Shala Shirazi's Colleagues at University System of Maryland
Zakiya Lee
Asst. Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs and Chief of Staff to Sr. Vice Chancellor
Shala Shirazi's Contact Details
301-445-2740
Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
University System of Maryland
Shala Shirazi's Company Details
The University System of Maryland (USM) is the Maryland's public higher education system, comprised of 12 degree-granting universities, three regional higher education centers, an environmental research center, and a system office. USM combines the power of its member institutions provide students access to world-class resources and ensure that those resources are used efficiently, effectively, and sustainably. Educational OpportunitiesProviding high-quality and affordable academic programs and increasing student retention and completion rates are among the system's top priorities. USM's Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation is researching, developing, and implementing strategies and practices to help increase students' academic success.ResearchUSM faculty and staff continue to fuel research and discovery, attracting nearly $1.3 billion in external grants and contracts annually. USM research is advancing understanding and practice in many areas, including bioinformatics, cybersecurity, environmental science, food science, photonics, the social sciences, and vaccine development.Economic and Workforce DevelopmentUSM institutions address critical workforce shortage areas. USM institutions awarded 6, 743 STEM bachelor's degrees—nearly 80 percent of Maryland's STEM degrees—in 2017. USM institutions have also facilitated the launch of 589 companies since 2011.Effective Use of ResourcesSince the launch of its Effectiveness and Efficiency (E&E) Initiative in 2004, USM has saved $597.1 million. In 2015, USM launched E&E 2.0 to increase USM's positive impact on the state of Maryland, enhance student success, continue innovation in teaching and learning, reengineer administrative processes, and reduce costs.ServiceEach year USM students, staff, and faculty contribute more than a million hours of service to the community through cultural programs, legal and medical clinics, partnerships with public schools and the business community, and other initiatives.