快活视频Honors College finds new home, identity

Program offers undergraduates experiential learning, enriched curriculum

By Kyle Hobstetter on May 17, 2023

Nancy Grasmick cuts the ribbon for the Honors College Mural
快活视频Presidential Scholar Dr. Nancy Grasmick 鈥61 cuts the ribbon to the Honors College mural that is located outside their office at the 7800 Building. (Paige Detwiler / Towson University) 

Since its inception in 1998, the Towson University Honors College has provided unique educational opportunities to thousands of students.

Now, it has a new home that celebrates the work and tradition of advanced academic achievement.

The new space on the first floor of the 7800 Building houses the program鈥檚 staff and provides classrooms, a study and meeting space for approximately 700 Honors students.

On March 15, during a special ribbon cutting, the Honors College revealed a mural created to showcase its history and provide a sense of community.

鈥淲e鈥檙e very happy to be here. This is a good space, and we welcome it,鈥 said Terry Cooney, Honors College rector, during his opening remarks at the ceremony. 鈥淲hile we鈥檙e happy, it hasn鈥檛 been easy for other people to find. We began talking about a mural outside our office that draws attention and lets people know who we are.

鈥淭he mural is even visible from the outside, so people might get a little bit curious and come see what the Honors College is all about.鈥

The mural was designed and painted through a partnership with TU鈥檚 Design + Graphic Services and received financial assistance from 快活视频Presidential Scholar Dr. Nancy Grasmick 鈥61.

She was on hand for the ribbon cutting and was named an Honors College Luminary.  

鈥淲hen I look at this mural, I think of what the man who designed the Golden Gate Bridge said: 鈥榃ords are unnecessary; the bridge says the whole thing.鈥 This mural says the whole thing,鈥 Grasmick noted in her remarks. 鈥淭his is a magnificent program at Towson University. This Honors College rivals anything I see at other local institutions.鈥

As the mural highlights, the Honors College provides challenging academic opportunities to students from all colleges and majors.

Professors from various disciplines are selected to lead small classes that encourage interdisciplinarity, multiple pedagogies, student involvement, creativity, open discussion and independent critical thinking.

The program鈥檚 experiential learning requirement is displayed annually during multiple events, including when 快活视频hosted the in-person portion of the Maryland Collegiate Honors Council Annual Undergraduate Research Conference on Feb. 24.

Learn more about Towson University鈥檚 Honors College, including how to apply and the programs and scholarships offered to honors students.

Honors College Website

Honors Students鈥 Perspectives

Daryna Soloviova

Daryna Soloviova 鈥23 

Physics major from Kherson, Ukraine

鈥淭he Honors College provided me with a lot of opportunities to work outside my field, to learn about different aspects and how interdisciplinary works [and] overlaps with my other work.鈥


Britney Erickson

Britney Erickson 鈥23 

Cell and Molecular Biology major from Olney, Maryland

鈥淚t鈥檚 been really special taking Honors College classes, which are smaller than the typical college class. They are also discussion based, and it鈥檚 nice mingling with people who might not be in my cohort and [so that I can} hear different perspectives on the same topic.鈥


Joshua Wilmer

Joshua Wilmer 鈥23 

Spanish Major on Pre-Med Track from Baltimore, Maryland

鈥淏eing an undergraduate researcher has been the most impactful and unexpected experience I鈥檝e had at Towson. Being a student at the Honors College, I have been able to present my research at several academic conferences around the country, learning so much and having a ton of fun along the way.鈥