The Dr. Nancy Grasmick Leadership Institute, anchored at Towson University, will mark its fifth anniversary on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, with the 鈥淗eart of Leadership Celebration,鈥� an evening honoring the life, leadership, and enduring legacy of its founder, Dr. Nancy Grasmick. Held from 5:00鈥�7:00 p.m. in Kaplan Concert Hall at Towson University, the celebration will bring together civic, corporate, education, and nonprofit leaders from across the region to reflect on five years of leadership development, community impact, and the growing pipeline of ethical and effective leaders shaped through the Institute鈥檚 programs. For tickets, visit /grasmickleadership/individuals/events/.

The event opens with the world premiere of a documentary about Dr. Grasmick鈥檚 life. It is followed by a 鈥渇ireside chat鈥� style conversation between Dr. Grasmick and Baltimore Orioles owner and The Carlyle Group co-founder David Rubenstein. Additional speakers will be announced throughout the event. The program culminates in the bestowal of the inaugural Heart of Leadership Awards.

The Heart of Leadership Award will be presented to several area leaders who exemplify ethical, resilient, and outcomes-driven leadership while reflecting Dr. Nancy Grasmick鈥檚 enduring legacy. Honorees are selected for demonstrating exceptional integrity, dedication, execution, self-awareness, and resilience, and for creating meaningful impact by strengthening organizations, investing in people, and advancing communities across the region.

鈥淚t is nearly impossible to fully appreciate the breadth of Dr. Grasmick鈥檚 impact in our region,鈥� shares the Institute鈥檚 executive director Erin Moran. 鈥淗undreds of organizations across the state have been influenced by her steady, strategic, values-driven, service-minded and ethical approach to leadership. Not only is she a remarkable leader, but through the work of the Institute, her powerful vision for change is being realized: develop leaders, improve the organizations they lead, and uplift the entire region.鈥�

Founded in 2021, the Dr. Nancy Grasmick Leadership Institute offers a continuum of leadership development programs designed to cultivate ethical, competent, and civic-minded leaders. Since its founding, the Institute has partnered with hundreds of organizations throughout the region, delivering leadership development, executive coaching, and customized training designed to elevate performance and strengthen organizational culture. Its mission remains focused on a simple but powerful belief: great leadership strengthens organizations, and strong organizations help communities flourish.

鈥淚 believe that each of us has a responsibility to try to give back. I try in my own modest way to do that. What can you do to make your neighborhood, city, state, country better than it was before? Dr. Grasmick shares this goal. We need more leaders like her. I am honored to participate in this celebration of a worthy leader and organization,鈥� said Rubenstein.

For more information about the Dr. Nancy Grasmick Leadership Institute and the Heart of Leadership Celebration, visit /grasmickleadership/.

About Towson University

Towson University repeatedly ranks as the #1 public university in Maryland, serving as the state鈥檚 university of opportunities. With more than 160 years of experience pushing possibilities, 撸先生 is a nationally recognized comprehensive public research university, known as a leader in inclusive excellence, social mobility, scholarship and the creative arts. As the largest university in greater Baltimore, 撸先生鈥檚 momentum is always accelerating, with nearly 20,000 students and more than 200 bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degree programs in business, science, education, fine arts, health professions, humanities, social sciences and applied professional fields. Located in Towson, Maryland, amid one of the country鈥檚 cultural and economic epicenters, 撸先生 is a powerful engine of opportunity and catalyst in the Mid-Atlantic, partnering with hundreds of businesses and organizations, impacting communities and fueling change for the public good. 撸先生 meets the holistic needs of each student to achieve success, a result of a deeply inclusive culture with a focus on equity among all students, faculty, staff and over 200,000 alumni worldwide.