Towson University Announces New President

A new president of Towson University will come on board in early 2016, according to an announcement from the University System of Maryland.

Kim E. Schatzel—currently interim president, provost and executive vice president of academic and student affairs at Eastern Michigan University—will become the next president of Towson University as of Jan. 25, 2016, the announcement said.

“I accept this appointment with great pride, passion and a strong belief in the power and positive impact of public higher education,” Schatzel said in a statement.

Schatzel has a Ph.D. in business administration from Michigan State University and a B.A. in economics and biology from Washington University in St. Louis.

Since July she has been the interim president of Eastern Michigan University (EMU), comparable in size to Towson; EMU has approximately 23,000 graduate and undergraduate students, while Towson has more than 22,000.

EMU hired her in 2012 as provost.

“Kim Schatzel has made an outstanding contribution to Eastern Michigan University...” Eastern Michigan University Board Chair Mike Morris said in a statement Friday. “She has been an excellent leader and administrator, and provided great stability and guidance....Towson is an established and successful institution, and a wonderful opportunity for her. While we are sorry to see her leave, we wish her nothing but success in the future.”

According to the University System of Maryland, Schatzel’s leadership spans both corporate and higher education settings. She has 20 years of experience in the private sector, including as founding president of a multinational industrial firm. Schatzel also spent 12 years in various positions at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

She said that the atmosphere and opportunities attracted her to the new position.

“...Towson University’s commitment to academic excellence, support for faculty research, research opportunities for students and engagement in the surrounding community strongly resonate with me,” Schatzel said. “I am excited about working with the vibrant Towson University community.”

The announcement of Schatzel as the new president of Towson University comes after months of work by a search committee that included students, faculty, staff, administrators and the Board of Visitors, the statement said.

Chancellor William Kirwan assembled the committee after former President Maravene Loeschke resigned last December due to illness (she has since died from cancer), and Towson’s Interim President Timothy Chandler has been leading the university.

“During the past 15 months under Tim Chandler’s outstanding leadership, Towson University has kept its momentum going,” University System of Maryland Board Chair James L. Shea and Chancellor Caret said in a joint statement Friday. “Nothing stood still as he led the university through this period of transition. The USM community thanks him for his excellent service.”

Chandler will return to his position as provost when Schatzel assumes the presidency in 2016.

Photo of Kim E. Schatzel courtesy of the University of Maryland.