Alum’s $2-Million Gift Establishes Vianna Briscoe and Timothy Weldon Endowed Scholarship at Morgan

Second-Largest Gift in University History From a Living Alumnus
Will Support Generations of Students Studying STEM and Entrepreneurship

BALTIMORE — Morgan State University has distinguished itself as a national leader in producing diverse STEM talent, and now a new, transformative $2-million investment by an alumnus will ensure that more students have access to Morgan’s career pathway for generations to come.

The University has finalized a $2-million gift from alumna Vianna Briscoe, Class of 1969, establishing the Vianna Briscoe and Timothy Weldon Endowed Scholarship Fund. The commitment represents the second-largest gift to Morgan from a living alumnus in University history, following the landmark $20-million gift from alumnus Calvin E. Tyler Jr. and his wife, Tina, in 2021. The newly created endowment is designed to close the wealth gap by removing financial barriers and expanding access to higher education, particularly in high-demand STEM and related fields.

“This extraordinary investment from Ms. Briscoe reflects the very best of Morgan: excellence, loyalty and an unwavering belief in the power of education to transform lives,” said David K. Wilson, president of Morgan State University. “By endowing this scholarship, she is doing more than providing financial support. She is creating access and opportunity for talented students in STEM disciplines who will go on to shape industries, drive innovation and strengthen communities. Her generosity ensures that Morgan students, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college, can focus on achievement rather than affordability.”

The endowment will support fully matriculated students who maintain at least a 2.5 GPA and demonstrate financial need. Eligible majors include Mathematics; engineering disciplines such as Industrial, Civil, Electrical, Transportation Systems, Mechatronics and Environmental Engineering; City and Regional Planning within the School of Architecture and Planning; and Entrepreneurship. Students in good academic standing, including student-athletes, are eligible, and awards may be renewed throughout a student’s matriculation provided eligibility requirements are maintained.

Briscoe, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Morgan in 1969, created the fund in memory of her late husband, Timothy Weldon, Class of 1970, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in Geography. Weldon went on to earn a master’s degree in Regional Planning from Cornell University and built a successful career in business and security services. Briscoe’s own distinguished career spanned leadership roles in engineering and information technology within the Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of the Navy and the U.S. Department of Energy, where she retired as a director of information technology.

For Briscoe, the endowment represents both gratitude and remembrance.

“Morgan State University laid the foundation for everything my husband and I were able to achieve,” said Briscoe. “Establishing this endowed scholarship fund in Timothy’s memory allows us to give back to the institution that shaped our lives. We fell in love here. And that led to us creating a beautiful life and family. It is deeply meaningful to know that long into the future, students pursuing degrees in STEM or entrepreneurship will have support because of our Morgan experience. I hope this fund eases their financial burdens and empowers them to pursue their goals and achieve with confidence.”

Based on projections, Briscoe’s $2-million endowment could potentially support 15 to 16 students each year with scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $6,000. Over five years alone, the fund could provide an estimated $425,000 in awards, while preserving and growing the principal to sustain scholarships in perpetuity. 

“This commitment represents one of the most significant philanthropic investments Morgan has received from a living alumna and underscores the power of alumni engagement and a strong culture of philanthropy,” said Endia M. DeCordova, vice president for Institutional Advancement at Morgan State University and executive director of the Morgan State University Foundation. “Endowed gifts like this are truly transformative because they create opportunity not just for a single student or one moment in time, but for generations to come. Ms. Briscoe’s generosity reflects a profound belief in Morgan, in our students, and in the promise of our institution. Through this fund, her legacy — and that of her husband — will continue to open doors, remove barriers, and change lives in perpetuity.” 

The Vianna Briscoe and Timothy Weldon Endowed Scholarship Fund stands as a testament to the enduring power of a Morgan education — and to the legacy two alumni have chosen to leave for generations of Bears to come.

Added President Wilson, “Receiving an impactful gift like this, from one of Fair Morgan’s own, affirms the profound connection our alumni feel to this institution and their commitment to lifting as they climb.”

About Morgan
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering more than 150 baccalaureate, master’s degree, doctorate and certificate programs. As Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu. 

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Media Contacts:
Larry Jones, or Dell Jackson, for Morgan State University PR
443-885-3022