David Leasure, PhD, portfolio director of UMGC’s First Year Experience, has been awarded the University System of Maryland (USM) 2025–2026 Elkins Professorship for Academic Transformation. The prestigious fellowship recognizes Leasure’s innovative work in generative AI, which will power UMGC’s First-Year Experience classroom and faculty coaching tools.
The fellowship includes a $10,000 grant to expand the technology to additional UMGC programs, further advancing the university's mission to transform lives through accessible, quality education.