About

As retired faculty members, librarians and staff members, we remain a vital part of Towson University’s successes and a source of enrichment for the students we have taught. TURA is an organization FOR and OF retired faculty, librarians and staff. We work together to create a welcoming atmosphere for newly retired members and bring them into our community as they begin this new stage of their lives.

TURA provides opportunities for its members to connect socially and intellectually with each other and the university through formal and informal events. Since its inception TURA has worked to expand and codify the benefits and privileges granted to TURA members and other retired faculty, librarians and staff. A survey report about Towson University retirees (PDF) documented that retiring from Towson University does not mean disengaging from your intellectual community. TURA aims to facilitate and stimulate that continued engagement among our members.

TURA’s newsletter, TURA Matters (formerly The Advocate), is distributed twice a year (once in the spring and once in the fall) to members via email. Copies of the current and previous newsletters are posted here:

A yearly Annual Report (PDF) summarizes the scope of our activities. These activities are also presented in a more engaging and member-focused manner in the biannual newsletter The Advocate. We also help maintain the current directory of Towson University Professors, Faculty and Librarians Emeriti.

Governance

TURA is member led organization with an Executive Committee structured according to a set of Bylaws (PDF). The Executive Committee consists of elected officers and the chairpersons of its standing committees.

TURA Executive Committee

The TURA Executive Committee meets once per month to discuss current initiatives, projects, partnerships, issues and concerns shared by members. Executive Committee meetings are often attended by non-voting members who are leading TURA initiatives, by college representatives and by TURA representatives on other university committees. Minutes are taken at each meeting and are available to the public.

Elected Positions

There are six elected officers: president, president-elect, treasurer, secretary and two members at large. The election of officers is held in the spring. Members are notified via email when the nominating committee is seeking nominations. Members can either self-nominate or nominate other members who agree to serve. All members can submit nominations, but only full members can hold elected positions and vote in the election. The membership also elects a TURA representative and alternate to the Academic Senate.

TURA Standing Committees

Critical to TURA’s success is the work of the standing committees. All of these committees need members to assist in their work. TURA members who are interested in joining in the efforts of a particular committee should send an email to detailing their interest.

  • Program and Events Committee — plans events including trips to museums and cultural sites, as well as social get-togethers.
  • Benefits and Privileges Committee — helps to ensure that TURA members receive all benefits and privileges to which they are entitled.
  • Outreach Committee — connects TURA and its members to organizations outside of the University and offices within the University to address issues of common interest.
  • Oral History Project Committee — creates and archives video recordings of interviews with long-serving faculty members.

2025–2026 TURA Leadership

Executive Committee

  • President: Michael Bachman, Office of Technology Services and Department of Computer and Information Science
  • President-elect: vacant
  • Past President: Jim Roberts, Department of Political Science
  • Treasurer: Babu Baradwaj, Department of Finance
  • Administrative Secretary: vacant
  • Communications Secretary:  Lynne Ross, College of Fine Arts & Communication
  • Representative-at-Large: Patricia Alt, Department of Health Sciences
  • Representative-at-Large: Maggie Reitz, Department of Occupational Therapy and Occupational Science
  • Program and Events Committee Chair: Thomas Maronick, Department of Marketing
  • Benefits and Privileges Committee Chair: Martha Siegel, Department of Mathematics
  • Outreach Committee Chair: Jane Wolfson; Environmental Science and Studies Program
  • Oral History Project Committee Chair: Ronald Matlon, Department of Communication and Margaret 'Peg' Benner, Department of English

Additional Members in Leadership Roles

  • Academic Senate Representative: Richard Vatz, Department of Communication Studies
  • FACET Advisory Board Representative: Michael Bachman, Office of Technology Services and Department of Computer and Information Science
  • Online Information Co-Coordinators: Margaret 'Peg' Benner, Department of English and Howard Kaplon, Department of Mathematics
  • Co-Editors, TURA Matters (formerly The Advocate): Margaret Algren, Department of Mass Communications and Elizabeth Austin, Department of Nursing
  • Legislative Affairs: Tracy Miller, Department of Early Childhood Education and Academic Advising