University of Pennsylvania, Doctorate of Education - Higher Education and Higher Education Administration - 1976

University of Pennsylvania, Master of Science - Higher Education Administration -1973

Maryland State College, Bachelor of Arts - Social Science - 1965

Earl S. Richardson is president emeritus distinguished professor and senior research associate at Morgan State University in Baltimore Md. He has over 45 years of experience in Maryland higher education including various executive level positions at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, the University System of Maryland and Morgan State University. Moreover, he has served as an advisor and consultant to several university presidents and management teams, legislative groups and other state and federal government agencies.

While serving as president of Morgan for 26 years, the university was transformed from a small liberal arts institution to a doctoral urban research university campus with significantly expanded academic program offerings at the baccalaureate, masters and doctorate levels. Under his leadership, the number of doctoral programs, in particular, increased from a single doctorate in urban education leadership to a total of 15, among which were doctoral offerings in the arts and humanities, the social and behavioral sciences, the natural sciences, education, engineering and other infrastructure studies programs. At the same time, the University established several new schools, namely the School of Architecture, the School of Public and Community Health, the School of Social Work, the School of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences and the School of Global Communications.

Richardson's tenure was marked by significant growth and expansion of the University. Student enrollments more than doubled and the operating budget grew more than six fold. Major renovations were accomplished on several landmark and historic buildings; other facilities were replaced; and the campus was expanded through the acquisition of acreage in nearby Northwood shopping center and an adjoining hospital campus. In addition, new classroom buildings were constructed to include an engineering complex, a performing arts center, an architecture building with parking garage, a communications facility, as well as student housing, a student activities center with parking accommodations and an award winning library. Also the approval, planning and design phase for a new business building with a bridge connecting to the main campus, a new social and behavioral science building, a new student affairs administrative complex and various campus beatification projects were well underway. This historic build-up of the Morgan campus represented the first part of a billion dollar campus improvement plan Richardson submitted to the State for enhancement of the university over a ten year period. Other improvements in the plan include a general administration building, accommodations for allied health, a new science complex and a building to house the school of social work.
At the peak of his career, Dr. Richardson chaired the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education Board and was appointed by President William Jefferson Clinton to head his White House Advisory Board for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. His relationship with the Clinton Administration led to frequent visits to the White House as well as historic visits by President Clinton to the Morgan State University campus, in 1996 to deliver the Commencement address and again in 2000 for the opening of the new Carl J. Murphy Fines Arts Center.

For his service, Dr. Richardson has received numerous recognitions and awards. Among those recognitions are the Maryland Senate prestigious Citizenship Award, honorary doctorates from Bennett College (South Carolina), the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Morgan State University; a listing among Fisher and Koch's "entrepreneurial college presidents", and recognition by President Barack Obama for outstanding service to American Higher Education.

Since leaving the presidency, Dr. Richardson teaches higher education administration with a particular focus on governance and minority serving institutions. He also works in the Robert M. Bell Center for Civil Rights in Education where he focuses on legal issues related to Historically Black Institutions.

Richardson is married to the former Sheila Bunting. PhD and they have one son, Eric Anthony, MBA. Dr. Richardson is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity.