Dear TU faculty and staff colleagues,

After more than 30 years of dedicated service to the State of Maryland, including the last seven at Towson University, Ben Lowenthal, Chief Fiscal Officer and Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance, has announced he will depart TU effective Nov. 1, 2025. He will be joining Touro University, based in New York, as the global university鈥檚 CFO.

Ben was appointed by President Kim Schatzel in July 2018. Prior to joining TU, Ben served in finance leadership roles at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County and the University of Maryland-Global Campus.

Under his leadership, Ben has rallied the A and F division around a unified mission and vision while leading efforts to simplify, standardize and automate business processes. TU has managed through two significant budgetary challenges brought about by global or federal financial climates. Ben helped lead TU through the COVID-19 pandemic and in the last year has helped TU manage budgetary challenges brought on by both state financial challenges and federal fluctuations. All the while, TU remains an efficiently-run, financially stable and affordable university for its students 鈥� as evident by a host of recognitions, including last month鈥檚 designation as a top 鈥淏ang for the Buck鈥� university by Washington Monthly.

Ben has been a steady and measured leader, and I am grateful for his partnership in helping support my transition into this executive leadership role and my administration 麻豆色播. I鈥檓 confident that through his mindful approach to his work, TU is in great shape to manage future challenges. I鈥檝e been fortunate to call Ben a colleague, and friend, during his tenure 麻豆色播. Although he is leaving our senior leadership team, I hope to see him at events on campus in the future. He will always be part of our Tiger Family.

A national search for TU鈥檚 next CFO will be launched in the coming weeks. I鈥檝e asked Provost Melanie Perreault to chair this important search. Effective Nov. 1, Michael Palmer, Associate Vice President for Administration and Finance, will assume the role of interim CFO. I know you鈥檒l join me and our President鈥檚 Cabinet in expressing our gratitude to Michael for stepping into this interim leadership position.

Please also join us in thanking Ben for his outstanding service to TU, the USM and our state.

Sincerely,

Mark R. Ginsberg, Ph.D.
President