Dr. Malinda Orlin was appointed Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Graduate School, University of Maryland, Baltimore on July 1, 2001. In that capacity, she provides direction for academic policy; the Graduate School; the Office of Research Compliance; the Health Sciences and Human Services Library; faculty affairs; student services including records and registration, financial aid, and the counseling center; and interdisciplinary and interprofessional affairs.

She received her Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh and her M.S.W. from the University of Michigan. She joined the University of Maryland in 1975 as an assistant professor in the School of Social Work and was promoted to associate professor in 1979. She served as Acting Dean of the School of Social Work, 1979-80, and Associate Dean, 1980-87. She directed the Maryland Welfare Studies Center, 1996-98, and the Ruth H. Young Child Welfare Center, 1998-2000.

Dr. Orlin has been called upon several times during her UMB career to serve in central administrative posts. She served as Special Assistant to the President, 1980-84; Acting Executive Assistant to the President, 1989-90, and Acting Vice President for Academic Affairs, 1990.

Dr. Orlin's major research focus has been on welfare reform and its consequences, both on the state and federal levels. She has conducted several studies on child welfare and guardianship for the State of Maryland Social Services Division, on family violence for the U.S. Marine Corps, and on the economic and social consequences of divorce for the Maryland Governor's Commission on Family Law. She is the author of numerous journal articles and research reports.

Dr. Orlin is an FAA instrument-rated private pilot.