Wendy Stickle has been appointed the next Executive Director of College Park Scholars
April 28, 2026
Dear Colleagues,
I write to share the news that Dr. Wendy Stickle has been appointed the next Executive Director of College Park Scholars, effective July 1, 2026.
As Principal Lecturer and Undergraduate Program Director for the UMD Criminology and Criminal Justice program at the Universities at Shady Grove, Dr. Stickle has extensive experience leading a complex academic program, building campus-wide partnerships, and supporting students through innovative, high-impact educational initiatives. She has also led multiple education abroad programs designed to foster empathy, global awareness, and socially engaged learning.
Her commitment to inclusive, student-centered undergraduate education and transparent, collaborative leadership is widely recognized at UMD, where she serves as University Senate chair-elect and previously served as chair of the University Senate PCC Committee.
Dr. Stickle’s areas of scholarly and teaching interest focus on human trafficking and she co-authored the first comprehensive social-science textbook on the subject. She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in criminology and criminal justice from the University of Maryland and earned her B.A. in psychology from St. Mary’s College of Maryland.
Please join me in welcoming Wendy Stickle to College Park Scholars, and in thanking Professor Marilee Lindemann for her exceptional service in this role as she returns to the faculty of the Department of English this summer.
Finally, I want to thank the members of the search committee, chaired by Dr. Katherine Russell, Associate Dean in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, and all the members of the College Park Scholars community who participated so generously in the search process.
Best Wishes,
William A. Cohen
Associate Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Studies