Executive Alliance Recognizes Morgan State for Exceeding Goals for Placement of Women in Top Higher Education Roles

With More Than Half of Its Senior Leadership Posts Held by Women, Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University Continues to Realize Equity at the Highest Levels of Academia

BALTIMORE — In a time when women remain underrepresented in the highest ranks of higher education leadership nationwide, Morgan State University is distinguishing itself as a model for what equitable executive leadership can — and should — look like. With women constituting 55% of its senior cabinet leaders at the vice president level or higher, Morgan is not only exceeding state benchmarks but rewriting the leadership narrative in higher education.

This commitment to gender equity has once again earned wide recognition for Maryland’s largest Historically Black College or University (HBCU). Morgan has been named to the 2026 Executive Alliance Honor Roll Award for Women’s Representation in Maryland, marking its fourth consecutive year on the list since first being recognized in 2022. Of the 64 Maryland-based organizations recognized, Morgan was one of only five colleges or universities — and the only HBCU in the state — to earn this distinction. 

The Honor Roll recognizes organizations where women hold at least 30% of executive leadership roles and 30% of board seats, a threshold Morgan clears significantly.

“Representation at the highest levels of leadership is not incidental; it is intentional,” said Morgan State University President David K. Wilson. “At Morgan, we understand that when women are empowered to lead critical operational areas, the institution benefits from broader perspectives, keen decision-making and more inclusive outcomes. This is not simply about equity; it is about excellence, it is about positioning our University to thrive in an increasingly complex and competitive higher education landscape.” 

Morgan’s leadership composition stands in stark contrast to national trends. Across U.S. higher education, women comprise roughly 44% of provost-level roles and approximately 40% of cabinet-level positions, with representation dropping further at the presidential level, according to data from the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources. Against this backdrop, Morgan’s majority-women executive cabinet signals a deliberate and sustained commitment to cultivating inclusive leadership at the highest levels.

Women at Morgan are leading some of the University’s most mission-critical divisions, including Enrollment Management and Student Success, Facilities Design and Construction, Institutional Advancement, Intercollegiate Athletics, Student Affairs and the Office of the General Counsel. Their presence reflects not only representation but influence—shaping strategy, driving operations, and advancing institutional priorities.

Beyond executive leadership, Morgan’s commitment to women’s advancement extends throughout its governance and academic structure. Women comprise 36% of the University’s Board of Regents and 58% of its academic deans, reinforcing a robust, sustainable leadership pipeline.

The Executive Alliance, a Maryland-based organization dedicated to advancing women in professional and executive roles, established the Honor Roll to spotlight organizations that lead in the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women leaders. Morgan’s continued presence on the list underscores its role as a national exemplar among institutions working to close gender gaps in leadership.

As higher education institutions across the country grapple with how to build more inclusive leadership structures, Morgan State University offers a clear answer: embed equity into the core of leadership development, and let the results speak for themselves.

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. 

# # #

Media Contacts:

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