Office of the President

Flavius R. W. Lilly, PhD, MPH, is an experienced higher education executive and scholar who currently serves as Provost of McDaniel College. In this role, he oversees the academic enterprise, student life, and athletics and serves as an ex officio member of the Board of Trustees and its key committees. Over more than twenty-five years in senior leadership across public and private institutions, he has guided strategic planning, academic innovation, enrollment growth, fundraising, and operational reform with a consistent focus on student success and institutional sustainability.

Dr. Lilly holds a PhD in Gerontology and an MA in Applied Sociology from the University of Maryland, an MPH in Epidemiology from Drexel University, and a BS in Biology from Wright State University. His academic training informs a research agenda centered on aging, mental health, and student well-being. His scholarship has examined social flourishing, substance use, and mental health among college students, and he has published and presented nationally on the relationship between belonging, meaning in life, and student persistence. Across his administrative roles, he has integrated this research into practice through strengthened counseling services, structured wellness initiatives, and coordinated student support systems.

As Provost at McDaniel College, Dr. Lilly has led implementation of the institution’s strategic plan and overseen measurable progress in enrollment, retention, academic programming, and philanthropy. During his tenure, the College achieved enrollment success while launching new undergraduate and graduate programs in Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Speech Language Pathology, and Health Sciences. He worked to strengthen the Student Success model, contributing to improved first year retention and reinforcing a campus wide focus on student success. He played a critical leadership role in advancing philanthropy, helping secure significant gifts to support endowed faculty positions, academic innovation, and institutional priorities.

Prior to McDaniel, Dr. Lilly served for thirteen years at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, most recently as Vice Provost of Academic and Student Affairs and Vice Dean of the Graduate School. In these roles, he oversaw graduate education across multiple professional schools and managed a complex academic portfolio. He led the development of new degree programs and founded the Graduate Research Innovation District to foster entrepreneurship and cross disciplinary collaboration. He also played a leadership role in accreditation activities and longrange strategic planning.

Earlier in his career, Dr. Lilly served in healthcare executive leadership roles, including Vice President for Strategy Development and Quality Improvement. He oversaw strategic planning, quality improvement, marketing, development, and community health initiatives, strengthened operating margins through service line growth, and increased philanthropic support year over year. Across healthcare and higher education settings, his leadership has been marked by careful stewardship of resources, collaborative governance, and sustained attention to measurable outcomes.