At long last, the President of Liberia and visitor to the University of Liberia Joseph N. Boakai has appointed Dr. Layli Maparyan as the 16th President of the University of Liberia, but the nationality of the appointee has since sparked concerns in the political corridors.
In her profile posted on the Global Fund for Women website, an institution which she served as Board Chair, it is clearly stated that Dr. Maparyan, “Born in New York, raised in Georgia and Florida, and currently residing in Massachusetts (USA), has traveled extensively in Africa and has a second home in Liberia, West Africa. She has also spent considerable time in Ghana, Cape Verde, South Africa and India.
This historic appointment of Maparyan follows the approval of the University’s Board of Trustees in accordance with the University of Liberia’s Charter.
According to an Executive Mansion release dated January 4, 2024, the letter of appointment from President Boakai expressed confidence in Dr. Maparyan’s ability, integrity, and extensive experience, emphasizing his trust that she would demonstrate these qualities in service to the University and the nation.
Dr. Maparyan, a distinguished academic and prolific scholar, is currently the Executive Director of the Wellesley Centers for Women (WCW) and a Professor of Africana Studies at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, USA.
Her selection followed a rigorous search process conducted by the University Of Liberia Board Of Trustees’ Search Committee, which identified her as a leading candidate for the position.
The 16th President of the University of Liberia holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from Temple University and an M.S. in Psychology from Penn State University. She earned her undergraduate degree in Philosophy (cum laude) from Spelman College.
She has a distinguished academic career, having served as Associate Professor and Assistant Professor at Georgia State University’s Women’s Studies Institute and Assistant Professor at the University of Georgia’s Department of Psychology and Institute for African American Studies.
Dr. Maparyan ties to Liberia date back to her tenure as a Fulbright Specialist at the University of Liberia in 2010. She has also been recognized with numerous awards, including the Distinguished Citizen Award for Service to the Liberian Community (2009) and the Fulbright Specialist Program Award.
In accordance with Article IV, Section 1 of the University’s Charter, President Boakai nominated Dr. Maparyan for the role on December 18, 2024. The Board of Trustees subsequently convened on December 23, 2024, and unanimously approved her nomination. The UL President will officially assume her duties as President on January 10, 2025, the day of her induction.
