Biography

Dr. Infantino joined the Department of Biology faculty in 1993, serving as a teacher and advisor to more than 1,000 students as Undergraduate Director and Associate Chair. He was appointed Associate Dean of the College of Life Sciences in 2002 and helped to facilitate the expansion of student services and programs when CMNS was created in 2010. The Undergraduate Programs team now supports more than 7,000 students pursuing nearly 40 different academic major and minor options in CMNS. The unit provides leadership in orientation, academic advising, student success and graduation; career and professional advising; faculty initiatives in teaching and learning; and special initiatives in outreach and postbaccalaureate education. Dr. Infantino also supervises the Reed-Yorke Health Professions advising office which serves all campus students.

Dr. Infantino has contributed to UMD policy development and practice in student academic success and degree completion, student development and orientation, admissions and scholarship selection, college and campus facilities development and master planning, national scholarship advising, academic integrity review, mental health and wellness, and sexual harassment/violence policy and procedures.

He has served as the campus nominator to the national Goldwater Scholarship competition since 2002. Under his leadership, more than 70% of campus nominees have won Goldwater scholarships, one of the top programs nationally.

Dr. Infantino has received the UMD President's Medal (the highest honor the university community can bestow), UMD President’s Distinguished Service Award, the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Council Faculty Advisor of the Year award, “Celebrating Teachers” recognition from the Center for Teaching Excellence, and election to the Phi Kappa Phi national honor society.

Education

B.A., Biology, University of San Diego (1985)
Ph.D., Zoology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst (1992)

What I like best about working for CMNS:

Great students and great colleagues

In my spare time, I enjoy:

Singing and playing the guitar; collecting seashells with my granddaughters; quilting and other arts