Monrovia, Liberia – In a move aimed at rejuvenating Liberia’s flagship institution of higher learning, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has appointed Dr. Layli Maparyan as the 16th President of the University of Liberia. The decision, made following the approval of the University’s Board of Trustees, was officially announced on January 4, 2025. According to a press release from the Office of the President, Boakai expressed his full confidence in Dr. Maparyan’s leadership abilities, emphasizing her integrity, experience, and commitment to the University and the nation.
Dr. Maparyan is a respected academic, currently serving as the Wellesley Centers for Women Executive Director and Professor of Africana Studies at Wellesley College in Massachusetts. She has an impressive academic background, holding a Ph.D. in Psychology from Temple University, an M.S. from Penn State University, and an undergraduate degree in Philosophy from Spelman College. She has also served in faculty roles at prominent universities, including Georgia State University and the University of Georgia. Her longstanding ties to Liberia date back to 2010, when she worked as a Fulbright Specialist at the University of Liberia.
The decision to appoint Dr. Maparyan followed a thorough selection process by the University’s Board of Trustees, which identified her as the top candidate. President Boakai’s nomination, made on December 18, 2024, was approved by the Board on December 23, 2024. Dr. Maparyan is officially set to assume office on January 10, 2025.
While the announcement of Dr. Maparyan’s appointment was met with praise from some quarters, it has also generated criticisms. Matthew Nyanplu, a Liberian political commentator based in the United States of America, took to social media to express his dissatisfaction, questioning why President Boakai chose a foreign national over a qualified Liberian scholar to head the University, especially amid the country’s limited job opportunities.
The appointment comes when the University of Liberia has been closed for several months, leaving thousands of students in academic limbo. The closure, which began on July 31, 2024, has fueled public outcry, with many accusing the Boakai administration of neglecting the education sector. Students have voiced their frustration, demanding the university’s reopening and expressing concerns about the government’s failure to address the educational crisis.
As Dr. Maparyan assumes leadership of the University of Liberia, she will undoubtedly focus on her ability to sail across the institution through a challenging period marked by high expectations. Faculty, students, and stakeholders alike are looking to her to address the longstanding issues facing the nation’s education sector, with many hoping she will implement the transformative reforms needed to revitalize Liberia’s higher education system.
