM