Annual Report
TU's 2024 Progress in Leading for the Public Good
Explore some of the ways we built upon our momentum, furthered our impact and advanced our position as a national leader in higher education.
TU is already recognized as one of America’s top 100 public national universities. Our strategic plan is a call to action for an even bolder future.
In 2024, we made incredible progress on our goals to educate, innovate, engage, include, support and sustain.
Educate | Student-Centered Education
At TU, student success and engaged learning are the highest priorities.
The new Health Professions Building features cutting-edge technologies and advanced simulation centers.
Top Fulbright Institution
For the second time in its history, TU was recognized by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for being one of the colleges and universities with the highest number of students selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program—the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange program. Three TU students - Jacob Damrow, Ashley Hajimirsadeghi and Jamal Washington ’16 were selected for Fulbright awards for the 2023–24 academic year, with one student being selected as an alternate.
McCall MacBain scholarship
Taylor Richardson became the first U.S. student to receive the McCall MacBain scholarship. Canada’s prestigious leadership-based scholarship program provides awardees with a fully financed education, mentorship, workshops, monthly leadership enrichment courses and an individual mentor specific to their field of study. Richardson was selected out of thousands of international applicants and five overall U.S. finalists.
TU’S Triple Crown
It was quite a year of accomplishment for Ashley Hajimirsadeghi. She’s a Fulbright Scholar, earned a Critical Language Scholarship and became TU’s first recipient of the National Security Education Program’s David L. Boren Fellowship.
Teacher Quality Partnership Grant
The College of Education received a more than $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education under the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) program. The grant seeks to enhance the quality of Maryland’s teacher pipeline, university teacher preparation programs and teacher induction programs, thereby improving the academic achievement of preK–6 students in Montgomery and Baltimore counties. TU is the only university in Maryland and among just 18 FY2024 grant recipients in the nation to receive a TQP award.
Innovate | Sparked by Innovation
TU is leading breakthrough research and creative discovery for the greater good.
TU’s electronic media and film studies prepares students for virtual reality technologies.
Leaders in Autism Studies
The first Autism Summit hosted by the College of Health Professions brought together scholars, practitioners, researchers and students interested in advancing autism studies. Students in the first cohort of the autism studies doctoral program presented their research, which aims to enhance understanding and support within the autism community. TU faculty Connie Anderson, Ph.D., and Heidi Feng, Ph.D., offered their expert perspectives, guided exploration of critical issues and presented their own research to provide innovative solutions in autism.
Empowering Secure Elections
The Empowering Secure Elections Lab at TU teamed up with the Anne Arundel County Election Office to improve Maryland elections. The collaboration surveyed county residents and unlocked data that will help the Board of Elections in Anne Arundel County make improvements to its election process for registered voters.
Cybersecurity Grants
TU’s Center for Interdisciplinary and Innovative Cybersecurity has received more than $2 million in grants from the National Science Foundation and National Security Agency to develop programs of study and pioneer innovative solutions for cybersecurity education. Curriculum developed will exist for free through the Cybersecurity Labs and Resource Knowledgebase to empower faculty to develop a skilled workforce in cyber and AI.
SURVICE Engineering
SURVICE Engineering has partnered with the Center for Interdisciplinary and Innovative Cybersecurity to secure unmanned aircraft systems. Led by Mike O’Leary, Ph.D., and Nathan McNew, Ph.D., from TU’s Department of Mathematics, faculty and students will work at the center on risk analysis and encryption capabilities to implement novel solutions to risks associated with cybersecurity.
Engage | Engaging Beyond Campus
Creating opportunities beyond the bounds of campus is our responsibility.
More than 100 students attended the 25th-annual Tiger Pride Day at the state capital in Annapolis.
Leaders in Civic Engagement
Towson University was awarded the 2024 Highly Established Action Plan Seal by ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for achieving excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement.
American Democracy Project
TU celebrated the 20th anniversary of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ nonpartisan American Democracy Project by recommitting to the initiatives guiding civic and democratic engagement. As part of the project, the Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility created a culture of connecting and empowering students so they feel comfortable engaging in the community and region.
Tiger Pride Day
TU students took to Annapolis for the 25th-annual Tiger Pride Day. They attended General Assembly sessions and committee hearings, advocated for causes important to them and networked with legislators.
Opportunities for Local Businesses
The Office of Procurement and the Office of Strategic Partnerships and Applied Research hosted the inaugural vendor fair for local, small, minority-owned and women-owned businesses to connect with those making purchasing decisions at TU. The fair provided a means for employees at TU to support the economic growth and development of the community. `
Towson Strategic Sales Center
Launched in fall 2024, the Towson Strategic Sales Center serves as a hub for professional sales education, research and networking in TU’s College of Business and Economics. Programming connects faculty, students and staff with professional development opportunities, local and national sales competitions, sales research collaborations, local partnerships and industry mentorships.
Include | Built for Belonging
Creating an even more inclusive and collaborative community is how TU fosters greater belonging.
TU’s MentHER program at the Visit Baltimore offices.
A Leader in Inclusive Mentorship
TU’s MentHER program connects professional businesswomen with sophomores in the College of Business and Economics for one-on-one mentoring relationships. The CBE students, in turn, mentor high school students across the Baltimore region. Through guided discussions, workshops, one-on-one sessions and presentations, they build financial literacy, develop life and workplace skills and engage in career planning. In 2024, MentHER was recognized with the Inspiring Programs in Business Award from Insight Into Diversity magazine.
A Culture of Belonging
Dedicated affinity group hubs bring together events, organizations and resources for six of TU’s cultural communities—helping members access support and connection on campus and beyond. The hubs are supported through year-round storytelling and promotion that reinforces a campus culture of inclusion and belonging. These efforts are recognized as a national model for diversity communications, with TU invited to present them at the American Marketing Association’s 2024 Higher Education Conference.
Top University for Veterans
The Military Times’ Best for Vets 2024 college rankings named TU the No. 2 university for veterans in Maryland and No. 91 in the country. TU also earned the Military Friendly Schools’ gold designation for the second-straight year. For championing student success through oversight of TU’s exceptional Military and Veterans Center, Senior Vice President of Student Affairs and University Life Vernon Hurte was among 31 individuals recognized with Military Friendly’s Veteran Champions of the Year in Higher Education award.
Support | Outstanding Support Systems
Expanding services for students, faculty and staff to achieve at their highest levels advances TU’s core values.
More than 200 local employers participated in the 2024 Career and Internship Fair at TU Arena.
Solutions for Statewide Challenges
The Towson University Foundation awarded more than $100,000 in grants to support faculty, staff and students addressing Maryland’s biggest challenges. Among them is a mentorship and support program for paraeducators working toward bachelor’s degrees. Reducing barriers for these nontraditional students strengthens the workforce pipeline to address statewide teacher shortages.
Advancing Female Leadership
Named after prominent leaders in TU’s history, the Tall-Wiedefeld Society (TWS) is creating a philanthropic legacy to advance women at TU. In its third year, TWS awarded $20,000 to programs supporting female leadership and success, including career development for women in STEM, immersive leadership experiences for middle school girls and seminars exploring the impact and roles of women in forensic science.
A Comforting K-9
TU welcomed its first comfort dog in 2024. Supported through generous donations from the campus community, Bruno offers emotional support and companionship as part of a community-oriented approach to public safety. He lives and works alongside TUPD patrol officer Sgt. Jafar Taru, offering a comforting presence at building walk-throughs and calls for service.
College for All
A $250,000 Bloomberg Philanthropies grant is helping TU launch a college preparation residency program for Baltimore City high school students in grades 11–12. The summer intensive will enhance foundational math skills and study habits while offering advice on the college transition from current TU undergraduates. Students who complete the program may be invited to join one of TU’s residential learning communities with waived room and board fees.
Community-Centered Education
The Albert S. Cook Library has received nearly $400,000 in grants to benefit TU’s students and the greater Towson community, awarded by the Institute of Museum & Library Services National Leadership Grants for Libraries program. Funds are supporting two unique initiatives in TU’s Special Collections and University Archives: the development of a student-centered outreach model for academic archives and the implementation of a community-centered educational program to address Holocaust disinformation.
International Initiatives
TU believes that global learning is integral to a well-rounded college education. The current student body represents 72 countries around the world, and more than 200 TU students study abroad annually.
Sustain | Leading Through Sustainability
Sustainable use of resources-environmental, human and financial-makes TU a valued and responsible educational leader.
TU students cleaning up the greater Towson community during Impact TU.
Impact TU
More than 500 TU students engaged with community partners throughout Towson as part of the university’s day of service. Students learned about local efforts toward developing sustainable communities and engaged in hands-on service projects focused on environmental sustainability, economic security, social well-being and civic engagement.
Susquehanna River Rail Bridge Project
TU-led research on the endangered northern map turtle will support an environmental study for the Susquehanna River Rail Bridge Project in Maryland’s Harford and Cecil counties. Richard Seigel, professor emeritus, and Steven Kimble, clinical associate professor—both in the Department of Biological Science—are working alongside students in the Jess and Mildred Fisher College of Science and Mathematics to assess alternative habitat solutions for the turtle during construction. The Susquehanna River Rail Bridge Replacement Program is a collaboration between the Federal Railroad Administration, the Maryland Department of Transportation and Amtrak. The bridge will improve commute efficiency through the northeast corridor with the hope of getting more drivers off the road and into the most climate-friendly transportation option.