Dr. Mark R. Ginsberg named Towson University’s 15th President
Ginsberg to begin his presidency at TU on October 30, arriving from George Mason University
By Towson University on August 2, 2023
Towson, Maryland (August 2, 2023) - University System of Maryland (USM) Chancellor Jay A. Perman today announced that the system's Board of Regents has appointed Dr. Mark R. Ginsberg as the 15th president of Towson University. Dr. Ginsberg, currently the provost and executive vice president of George Mason University (GMU), will begin his new role on October 30.
As provost, he’s built a student support architecture yielding a first-year retention rate of 87 percent and a six-year graduation rate of nearly 70 percent. His success model has involved expanding living-learning communities at GMU, strengthening academic advising and introducing success coaches, and redesigning the university’s orientation and first-year experience programs. He’s helped develop summer bridge programs for new students, and reimagined GMU’s core undergraduate program to produce a comprehensive, multidisciplinary academic experience. Before becoming provost, he served for 10 years as GMU’s dean of the College of Education and Human Development. For a decade prior to that, he was executive director and CEO of the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Ginsberg completed his master's degree in 1978 and his doctoral degree in 1981 at The Pennsylvania State University, after having been awarded a bachelor's degree from the State University of New York at Cortland in 1975. He also completed a Fellowship in Clinical Psychology at the Yale University School of Medicine. In 2006, he was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters by the State University of New York. Dr. Ginsberg is licensed as a psychologist in Maryland.
“I am thrilled to join the Towson University community and work in close collaboration with the faculty, staff and students, alumni, and friends of the university as well as the University System of Maryland as we together lift TU to ‘greater greatness’ as an ‘engine of opportunity’ in its next era,” Ginsberg said.
Dr. Ginsberg was selected as Towson University’s next president through an intensive national search conducted by the USM Board of Regents, led by USM Regent Ellen Fish and guided by partners at executive search firm Isaacson, Miller. A diverse group of TU faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members served on the search committee.
“I know the entire board is extremely pleased to have a leader of the caliber of Dr. Mark Ginsberg as the next president of Towson University,” Board of Regents Chair Linda Gooden said. “I especially appreciate the work of the TU presidential search committee, chaired by Regent Ellen Fish, for finding such an outstanding leader among many highly regarded candidates.”
“Mark has a habit of rising at every organization he joins,” said USM Chancellor Jay A. Perman. “He’s told me he intends to center the vision of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends, and invite them to imagine the future of TU together. So I’m excited to see how his collaborative leadership shapes Towson’s next chapter and accelerates achievement of the goals that all of TU holds close.”
TU is a nationally recognized leader in student learning, diversity, research and community engagement. Dr. Ginsberg has a history of putting the student experience first, placing an emphasis on recruiting, retaining and supporting diverse groups of students, faculty, staff and communities. With nearly 20,000 students currently enrolled at Towson University, Dr. Ginsberg will strengthen the student experience, elevating the already broad array of academic and extracurricular opportunities.
Among the priorities outlined in its university strategic plan, TU has set forth a goal of attaining the Carnegie Classification R2: High Research Activity. Accelerating the momentum and energy generated by the university, Dr. Ginsberg will play an integral role in simulating more research activity while also advancing teaching excellence.
His experience at GMU, one of the nation’s youngest R1 universities, provides a foundation to how he will support TU’s rise to R2 status. At GMU, Dr. Ginsberg invested in academic programs, research centers, administrative and operational support, and personnel at all levels. He recruited a vice president for research, as well as five deans committed to GMU’s ascendancy as a comprehensive research university. He structured compensation packages for dozens of new faculty members with promising research careers and he nurtured a culture of inclusion, expanding diversity in GMU’s research and development enterprise, knowing that inclusion is foundational to high research performance.
“ I am thrilled to join the Towson University community and work in close collaboration with the faculty, staff and students, alumni, and friends of the university as well as the University System of Maryland as we together lift TU to ‘greater greatness’ as an ‘engine of opportunity’ in its next era. ”
Dr. Ginsberg has proven success in cultivating and managing relationships with a variety of partners on campus and in the community. This expertise will support TU’s growing campus, in line with the 2020-30 Campus Master Plan. In 2024, the university will open a state-of-the-art College of Health Professions building, boasting 320,000 square feet of cutting-edge simulation and skill labs, patient exam rooms, lecture halls and multiple research labs. That new facility is part of more than $1 billion in development on and immediately surrounding campus. TU also recently opened a new Science Complex, the largest academic space on campus — including classroom space, research labs, a planetarium and observatory within its walls. With more momentum outlined in the campus master plan, Dr. Ginsberg will lead of TU’s rise.
Partnerships have been central to Towson University’s identity as a community-engaged institution. Dr. Ginsberg has demonstrated experience in working with local communities and others. He plans to work with TU’s neighbors, many of whom are in the newly designated RISE Zone, to provide high-quality and equitable education, strengthen neighborhoods and sustainable communities, create thriving and competitive economies, support lifelong health and well-being, and celebrate vibrant arts and cultural lifestyles.
Dr. Ginsberg will succeed Kim Schatzel, who led the university with distinction as president since 2016 before becoming president of the University of Louisville in 2023. TU Provost Melanie Perreault has led the university as interim president since Feb. 1.
“I’m excited to welcome Dr. Ginsberg to Towson University, and I look forward to working closely with him as he leads us into our next phase of growth,” said Interim President Melanie Perreault. “Dr. Ginsberg is joining a very special university--one that is celebrated for academic and inclusive excellence. I know TU’s future has never been brighter.”
Please find USM Chancellor Jay Perman’s message here.