Maravene Loeschke Appointed President of Towson University

Loeschke is Alumna and Former Faculty Member and Dean of TU

 

Adelphi, MD (September 19, 2011)-Orlan M. Johnson, chair of the University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents, today announced the appointment of Maravene S. Loeschke as president of Towson University (TU). Loeschke is currently president of Mansfield University in Pennsylvania. Her new appointment is effective January 1, 2012.

As president of Towson University, Loeschke will return to the institution from which she earned both her master's degree in education and her bachelor's degree in theatre and English and where she began her higher education professional career. Beginning in 1970, she spent more than 30 years at Towson moving up through the faculty ranks and serving as dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication from 1997 to 2002.

"We are very pleased that Dr. Loeschke has accepted our appointment as president of Towson," said Chairman Johnson. "Throughout her career, she has demonstrated the kind of leadership needed to keep institutional goals on track in both good and difficult economic times. Her inclusive leadership, unfaltering focus on excellence, and her ability to generate alternative funding sources will serve the university, our system, and the State of Maryland well in the years ahead."

In 2002, Loeschke left Towson to accept the appointment as provost of Wilkes University in Pennsylvania. During her four years at Wilkes, she is credited with the success of several initiatives, including shaping an undergraduate experience centered on mentorship, creating the University Diversity Action Plan, reorganizing the academic division into schools, initiating the development of learned outcomes assessments for academic programs, and increasing funding for faculty development.

Her presidency of Mansfield University since 2006 also has been marked with distinction. Loeschke oversaw the development of the university's first inclusive strategic plan and the establishment of a budget dedicated to the plan's goals. She reorganized the university's administrative structure to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness, strengthened the relationship between the university and the community, and brought greater focus to diversity and inclusion on campus.

"Clearly, Dr. Loeschke brings a philosophical alignment with the USM goals of closing student achievement gaps, increasing the number of young people in Maryland with college degrees, and responding to the state's workforce and economic development needs," said USM Chancellor William E. Kirwan. "Even in the face of unprecedented budget cuts in Pennsylvania, Dr. Loeschke was still able to move Mansfield University forward, exhibiting the courage to undertake significant organizational and administrative restructuring to maintain momentum. I am delighted to welcome her to the USM leadership team."

"I also want to express my deep gratitude to the presidential search committee," said Kirwan. "Under the outstanding leadership of USM Regent Louise Michaux Gonzales, the committee of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community representatives during the past seven months identified and screened an exceptional pool of candidates."

Loeschke was born in Baltimore. After earning her bachelor's and master's degrees from Towson, she earned her Ph.D. in philosophy from The Union Institute in Cincinnati. She has been active in leadership and mentoring programs for women in higher education and is a professional actress.  Her awards include the Towson University Alumni Service Award and the U.S. Postal Service (Wilkes-Barre, PA) Martin Luther King Service Award for commitment to diversity at Wilkes University.

Loeschke will succeed Robert Caret, who left Towson University in April to become president of the University of Massachusetts System. Since Caret's departure, Marcia G. Welsh has served as acting president and will continue in that position until Loeschke joins the university in January. Welsh will return to her position as the university's provost and vice president for academic affairs.

"We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Dr. Welsh who continues to serve Towson during this interim period so ably," said Chancellor Kirwan. "Her leadership is maintaining the university's impressive momentum."

"I am deeply grateful to the Board of Regents and Chancellor Kirwan for this opportunity," said Loeschke. "It is a privilege and a joy for me to serve the institution that has given so much to me. My Towson education provided the groundwork for my professional career and my personal life. I honor the university's long history and deeply respect its current reputation for excellence. My passion is to lead Towson University into the future. The excellence of the faculty, staff, and alumni provides the potential for a luminous future.

"At the core of Towson's past, present, and future is serving students and their professional and personal success."

One of the 12 institutions of the University System of Maryland, Towson University is recognized among the nation's best regional public universities. TU offers more than 100 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs in the liberal arts and sciences and applied professional fields to more than 21,000 students. As a metropolitan university, TU combines research-based learning with practical application. Its many interdisciplinary partnerships with public and private enterprises throughout Maryland provide opportunities for research, internships, and jobs.

For more information about Towson University, visit:  www.towson.edu

 

Contact: Anne Moultrie
Phone: 301.445.2722
Email: amoultrie@usmd.edu