Dr. Mary Ellen Hrutka is the Consortium’s first Executive Director. She joined the Consortium from the University of Maryland University College, where she most recently served as Vice Provost and Dean of the School of Undergraduate Studies. Prior to this position, Dr. Hrutka served as the Assistant Dean, Administration, Associate Dean, Administrative Affairs, and Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs.

Dr. Hrutka led the university’s efforts to overhaul the undergraduate curriculum and build a robust inventory of academic majors, minors, and certificates worldwide in a system that serves over 29,000 students in both classroom and distance learning formats. She managed a staff of more than 80 full-time employees and 1,500 faculty members and played a critical role the development of UMUC as the leading public “Virtual University.”

Dr. Hrutka joined UMUC in 1992. She previously taught or served in student service and counseling departments at: The University of Maryland, Barry University, Emory University, Trinity College, and The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. She received her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Miami; her M.A. in Counseling and College Student Personnel from the University of Maryland, College Park; her B.A. in Sociology from Southern Connecticut State College; and her A.A. in Liberal Arts from Westchester Community College. She is a member of Leadership Maryland, Class of '02, and serves on its Membership & Marketing Committee.

Dr. Hrutka has served on the School Board for the Archdiocese of Washington since 2003, and is also on the Board of Trustees at St. John’s College High School in Washington DC. She is a parishioner at St. John the Baptist Parish in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Click here to listen to Dr. Hrutka speak about the consortium, its purpose and how Catholic school families will benefit.