Dr. Suzanne Wilson Summers Joins CSM as Chief Academic Officer and Division of Learning Vice President

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) announces that Dr. Suzanne Wilson Summers has been appointed to the position of Chief Academic Officer and Division of Learning Vice President, effective June 1, 2024. In this role, she will lead all areas related to academic affairs including the college’s School of Liberal Arts, the School of Professional and Technical Studies, the School of Science and Health, and Learning Resources.

“We are thrilled to have Dr. Summers join our senior leadership team and further prioritize CSM’s student-centered culture and our inclusive and diverse college community,” said CSM President Dr. Yolanda Wilson. “Her expressed intent to foster authentic and meaningful connections with faculty and staff, her deep background in creating professional learning that supports high impact teaching and learning practices, and her strong understanding of instructional design will support our strategic focus on retention and engagement.”  

Summers will serve as an advocate for all educational programs, providing leadership to faculty, staff, and administrators to ensure consistent high-quality standards in curricula and programs that meet the needs of students and the region. Among her responsibilities, she will oversee the academic integrity of the college and provide leadership in long-range planning, budgeting, curriculum, program development, and faculty support.

"I'm thrilled to be joining such a dynamic and student-centered college,” shared Summers. “When I visited the campus, I saw a real commitment to student success, and I look forward to partnering with faculty and staff to further our work." 

Summers has spent her higher education career in highly diverse rural and urban institutions in Texas and Indiana. A long-time faculty member, she taught in Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) in Texas before becoming an academic dean and later the founding assistant vice president for teaching and learning for the Ivy Tech Community College system. In the latter role, she worked with campuses to develop instructional priorities, as well as faculty development capacity and leadership training to support Ivy Tech's new strategic plan. Having begun her own college career as a community college student, she shares that she is deeply committed to building resilient and thriving communities by expanding educational access and completion. She is a Fellow at the Gardner Institute and serves as a campus consultant for the Carnegie Elective Community Engagement Classification. 

An Army veteran, Summers holds a Ph.D. in U.S. and Latin American History from the University of Texas at Austin and has served as an American Council on Education Fellow. She and her husband, Steve, live with a squad of golden retrievers and an opinionated Siamese.

Dr. Jacquelyn Madry-Taylor served as a Registry appointment in the position of interim vice president for CSM’s Division of Learning until a permanent vice president was selected.

“Dr. Madry-Taylor joined CSM last July with more than 45 years of teaching and highly sought-after leadership experience in higher education and nonprofit organizations to lead our division of learning,” explained Wilson. “We asked her to step into the role for six months while we conducted this nationwide search and instead she stayed for a year – further proving her impeccable dedication. We are grateful to Dr. Madry-Taylor for her leadership, her tenacity, and her commitment to CSM’s faculty, staff, and students.”