Morgan State University

Morgan State University
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Name	Morgan State University
Established	1867
Type	Public historically black research university
Endowment	$50.1 million (2021)
President	David K. Wilson
City	Baltimore
State	Maryland
Country	United States
Campus	Urban, 152 acres
Students	9,101 (Fall 2022)
Faculty	450
Affiliations	University System of Maryland
Website	www.morgan.edu

Morgan State University. It is a public historically black research university in Baltimore, Maryland, and the largest of Maryland's four HBCUs. Founded in 1867 as the Centenary Biblical Institute by the Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, it has grown into a comprehensive institution granting doctoral degrees and is designated as Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University. The university is a member of the University System of Maryland and is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity".

History

The institution was founded in 1867 as the Centenary Biblical Institute to train young men for the ministry. In 1890, the school was renamed Morgan College in honor of the Reverend Lyttleton Morgan, the first chairman of its Board of Trustees, who donated land to the college. Under the leadership of President John O. Spencer, the college began awarding bachelor's degrees and moved to its present campus in northeast Baltimore in 1917. The state of Maryland purchased the private college in 1939, making it a public institution and renaming it Morgan State College. It achieved university status in 1975 as Morgan State University and joined the University System of Maryland in 1988. A pivotal moment in its history was the 1954 Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, which accelerated its role in providing access to higher education for African American students.

Academics

The university is organized into several colleges and schools, including the College of Liberal Arts, the School of Business and Management, the School of Education and Urban Studies, the School of Engineering, and the School of Architecture and Planning. It offers a wide range of undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs, with notable strengths in architecture, engineering, business, and the sciences. Morgan State is a national leader in producing African American graduates in fields like electrical engineering, civil engineering, and mathematics. The university houses significant research centers such as the National Transportation Center and the Patuxent Environmental & Aquatic Research Laboratory, contributing to its "high research activity" classification. It also maintains a long-standing partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Campus

The main urban campus spans 152 acres in the residential neighborhood of Northeast Baltimore, featuring a mix of historic and modern architecture. Notable buildings include the iconic University Chapel, a National Historic Landmark built in 1917, and the Earl S. Richardson Library, the main library. The campus is also home to the James H. Gilliam, Jr. Concert Hall and the Carl J. Murphy Fine Arts Center, a major performing arts venue. Recent developments include the state-of-the-art Calvin and Tina Tyler Hall for student services and the new Behavioral and Social Sciences Center. The university's Northwood Shopping Center property also serves as a commercial and academic annex.

Student life

Student life is vibrant with over 130 student organizations, including fraternities and sororities from the National Pan-Hellenic Council. The university has a strong tradition in the performing arts, notably through the acclaimed Morgan State University Choir which has performed at the White House and internationally. Major annual events include Homecoming, the Spring Fest concert, and the Welcome Week activities. Student media includes the *Spokesman* newspaper and WEAA radio station. The campus fosters leadership through organizations like the Student Government Association and the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program.

Athletics

The university's athletic teams, known as the Bears, compete in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision as a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. The football team has won several MEAC championships and has made appearances in the Celebration Bowl. Other notable sports include basketball and track and field, with the university's legacy in athletics deeply connected to its status as an HBCU. The Bears play home football games at Hughes Stadium, a 10,000-seat facility on campus. The athletic program emphasizes the development of student-athletes, with many going on to professional careers.

Notable alumni

Morgan State has produced a distinguished roster of alumni across various fields. In politics and law, alumni include former United States Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater and former Congressman Kweisi Mfume. In entertainment and the arts, notable graduates include actress Mo'Nique, singer Marvin Sapp, and Tony Award-winning actress Traci Braxton. Leaders in business and journalism include former NAACP CEO Benjamin Jealous and journalist Michele Norris. The university's alumni also feature prominent figures in academia and science, such as the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in nuclear physics, Willie Hobbs Moore.

Category:Universities and colleges in Maryland Category:Historically black universities and colleges in the United States Category:Educational institutions established in 1867 Category:Baltimore