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The Wilson H. Elkins Professorship

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Criteria 

Elkins Professors must exhibit, at a minimum, all of the following qualifications: 

  • A solid record of achievement in a recognized academic or professional discipline;
  • Evidence of significant achievement outside traditional disciplines but linked in scholarly and professional ways to the work of the USM;
  • Demonstrated ability and continuing desire to lead and inspire undergraduate and graduate students in a range of learning situations – from the lab, to the classroom, to the studio, to the community, to online; and  
  • Demonstrated ability and intent to participate in programs and activities outside the USM. Income from the endowment for the Elkins Professorship is intended to support compelling projects with focus on research, scholarship, or community engagement that will allow the Elkins Professor to make an important contribution to the teaching, research, or public service mission of the institution and the entire

Income from the endowment for the Elkins Professorship is intended to support compelling projects with focus on research, scholarship, or community engagement that will allow the Elkins Professor to make an important contribution to the teaching, research, or public service mission of the institution and the entire USM. Direct involvement with undergraduate and/or graduate students and outreach to other institutions within the System are hallmarks of the Elkins Professors. 

The Professorship income may be used to supplement an existing faculty line; recruit an outstanding individual to an institution to fill a vacancy; or to provide special recognition or support to retain a current outstanding faculty member who has made or will make an important contribution to the teaching, research, or public service mission of the institution and the entire USM through a compelling project with focus on research, scholarship, or community engagement. Institutions that use the Professorship to provide a salary supplement should understand that continued salary supplement after the Professorship period becomes the responsibility of the individual institution.

In all cases, the Professorship should not be viewed as a reward for maintenance of the status quo but as an opportunity for the institution to build on its strengths to be of greater service to its students and to society. 

Beginning in FY 2027, individual Elkins Professorship awards will be made up to a maximum of $40,000. This change is designed to expand opportunities across the System, allowing us to support multiple Professorships and a broader range of innovative projects.

Nomination Process

Nomination(s) for the Professorship should include:

  1. A short (one page or less) narrative description of how the nominee exemplifies the excellence an endowed professorship signifies;

  2. A brief curriculum vitae of the nominee;

  3. A description of the compelling research, scholarship, or community engagement project that the faculty member will undertake;

  4. A description of how the income from the Elkins endowment would be used, including a proposed budget listing the amount of proposed support for publications, graduate/undergraduate assistants, lab materials, distinguished lecture series, travel, salary supplement, etc. (The proposed budget should be based on a maximum annual award of $40,000. However, the amount of spendable income the endowment generates will determine how many awards and the amount(s) of the awards we can offer for FY 2027); and

  5. A proposed time-period (Appointments to the Elkins Professorship are ordinarily made for a one-year period. Departments may apply to renew an existing Elkins Professorship during the normal review cycle).

Applicants may use generative AI tools to assist in proposal development. If AI tools are used, please include a brief disclosure statement indicating: 

  • Which AI tool(s) were used (including version) 

  • How they were used (e.g., brainstorming, drafting, editing) 

  • Confirmation that all content has been reviewed and verified for accuracy

Proposals should adhere to best practices in digital accessibility, such as the use of heading structure and meaningful alternative text for images. The USM Digital Accessibility Checklist is a helpful guide.

The nomination package should be submitted to faculty@umd.edu by no later than Thursday, April 30th, 2026. 

The University will prepare a letter of nomination for the selected candidate to submit to USM directly by May 22nd, 2026. Contact the Office of Faculty Affairs regarding submission procedures at faculty@umd.edu or 301.405.6803.