Happy New Year!

Dear Morgan Family:

Happy New Year!

As Morgan enters its 156th year of existence, we do so, humbly, in full recognition of the paths paved for us by our visionary founders and those who followed them. These brave leaders did not lead from a paradigm where they focused all of their energy on what they did not have; quite the contrary, they adapted to the reality as it existed, evaluated the resources at their disposal, and then leveraged them to obtain what they needed in order to found an institution with a very specific mission in mind. For more than 15 decades, the institution they established has been triumphant in its mission of educating tens of thousands of students who have led and who are leading the world. We should never let a year pass without acknowledging them and thanking them for their sacrifices. I do this today.

As we enter a new calendar year, it is customary and appropriate for us to take inventory of and assess the year that was. For our nation, and the world moreover, a great number of significant events occurred in 2022, the vast majority of which were not positive. This past year alone, we saw Russia invade Ukraine, the horrific Robb Elementary School massacre in Texas, Roe v. Wade overturned by the Supreme Court, the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the devastation of hurricanes Ian and Fiona, the Monkey Pox outbreak, and the Jan. 6^th Congressional Hearings, among others. It was a big news year, to say the least. However, throughout it all and despite all that transpired around us, Morgan was able to thrive and successfully add to the legacy of our storied university.

I encourage you to take this moment to revisit some of the great things that we have collectively achieved during 2022.

1. Reaching Record enrollment. Progressing toward a target goal of 10,000 students enrolled, Morgan achieved a historic, record-breaking enrollment that currently eclipses 9,300 students, representing more than 40 states and 65 countries.
2. Investing in facilities. To date, more than $1 billion has been invested into facilities on Morgan’s campus (new and existing). Some of these investments include:
   1. Opening a new, 670-bed residential hall (Thurgood Marshall)—the first new residential facility ($105 million) on the campus in over 30 years;
   2. Breaking ground on a second residential facility ($120 million, 604 beds) slated to open in fall 2024;
   3. Continuing construction on budget and on time to open a $171 million Health and Human Services Building in summer 2024;
   4. Securing a nearly $250 million commitment to build a new science complex, which is being designed by the nation’s largest African American-owned architectural firm, Moody Nolan, and is on track to open in early 2027.
   5. Nearing completion of a totally renovated Hurt Gym;
   6. Completing a new Public Safety Building on our West Campus adjacent to Northwood Commons; 
   7. Upgrading the Murphy Fine Arts Center’s Gilliam Concert Hall; and
   8. Completing the bid process to begin work on completely landscaping the West Campus (front and back of Morgan Business Center and Martin Jenkins Hall).

3. Opening a new medical school. We are moving forward with the process to open a new Morgan State University-affiliated school of osteopathic medicine on our campus. Once established, the medical school will be home to 700 students and 150 employees. The school is targeting fall 2024 to begin classes.
4. Adding new employer-aligned, and high-demand academic degree programs. This past year alone, the University has launched nine new degree programs bringing our total inventory of degree programs to nearly 150. Included among the latest program offerings are a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre, a Master of Science in Neuroscience, a Bachelor of Science in Coastal Science and Policy, and a Doctor of Social Work, to name a few.
5. Holding student tuition and fees flat. While we realize we can’t continue with this practice, for at least three consecutive years the University has empathized with students and their families regarding the economic challenges posed during the last few years and has kept tuition and fees flat, to not exacerbate those challenges. 
6. Winning a record amount of grant funding for research. As Morgan continues to position itself to elevate our national standing among American research universities from that of high research (R2) to very high research (R1) in the coming few years, it is imperative that we recognize the efforts of our faculty and research staff. During FY22, Morgan received 126 new funding commitments totaling a record-high $74.1 million.
7. Focusing on gender equity in leadership. I’m pleased to report that under my administration, women now occupy more than 50% of the top leadership positions at Morgan and that the University has been named to the Executive Alliance’s 20/20 Honor Roll for Gender Diversity in Maryland.
8. Reopening Northwood Commons. As the complete reopening of Northwood Commons advances, this past year we saw many new businesses come online and open, including a new supermarket, two financial institutions, and several eating establishments. A full grand opening will take place in 2023.
9. Increasing salaries for all eligible employees. All eligible employees received a total salary increase this year of 13.5% (9% earlier this year and an additional 4.5% this fall), plus a one-time bonus of $1500. To our knowledge, this is the largest single-year salary increase given to our employees in Morgan’s history.
10. Earning student victories in competitions. Our students are winning on the world stage! It warms my heart, increases my energy level, and makes me more determined to advocate for additional resources to support our noble mission at Morgan when I see our students take to the world stage and outcompete their counterparts. This year, Morgan students have shown their mettle in impressive fashion, earning victories in the AWS HBCU Business Case Competition, Moguls in the Making pitch competition, Zillow’s HBCU Housing Hackathon, and the Under Armour Career Combine Competition.
11. Recognizing MSU faculty globally. It is not hyperbole when we boast of having some of the world’s best and most recognized faculty in higher education. Not only does Morgan attract top faculty from around the globe, but our faculty are also recognized by the world’s top organizations, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, which I am honored to be selected as a member of.
12. Reimagining our Athletics Department. There’s plenty to be excited about when it comes to Morgan athletics. From the hiring of our new vice president and director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Dena Freeman-Patton, the first woman to lead athletics at Morgan, to the hiring of a new head football coach, Damon Wilson (Dena’s first of several head coaching hires). We also saw the return of Wrestling and the addition of Acrobatics and Tumbling to Morgan’s sports offerings. 

So, as we reflect on 2022, and years past, let’s rejoice in our progress. We should never be satisfied with where we are and constantly seek out ways to become more innovative as we transform this institution into one of the top universities on the planet. I know with your hands as one of the key ingredients in the leadership cookbook, we’ll get there.

Hopefully, we are making our ancestors proud!

Again, Happy New Year!

Respectfully,

David Kwabena Wilson
President 
Morgan State University