{"id":11608,"date":"2022-08-27T11:49:51","date_gmt":"2022-08-27T15:49:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stevenson.edu\/about\/university-history\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T10:35:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T14:35:54","slug":"university-history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.stevenson.edu\/about\/university-history\/","title":{"rendered":"University History"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Since our humble inception in the late 1940s, Stevenson University has continually evolved to meet the needs of students, gradually expanding both our physical presence and academic offerings. Here is a sampling of SU’s rich history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Seven<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Seven Oaks’ Julie Billiart Hall, as featured in the property’s sale flyer.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1947<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Villa Julie College is founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur at “Seven Oaks,” an 80-acre estate in Greenspring Valley, formerly the home of the George Carrell Jenkins family. The College opens its doors on October 1, specializing in medical-secretarial training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Villa<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Villa Julie’s 1954 accreditation as a Junior College capped several years of planning and preparation.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1954<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Official approval as a two-year college is granted by the Maryland State Department of Education. In that same year, a new classroom facility, Founder’s Hall, is opened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Students<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Kitty Lynch, Elaine Lucas, and Mary Ellen Jones work on an accounting issue, 1959.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1965<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The College receives Maryland state approval for a child development program and for transfer programs in the arts and sciences as well as teacher education. Shortly thereafter, the College is granted an “A” rating for transferability of credits by the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1967<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Villa Julie becomes an independent institution, separating from the Catholic Church. Control is vested in a newly formed Board of Trustees comprised of business, civic, and professional leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1971<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In response to increasing enrollment, the College builds a multi-million dollar complex consisting of an art wing, learning resource center, and student center. Evening and summer sessions are inaugurated this same year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1972<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Villa Julie becomes co-educational, admitting its first full-time male student.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Carol Grabowski of VJC’s paralegal program, interning at a law firm. Word processing technologies were rapidly transforming legal office practice in the 1980s, and VJC students stayed on the leading edge of change.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1984<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Villa Julie becomes a four-year college, offering a bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems. Later, a degree in Paralegal Studies is added. The College continues to offer a two-year program leading to associate’s degrees for all available majors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A solid grounding in science was a prerequisite for many of the careers sought by Villa Julie Students in the late 1980s.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1985<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Again, in response to increasing student interest, the College constructs a new three-story laboratory building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1986<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The concept of career education combined with the liberal arts becomes a hallmark of Villa Julie’s philosophy, Pro Discendo, Pro Vivendo: for learning, for living.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1990<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The College designs and installs a sophisticated computer network, enabling students and faculty to access software and library resources from any building on campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1993<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Cuvilly Hall is fully renovated and becomes The Student-Faculty Exchange. Containing an upscale cafe, a spacious reading room, and faculty offices, the Exchange provides an area for students and faculty to meet on an informal basis. Off-campus apartments are opened a short distance from the College this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"College<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The College’s lacrosse team quickly reached high levels of competitiveness, becoming a respected NCAA Division III contender.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1994<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Villa Julie’s athletic programs are accepted into NCAA Division III.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1995<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Construction of the current Dawson Center, Inscape Theatre, Manuszak Center, Greenspring gymnasium, and science center begin as the first phase of the College’s master plan for the campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1996<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Maryland State Department of Education grants approval for programs designed to prepare elementary and early childhood teachers. That same year, the College receives the endorsement of the Maryland Higher Education Commission for a Master of Science degree in Advanced Information Technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1997<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Dawson Center and Inscape Theatre open in August and the Manuszak Center and gymnasium open in November.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1998<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A new Science Center opens with top-notch research facilities and equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Kevin<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Kevin Manning, Ph.D., brought new energy to Villa Julie’s educational mission in 2000 when he began his tenure as the College’s fourth President.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2000<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Kevin J. Manning, Ph.D., assumes his role as Villa Julie’s fifth president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2003<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Academic Link, the College’s unique academic assistance center, reopens after undergoing extensive renovations, including the addition of quiet rooms for students to take tests, space for student tutors, and an expanded computer area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Ground<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Baltimore County Executive James Smith Maryland Secretary of Budget and Management, James C. “Chip” DiPaula, Jr., Board of Trustees Chair Charles E. “Ted” Herget, Jr., and President Manning “breaking ground” on a new residence hall project at the Owings Mills campus, 2004.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2004<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Villa Julie opens its first College-owned housing complex in Owings Mills. The garden apartments and community center surround a quad perfect for campus activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2005<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

On the Owings Mills property, Villa Julie opens the first of three planned suite-style residence buildings that accommodate between three and four students in a mixture of single and double bedrooms. The College names the residence buildings and community center after historical sites in Baltimore County, such as the Avalon Inn, and various valleys, including Cromwell Valley and Worthington Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Students<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Rockland Center provides dining facilities for both residential and commuter students as well as faculty and staff. The second floor houses Student Life offices and a banquet room for campus and community events.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2006<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The College opens Rockland Center (a dining and student center) and the Caves Sports and Wellness Center on the Owings Mills Campus in the fall. Renovations to the Exchange create new space for the music program. The expanded Nursing Skills Lab offers a new home for SimMan, a life-like manikin designed to develop the clinical skills of nursing students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2007<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Villa Julie marks its 60th anniversary with the first Founder’s Day Celebration on Oct. 1. The first complete history of the College, A Vision and a Promise: Villa Julie College, is published. Construction begins on the School of Business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2008<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

On June 11, the Board of Trustees voted to change the name of Villa Julie College to Stevenson University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The name Stevenson University is chosen for its perceptions of tradition, history, and academic quality-three hallmarks of the Villa Julie spirit. The name also maintains a geographical connection to the founding location of Villa Julie in Stevenson, Md. The Villa Julie name endures as the Villa Julie College of Arts and Sciences. With this change, the original campus in Stevenson is now referred to as the Greenspring Campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the Owings Mills campus, the School of Business and Leadership opens to students in August. Housing the Divisions of Business and Legal Studies and Information Technology, the School joins the School of Graduate and Professional Studies as the second established within the new University structure. The 60,000-square-foot building offers cutting-edge classroom technology and a Mock Trial Courtroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Ribbon<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The opening of the School of Business and Leadership marks a solid dedication to business, leadership, and entrepreneurial programs at Stevenson University.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2009<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

On March 24, President Kevin J. Manning, Ph.D., approves the University Restructuring Plan, which supports the creation of three new schools within the Villa Julie College of Arts and Sciences. The plan divides the departments to form the new Schools:<\/p>\n\n\n\n