Tributes to Dr. Earl S. Richardson...
Juragie Alqasem
Arrived at MSU 1987, I enjoy working at MSU. It's like a second home to me. I sometimes run into Dr. Richardson at University functions or on the University ground and I find him to be a very pleasant gentleman. He is always saying hello and asking how am I doing. I think that's great,coming from a person who has a tight schedule and caring enough to ask how am I doing. That is what touched me about him. He has been a great asset to this University. He will be missed. I wish him well with in his future.
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Jennifer Whitfield
Thank you ever so much for the acadmic enrichment bestowed upon my daughter received at Morgan State University. She will become a Morgan State University graduate the "Class of 2010". We wanted you to know it means so very much to us. I just had to tell you so.
Parent
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Lloyd C. Ward
I applaud your long tenure of administrative and academic excellence. I wish a long and healthy retirement for you and Mrs. Richardson.
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Roderick O. Ford, Esq.
Dr. Richardson,
The spiritual heritage of the old Centenary Biblical Institute and the academic legacy of the old Morgan College were vindicated under your watch. For you have taken the baton of HBCU educational leadership and run a good race, and fought the good fight, for twenty-five extraordinary years! May your retirement be blessed and filled with peace and love; and may your noble work at Morgan coalesce into even greater fruition.
Yours truly,
Roderick O. Ford
Class of 1991
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Dr. S. Keith Hargrove
Dr. Richardson:
It was a pleasure to serve under your visionary leadership during my tenure as a department chairperson at MSU. I wish you well and best wishes as you begin to extend your academic wisdom and knowledge through other higher education channels.
S. Keith Hargrove, PhD
Chairperson - Industrial Engineering
MSU - 2002-2009
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Dr. Tonja L. Ringgold
Dr. Richardson,
Twenty-Five years ago, you became my interim president during my senior year at Morgan. You may not remember me, but certainly, you know my father...Cecil Short from "Maryland State" and my brother Kevin Short, who sang in Morgan's Choir. My mother Jane, is a 1959 graduate and AKA from Morgan and many many other family members followed. Essentially, it has become a family school. My own daughter Ashley Ringgold is now a Junior at Morgan.
I'm very proud to be a two-time Morgan Alum (Bachelors and Doctorate)and am extremely proud of you and what you have done for Morgan and the Baltimore community. You will be missed, but your presence and legacy will live on for generations to come. We all wish you well in all future endeavors.
Gods speed and Good health.
Always,
Tonja
Dr. Tonja L. Ringgold
Campus Dean, CCBC-Catonsville
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Malachi Hammonds
Dr. Richardson & First Lady:
It has been my honor to know you both! I wish you both the best in your near future, I know that Morgan will always be in your heart!
Remember You have to say those great words at 2010 Graduation! 2010 came in with you here,and we expect to leave with you!
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Partha S Mohapatra
Dear Sir,
I met you on my last day at Morgan State University, before I left for India. However, true to what I had heard, you were very down to earth and gave me some useful tips before my departure.
I thank you for the time that you gave to me, and also for all you have done for the Morgan State University.
Dr. Partha S Mohapatra
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GC
Thank you for all you have done at MSU. I remember when you arrived most of us thought you were sent to merge Morgan with the U. of MD System. Thank you for your vision to use the entire campus.
You are one in a million. I was touched by the [MSU] Band's tribute to you at the homecoming game. I wish you nothing but the best for the rest of your life.
GC, class of 1984
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Cheryl Y. Hitchcock
Dr. Richardson,
As an employee, I want you to know that it truly has been a privilege to work for you. I have learned so much from you, and you inspire me to always do my best. Working for you has also been fun.
As an alumna, I am so grateful and so proud of how you have preserved the traditions of my alma mater and taken it to new heights of excellence and prestige.
Thank you for your passion and your commitment. Enjoy your "retirement". You have certainly earned it.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Y. Hitchcock
Vice President for Institutional Advancement
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Ali F. Emdad
It is rare to find one person so perfectly well-matched for one job. In the university's 140-year history, no one has done more to enhance its image and stature among universities. We could not have asked for more effort, diligence, love and ability than we have received from Dr. Earl Richardson. He has brought the university national distinction, great standing, and respect by introducing many new programs in greatly needed fields particularly at the graduate level. He has been a visionary and transformational leader who has made Morgan State a great public urban university. He is leaving us with a strong foundation upon which to build.
Mr. President, the University is stronger than ever and its future is bright. Thank you for a job well done. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
Ali F. Emdad, Ph.D.
Chair
Department of Information Science and Systems
Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management
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Ambrose Jearld, Jr.
Earl, I am mighty proud of you and you have my admiration for your service and dedication to your family, friends, colleagues, professionals, employees, and most especially to all the young minds you have touched directly and indirectly - past, present and future. You remain head of the class.
With all best wishes,
Ambrose
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Dr. Carleen S. Leggett
Felicitations--Congratulations--to you, Dr. Richardson, on what has, indeed, been a remarkable journey of 25 years, a period which seems all too short, though filled with so many important accomplishments.
On behalf of Dr. Sandye Jean McIntyre, II, and myself, I would like to commend you especially for your support of our campus Fulbright Program, which, of course, Dr. McIntyre founded and of which he was Director for 55 years and with which I have had the privilege of working for some 38 years as Associate Director and three as Director. In this, as in numerous areas, you have always been successfully in pursuit of excellence.
It was heartwarming to hear you speak so eloquently and to hear the numerous tributes to you during the Founders Day Convocation. I look forward with pleasure to the November banquet in honor of you, but even more to your continuing, in other capacities, to serve Morgan State University.
Sincerely,
Carleen S. Leggett, Ph.D.
Fulbright Program Director
Associate Professor of World Languages and International Studies
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Dr. Arcadio P. Sincero
Dear Dr. Richardson:
When I first came to Morgan in 1988, my office was at Carter-Grant-Wilson Building. The office was especially hot (I mean hot, because there was no way to control the heat) during winter. One time it was so hot that I had to open the windows. To my surprise, looking down from the window above, I saw Gov. Shaefer, you and Dr. DeLoatch looking up to me from below. The Governor was, at that time, inspecting the University buildings.
By 1990 my office was moved to the beautiful Engineering Building. No more hot office then until I retired after serving Morgan State for twenty years.
There are many things for which I am grateful to you, but, most expecially, my promotions through the ranks from Assistant Professor to the rank of full Professor. You have helped me to attain my goal in more than extraordinary ways.
Dr. Richardson, you have done great deeds at Morgan. You have done a wonderful job in transforming Morgan State University into the wonderful university that it is today. I salute you, Sir, and God bless you in your retirement. I know you will enjoy it; I am enjoying mine.
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Fikru H. Boghossian
Dr. Richardson,
You had a vision for Morgan, you articulated it with passion, and made sure MSU\'s constituents understood the direction. You took stands and provided solutions by mobilizing students, faculty, staff, and administrators to make progress on the tough challenges facing MSU. When Morgan needed effective leadership you provided it.
Thank you and best wishes.
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Genevieve Wilson, M.Ed.
My parents met at Morgan, but I am a Coppin Alum. Currently, I am a doctoral student in Morgan's Urban Educational Leadership program. I chose Morgan because leadership cultivates productivity. Thank you for producing so many excellent professionals that will continously improve the universe. May God bless you with all the comforts and joys that God has for us throughout your retirement. Peace be with you!
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Arlene Maclin
Dr. Richardson:
Your vision for Morgan has and continues to be remarkable. I am impressed by the growth at Morgan that has taken place under your leadership over the past 25 years. Yet, you say that another $500M need to be spent right now to make Morgan comparable to the Traditionally White Institutions in the State of Maryland. I agree. The next president at Morgan must build on your strategic vision to move Morgan even further in its educational and collaborative growth.
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Sharon Gary Finney
I would like to say that President Richardson has been a successful president in his support of Morgan before the General Assembly of Maryland. The University has flourished under his reign, and as a result, more talented invididuals have come to Morgan to work, which has in turn brought better students.
I have had a long time affinity with Baltimore and have been aware of Morgan's reputation for many years. I have worked at several HBCUs including Morehouse College, N.C. A&T and FAMU. I have family in Baltimore, but before President Richardson and Dr. Otis Thomas came to Morgan and improved its reputation overall, this University was not a place I wanted to work.
I hope the new President will ba able to maintain the progress President Richardson has caused for the institution. She or he will have large shoes to fill.
Sharon Finney, Chair
Department of Accounting and Finance
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Iola Ragins Smith
Mr. President,
Under your leadership, Morgan State has undergone a wonderful transformation!!
Thank you and God Bless You.
Iola Smith
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Dr. Sherine Brown Jennels
Dear Dr. Richardson, Congratulations on your 25 years as President of Morgan State University! Thank you for all that you have accomplished. This is my first year as a faculty member at Morgan, and I've have had a very good experience. All the best and God Bless on your future endeavors.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jennels
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T. Joan Robinson
Tribute to Dr. Earl S. Richardson
Dr. Richardson, You have made a significant impact on the path that I chose to follow as an administrator. I admire your selfless leadership and your tenacity. Your vision for Morgan State University during the past 25 years has been beyond comparison. You have been the greatest President and my role model, and you have inspired me to strive for greatness.
The Presidency at Morgan has not been just another job or a career for you; it has been your passion. During your 25 years, you have worked with an intense drive, overcoming many obstacles and challenges to make Morgan a premier university that is known all over the world. and we have admired and love to follow you, as our distinguished leader.
You are not only a beacon for the students, but an inspiration to them as well. When you walk across the campus, you light up the eyes of the students with joy.."the joy of learning and growing"..and you always take time to develop an active, personal interest in helping them to grow and become the best that they can be. Your dedication to the students is unparalleled.
What I have admired and respected most in you, Dr. Richardson, is how you ground your work in compassion, in a deep reverence for the continual search for knowledge and truth and in a strong embrace of change. Although you have clearly been pleased with the national and local recognition bestowed on you over the years, I believe that there has been simply nothing that has given you more satisfaction than the accomplishments of the students.
I will surely miss your leadership and guidance. Thank you for all that you have done for us.
T. Joan Robinson
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
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Jigish Zaveri, INSS, GSBM
Indeed it has been a remarkable journey! Your leadership and enthusiasm for the progress of the university has been very inspiring. You have set a benchmark that will be very hard to emulate. Morgan is forever indebted to you. You leave behind a legacy of excellence. I wish you the very best in all your future endeavors.
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Cornelia Wang Hsu
Dear Dr. Richardson:
We really appreciated your outstanding leadership.
Cornelia Hsu (Department of Mathematics)
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Dr. Sandip Patel, GSBM
Dear Mr. President,
I joined the Morgan team in 2006 and I heard about the great leadership you had been providing to Morgan from many people starting right from the job interview time.
I recently got appointed to represent the University Council and was looking forward to working with you. But I also realized that I will not have much opportunity to learn from you since you are stepping down soon.
I would like to wish you good luck in your next venture and thank you heartily for taking the MSU to this height. Without your efforts and success, I would not have been part of this great institution. Thank you and good luck.
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Sheela Thiruvadi
Dear Sir,
It was an honor to know you. You have inspired us and made us to never forget that dreams do come true. Thanks for everything!
God Bless!
Regards,
Sheela Thiruvadi
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Abdul Aziz, Business Administration
Thank you for all what you have done for Morgan. We will miss you.
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Antia L. Gillard
To Dr. Richardson
I would just like to once again say "Thank you." As an employee that had already been here for thirteen years upon your arrival, I saw a change and a growth that I believe can never be surpassed. Congratulations also to your family, whom I've come to know and greatly appreciate as a part of my Morgan family. This is not good-bye, but just a statement of proclamation, "job well done!"
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Michelle Y Coats
To Dr Richardson
Congratulation on celebrating 25 years at Morgan State University. I am glad to have gone to Morgan under your leadership.
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Dr. Burney J. Hollis
Praisesong for President Earl S. Richardson
Let me be one of the first to express frankly my great regret at your decision to retire from the presidency of Morgan State University, but let me add quickly, openly and publicly my praisesong and appreciation for the "Remarkable Journey" on which you have led Morgan for the past twenty-five years. I believe that history will record that you are first among presidents of this university in the progress and development that Morgan has experienced under your unrivaled and peerless leadership and that, under your watch, Morgan literally has been transformed from an institution struggling to survive to one that stands tall among its peers as an university that leads the field in educational progress. While I celebrate the "Remarkable Journey" of the University over the past twenty-five years, under your leadership, I also, with equal enthusiasm, celebrate the "Remarkable Leader" that you have been throughout that journey.
Many have misunderstood, under-rated and misjudged your campaign for comparability and competitiveness for Morgan and other HBCU's; however, in retrospect, they will realize as I always have that your efforts have been visionary and righteous and that they have been on the cutting-edge of reform in American higher education as it moves forward in the twenty-first century. Though the battle that you have waged has not yet been won, yours has been a successful campaign in advancing the cause to the point of great promise and greater probability and in putting that issue at the forefront of the state's and the nation's agenda. You have been its unsung hero and its most passionate and committed advocate.
It has been a pleasure working with you for the last twenty-five years. Moreover, it has been a privilege to be a part of the Morgan Renaissance as one of your deans. My term as part of your magnificent team of educational leaders has been the highlight of my professional career, and I have you to thank for both the opportunity and the reward of it.
Finally, over the last twenty-five years, I have chaired every tribute that the University has held for you. It has been a pleasure, an honor and a high privilege to do so! No leader of this institution that I have studied or known deserves our everlasting gratitude more than you, and few, if any, will surpass the contributions that you have made to my Alma Mater.
Burney J. Hollis, Ph.D.
Class of 1968
Professor of English and Dean of the College of Liberal Arts
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Wanda C. Hedgepeth
A Tribute to the President
I have been in your presence: as you ordered an half & half to go with your meal at the Helen Roberts room never have I witnessed anyone ordering a half & half so elegantly.
I have been in your presence: as you stroll across campus looking so dapper in your designer suits, and wearing a bright smile on your face.
I have been in your presence: at the annual employee Christmas Party, always giving thanks and inspiration to all employees and a nice luncheon.
I have to say in your presence: I am happy to be a part of the remarkable journey however big or small.
More importantly I have always felt your presence in the way Morgan State University has journeyed.
Wanda C.Hedgepeth
My evidence of good
