UMBC Appoints Astrophysicist Marc Seigar as Dean of Natural and Mathematical Sciences

Top Summary

• What happened: Dr. Marc Seigar has been appointed as the new dean of UMBC's College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences.
• Why it matters: He brings extensive academic leadership and research expertise to drive student success and expand research initiatives.
• What changes: The college will transition to new leadership focused on research growth and student-centered academic systems.
• Who is affected: The academic community at UMBC, specifically within CNMS, as well as outgoing dean William LaCourse.

New Leadership for CNMS

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) has officially announced the appointment of Marc Seigar, Ph.D., as the next dean of the College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences (CNMS).

Dr. Seigar will formally assume his duties on August 3, 2026, succeeding William LaCourse, Ph.D., who successfully led the college for 15 years before returning to the faculty.

Currently, Dr. Seigar serves as the dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at the University of Toledo.

A Proven Track Record in Academic Excellence

Dr. Seigar's career is marked by significant leadership roles across prestigious scientific and academic institutions. His administrative strategies focus on:

• Attracting and recruiting new student cohorts
• Expanding institutional research portfolios
• Enhancing academic success through student-centered frameworks

Before his tenure at the University of Toledo, he served as a rotating program director at the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the Division of Astronomical Sciences.

He also held positions as associate dean at the Swenson College of Science and Engineering and head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Distinguished Scholarly Achievements

Dr. Seigar began his career as an assistant professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock after earning his Ph.D. in astrophysics from the Liverpool Astrophysics Research Institute.

He holds a bachelor of science in physics from the prestigious Imperial College London and is an accomplished researcher with over 100 published articles. His work focuses heavily on:

• Galaxy structure and dynamics
• Supermassive black holes
• Dark matter distribution in galaxies

A highly cited author of two books, his research has secured funding from major federal bodies like NASA and the NSF, alongside private foundations.

Dr. Seigar is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and currently serves on the editorial board of the Effective Practices for Physics Programs project.

What to Watch Next

In the coming years, watch how Dr. Seigar implements his student-centered systems to boost enrollment and research funding at UMBC starting in August 2026. Meanwhile, current dean Dr. William LaCourse will transition back to the faculty following a planned research leave.