Barbara Cronin, a beloved colleague and pillar of the University of Maryland School of Public Policy community for nearly five decades, died May 5 at her home in Lanham, Maryland.
Cronin was a trailblazer, becoming one of the first women admitted to the University of Maryland business school and, for a time, the law school. After an early career at the distinguished Washington, D.C. law firm Covington & Burling LLP, she returned to her alma mater to dedicate her life’s work to advancing education, research and public service.
Cronin’s impact at the University was profound. She held administrative roles in engineering and central university offices before joining the School of Public Affairs, now called the School of Public Policy, shortly after its founding. As business manager for the Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy, she helped shape the School’s early scholarship. She later supported the work of the Center for Public Policy and Private Enterprise and, most recently, brought her deep institutional knowledge and tireless energy to the Center for the Governance of Technology and Systems (GoTech).
Known for her warmth, humor and unwavering commitment, Cronin was the quiet force who helped hold the School together through decades of change. She embodied what it meant to serve others, acting as a mentor and friend to generations of faculty, staff and students. An avid supporter of Maryland athletics, Cronin’s spirit and enthusiasm for all things Terp never wavered.
On behalf of the entire University of Maryland community, the School of Public Policy extends our deepest sympathies to Barbara’s family, friends and colleagues. We welcome community members to share condolences and remembrances in the comments below.
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