Achieving excellence
Taylor Richardson ’23 is one of five finalists for the prestigious McCall MacBain Scholars program.
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Celebrating Black History & Culture
Celebrating a thriving community, acknowledging our history and honoring early trailblazers.
“We must live with vision.”
Expanding our knowledge of Black people, their histories and their contributions is an act of reconciliation and an expression of value for the vastness of their experiences.
This page explores TU’s complicated history, honors the trailblazers who forged a more just campus, and highlights the students, faculty and staff whose research and advocacy continue to advance equity today. You’ll find opportunities to connect with a vibrant community of Tigers through year-round programs, groups and events.
Join us as we expand our understanding, access resources for success and gain inspiration from those who came before.
Our Community
Our community spans the African diaspora, imparting a deep history from which we offer essential perspectives as students, academics, professionals and leaders. Community groups and events connect us to those with shared experiences and helping us magnify our voice and expand our impact.
What We’re Up To
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Our History
A team of researchers is conducting the multiyear Unearthing Towson’s History Project to investigate the history of intersectional diversity at TU and record the stories of those at its forefront. Below are a few of the key milestones they’ve covered.
Timeline
A Segregated Start
In 1866, TU is founded as the Maryland Normal School, a part of the state’s then-segregated educational system. It remains segregated until the US Supreme Court outlaws racial segregation in public schools in 1954. During this time, Black staff kept the campus running through service positions but were not allowed to enroll.
First Black Students Enroll
In 1955, Jeanette Cornilia Smith, Vivian Kernes, Delores Elaine Snipes and Cornelia Juanita Martin are the first Black students to enroll at what is then called the Towson State Teacher’s College. These students already held bachelor’s degrees from liberal arts schools and enrolled for one year of post-baccalaureate work to qualify as teachers.
First Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded
In 1959, Marvis Barnes and Myra Harris become the first Black students to earn four-year degrees from Towson State Teacher’s College. After graduating, they transform their communities through decades of service as teachers and administrators in Maryland’s public schools, further establishing their legacies as inspirational civic leaders in our state.
Integrating the Faculty
In 1965, Whitney LeBlanc is hired as a theatre professor at what is then called Towson State College. During his tenure, an outside group of KKK extremists attempts to shut down his production of "And People All Around" by George Sklar. Prohibited from entering the venue in regalia, they return in plain clothes to heckle the production. The FBI removes the disrupters and the production continues on.
Dean of Minority Affairs Appointed
In 1969, Julius Chapman joins TU, where he leads the first Office of Minority Affairs with a goal of facilitating access to services and more fully integrating Black students into student life. The office is now named the Center for Student Diversity. Chapman’s legacy of mentorship lives on through the office and the campus quad named in his honor.
Black Fraternity Chartered
In 1973, Jerome Murphy, Robert Robinson, Craig Gray, Chuck Myer and Francis Clay form the Rho chapter of Iota Phi Theta, TU’s first black fraternity. The group continues to carry out its mission of fellowship, leadership and advocacy today by funding scholarships, supporting campus development and hosting events. In 2023 all five founding members participated in the group's 50th anniversary celebrations.
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Historically African American fraternities and sororities on campus.
1973
The first time the Black Studies major is offered in the curriculum.
15
Number of years the Black Student Leadership Conference has been held.
Our Early Trailblazers
Transforming the future
Julius Chapman became Towson State College’s first dean of minority affairs a half-century ago. During his 12-year career, he recruited and mentored African American students while helping to establish the Black Student Union, the Black Faculty and Administrators Association and the Black Cultural Center.
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Advocating for change
John Gissendanner was an early advocate for incorporating multicultural learning into TU’s curriculum, maintaining it would give graduates a better understanding of themselves, those around them and the world in which we live. Today, a scholarship continues the legacy of TU’s longtime Director of African American Studies.
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Triumphing over adversity
When a Supreme Court decision opened the door to educational opportunity, Marvis Barnes ’59 and Myra Harris ’59 stepped through to enroll at the State Teachers College at Towson. Their arrival signaled the beginning of a determined, rewarding—and at times hurtful—journey. Today, two West Village residence halls are named in their honor.
Watch VideoOur Modern Pioneers
Accomplishing historic firsts
Brandon Wharton ’17 was chosen as the first black editor of the Maryland Law Review, overseeing the publication’s 80th volume. A Constitutional Law and Politics class at TU inspired him to become a lawyer.
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Pushing past boundaries
Gabrielle Stanback ’22 became the first Black female student to solo with the Towson University Symphony Orchestra in 2018. In 2020, she received one of 20 inaugural music innovation grants for promising young musicians.
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Creating history
Chloe ’21 and Kaylah ’23 Harvey’s screenplay "20|02" became the first student-written production to be shown at TU’s Main Stage Theatre. In it, they explore their family’s creation of the African American flag.
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Resources and Support
African and African American studies program
The African and African American studies minor explores the historical and social experiences and cultural contributions of Africans and people of African descent in a global perspective. It also provides a critical perspective on race in American society.
Learn MoreAfrican studies research guide
Research guides from Albert S. Cook Library include materials supporting the study of African American history and culture and the African Diaspora, including databases, books, primary sources, visual and performing arts collections and more.
Learn MoreOur Expertise
Ada Pinkston
A past Diversity & Inclusion Faculty Fellow, Ada Pinkston, MFA, uses anthropological material, service learning and the history of the Hampton National Historical Site to teach about colonialism, the construction of race, and the impact of forced labor.
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Tara Blackshear
Tara Blackshear, Ed.D., associate professor or kinesiology, co-authored Critical Race Studies in Physical Education. The resource helps teachers understand crucial issues that Black students face and learn culturally competent classroom strategies.
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Donn Worgs
Donn Worgs, Ph.D., professor of political science and director of the African & African American Studies program, explores current events within contemporary and historical contexts. His areas of expertise include Black morality politics, urban neighborhoods and revitalization.
Read MoreOur Stories
Voices of Baltimore: Life under Segregation preserves the rich oral histories of a quickly diminishing population of African Americans who attended segregated schools or experienced desegregation before and after the historic 1954 Supreme Court Brown v. Board of Education ruling.
TU College of Education faculty members Gary Homana, Ph.D., and Morna McDermott McNulty, Ph.D., along with Franklin Campbell Jones, Ph.D., produced and directed the film that asks the question, “Where have we been, and where are we going?”
TU celebrates and recognizes the cultural identities and lived experiences of its
community members.