President Ginsberg with TU staff

Recognizing and celebrating the Mid-Atlantic CIO Forum 

On Jan. 15, TU dedicated a visible reminder to current and future students that leaders in the field of technology are invested in their futures. With nearly $1 million in scholarship support since its inception, the Mid-Atlantic CIO Forum has had a profound and lasting impact on student success the university.  

At the plaque dedication, TU President Mark Ginsberg acknowledged that the CIO Forum’s generosity extends beyond financial support. “The forum is a part of the Towson community,” Ginsberg said. “Holding meetings on campus, supporting student scholarships and providing networking, mentorship and professional development has been foundational to not only enriching our students’ education but also growing future technology leaders.”

Created in 2003 as a peer-to-peer regional network for CIOs and other senior-level informational technology executives, the forum developed a partnership with TU and has been providing scholarships to TU students since 2006.

Present at the dedication were Hans Keller ’10, vice president of the Mid-Atlantic CIO Forum, senior vice president at CIO at Erickson Living and a member of the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics Advisory Board. Fisher College leadership included Dean Matthew Nugent and Mike McGuire, chair of the computer and information sciences department.

Jenny Jochens History Faculty Research endowed fellowship

A generous $500,000 gift has established an endowed fellowship, which supports TU’s mission to foster intellectual inquiry, critical thinking and academic excellence through research. Named in honor of Jenny Jochens, a prolific scholar, women’s historian pioneer and longtime TU faculty member, the fellowship is for faculty whose research spans the globe. It funds research travel and offers faculty the opportunity to advance their scholarly contributions while easing the financial burden that comes with it.

Students also benefit. Research-active faculty enhance learning in the classroom by bringing current scholarship into discussions, mentoring students in primary-source research and modeling intellectual best practices. 

The fellowship was established by Jochens’ son, Peter Baldwin, Ph.D., global professor at NYU’s Center for European and Mediterranean Studies.

The first Jenny Jochens History Faculty Research Grants will be awarded in 2027.

Brennan family supports Nick Ziolkowski scholarship fund

Patrick Brennan and his partner, Helga Maria Surratt, donated $100,000 in support of the Cpl. Nicholas “Nick” Ziolkowski Memorial Scholarship, an endowment that honors the fallen U.S. Marine who planned to attend TU after his service and whose legacy continues to resonate across campus.

Ziolkowski was killed in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004. His mother, longtime TU staff member Tracy Miller, later became a champion for veteran and military-connected students, helping re-establish the university’s Military and Veterans Center in his honor.

Their gift deepens the long-standing connection between the Brennan family, Nick's family and TU—ensuring that his legacy continues to inspire and uplift TU students for generations to come.

Brennan relayed the following story about Nick: “Helga and I got to know Nick through our son Eric. Nick was home on leave, and he came by our house to pick up Eric on their way to the ocean. I spoke with Nick briefly and remember thinking how fortunate we as Americans are to have such fine young men like Nick serving in our military. Nick’s professionalism and strong commitment made a profound and lasting impression even 20 years later. Helga and I are both very honored to support the scholarship.”