Dr. Earl Richardson, the former Morgan State University president who oversaw the school’s growth and expansion, has passed away at the age of 81, according to the university.
Richardson served as the ninth president of Morgan State University for 25 years after he was inaugurated in 1984.
Under his leadership, Morgan State University expanded its number of doctoral programs from one to 15, while the university simultaneously established several new schools, including the School of Public and Community Health, the School of Social Work, the School of Architecture, and more.
Student enrollment under Richardson’s leadership more than doubled as he continued to transform the university from a small liberal arts institution into a doctoral urban research campus with a multitude of academic programs to offer at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels.
“Dr. Richardson’s commitment to excellence and his ability to inspire confidence restored faith in the University at a time when its future was uncertain,” Morgan State President David Wilson said in a statement. “He leaves behind a legacy of perseverance, innovation, and an unshakable belief in the transformative power of education.”
Richardson had over 45 years of experience in Maryland higher education, along with numerous executive-level positions at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and the University System of Maryland.
Since leaving his position as president in 2009, Richardson taught higher education administration with a focus on governance and minority serving institutions, and worked with the the Robert M. Bell Center for Civil Rights in Education, where he focused on legal issues facing Historically Black Institutions.
“Dr. Richardson will forever be remembered as a towering figure in Morgan’s history — an exceptional leader whose life’s work profoundly shaped this institution and enriched the lives of countless students, faculty, alumni, and friends of the University,” Wilson said. “Morgan is stronger today because of Earl S. Richardson, and for that, we are eternally grateful.”
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