TU Honors College finds new home, identity

By Kyle Hobstetter on May 17, 2023

Since its inception in 1998, the Towson University Honors College has provided unique educational opportunities to thousands of students.

Now, it has a new home that celebrates the work and tradition of advanced academic achievement.

The new space on the first floor of the 7800 Building houses the program’s staff and provides classrooms, a study and meeting space for approximately 700 Honors students.

On March 15, during a special ribbon cutting, the Honors College revealed a mural created to showcase its history and provide a sense of community.

“We’re very happy to be here. This is a good space, and we welcome it,” said Terry Cooney, Honors College rector, during his opening remarks at the ceremony. “While we’re happy, it hasn’t been easy for other people to find. We began talking about a mural outside our office that draws attention and lets people know who we are.

“The mural is even visible from the outside, so people might get a little bit curious and come see what the Honors College is all about.”

The mural was designed and painted through a partnership with TU’s Design + Graphic Services and received financial assistance from TU Presidential Scholar Dr. Nancy Grasmick ‘61.

She was on hand for the ribbon cutting and was named an Honors College Luminary.  

“When I look at this mural, I think of what the man who designed the Golden Gate Bridge said: ‘Words are unnecessary; the bridge says the whole thing.’ This mural says the whole thing,” Grasmick noted in her remarks. “This is a magnificent program at Towson University. This Honors College rivals anything I see at other local institutions.”

As the mural highlights, the Honors College provides challenging academic opportunities to students from all colleges and majors.

Professors from various disciplines are selected to lead small classes that encourage interdisciplinarity, multiple pedagogies, student involvement, creativity, open discussion and independent critical thinking.

The program’s experiential learning requirement is displayed annually during multiple events, including when TU hosted the in-person portion of the Maryland Collegiate Honors Council Annual Undergraduate Research Conference on Feb. 24.

Honors Students’ Perspectives

Daryna Soloviova ’23 

Physics major from Kherson, Ukraine

“The Honors College provided me with a lot of opportunities to work outside my field, to learn about different aspects and how interdisciplinary works [and] overlaps with my other work.”

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Britney Erickson ’23 

Cell and Molecular Biology major from Olney, Maryland

“It’s been really special taking Honors College classes, which are smaller than the typical college class. They are also discussion based, and it’s nice mingling with people who might not be in my cohort and [so that I can} hear different perspectives on the same topic.”

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Joshua Wilmer ’23 

Spanish Major on Pre-Med Track from Baltimore, Maryland

“Being an undergraduate researcher has been the most impactful and unexpected experience I’ve had at Towson. Being a student at the Honors College, I have been able to present my research at several academic conferences around the country, learning so much and having a ton of fun along the way.”