Darryll J. Pines serves as president of the University of Maryland as well as the Glenn L. Martin Professor of Aerospace Engineering. Formerly the Nariman Farvardin Professor of Engineering and dean of UMD’s A. James Clark School of Engineering, where he has been on the faculty since 1995, Pines amassed a record of academic leadership and research accomplishments that have dramatically elevated the school’s rankings and stature nationally and internationally. In 2019, he was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for his “inspirational leadership and contributions to engineering education.”

As dean for 11 years, Pines instituted sweeping changes to improve the student experience, including revamping teaching in fundamental undergraduate courses; encouraging participation in national and international student competitions; emphasizing sustainability engineering and service learning; and expanding innovation and entrepreneurship activities.

Pines also made diversity a hallmark of his tenure as dean. As a co-principal investigator, the university became a National Science Foundation ADVANCE grant recipient to further develop a culture of inclusive excellence, focused on improving work environments, retention and advancement of tenured and tenure-track women faculty in ways that improve the culture for all faculty. At the engineering faculty level, the number of tenured/tenure-track women faculty more than doubled from 18 to 37, and the number of underrepresented minority faculty increased from 11 to 19. At the undergraduate student level, the number of enrolled women rose from 18% to 26.5%, and the number of enrolled underrepresented minority students grew from 9.5% to 16%. According to Diverse Issues in Higher Education, the Clark School ranks among the top 10 in conferring the most bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees to African-American students.

Pines’ research focuses on structural dynamics, including structural health monitoring and prognosis, smart sensors, and adaptive, morphing and biologically inspired structures; as well as the guidance, navigation and control of aerospace vehicles. He holds seven co-authored patents with his students and collaborators.

In recognition of his contributions to the field, Pines was named a fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, American Society of Mechanical Engineers and Institute of Physics. He chairs the Engineering Advisory Committee for NSF’s Engineering Directorate and sits on the board of trustees for Underwriters Laboratory’s not-for-profit arm. Pines earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. He earned master’s and doctoral degrees in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.