Graduate School Names Webley Associate Dean for Office of Inclusion and Engagement

The Graduate School at UMass Amherst has announced the appointment of Wilmore Webley as the new associate dean of the Office of Inclusion and Engagement (OIE). Webley’s appointment will begin Wednesday, Sept. 1.

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Webley is a staunch advocate for effective student mentoring, excellence in educational pursuits and is a leader in student success initiatives. He is an associate professor of microbiology and the director of the pre-med/pre-health advising program at UMass.

Dean Jacqueline Urla says, “I’m thrilled to have Dr. Webley join the Graduate School. The OIE office was established in 2017 to enhance the recruitment and support of underrepresented graduate students. Dr. Webley brings exceptional skills in mentoring and a keen understanding of the complex challenges faced by BIPOC graduate students. He knows UMass well and his leadership will be a tremendous asset to this mission.”

Webley was born in Dry Hill District, Bellas Gate P.O., St. Catherine, Jamaica and was the first in his family to attend high school and college. He completed a bachelor of science degree in medical technology at Northern Caribbean University. He then went on to earn an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in microbiology at UMass Amherst, with expertise in immunology, infectious disease and host-pathogen interaction, with a concentration in vaccine development.

Webley is a Fulbright Scholar; a recipient of the Manning Prize for Excellence in Teaching in 2019; the Distinguished Teaching Award in recognition for outstanding teaching accomplishments; and the Black Student Union Award for Outstanding Devotion & Dedication to the Profession. He was a Commonwealth Honors College Faculty Lecture Series awardee/presenter from 2013 to 2014. He serves the UMass community in various capacities, including as a faculty senator and a member of the University Health Council. He also serves on the editorial boards of the International Journal of Vaccines & Immunization; Vaccines; the Journal of Medical Microbiology and Diagnosis; and Microbiology & Experimentation. He is a member of the International Society for Vaccines; American Society for Microbiology; and the Chlamydia Basic Research Society.

He was recognized with national media coverage for moderating a panel on the 2014 Ebola outbreak. More recently, he has been featured in a variety of media platforms providing accurate information to counter myths and about the COVID-19 outbreak and vaccine safety and efficacy.