Celebrating a Transformational Presidency

2005

The inauguration of Fr. Brian F. Linnane, S.J., Loyola’s 24th President.

2006

Year of the City launches to reaffirm Loyola’s relationship with Baltimore, to celebrate the city’s history, and to consider the role we should play in addressing challenges faced by the city.

The Loyola/Notre Dame Library completes an extensive renovation and expansion.

2007

Loyola opens its new first-year residence hall, Thea Bowman Hall, the most sustainable building on campus (before the Fernandez Center for Innovation and Collaborative Learning, which will open in Fall 2021).

2008

The strategic plan’s emphasis on enhancing and enriching the natural sciences leads to the creation of an associate dean for Natural and Applied Sciences and the renaming of the Natural and Applied Sciences. During Fr. Linnane’s presidency, Loyola has added these Natural and Applied Sciences programs: Biochemistry, Data Science, the Physics/Engineering five-year dual degrees, and Forensic Studies and Master’s in Forensic Pattern Analysis.

2009

The School of Education is founded with a focus on urban education. Since then, the University has expanded the footprint of the School of Ed through site-based programs. The Loyola Clinical Centers, which benefits from the expertise and experience of faculty and students in both the School of Education and Loyola College, has also grown to prominence during Fr. Linnane's tenure.

Loyola College adopts a new name and designation, Loyola University Maryland, to reflect the institution’s comprehensive fields of study and graduate programs.

2010

The York Road Initiative, which addresses the educational development, health, and well-being of residents along the York Road corridor, is established.

Loyola celebrates the opening of Ridley Athletic Complex, a 50-acre, 6,000 seat stadium complex.

2011

A renovation and expansion is completed at the Donnelly Science Center.

2012

Greyhounds men’s lacrosse wins the National Championship for the first time in Loyola’s history.

Loyola opens its first international science-focused study abroad center, the Center for Newcastle, allowing for an increase in the number of students Loyola sends to Newcastle upon Tyne, England, and making it easier for science majors to study abroad and remain on track for graduation.

2013

Loyola joins the Patriot League, whose member institutions are among the oldest and most prestigious in the nation and ranked first among all Division I conferences in student-athlete graduation rates.

Tony Blair delivers the inaugural Hanway Lecture in Global Studies. The Global Studies program, also started during Fr. Linnane’s presidency, offers an interdisciplinary major for students who are eager to learn, lead, and serve in the diverse and changing world.

Messina, Loyola’s distinctive interdisciplinary, award-winning living and learning experience is introduced. Inspired by Fr. Linnane’s vision for a unique first-year experience, Messina has changed and shaped the undergraduate experience for all students who begin as first-year students with Loyola.

2014

Loyola opens the first alumni house in its 162-year history, named the Rev. Brian F. Linnane, S.J., Alumni House at Loyola University Maryland.

2015

Loyola University Maryland awards Fr. Linnane an honorary doctorate.

Loyola completes its strategic plan, Grounded in Tradition, Educating for the Future.

2017

Loyola University Maryland breaks the Guinness World Record for crab walking—live on The Today Show—on March 30, 2017.

2018

Loyola completes a $100 million fundraising campaign—Bright Minds, Bold Hearts—the largest in University history.

The Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship opens, strengthening conversation and action around those areas at the University. Loyola has since launched an Innovation & Entrepreneurship minor and the Baltipreneurs Accelerator and won the bid to co-host the 2021 Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers Conference in Baltimore.

2019

Loyola launches ASPIRE: Loyola's Extended Learning Community.

2020

Loyola names its first chief equity and inclusion officer.

Groundbreaking takes place on the Fernandez Center for Innovation and Collaborative Learning, scheduled to open in Fall 2021.

Loyola enrolls its most diverse first-year class in university history.

Loyola moves all instruction online and sends residential students home for the COVID-19 pandemic. The Office of Digital Teaching and Learning (ODTL), which was new under Fr. Linnane's leadership, was among those offices that were critically important to the University's success during that time, as faculty, staff, and administrators created an online educational, intellectual, and social community for students. Over the course of Fr. Linnane's leadership, Loyola has launched online education, enhanced digital pedagogy, and added online programs, beginning with the Master of Arts in Emerging Media and the Master's in Educational Technology.

2021

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Loyola reopens for a successful spring semester.

Loyola celebrates the Classes of 2020 and 2021 at a historic outdoor Commencement at M&T Bank Stadium.