Towson's campus and community news source Online daily at thetowerlight.com
Thursday, 09-22-11
Homecoming
for Towson's next president
Maravene Loeschke
assumes duties Jan. 1
LAUREN SLAVIN
Editor-in-Chief
Towson University's 2011 Homecoming Week has brought
back one alumna who will make an impact on campus long
after Saturday’s football game.
The University System of Maryland Board of Regents
named Maravene Loeschke Towson University’s next president
Monday, Sept. 19.
Loeschke, a Towson alumna and former dean of the College
of Fine Arts and Communication, is the current president of
Mansfield University in Pennsylvania.
"I am so overjoyed, 1 don’t know if I’ve ever been happier in
anything in my professional life," Loeschke said. "I have always
held Towson so tight and dearly, and to be coming back ... I’m
overwhelmed by the opportunity."
Before her five-year term at MU, Loeschke served as provost
of Wilkes University in Scranton, Pa., from 2002 to 2006.
But the largest portion of her resume comes from Towson
University, after she earned a Bachelor of Science in theatre
and English, as well as a Master of Education, and then spent
30 years in the roles of professor and chairperson in the depart¬
ment of theatre arts and dean of COFAC.
Loeschke’s experience at Towson University made her an
attractive candidate to the Presidential Search Committee, as
well as to the USM Board of Regents and Chancellor William
"Brit" Kirwan.
"Her sense of affection and commitment to Towson is so
evident," Kirwan said. “She feels she owes her successful pro¬
fessional career to her start at Towson. It’s not all that often a
university can hire an alumnus back as president." Towson University’s next president, Maravene Loeschke, currently
Many of the challenges Loeschke dealt with at Mansfield are holds the same position at Mansfield University in Central Pa.
Courtesy of Mansfield University
similar to those Towson is or could soon be facing.
In May 2010, $4 million in budget cuts were made
to Mansfield for the 2011-12 fiscal year, which led to
faculty layoffs and larger class sizes for students. Cuts
in state funding for higher education were also made
in March, which led to a 7.5 percent tuition increase
and a five percent drop in enrollment at Mansfield
University.
"We haven’t faced those kinds of cuts in Maryland,
but they could be coming," Kirwan said. "She exhib¬
ited strong leadership in addressing a very difficult
situation."
Mansfield University has an undergraduate popula¬
tion of approximately 3,500 students compared to
Towson’s approximately 21,000. Loeschke said she
values personal interaction with students and had very
close relationships with MU students.
Kirwan said Loeschke would keep the president’s
house porch light on to let students know they could
come in to visit with her. One of her challenges as
president of Towson University will be staying simi¬
larly active with the student body. The TU president’s
house is in Guilford, approximately three miles from
campus.
"I’m going to miss these [MU] students terribly.
They are wonderful, wonderful young people ... it’s
heart wrenching to think I won’t be able to see
them through commencement," Loeschke said. "But
I look forward to having really solid relationships with
Towson University students."
Loeschke said she was informed of her new position
Saturday after an interview with the USM Board of
Regents Friday.
Towson University senior and member of the
Presidential Search Committee Angie Hong said
Loeschke was one of three candidates the committee
recommended to the USM at the end of the summer.
She would not name the other two finalists.
See NEW, page 9
Who will be the 2011 King and Queen of the Jungle?
Christopher Curry/ The Towerlight
Homecoming Court nominees, from left, Paulomi Dholakia, Lynda Huynh, Katie Billotti, Mark Droter, Simone Posey, Sean Walker, Taylor Robinson and Gerado Escobar.
See page 1 5 for Q&As with the candidates and see their video interviews at thetowerlight.com.
