How TU integrates the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today

January 14, 2022

Towson University and the nation are marking the birthday of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr Jan. 17. Each day, the University is continuing the legacy of the Civil Rights leader's life by focusing on being an institution that leads in inclusive excellence.

Towson University, which published its Diversity Strategic Plan in 2020, is already one of the most diverse higher education institutions in the nation and is committed to building an inclusive, equitable and diverse campus community. Since President Kim Schatzel's arrival in 2016, diversity, equity and inclusion have been at the forefront of the University's mission.

TU was recognized by Insight into Diversity magazine with a Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award in both 2020 and 2021.

Of the 2,610 first-time TU students last fall, 58.5% identified as a racial or ethnic minority. Towson University’s growing diversity is a reflection of the state’s growth. According to the United States Census, more than half of the Maryland population identifies as a racial or ethnic minority, making it one of the first minority–majority states on the East Coast. 

Patricia Bradley, who was named Vice President for Inclusion and institutional Equity (OIIE) in December of 2021, and Brian Jara, Assistant Director of Diversity Training and Educational Initiatives at TU, answered questions about how the campus works to bring all voices to the table.

What parts of MLK’s work does TU implement each day and how does TU reflect it? 

Martin Luther King is a key historical figure for many reasons, and we often overlook, consciously or not, that his life and career saw him evolve in his priorities and his approaches. To authentically honor him involves remembering that he was many things to many people: dynamic orator, civil rights leaders, community organizer, advocate of boycott and protest, and more. We encourage everyone to remember that his life and work is more nuanced than any single quote of his that we may find meaningful; embrace the complexity of his life in the same ways we embrace the complexities of continuing to move TU forward. 

How is the Diversity Strategic Plan being implemented now on campus? What is the future of this implementation work? 

In this, the 2nd year of the 5-year diversity strategic plan, we are continually monitoring the progress of the original action items, and are supporting the responsible units assigned to each, and we are assessing which action items that may need to be modified.

We often use the metaphor of using a GPS app: the destination is a TU where every member of the community feels authentic belonging and experiences no barriers merely because of who they are. Depending on the time of day, the occasional traffic on the current route, we occasionally need to adjust our original route after the journey has begun. 

TU has become an increasingly diverse campus, with 59 percent of its new students in the fall identifying as minority. How can students carry the work of MLK forward? Does their presence say anything about TU’s work in diversity and equity? 

The steadily increasing diversity of our student population is a result of commitment and effort across countless campus partners. In addition to the demographics, it’s important to regularly engage with our students about what their actual experiences are. Diversity is one pillar; inclusion, equity, justice and belonging are others.  

The work continues to increase diversity and representation of our staff and faculty and, in the meantime, we courage our entire TU community to continue the ongoing work of how we can best support an increasingly diverse student body. 

Is there anything about the work of OIIE that people should also know in creating a more equitable university? 

OIIE and all its teams continue to offer support, programming, and education for the entire TU community, and we never do that work alone. We always welcome feedback, suggestions, and invitations to collaborate because the goals of our diversity strategic plan will be achieved through partnership and collaboration. 

Learn more about the Office of Inclusion and Institutional Equity at Towson University.