Morgan State Alumna Vianna Briscoe Donates $2 Million for Endowed STEM Scholarship

Vianna Briscoe finalized a $2-million gift to Morgan State University to establish the Vianna Briscoe and Timothy Weldon Endowed Scholarship Fund, the university announced March 2, 2026. The permanent scholarship is intended to support Morgan students pursuing degrees in STEM fields, city and regional planning and entrepreneurship, with WMAR also naming engineering and mathematics among the explicit fields covered.

Morgan State characterized the commitment as designed to close the wealth gap by removing financial barriers and expanding access to higher education in high-demand STEM and related fields. The university’s announcement and a LinkedIn post described the gift as “finalized” and said the endowment will work to ensure “more students have access to Morgan’s career pathway for generations to come.”

Briscoe, a Morgan alumna from the Class of 1969, established the fund in memory of her late husband, Timothy Weldon, who graduated from Morgan in 1970. In the university statement Briscoe said, “Morgan State University laid the foundation for everything my husband and I were able to achieve. Establishing this endowed scholarship fund in Timothy’s memory allows us to give back to the institution that shaped our lives. We fell in love here. And that led to us creating a beautiful life and family. It is deeply meaningful to know that long into the future, students pursuing degrees in STEM or entrepreneurship will have support because of our Morgan experience. I hope this fund eases their financial burdens and empowers them to pursue their goals and achieve with confidence.”

Dr. David K. Wilson, president of Morgan State University, framed the gift as a widening of opportunity for students who may be the first in their families to attend college. “This extraordinary investment from Ms. Briscoe reflects the very best of Morgan: excellence, loyalty and an unwavering belief in the power of education to transform lives. By endowing this scholarship, she is doing more than providing financial support. She is creating access and opportunity for talented students in STEM disciplines who will go on to shape industries, drive innovation and strengthen communities. Her generosity ensures that Morgan students, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college, can focus on achievement rather than affordability.”

Morgan and WMAR both described Briscoe’s $2-million commitment as the second-largest gift to Morgan from a living alumnus in University history, following a $20-million gift from alumnus Calvin E. Tyler Jr. and his wife, Tina, in 2021. As context for large alumni endowments at Morgan, BaltimoreTimes-online reported that the Tyler endowed scholarship fund has supported 222 Morgan students to date through 46 full-tuition and 176 partial scholarships.

The university release did not specify award amounts, the number of scholarships to be granted annually, whether awards will be need-based or merit-based, or whether the fund is restricted to undergraduate or graduate students. Morgan’s Office of Advancement has not yet published the selection criteria or the timeline for first awards; the university has described the fund broadly as an investment to expand access to Morgan’s STEM pipeline for future generations.