Capitol Hill Campus, Monrovia, Liberia, February 11, 2025: The University of Liberia (UL), founded on February 15, 1951, will this Saturday, Feb. 15, clock 74 years of existence since its became a University, replacing Liberia College, which was itself founded in 1862 and supported greatly by an American philanthropic organization called the Trustees of Donations for Education in Liberia (TDEL).

February 15 being on a weekend, the official celebration commemorating this year’s Founder’s Day will be observed on Monday, February 17 at the University’s Capitol Hill Campus under the theme “The Future Starts Now.”

Marking the announcement, UL President Dr. Layli Maparyans said Dr. William Ezra Allen, a former Vice President for Academic Affairs and now the Executive Director for the UL Center for Diaspora and Immigration Studies, will deliver the keynote address.

Dr. Allen is also a renowned Liberian historian and a former chair of the History Department of the University of Liberia, who understands the history of the University and its forerunner, Liberia College.

This year’s celebration, according to the UL President, will concentrate largely on assembling internal stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff, and alumni, to discuss how they see the future of the University.

Addressing other essential issues at the University, Dr. Maparyan stated that, having worked in higher education in her career, she loves interacting with students. 

She added that she is getting to know the unique student culture at the University of Liberia, having had meetings and interacted with different student groups across the University.

The UL President said she’s looking forward to developing a sustained engagement with students starting in March to get to know them better and have a relationship with them.

Regarding faculty and staff’s concerns, Dr. Maparyan said people do have the same concerns that they had before, but asked them to give her time because these issues can be solved.

She pleaded with everyone to stay calm and help to provide her with the evidence that she needs because she loves to solve problems from the root.

Regarding academic activities, the UL President noted that they have commenced and commended those who have shown up to make this happen.

She indicated that she has proposed a trimester system at the University that comprises two sixteen-week semesters and one eight-week semester.

Dr. Maparyan made these assertions when she appeared for the first time on the UL President Hour, a weekly radio interactive broadcast that comes out of the University’s online media outlets and LUX FM (106.5), the University’s radio station located on its Fendall campus.