Stevenson University
In March 2009, President Manning approved the University Restructuring Plan adopted by the Faculty Council. The plan created four schools within the Villa Julie College of Arts and Sciences: the School of Humanities and Social Sciences; the School of Design; the School of Education; and the School of the Sciences. The Brown School of Business and Leadership and the School of Graduate and Professional Studies remain as originally configured.
Exciting developments for Stevenson were in the works during the summer and fall of 2009. In June, the University announced the addition of football to its roster of 19 Division III men's and women's sports. In August, Stevenson was ranked as one of just 77 "Top Up-and-Coming Schools" nationally by U.S. News & World Report . The University closed the year with the completion of its historic five-year fundraising campaign—the largest in the 63-year history of the institution. Inspiring Students, Building Careers: The Campaign for Stevenson University raised more than $20.4 million in support of the Brown School of Business and Leadership, scholarship endowments, and special programs.
The start of 2010 saw the opening of the new entrance to the Owings Mills campus and the introduction of a new bachelor's program in fashion merchandising and a master's in nursing education and leadership. In addition, Stevenson was named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service learning, and civic engagement. In June 2010, the University also received a $100,000 Wal-Mart Foundation College Success grant to assist first generation college students with the transition to university life. In August, a new, updated Mustang logo was unveiled for Stevenson athletics.
In fall 2010, Stevenson welcomed the largest freshman class in its history and opened a labyrinth and meditation center on its Greenspring campus. A new 35,000-square-foot gymnasium opened to complement the Owings Mills campus sports complex. Also in fall 2010, the football team held its first developmental practice season in preparation for fall 2011 intercollegiate competition. The University also announced that it was adding women's ice hockey to its selection of athletics programs and reinstating its track and field program for men and women.
In February 2011, President Manning was appointed to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and in March was named an "Influential Marylander" for 2011 by The Maryland Daily Record newspaper. In April, the University hired its first band director to lead its newly created marching band in preparation for the first season of football competition. In May, Stevenson's Athletic Department announced that it would be leaving the Capitol Athletic Conference (CAC) in summer 2012 to join the Middle Atlantic Conferences, of which the football program was already an affiliate member.
The summer of 2011 was a busy time of change and preparation for the University. A new Owings Mills campus store was launched in the Boulevard Business Center just across the campus entrance drive from the new gymnasium. Two new residence halls to house an additional 500 students were opened on the Owings Mills campus, and the new 3,500-seat Mustang Stadium was opened in early September with much media attention and fanfare. On September 10, the new football team, amidst festivities that included fireworks and former NFL stars, won its first home game in exciting double-overtime play against Christopher Newport University. In addition to football, the stadium hosts men's and women's soccer and lacrosse games.
Fall 2011 continued Stevenson's momentum of change and growth. Stevenson launched the SU Now Portal to link faculty, staff, and students with campus news, events, and information. The portal includes Wild Stang Radio, the campus's online digital radio station which hosts music, campus-focused news broadcasts, and student-produced programs. The University was named one of only 46 "Up-and-Comer" universities in the nation in the 2012 edition of the U. S. News & World Report college rankings. Stevenson also introduced a new fashion design program in its School of Design. In November 2011, the University concluded the purchase of the Owings Mills site of Shire Pharmaceuticals. The 28-acre site—which includes two buildings totaling 168,000 square feet and a 400-space parking lot—is now the Owings Mills North campus that houses the School of Design and will ultimately house the School of the Sciences.
In February 2012, the School of Graduate and Professional Studies marked a major milestone in its growth, surpassing the 1,000 mark for its number of enrolled students. The school also received approval from MHEC to add two new master's programs, cyber forensics and healthcare management, both focused on areas of workforce growth. During the spring semester, the SU Now Portal focused on expanding its content by adding a new student and faculty-directed sitcom called "The University" to its featured video content. In April 2012, the School of Humanities and Social Sciences brought the prestigious International Drama Conference to Baltimore, which it will host through 2016. Also in April, the University’s Archives established the Maryland Bible Society Collection at Stevenson to house and make available for scholarly research the society’s historic 400-year-old first edition of the King James Bible, as well as numerous other books and documents. April concluded with the first fashion show hosted by the University’s new Fashion Design program.
August 19, 2012 saw the return of NFL football to the Owings Mills campus when Stevenson hosted at Mustang Stadium the Baltimore Ravens’ third open public practice of their 2012 training camp. Nearly 3,000 fans came to the site which had served as the team’s first training facility.
The fall 2012 semester began with Stevenson again recognized as one of America’s "Up and Comers"—one of only 49 colleges and universities nationwide and just 19 regional universities given this designation—in U.S. News & World Report’s 2013 college rankings. Stevenson was ranked No. 3 among the "Up-and-Comer" Regional Universities-North. In October, the University opened the seventh season of the Baltimore Speakers Series with President Bill Clinton and a sell-out crowd at the Meyerhoff. Fall also saw the launch of the women's ice hockey team.
In November, Stevenson’s annual Career Architecture ™ LEGO Challenge for first-year students was highlighted by the unveiling of a LEGO sculpture titled "Career Architecture" by internationally-renowned brick artist Nathan Sawaya. The LEGO Challenge was also featured in a 30-minute documentary called "Brick by Brick: Stevenson University’s Career Architecture ™ LEGO Challenge." Produced by Stevenson’s in-house video team, the documentary debuted to the public via WBAL TV in January 2013.
In March 2013, the School of the Sciences hosted the inaugural Dell Lecture in honor of Stevenson trustee Samuel M. Dell III and his wife Geraldine. The lecture coincided with the awarding of the first Dell Scholarship for outstanding Stevenson seniors studying biology, chemistry, and mathematics. In April, the University announced the expansion of its degree offerings with the addition of Bachelor of Science programs in biochemistry and environmental science and a master of arts in teaching in biology, chemistry, and mathematics, a STEM-focused degree with secondary education certification. Later in April, the Maryland Career Development Association (MCDA) awarded Stevenson the MCDA Organizational Career Planning Award, recognizing the University’s excellence in career development. In May 2013, Baltimore-born actor and Hollywood director Jason Winer, best known for his work on ABC’s "Modern Family" gave the keynote address at Stevenson’s 60th Commencement ceremonies. President Manning was named chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Maryland Independent College and University Association in July.
In September 2013, Stevenson’s School of Graduate and Professional Studies offered its first MOOC, a free, massive open online course focusing on a Survey of Forensics. More than 700 students registered for the course. Later in the month, Wild Stang Radio, Stevenson’s digital online radio station, re-launched out of a new studio in Rockland Center.
Throughout the fall of 2013, Stevenson celebrated "The Year of Italian Culture in the U.S." with record crowds attending a variety of arts and cultural events, including a photo exhibition by photographer Harry Connolly focusing on Baltimore’s Little Italy.
Stevenson kicked off 2014 by unveiling a revamped and redesigned website featuring responsive design technology aimed at reaching prospective students on mobile devices and tablets. Later in January, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak—in town for the Baltimore Speaker Series—addressed a packed crowd of more than 300 middle school, high school, and Stevenson students at the Greenspring Campus Gym. To close out a busy month, Stevenson’s men’s lacrosse team was honored on the floor of the Maryland State House for winning the 2013 Division III National Championship.
In April 2014, Stevenson unveiled a 12-foot-tall, bronze mustang statue, "Victory," outside of Mustang Stadium. Created by nationally renowned wildlife sculptor Bart Walter, the statue represents the strength and unity of the entire Stevenson community and the spirit that drives everything from its growth to its championship athletic teams. In May, ABC News Anchor and Chief Correspondent Byron Pitts delivered the Keynote Address at Stevenson’s 61st Commencement ceremonies.
In August 2014, Stevenson debuted its "Introduction to Career Architecture" MOOC (massive open online course) intended for school counselors and career professionals.
Stevenson broke ground on its athletics Hall of Fame—situated within the Owings Mills Gym—in October 2014, inducting its inaugural Hall of Fame class, which consisted of eight athletes and two teams. In November, Stevenson football capped off its first winning season by defeating Bethany College in the University’s first bowl game.
Baltimore Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh delivered the keynote address at Stevenson’s 62nd Commencement Ceremonies in May 2015.
In December 2015, the University officially launched the School of Health Professions, which will house the Department of Nursing and the Medical Laboratory Science Program. The School’s founding Dean, Jeanne Geiger-Brown, Ph.D., was named the following April.
In December, Stevenson's student-produced newspaper, The Villager, announced it will publish exclusively from an online platform.
In January 2016 Stevenson debuted its Pep Band to inject a new dynamic into men's and women's basketball home games. An extension of the Marching Band, the Pep Band also performs at University Open Houses and select campus events. In April, Stevenson's Men's Volleyball team made the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history and defeated Carthage to reach the Final Four.
In March 2016, President Manning announced his plan to retire in June 2017. In April 2016, Stevenson renamed the road that is home to the Owings Mills North Campus from Gundry Lane to Ted Herget Way in honor of Charles E. "Ted" Herget, Jr., former chairman of Stevenson’s Board of Trustees.
U.S. Navy veteran and Paralympian swimmer Brad Snyder provided the keynote address at the University’s 63rd Commencement Ceremonies in May 2016.
In Fall 2016, Stevenson will officially open its new 200,000 square-foot Academic Center with state-of-the-art facilities for its School of the Sciences, School of Design, and new School of Health Professions.
For nearly 70 years, Stevenson University has remained a dynamic institution focused on developing programs and extracurricular experiences that allow students to acquire the knowledge, professional skills, and personal character traits that empower them to pursue and achieve their life and career goals.