From Insect Ecology to Academic Leadership – Hood College’s Graduate Dean

Dr. April M. Boulton, Dean of Hood College’s Graduate School and Associate Professor of Biology, came to the college in 2006 as an instructor. She became Director of the Environmental Biology (ENV) master’s program and assistant professor of biology in 2009. She was then appointed as the Associate Dean of the Graduate School in May 2015 and was promoted to Associate Professor of Biology March 2016.  Dr. Boulton was named Interim Dean of the Graduate School in June, 2016 and named to the permanent position in February 2018. A primary focus of her work is the creation of collaborations as well as curriculum and program development creation to meet the needs of community and business partners. She also oversees admissions and enrollment operations in the Graduate School, and many support services for current graduate students, from New Student Orientation and international internships to career education and the annual Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition.

Prior to her appointment as dean, she taught a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses for the biology department and ENV program with a focus on climate change and insect ecology. Dr. Boulton received her Ph.D. in Ecology from the University of California, Davis, her master’s in Animal Behavior from Bucknell University, and her bachelor’s degree (liberally trained with a double major in psychology and classics) from Centre College where she graduated cum laude and as a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

An insect ecologist by training, she has published in several peer-reviewed scientific journals and was awarded a research grant by the USDA to investigate control measures for the small-hive beetle, a pest of the commercial honeybee. Dr. Boulton was instrumental in the passage of the Maryland Pollinator Protection Act, which also resulted in her appearance on Kojo Nmandi’s WAMU radio show and an article in the Washington Post.

April is a founding member of the Graduate Women in Science (GWIS), Greater Maryland Chapter and serves on the Board of Directors of the Fort Detrick Alliance.