Across TU, academic programs spanning the sciences, health professions, communication, humanities and professional studies are marking milestone anniversaries. These celebrations not only highlight years of growth, innovation and scholarly achievement, but also illuminate the people whose passion fuels each program’s success. 

From department founders and longtime faculty to recent graduates and current students, the voices behind these anniversaries share a common thread: a commitment to excellence and a belief in the transformative power of education. Their reflections below tell the story of programs that have shaped careers, advanced fields and strengthened communities across Maryland and beyond. 

60 Years – Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (SPPA) 

Kaitlyn Wilson

Faculty member of SPPA since 2014 and current department chair

Kaitlyn Wilson and student
Kaitlyn Wilson (right) with student

I have seen our SPPA students, faculty and staff thrive and contribute to the fields of speech-language pathology and audiology in meaningful ways. I have also seen the faculty grow in size and in research impact over the years, bringing TU’s SPPA programs greater recognition in the local community and beyond.

In the coming years, I hope to see SPPA continue to embrace interprofessional collaboration as well as the use of technology and AI in our fields. With support from the growing resources on TU’s campus, our faculty and students can lead the way in healthcare and school-based services for the state of Maryland.

55 Years – Department of Chemistry and Forensic Science 

John Sivey

Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Forensic Science since 2023 and 14-year faculty member at TU

John Sivey (left) working with a student in his lab
John Sivey (right) working with a student in the lab

It brings me an immense sense of pride to see our alumni spreading their wings and making transformational impacts on their fields and in their communities. ... Our graduates go on to highly successful careers in the private and public sectors.

My proudest moments involve celebrating the successes of students, faculty and staff in the department. Whether it is a faculty member winning a Board of Regents Faculty Award or students receiving international recognition from professional societies, seeing the hard work of colleagues and students recognized is a real joy of my job.

25 Years – Department of Electronic Media and Film (EMF)

Greg Faller

TU faculty member since 1986 and current associate dean for the College of Fine Arts and Communication

Greg Faller and two people standing
Greg Faller (left), Mike Flanagan '02 (center) and COFAC Dean Regina Carlow

EMF is truly a liberal arts program that also develops professional skills and a deep understanding of media. [I hope the program will] stay current with industry and technological developments; explore VR, AI and emerging modes of media dissemination and exhibition; develop new pedagogies; and, of course, fully utilize the facilities in the new Smith Hall. [Seeing students succeed] is probably the most gratifying feeling of teaching. To think that in some small way I helped shape students’ innate talent and drive into the successful artists and professionals they are today.  


25 Years – Deaf Studies Major

Ali Tyler

Professor in the Deaf Studies major since 2022

headshot of Ali Tyler
Ali Tyler

A pivotal moment for our program was the transition to the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures. Previously housed under a department related to Audiology and Speech Pathology, this move was crucial for establishing the appropriate framework for Deaf Studies. ... This new departmental home provides the necessary intellectual health and appropriate framing for our discipline.

For me, the greatest feeling of accomplishment is hearing from students who are actively educating their friends and families on the crucial importance of providing American Sign Language instruction to a Deaf child. That moment of real-world knowledge application and advocacy signifies that we are making a meaningful difference.

20 Years – Department of Family Science

Karen Eskow

TU faculty member for 38 years and current associate dean in the College of Liberal Arts

Three people standing
Kathleen Crostic '06 (left), Karen Eskow (center) and Emma Johns '24 (graduate, department of family studies) at the annual BTU Partnership Awards celebration

While in College of Health Professions, I was tapped by the provost at the time to be part of a cross campus interdisciplinary working group to develop a major in family studies. This was both professional and personal for me. I am a scholar who has studied family quality of life and family professional collaboration. Personally, I am the child of two Holocaust survivors who held the value of family as a priority. ... The highlight of this program/department was rooted in the early goals as a strong interdisciplinary unit and ongoing commitment to those early goals has been an important part of the journey.

Kathleen Crostic ‘06

Executive director of partnerships and outreach at TU

I know a lot of people describe their school or program as a 'large school with a small school feel' but that’s truly what it was and continues to be in the Department of Family Science. I can still name my favorite professors, who left a lasting impression on me, and now that I have the pleasure of being at TU as a staff member, it’s such a special thing to cross paths with them in a professional capacity.

20 Years – Department of Instructional Leadership and Professional Development (ILPD) 

Renee Hunter

Staff member at TU for 25 years and current administrative assistant for ILPD

I have no doubt that our department will continue to grow in the coming years. We will continue to support each other and students across the state.

I have no doubt that our department will continue to grow in the coming years. We will continue to support each other and students across the state. I love that as new faculty become a part of ILPD they bring new and fresh ideas. Incorporating the new with the old makes us a dynamic department. That is who we are and who we will always be.

Macon Tucker '24

Current employee in Baltimore City Public Schools

That experience continues to guide my work in developing principals who lead with both vision and equity.

ILPD gave me a strong foundation in equity-centered leadership, strategic thinking and enhancing my craft related to teaching and learning. It shifted my perspective from managing tasks to leading systems for sustainable change. That experience continues to guide my work in developing principals who lead with both vision and equity.

Brenda Conley

Faculty member at TU since 2006 and current professor in ILPD

[The students] prove by their presence that they believe in the work that they are doing and that they care about the communities that they serve. 

Our students make me proud. When I travel throughout the community, I am always delighted to see them hard at work. Many of them are serving in incredibly challenging communities, but they never seem to quit. They prove by their presence that they believe in the work that they are doing and that they care about the communities that they serve. It also warms my heart when they share what the TU experience was like for them. They never hesitate to reach back into our university community when they think we can provide support for them.

20 Years – Master of Integrated Homeland Security Management (IHSM) 

Suat Cubukcu

IHSM program director in his fourth year at TU

Headshot of Suat Cubukcu
Suat Cubukcu

The program has been an outstanding platform for bringing together diverse disciplines, criminal justice, political science, information technology, emergency management, public health and geography to address complex issues related to national safety and community well-being.

Twenty-four years after 9/11 and on its 20th anniversary, the program continues to reflect how vital collaboration and cross-disciplinary thinking are to understanding and managing evolving security challenges, from terrorism and organized crime to cyber threats and critical infrastructure protection. ... Homeland security is a rapidly evolving and vital field, and it’s inspiring to see our graduates making meaningful contributions to public safety and national resilience.

10 Years – Master of Marketing Intelligence 

Hua Chang

Marketing intelligence program director in his tenth year at TU

Headshot of Hua Chang
Hua Chang

The program’s most meaningful contribution has been bridging academic learning with real-world applications. By partnering with local businesses and organizations, we have created opportunities for students to apply their skills while strengthening TU’s connections to the broader community. Looking ahead, I hope the program continues to expand its focus on marketing analytics, AI applications and experiential learning to keep our students ahead of evolving industry trends.

Diana Canas ‘25

Current student

[The program] stays practical, innovative and connected to real business challenges—preparing students to use data and innovation to make a real impact.

What I find most remarkable is how the program keeps adapting to a fast-changing world, especially with the rise of AI and new technologies. It stays practical, innovative and connected to real business challenges—preparing students to use data and innovation to make a real impact.