Dr. Mary Ann Rankin, currently Professor of Biology at the University of Maryland, College Park, served as the Senior Vice President and Provost of that institution from October 2012- January 2021. As Provost Rankin launched a number of initiatives, including a university-wide strategic planning update and a major administrative modernization effort to improve efficiency in many aspects of university management. She and her team revamped the university budget and finance system, and co-led UMD in a major operating system upgrade, moving from outdated, server-based HR, finance, and student information systems to an integrated suite of modern, cloud-based programs (Workday). She also led a major expansion of enrollment at UMD with emphases on expanding diversity and opportunities in computer and data science for all students. She launched a Teaching and Learning Transformation Center (TLTC) to work with faculty to improve teaching and student outcomes and to advance Maryland as an international leader in evidence-based education. The TLTC was critical in assisting faculty and students in the transition to online course delivery that was essential during the recent COVID pandemic. Rankin led the University through a major national accreditation process and established the highly successful First-Year Innovation and Research Experience (FIRE) program that provides first-year students with an authentic research experience, faculty mentorship and institutional connections that improve academic success, personal resilience and professional development.

Rankin also played a major role in implementing the collaboration between the University of Maryland, College Park, and University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) (called MPowering the State) that has enriched educational opportunities for students, boosted joint research efforts, and created new technology transfer opportunities between the UMB and College Park campuses. She also established a state-of-the art research initiative in Neuroscience (Brain and Behavior Institute (BBI) that will team College Park’s schools of Engineering; Public Health; and Computer, Math, and Natural Sciences; with Baltimore’s School of Medicine in a major neuroscience initiative. She was instrumental in acquiring funding for the new Brendan Iribe Center for Computer Science and Engineering that now provides a home for the Department of Computer Science at the main gate of UMD, enabling advances generating new high-tech companies.

Rankin received her bachelor's degree from Louisiana State University in New Orleans and doctorate from the University of Iowa. After 2 years as a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard University she joined the faculty of The University of Texas at Austin where she served for 36 years, including 6 years as chair of biological sciences and nearly 17 years as Dean of the College of Natural Sciences. Prior to becoming UMD’s Senior Vice President and Provost, Rankin spent a year as CEO of the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI)—a public-private partnership dedicated to expanding the pipeline of STEM K-12 teachers and graduates.

As Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at UT Austin, Rankin, with her team, created numerous highly successful programs for undergraduates, including the UTeach program for math and science teacher preparation, the Freshman Research Initiative, which she expanded to FIRE at UMD, and the Texas Interdisciplinary plan (TIP). UTeach has been cited as a national model for STEM teacher preparation and is now being replicated in 48 universities across the United States, including at UMD as the Terrapin Teachers Program.

As Dean, Rankin also led the launch of new interdisciplinary research initiatives and the construction of 11 new, world-class science buildings or building wings. As dean she raised over $800 million in private funding for academic programs, research centers, and academic buildings.