TU Impact Award

The TU Impact Award for staff recognizes impactful contributions to Towson University, the community and beyond.

Award Categories

TU Impact Award categories are similar to USM Board of Regents Staff Award categories and recognize staff members who have made an impact in each area. Individual recipients with five years or more of USM service may also be eligible for Board of Regents Staff Award nomination.

Please read criteria carefully to ensure you have seelcted the best category and you are including all requirements in the nomination.

  • Created an original idea that contributed to the success of the department/TU
  • Provided leadership, team building and/or facilitated a team or project that enhanced the organization
  • Consistently contributes to the growth of their department by mentoring or contributing to the success of their co-worker(s)
  • Consistently makes a difference and impact in student lives beyond the confines of their job description
  • Contributed to or created an innovative, original idea that implemented and transformed an aspect of the “student experience”
  • A personal dedication, in a collaborative and sustained manner, to a project or cause that has positively impacted the greater Towson community
  • The award is based on a sustained record of service over a period of time carried out through the individual’s role(s) in the University rather than as a private citizen

To publicly recognize exemplary ideas that, when implemented, will serve to further TU's goal to continually increase the effective and efficient use of resources. Nominations for any exemplary initiative that has the potential to be implemented system-wide are encouraged.

Nominations shall be considered in the following two categories:

  • Academic Transformation: Improved learning and a minimum cost savings of $2,500.00
  • Administrative Transformation: Improved effectiveness and efficiency resulting in a minimum cost savings of $2,500.00

In addition to the existing procedures, the nomination needs to include:

  1. A brief description of the innovative initiative
  2. Potential benefits
  3. Magnitude (single/multiple institutions or system-wide)
  4. Effectiveness and efficiency to be attained (including estimated cost and/or resource savings)

This award salutes the outstanding work in the ability to build, nurture, and advance inclusion, multiculturalism, and social justice practices within a community.  Community may be comprised of internal TU community,  a community external to TU, or a combination of the two.

Review criteria includes outcomes, including, but not limited to:

  1. Community engagement in diversity dialogue and education
  2. Examination and modification of current practices of TU department/institution that supports inclusion
  3. Implementation of initiatives that foster inclusion, multiculturalism, and social justice

Recipients receive a certificate and $500 stipend. Groups or teams that are recipients split the $500 stipend amongst the group/team members identified in the nomination.

Eligibility 

  1. Nominees must be Towson University staff employee(s) in good standing; including all staff employees in regular and contingent II status.
  2. There is no minimum service requirement for staff to be nominated.
  3. Nominations are accepted from all TU staff, faculty, students, as well as internal or external community members. Staff employees may nominate themselves.
  4. Nominations can be submitted for individuals, groups or teams.
  5. Senior Leadership staff members are not eligible. Senior leadership staff include members of the President's Cabinet and the deans of each college.

Submit a Nomination

Nominations have closed for this year and will reopen in 2025.

Questions? Contact .

Recipients

  • Alejandra Balcázar - Inclusion, Multiculturalism, and Social Justice
  • E. Mairin Barney - Outstanding Service to Students in an Academic or Residential Environment
  • LaVern Chapman - Exceptional Contribution to the Institution and/or Unit to Which the Person Belongs
  • Cynthia Baker - Inclusion, Multiculturalism, and Social Justice
  • Henry O. Jackson - Extraordinary Public Service to the University or Greater Community
  • Tammie King-Kelly - Outstanding Service to Students in an Academic or Residential Environment
  • Travis Sammott - Exceptional Contribution to the Institution and/or Unit to Which the Person Belongs
  • Ashley Gregg – Exceptional Contribution to the Institution and/or Unit to Which the Person Belongs
  • Kristin Pinkowski – Outstanding Service to Students in an Academic or Residential Environment
  • Albert S. Cook Library Group – Inclusion, Multiculturalism, and Social Justice
    • Chris Casamassima
    • Allison Fischbach
    • Melvin Moore
    • Natasha Sweitzer
  • Marissa Berk-Smith - Inclusion, Multiculturalism, and Social Justice
  • Aaron Droege - Exceptional Contribution to the Institution and/or Unit to Which the Person Belongs
  • Dan Fricker - Effectiveness and Efficiency Regarding an Academic or Administrative Transformation
  • Justin Mason - Outstanding Service to Students in an Academic or Residential Environment
  • Kerry Spence - Extraordinary Public Service to the University or Greater Community