Reflecting on 2025 at Morgan State University
Dear Morgan Community,
As we close calendar year 2025 and look ahead to the opportunities before us, one truth is unmistakable: this was not simply a year of accolades. It was a year in which progress aligned with purpose, and Morgan State University advanced with clarity, balance, and impact across nearly every pillar of a modern, transformative public high research university.
What made 2025 exceptional was not one defining moment, but the range and interconnectedness of our achievements. Academic excellence, enrollment, research growth, global engagement, financial strength, infrastructure investment, and public impact moved forward together—each reinforcing the other, each rooted in mission.
This year, our University saw enrollment surpass 11,500 students, extending Morgan’s record growth for five consecutive years. Additionally, our students, faculty, and scholars earned national and international distinction, from championship case competitions and innovation challenges to record-setting Fulbright awards and Emmy-winning scholarship. More than 1,600 graduates in total, a number of which receiving Latin honors, crossed the commencement stage this year, prepared not only to succeed but to lead with purpose in their professions and communities.
In research and innovation, Morgan reached a historic milestone by surpassing $100 million in sponsored research commitments for the first time. Strategic partnerships with NASA, the National Science Foundation, and other federal and philanthropic partners—combined with new research centers and facilities—accelerated our continuous rise as a high-impact public research institution. Importantly, our research continues to address real-world challenges: health equity, climate resilience, technological access, and community well-being.
This momentum was strengthened by transformational investment and disciplined stewardship. The historic $63 million unrestricted gift from MacKenzie Scott, the success of our first Giving Day, and the reaffirmation of our A+ credit rating reflect broad confidence in Morgan’s vision and trajectory. These resources are not an endpoint—they are a foundation for sustained excellence and long-term impact.
Beyond our campus, Morgan’s voice and influence reached farther than ever before. From leading the first HBCU pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale to expanding global partnerships and welcoming students from around the world, we demonstrated that a university anchored in Baltimore can shape national and global conversations. At the same time, our $1.5 billion statewide economic impact reaffirmed Morgan’s essential role as an engine of opportunity for Maryland and beyond.
Equally important, 2025 was a year of intentional leadership and accountability. We strengthened our senior leadership team, invested in student housing and campus infrastructure, expanded access through transfer pathways and military-friendly initiatives, and confronted challenges head-on—guided by data, transparency, and shared responsibility. Progress, at Morgan, is never detached from people.
As we move into 2026, we do so with confidence—not complacency. The achievements of 2025 are not a capstone; they are a launch point. The year ahead calls us to deepen our research impact, strengthen student success and enrollment pathways, expand global engagement, and continue aligning growth with equity and public purpose. Momentum must be carried forward with the same intentionality that defined this past year.
The work before us is ambitious, but 2025 affirmed what is possible when excellence is pursued in concert with mission and when progress is shared across the entire Morgan community.
Thank you to our students, faculty, staff, alumni, partners, and supporters for making 2025 a year that mattered—and for committing to the work ahead. Together, we enter 2026 prepared to build on our ascension, elevating it to even grander heights.
Morgan is rising rapidly—in relevance, in responsibility, and in resolve. And our future has never been brighter.
With pride and purpose,
David K. Wilson
President, Morgan State University
