TU hosts largest BTU Partnerships Showcase to date

The showcase is a chance for community members get to know how Towson University is working to make Greater Baltimore a better place to live, work, and learn.

By Arthur Smith on April 25, 2017

Towson University's BTU Partnerships Showcase on Monday, April 24, made a splash at its 10th anniversary, drawing record crowds to SECU Arena. It is TU’s largest annual event focused on developing and supporting partnerships throughout Greater Baltimore.

More than 300 representatives from nonprofits, schools, healthcare organizations, government agencies, and businesses attended the event, where they were able to explore and expand partnerships and collaborations with TU faculty and staff members.

Since coming to campus in 2016, President Schatzel has made the support and growth of partnerships a top priority. BTU—Partnerships at Work For Greater Baltimore seeks to enhance and strengthen TU’s existing partnerships in Great Baltimore that are committed to positive impacts, making a difference, and transforming lives throughout the area.

Learn more about BTU's five primary impact areas and the work being done at Towson University to support them.

With a renewed focus at TU on university-community partnerships, the BTU Partnerships Showcase was expanded from previous years. Faculty and staff members from 50 TU centers, institutes, and programs showcased their work throughout the event.

The Asian Arts & Culture Center, Applied Mathematics Laboratory, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Towson University, and Baltimore Hebrew Institute were just four of the 17 centers and institutes that highlighted their work. 

Featured projects included the Bedtime Math After School Math Club, MentHER, The Diversification of Maryland's Defense Network, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA), and Anthropology Team Helps National Park Service Get Connected.

Posters from each of the featured projects, as well a complete list of centers and institutes separated by areas of focus, can be viewed online. 

Although the primary goal is to connect faculty and staff with external partners, the event also helps to spark communication and collaboration between departments that may not happen otherwise. 

Celebration of Excellence mark

The BTU Partnerships Showcase was the third event of the "Celebration of Excellence,” a chance for the TU community to celebrate the successes and outstanding accomplishments of students, faculty, staff and alumni. Five more "Celebration" events are scheduled before the end of the semester. 

The next “Celebration of Excellence” event, a Senior Colleagues Reception, will take place this Thursday, April 27, at 5:30 p.m. in the Minnegan Room of the Unitas Stadium Field House.

This story is one of several related to President Kim Schatzel's priorities for Towson University.