Last week, Towson University announced that Dr. Maravene Loeschke will take the reins of Towson University as its new president.
I wish congratulations and best wishes to Dr. Loeschke. She has accomplished much in her life and seems to be an outstanding choice.
I am particularly happy that the new president is a Baltimore County native who spent more than three decades as a Towson University student, professor and dean.
In my 10 months as County Council member, I've enjoyed a good relationship with former President Bob Caret and interim President Marcia Welsh, as well as administrators and staff who work closely with the community.
As an example, when Towson University proposed its new Public Safety Building, Towson's elected officials successfully preserved the green buffer between that complex and the Southland Hills neighborhood.
Over the past five years, there has been a much closer relationship between Towson University and the community.
That relationship needs to strengthen and grow. Towson University has surged in enrollment, fundraising and research spending over the past decade, but the spillover of students into established neighborhoods has presented many challenges.
Towson University can be a catalyst for transforming the Towson commercial core.
By sprinkling university functions throughout the core, including the new Towson City Center building, we can bring foot traffic into the heart of Towson and strengthen our restaurants and other businesses.
My hope is that the new Towson University administration continues this energetic outreach to the community and, at the same time, looks inward by building more student housing on-campus.
Where there are places to build new dormitories, particularly near the Charles Street corridor, that should be a top priority.
For now, though, I offer my hearty congratulations to Dr. Loeschke as she begins this new chapter in her life.
David Marks, Baltimore County
Council, 5th District
Towson