TURFA provides opportunities for its members to connect socially and intellectually
with each other and the university through formal and informal events. Since its inception
TURFA has worked to expand and codify the benefits and privileges granted to TURFA
members and other retired faculty and librarians. A survey report about Towson University retired faculty and librarians documented that retiring from Towson University does not mean disengaging from your
intellectual community. TURFA aims to facilitate and stimulate that continued engagement
among our members.
A Memorandum of Understanding, signed by the Provost, the Vice President of Administration and Finance, and the
President of TURFA in June 2021, details the rights and privileges granted TURFA members
and other retirees.
TURFA’s newsletter, The Advocate, is distributed twice a year (once in the spring and once in the fall) to members
via email. Copies of the current and previous newsletters are posted here:
A yearly Annual Report (PDF) summarizes the scope of our activities. These activities are also presented in a
more engaging and member-focused manner in the biannual newsletter The Advocate. We also help maintain the current directory of Towson University Professors, Faculty and Librarians Emeriti.
Governance
TURFA is member led organization with an Executive Committee structured according
to a set of Bylaws (PDF). The Executive Committee consists of elected officers and the chairpersons of its
standing committees.
TURFA Executive Committee
The TURFA Executive Committee meets once per month to discuss current initiatives,
projects, partnerships, issues and concerns shared by members. Executive Committee
meetings are often attended by non-voting members who are leading TURFA initiatives,
by college representatives and by TURFA representatives on other university committees.
Minutes are taken at each meeting and are available to the public.
Elected Positions
There are six elected officers: president, president-elect, treasurer, secretary and
two members at large. The election of officers is held in the spring. Members are
notified via email when the nominating committee is seeking nominations. Members can
either self-nominate or nominate other members who agree to serve. All members can
submit nominations, but only full members can hold elected positions and vote in the
election. The membership also elects a TURFA representative and alternate to the Academic
Senate.
TURFA Standing Committees
Critical to TURFA’s success is the work of the standing committees. All of these committees
need members to assist in their work. TURFA members who are interested in joining
in the efforts of a particular committee should send an email to TURFA AT_TOWSON detailing their interest.
- Program and Events Committee — plans events including trips to museums and cultural
sites, as well as social get-togethers.
- Benefits and Privileges Committee — helps to ensure that TURFA members receive all
benefits and privileges to which they are entitled.
- Outreach Committee — connects TURFA and its members to organizations outside of the
University and offices within the University to address issues of common interest.
- Oral History Project Committee — creates and archives video recordings of interviews
with long-serving faculty members.
2022-2023 TURFA Leadership
Executive Committee
- President: Lawrence Shirley, Department of Mathematics
- President-elect: Annette Chappell, College of Liberal Arts
- Past President: Jane L. Wolfson, Environmental Science and Studies Program
- Treasurer: Raymond Castaldi, Department of Accounting
- Secretary: Janet DeLany, Department of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science
- Representative-at-Large: Patricia Alt, Department of Health Sciences
- Representative-at-Large: Thomas Maronick, Department of Marketing
- Program and Events Committee Chair: Thomas Maronick, Department of Marketing
- Benefits and Privileges Committee Chair: Martha Siegel, Department of Mathematics
- Outreach Committee Chair: Jane Wolfson; Environmental Science and Studies Program
- Oral History Project Committee Chair: Don Forester, Department of Biological Sciences
Additional Members in Leadership Roles
- Library Liaison: Ellie Hofstetter, Cook Library
- Academic Senate Representative: Martha Siegel, Department of Mathematics
- Academic Senate Alternate: William Smith, Department of Management
- FACET Advisory Board Representative: Precha Thavikulwat, Department of Management
- Online Information Co-Coordinators: Peg Benner, Department of English and
Howard Kaplon, Department of Mathematics
- Editor, The Advocate: Vacant
- Legislative Affairs: Tracy Miller, Department of Early Childhood Education and Academic Advising
- CLA Commemorative Moments Representative: Jo-Ann Pilardi, Department of Philosophy and Women Studies Program