TU President Schatzel named to Power 30 Higher Education List

November 2, 2021

Towson University President Kim Schatzel has been named to “The Daily Record’s” Power 30 Higher Education List, joining other key leaders for universities, colleges and state institutions in Maryland.

The list includes University System of Maryland (USM) Chancellor Jay A. Perman; presidents of eight USM institutions; Linda Gooden, chair of the USM’s board of regents; and other state leaders.

“It’s an honor to be recognized alongside so many of my incredible peers advocating for and leading higher education in Maryland,” President Schatzel said. “Our residents and businesses are fortunate that our elected officials place a high value on education, and this recognition is affirmation of TU’s growing influence and impact as an anchor institution for Greater Baltimore. TU is a national leader in inclusive excellence, providing leadership for the public good.”

The list also included elected officials and leaders of organizations, systems, networks and foundations that support higher learning in Maryland.

“There are few, if any, fields of endeavor more critical to Maryland’s future than higher education,” wrote “The Daily Record’s” editor, Thomas Baden Jr., in the announcement of the list.

He continued, “This list is part of a series of Power Lists throughout 2021 that will showcase the most powerful figures in law, higher education, manufacturing and other fields. It was preceded by our Power 100 List, which focused on the most powerful women and men across Maryland.”

Schatzel was named to that list earlier this year.

Under her guidance, TU has ascended to one of the top 100 national public institutions, per “U.S. News and World Report” and stands at No. 58 among national universities and No. 35 for social mobility as recognized by “Washington Monthly.”

Her contributions to and leadership in Maryland have been recognized by The Daily Record, which gave her its 2018 Icon Honors; named her one of the 2017 Most Admired CEOs, 2017 Top 100 Women and 2017 Most Influential Marylanders; and included her in its in 2021 list. 

President Schatzel was honored by the Associated Black Charities as the 2017 “Champion for More in the Middle” for her leadership in advancing diversity and inclusion at TU. 

In 2020, President Schatzel was honored with the Whitney M. Young Jr., Award. Given by the Board of Directors of the Urban League affiliates across the country, the award is in memory of the great civil rights leader and former head of the National Urban League. The award honors members of the Baltimore community committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in our region and state. 

She was named to The Daily Record's 2021 Top 100 Women in Maryland list — her third appearance on the list, which adds her name to the newspaper's Circle of Excellence. President Schatzel was previously named to the list in 2019 and 2017, and was one of 12 women in 2021 to join the Circle of Excellence, which is the list's highest honor.