Research

News

TU faculty receive USM endowed professorships

	John M. Morgan, left, and Steven Lev, right, received Elkins Professorship Awards.

TOWSON, Md. (August 2009) - Two members of Towson University's faculty, Steven Lev and John M. Morgan, were selected to receive the prestigious Wilson H. Elkins Professorships for 2010 in recognition of their dedication and service to higher education.

Wilson H. Elkins, former president of the University of Maryland, is remembered for his vision and contributions that led to significant growth during his 1974 to 1978 tenure. The Wilson H. Elkins Professorship, established in 1978, initially was awarded to UM faculty and researchers who demonstrated outstanding abilities in their professional disciplines commensurate with Elkins achievements. In 1988, with the establishment of the University System of Maryland, the Elkins professorship was extended system wide.

Steven Lev, associate professor in the Department of Physics, Astronomy, and Geosciences, received an award of $52,000 to support further development and promotion of the Urban Environmental Biogeochemistry Laboratory, and curriculum development for the environmental science master's program. 

John M. Morgan III, professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Planning, received an $80,000 award for his exemplary work in geographic information systems (GIS) and for his support in developing the emergency-based Google Maps for the state of Maryland.

Previous Elkins Award winners include TU faculty David Schaefer and Martha Joynt Kumar. 

David Schaefer, professor in the Department of Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences, received $56,000 in 2007-08 to enhance TU’s nanotechnology laboratory and support undergraduate research students with subsequent funding for his work in STEM outreach through collaboration with the director of TU's Willard Hackerman Academy. 

Martha Joynt Kumar, professor in the Department of Political Science, received $68,700 in 2003-04 to support the development and delivery of an interactive course about White House communications based on conversations with White House officials and reporters. The sessions were available through the University System of Maryland as well as through streaming and interactive video. The sessions have been archived and still available online. In 2005-06, Professor Kumar received a $40,000 award for further development of an interactive course on presidential communications for delivery throughout the University System of Maryland and the University of California systems as well as online, and to support publication of "Managing the President's Message: The White House communications Operation" (Johns Hopkins University Press). The book won the 2008 Richard E.Neustadt Award for the best book published on the presidency, an award given by the presidency section of the American Political Science Association.

Office of Sponsored Programs & Research
Enrollment Services Center, Suite 208

Phone: 410-704-2236
Fax: 410-704-4494
E-mail: ospr@towson.edu