President Schatzel Highlights Momentum At TU In Annual Address

Press release from Towson University:

November 19, 2020

Towson University President Kim Schatzel highlighted momentum and TU’s relentless
commitment to the public good during her annual address, delivered this year through
video, on Thursday,

The 24-minute address touched on many of the priorities established by President Schatzel
since her arrival on campus in 2016, noted recent changes on campus and was punctuated
by a sneak peek of the new Science Complex.

Find the full address and a transcription here.

While her remarks included the COVID-19 pandemic, the address largely focused on the
positive impact the university has continued to make in spite of the challenges 2020
has presented.

"I’m proud of all that Towson University has done to continue delivering academic
excellence and rigor in our degree programs and advancing research, scholarly and
creative contributions of great significance and impact as well as continuing our
commitment to community engagement and serving the public good as an anchor institution
for greater Baltimore and our state," President Schatzel said.

She highlighted the very impressive freshman class and major national rankings TU has achieved this fall and welcomed the three new deans who joined TU this fall.

President Schatzel also shared the university’s ongoing efforts around inclusion and
noted progress around a series of plans, including TU’s first diversity and inclusion
strategic plan, which aligns with the university strategic plan.

She also recognized the faculty and staff who were honored this year by the University
System’s Board of Regents as well as the championships and achievements experienced by TU’s athletic teams, despite the pandemic.

The ongoing, record-setting philanthropic efforts of the TU community were highlighted,
including a recent gift of $5.3 million by alum and board of visitors member Fran Soistman ’79.

"From supporting our emergency funds to help those community members in need to providing
the funds to catalyze world-class academic excellence, TU’s philanthropic community
continues to be a major difference-maker for our entire TU community," Schatzel said.

That support is amplified by TU’s efforts through BTU. President Schatzel specifically
mentioned several of the 350 BTU programs for their community impact. She also highlighted
leadership and entrepreneurship programming that has continued in spite of the challenges
that the pandemic has created.

The president ended the address discussing the more than $1.7 billion in development
happening on and around campus. She looked forward to the groundbreaking for the proposed
College of Health Professions building and provided a preview of the new Science Complex.

"This year has brought about many challenges, but it has proven the resolve, resilience
and compassion of our university community, ensuring that TU continues to fulfill
and extend its leadership as a top national university dedicated to supporting the
public good," she said.

This story is one of several related to President Kim Schatzel’s priorities for Towson University: TU Matters to Maryland, BTU-Partnerships at Work for Greater Baltimore, Diverse and Inclusive Campus, Culture of Philanthropy, World-Class Faculty Development Center, Strategic Plan Alignment and TIGER Way.

This press release was produced by Towson University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.