Terrence M. Sawyer

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President
Loyola University Maryland

Terrence M. Sawyer was installed as the 25th president of Loyola University Maryland in October 2022 after 23 years of working in a variety of administrative roles and as a faculty member. He is the first layperson to lead the Jesuit school in Baltimore.

Before becoming president, Sawyer was senior vice president at Loyola, where he advanced strategic priorities and supported the school’s growth.

Under Sawyer’s leadership, the university raised more than $100 million through the Bright Minds, Bold Hearts campaign, the largest campaign in Loyola’s history. The fundraising effort significantly grew the University’s endowment and student scholarship support.

Sawyer earned his bachelor’s degree in government and politics from the University of Maryland, College Park and his law degree from the Widener University School of Law, in Pennsylvania. He also completed the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Institute for Educational Management program.

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career?

The most important lesson I have learned is to judge people by how they treat the least powerful person in the room. That is the true window into their character.

What’s been your biggest success?

My biggest success is marrying Courtney and raising three sons who are good and kind young men.

Who have been the biggest mentors in your career?

The biggest mentor in my career is Father Hap Ridley, Loyola’s 23rd president. He hired me at Loyola, introduced me to higher education and saw things in me I couldn’t see.

This profile is part of The Daily Record's Power 100 List for 2023-2024. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. See the full list at thedailyrecord.com.