Towson University this week congratulated recipients of 1,686 baccalaureate degrees, 719 master’s degrees and certificates, and eight doctoral degrees at its commencement ceremonies on Thursday, Dec. 18 and Friday, Dec. 19 at SECU Arena.
Thousands of graduates, parents, relatives and friends joined university faculty and staff to congratulate the students who, upon walking across the stage, joined more than 144,000 other Towson University alumni around the world.
Thursday saw celebrations for the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics, the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Education and the College of Fine Arts and Communication .
On Friday, graduates of the College of Health Professions and the College of Business and Economics walked across the stage.
Interim President Timothy J. L. Chandler joined Acting Provost S. Maggie Reitz and the respective college deans to award the degrees. Representatives from the Towson University Student Government Association, the Towson University Alumni Association, the University System Board of Regents and other distinguished guests were also on-hand.
Among the distinguished attendees was Special Education Professor Debi Gartland, who received the President’s Award for Distinguished Faculty Service to the University at the College of Education’s ceremony. Gartland is the 34th recipient of this award and was the first recipient of the Unviersity System of Maryland Regent’s Faculty Award for Public Service.
“Dr. Gartland is the longest-serving faculty member in the College of Education,” says Interim President Chandler. “In her 29 years at Towson, she has been integral to the development of Special Education from a program of six students in 1986 to a department of more than 200 graduates today.
