Nasdaq-listed T Rowe Price has appointed Dr Freeman Hrabowski as an independent director.

Dr Hrabowski, a long-time educator and administrator, has served as president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County since 1992. His research and publications focus on science and math education, with a focus on minority participation and performance.

Brian Rogers, chairman of T Rowe Price, said Dr Hrabowski’s leadership and dedication to greater education and advancement of minorities in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics will play a key role in maintaining global competitiveness and strengthening the firm’s workforce and the economy.

T Rowe Price is a Baltimore, MD-based global investment management firm with $574.4 billion in assets under management as at end-September, 2012.