Thank you for reading EngageTU—a monthly publication from the Division of Strategic Partnerships and Applied Research at Towson University. Take a few minutes to read about some of our accomplishments, impacts, and stories highlighting how we worked to advance TU’s role as an anchor institution in 2024.

Celebrating, supporting community engagement

The Office of Partnerships and Outreach continues to work across campus and with community stakeholders to support BTU: Partnerships at Work for Greater Baltimore.

Three programs—Baltimore Immigration Summit, BLinG-Health, and Impact TU—were celebrated for generating positive impact in greater Baltimore community.

The TU Physical Education Teacher Education and Baltimore Sports Academy Partnership Program gets local children moving, facilitates undergraduate service learning.

Supporting startups, business leaders

The StarTUp at the Armory isn’t just a building; it’s a cornerstone of our community and state, serving as a catalyst for growth, connectivity, and prosperity—positively impacting the business and educational community.

After months of founder-centric programming and intensive prep, StarTUp Accelerator founders wowed a record crowd at annual showcase.

ReBokeh Vision Technologies, a venture of the StarTUp Accelerator, partners with TU to provide free assistive technology.

ATHENAPowerLink® Baltimore Women in Business Speaker Series April Richardson, ESQ

ATHENAPowerLink® Baltimore Women in Business Speaker Series continues to highlight Maryland female leaders discussing challenges, insights.

Nurturing leaders, creating community impact

The Dr. Nancy Grasmick Leadership Institute launched three years ago to positively impact our region through results-producing, ethical leadership development. Since then, the institute has served 2,700 participants from 900 companies.

Learn how great leaders impact the greater good in the Grasmick Institute Impact Report (PDF)

When human potential is unlocked and harnessed in service of a shared vision, our organizations, communities, and region thrives.

Meeting workforce demands, sparking curiosity

TU understands learning happens at all stages of life. Center for Continuing and Professional Studies offers certification prep courses to meet workforce demands and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute provides learning opportunities to expand knowledge and gain insights into current events.

CCCMA program has positive impacts on careers. Students have a 98% certification pass rate and many have been hired by their externship sites.

Osher members Jacqui Hedberg and Pam Windsor share how their love of lifelong learning reunited them after years apart.

Curious minds gathered for evening programs to explore fun and intriguing topics—Maryland’s haunted history and the importance of impromptu.

Solving real-world problems through applied research

The Regional Economic Studies Institute (RESI) provides analysis, technical, and research services to businesses, government agencies, and non-profit organizations to benefit our state and region. The Center for GIS (CGIS) works with campus colleagues and clients to better understand GIS data to enhance information access and to inform challenges and decision making.

From easing inflation rates and rising GDP to a housing shortage and lower unemployment rates, it’s been a year of economic highs and lows.

CGIS developed maps that break down Maryland’s 2024 election results by county and compares presidential outcomes and turnout between 2020 and 2024.