Monrovia, Liberia – In compliance with the University of Liberia’s Charter, the Board of Trustees has approved President Joseph Boakai appointed candidate for president of the University of Liberia. Dr. Layli Maparyan has been named the 16th President of the University of Liberia by Joseph N. Boakai after series of vetting.
The letter of appointment from President Boakai stated his confidence in Dr. Maparyan’s ability, integrity, and wealth of experience, stressing his trust that she would exhibit these qualities in service to the University and the country, according to an Executive Mansion release dated January 4, 2024.
As the Executive Director of the Wellesley Centers for Women (WCW) and a Professor of Africana Studies at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, USA, Dr. Maparyan is a renowned academic and prolific researcher. She was chosen after a thorough search by the University of Liberia Board of Trustees’ Search Committee, which found her to be a strong contender for the job.
In addition to having an M.S. in psychology from Penn State University, the 16th president of the University of Liberia has a Ph.D. in psychology from Temple University. She graduated from Spelman College with a philosophy bachelor’s degree (cum laude).
With positions 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, she has a notable academic background.
Dr. Maparyan’s connections to Liberia stem from her time there in 2010 as a Fulbright Specialist at the University of Liberia. The Fulbright Specialist Program Award and the Distinguished Citizen Award for Service to the Liberian Community (2009) are just two of the many honors she has received.
On Dec. 18, 2024, President Boakai nominated Dr. Maparyan for the position in line with Article IV, Section 1 of the University’s Charter. At their subsequent meeting on December 23, 2024, the Board of Trustees unanimously accepted her nomination.
The new UL President is expected to officially assume her duties as President of the university on January 10, 2025, the day of her induction.
