PSC Graduate Program Names New Director

Dr. Sarah Michel will work to enhance current students’ experience in the graduate program, while expanding efforts to recruit new, outstanding students to program.

By Malissa Carroll
December 17, 2013

Andrew Coop, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences (PSC) at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, has appointed Sarah Michel, PhD, associate professor in PSC, as director of the department’s Graduate Program.

“I am confident that the PSC Graduate Program will continue to thrive under Dr. Michel’s leadership,” says Coop. “As the director of the School’s ‘Spring into Maryland Science’ program, a workshop designed to introduce undergraduates to the cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research conducted in PSC, Dr. Michel has diligently worked to increase the visibility of our graduate program among local colleges and universities. Her ongoing efforts to establish collaborative partnerships with leading educational institutions in the region will help to ensure that we continue to recruit the best and brightest students to our program.”

Michel’s appointment follows the tenure of Sudha Veeraraghavan, PhD, associate professor in PSC. Veeraraghavan served as director of the graduate program for more than a year, during which she worked to increase the number of students enrolled in the program as well as the number of summer internships offered through the program. As a result of her efforts, the program’s enrollment is now among the highest of all graduate programs at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

Veeraraghavan also led efforts to enhance current students’ experience in the program and form partnerships with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and University of Maryland, College Park; efforts upon which Michel hopes to build.

“I’m excited to serve as director of the PSC Graduate Program,” says Michel. “PSC is a very collegial department, and very diverse in the types of research that our faculty conduct. I look forward to broadening our efforts to form partnerships with local colleges and universities, which will help expose undergraduates to the wide range of research opportunities available within our department and allow us to tap into our ‘local talent.’ I also hope to empower our current students to take part in this process, and encourage their interaction with each other and with faculty in more informal ways.”

Though Michel took on her new leadership responsibilities only a short time ago, she has been making great strides. Accompanied by current students, Michel has visited UMBC, Temple University, and Notre Dame of Maryland University to discuss current research opportunities available in the graduate program and promote its summer internship program. She also instituted a “First Friday” social event in partnership with the Pharmacy Graduate Student Association (PGSA) to facilitate more informal interaction between the two groups.

“Encouraging current students’ involvement in the program is critical. I want them to give good feedback about the time they spent in our program,” she says.

In the future, Michel hopes to enhance prospective students’ experience during Graduate Visiting Day by incorporating non-academic activities into the program to give potential applicants a better understanding of all that Baltimore and the University have to offer. She also plans to increase alumni involvement in the program, inviting them back to the School to network and participate in a wide range of activities with current students.

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