After a months-long search, University of Maryland Eastern Shore has selected an interim president.
Mickey L. Burnim, who served as Bowie State University president for more than a decade, will begin his term July 1, the university announced Monday. Burnim will follow current UMES President Juliette Bell, who announced in February she will step down this summer to pursue her passions and spend time with family.
“Mickey Burnim is a widely respected member of the [University System of Maryland] community with success leading two Historically Black Institutions, including more than a decade of excellent service as president of Bowie State University,” said University System of Maryland Chancellor Robert Caret in a statement. “He is the ideal leader to guide UMES on an interim basis while the search and selection process for a new president concludes.”
During Burnim’s tenure at Bowie State, he oversaw the addition of cybersecurity and information technology majors, the opening of three new buildings and an increase in graduate student enrollment.
Burnim also served as chancellor of Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina — another historically black institution — from 1995 to 2006.
Burnim will lead the university, and its nearly 3,500 students, until a permanent president is selected. The search process for a new president typically takes about six months to complete.
