Life and Legacy of President Emeritus Earl S. Richardson Honored With Morgan State University Board of Regents Resolution

BALTIMORE — While gathered for its annual retreat, the Morgan State University Board of Regents formally issued a resolution honoring the late President Emeritus Earl S. Richardson, lauding his extraordinary 26-year tenure as Morgan’s ninth inaugurated president and his transformative impact on the University. Dr. Richardson, who passed away on Sept. 12 at age 81, presided over what has been widely regarded as the Morgan Renaissance, a period of unprecedented growth that elevated Morgan to national prominence. Richardson served as university president from 1984 to 2010, the second-longest presidential tenure in Morgan history.

Under Dr. Richardson’s leadership, Morgan achieved doctoral research classification, expanded academic offerings, dramatically grew enrollment and invested more than $500 million in new and renovated campus facilities. In addition, his advocacy for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) played a central role in the landmark $577-million settlement to provide equity in Maryland higher education. In 2006, Richardson helped spur the creation of the Coalition for Equity and Excellence in Maryland Higher Education, whose 15-year lawsuit battle on behalf of Maryland’s HBCU students was finally settled in 2021. 

“Morgan would not be the institution it is today without Dr. Earl Richardson’s vision and tenacity. He elevated the importance of the presidency and its role in institutional transformation,” said Morgan President David K. Wilson. “His leadership reshaped our University, and his unwavering fight for equity has left an indelible mark on higher education.” Upon learning of Richardson’s passing, President Wilson issued a statement to the Morgan Community.

After his presidency concluded, Richardson continued to leave his mark at Morgan, serving as a distinguished professor of Higher Education Administration and a senior research associate in the University’s Center for Civil Rights in Education, after stepping away from the role of president in 2010. He also served on several boards and commissions, both locally and nationally. 

Morgan’s Board of Regents chairman, the Honorable Kweisi Mfume, added, “Dr. Richardson was a transformative leader and stalwart in the fight to ensure a college opportunity for all students. He helped to lead and direct the legal fight to ensure equal funding for Maryland's public Colleges and Universities. He elevated what was known as the ‘Morgan Renaissance,’ a sustained period of growth, renewal and national recognition.  His voice and his presence will be greatly missed.”

The resolution, entered into the University’s official record, commends Dr. Richardson’s service and expresses the Morgan community’s enduring gratitude for his leadership, scholarship and devotion.

Established under Title 14 of the Education Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, the 15-member Morgan State University Board of Regents governs the actions of the University. The governor of Maryland appoints Board members for six-year terms, except for the student regent, who is appointed for a one-year term. The Board appoints the University president, who serves at the pleasure of the Board. The Board also sets admission standards; reviews and approves University policies and budgets; and establishes the regulatory framework within which the individual units operate. Action items for approval are advanced from the committees managed by the Board. These include the Academic and Student Affairs Committee, Finance and Facilities Committee and the Audit and Institutional Assessment Committee.

REVISIT DR. EARL RICHARDSON’S INTERVIEW WITH THE HISTORYMAKERS

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