President's Biography
Dr. Ronald H. Nowaczyk
Dr. Ronald Nowaczyk, who became the 15th president of Frostburg State University in 2016, brings more than 40 years of higher education experience to his position. Nowaczyk began his tenure in Frostburg by listening to the challenges and opportunities ahead for FSU and Western Maryland and leading the University community in developing a comprehensive strategic plan, which is now being implemented. He has also worked to improve student success, strengthen the communication and governance process on campus and enhance outreach with communities in the Western Maryland region.
Before joining Pennsylvania’s Clarion University in 2011 as provost and vice president for academic affairs, Nowaczyk served in numerous positions in higher-education administration, including dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of New Haven (2006-2011), associate vice chancellor for economic and community development at East Carolina University (2003-2006), and chair of ECU’s Department of Psychology (1998-2002). He also served as an American Council on Education Fellow at the University of Delaware (2001-2002).
Prior to his administrative roles, Nowaczyk began as a faculty member in psychology, and he remains a passionate educator. Nowaczyk started his career with the Department of Psychology at Clemson University in 1977, where he remained in a succession of faculty positions through 1998. He has continued to teach throughout his administrative career.
Beyond academia, Nowaczyk served as human factors research consultant at AT&T Bell Laboratories from 1989 to 1990, and as a visiting scientist at the Institute for Computer Applications in Science and Engineering at NASA Langley Research Center in 1997.
Nowaczyk makes time as well to serve his local community and the broader higher education community. Locally, he serves on the boards of directors of the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce and Bishop Walsh School (Board Chair) and on the education committees for the Allegany Chamber and The Greater Cumberland Committee. He serves on the board of directors for the Maryland Humanities, the Mountain East Conference, and the Transform Mid- Atlantic (Board Chair) and the governance council for the Maryland Collaborative to Reduce College Drinking & Related Problems. On a national level, he is a member of the American Association of State Colleges & Universities Committee on Sustainable Development.
He visited the White House in September 2016 for the President’s Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge, an invitation extended based on FSU’s long, successful commitment to community service and civic engagement.
Ronald Nowaczyk, Ph.D.