Reflecting on a terrific year at Towson University

May 14, 2023

As we head into finals and soon celebrate our 2024 graduates, I want to thank the entire Towson University community for an unforgettable start as your president. 

This first chapter has been busy, exciting and incredibly rewarding as I've gotten to know so many of you. My wife Elaine and I have so enjoyed spending our evenings on campus, often eating dinner with students, attending arts and athletics events or participating in an academic showcase. Every person has welcomed us with such warmth and kindness — we will truly always be grateful for this community of support.

Over the course of my first six months, I have embarked on a listening tour to meet and hear from students, staff, faculty and the greater Baltimore community. During each meeting, I have been reminded of our university’s commitment to student success, teaching excellence, inclusion and innovation.

Engaging with you and understanding your priorities, and your concerns, has helped me to begin framing an agenda for this next great era of TU. While I still have a handful of meetings to complete — officially ending in June — I am excited to share my observations with you as we start the fall semester and together work in close collaboration to enhance this remarkable university.

In addition to my campus meetings, I have also been traveling throughout Maryland to visit with hundreds of Tiger alumni across every corner of our state. The pride and commitment to TU I’ve witnessed at these events is astounding.

In the years ahead, we will seek to build upon this sense of pride that comes with being a Towson Tiger so that each member of our community — near and far — feels celebrated in our future.

And as I shared just weeks ago when I was officially installed at an unforgettable inauguration ceremony, it will also be my mission to ensure we always remain true to the core values that are so deeply ingrained in our DNA.

As I look back on this first year, I am so inspired by the dedication of our entire university community. I’ve had the pleasure of watching our students receive national recognition for their hard work and outstanding academic achievements; I’ve been in awe as I attended student productions; and I’ve cheered on our student athletes through amazing seasons. I’ve also joined classes taught by our excellent faculty, and I have attended numerous events alongside our talented staff.

I’ve respected how our students have expressed their perspective and voiced their concerns on critical topics facing our world. These have been examples of the very dialogue that higher education is meant to foster.

As we soon break for the summer, I can assure you that I will continue to work with my leadership team — and our entire university community — to be sure that our campus remains a place for respectful dialog and free expression, while we also come together to prevent antisemitism, Islamophobia and all forms of hateful rhetoric. 

I am so very proud to be a Towson University Tiger. And although this year had its challenges, it allowed me the ability to hear and learn from each of you. Together, I know we will persevere and “make our great university even greater.”

Please take care of yourselves and enjoy this much-deserved time to rest and recharge. I wish you a safe, happy and healthy summer — and I cannot wait to see you back on campus for the 2024-25 academic year.

All the best and go Tigers!

Sincerely,

Mark R. Ginsberg
President