Alumna Vianna Briscoe has donated $2 million to Morgan State University to establish an endowed scholarship fund.
University officials announced on Monday that Briscoe’s gift will be used to establish the Vianna Briscoe and Timothy Weldon Endowed Scholarship Fund to support students pursuing degrees in Engineering, Mathematics, City and Regional Planning and Entrepreneurship.
The donation represents the second largest gift that Morgan has ever received from a living alum. The largest was a $20 million gift from alumnus Calvin E. Tyler Jr and his wife, Tina, in 2021. Briscoe, a member of Morgan’s Class of 1969, created her fund in memory of her late husband, Timothy Weldon, a member of Morgan’s Class of 1970.
Based on projections, the endowment could potentially support 15 to 16 students each year with scholarships ranging from $500 to $6,000. Over five years, it could provide an estimated $425,000 in awards, while preserving and growing the principal to sustain scholarships in perpetuity.
The endowment is designed to help close the wealth gap by removing financial barriers and expanding access to higher education, particularly in high-demand STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields.
“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,” said Morgan President David K. Wilson, in a statement. “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.”
The endowment will support fully matriculated students who maintain at least a 2.5 GPA and demonstrate financial need. Eligible majors include Mathematics; engineering disciplines such as Industrial, Civil, Electrical, Transportation Systems, Mechatronics and Environmental Engineering; City and Regional Planning within the School of Architecture and Planning; and Entrepreneurship. Students in good academic standing, including student-athletes, are eligible, and awards may be renewed throughout a student’s matriculation as long as eligibility requirements are maintained.
Briscoe earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Morgan, and Weldon earned a Bachelor of Arts in Geography. Weldon went on to earn a master’s degree in Regional Planning from Cornell University and built a successful career in business and security services. Briscoe’s career spanned leadership roles in engineering and information technology within the Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of the Navy and the U.S. Department of Energy, where she retired as a director of information technology.
“Morgan State University laid the foundation for everything my husband and I were able to achieve,” Briscoe said in a statement. “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.”
“This commitment represents one of the most significant philanthropic investments Morgan has received from a living alumna and underscores the power of alumni engagement and a strong culture of philanthropy,” said Endia M. DeCordova, vice president for Institutional Advancement at Morgan State University and executive director of the Morgan State University Foundation, in a statement.
“Endowed gifts like this are truly transformative because they create opportunity not just for a single student or one moment in time, but for generations to come,” DeCordova said. “Ms. Briscoe’s generosity reflects a profound belief in Morgan, in our students, and in the promise of our institution. Through this fund, her legacy — and that of her husband — will continue to open doors, remove barriers, and change lives in perpetuity.”
Administrators say the Vianna Briscoe and Timothy Weldon Endowed Scholarship Fund is a testament to the enduring power of a Morgan education — and to the legacy two alumni have chosen to leave for future generations of Morgan students.
“Receiving an impactful gift like this, from one of Fair Morgan’s own, affirms the profound connection our alumni feel to this institution and their commitment to lifting as they climb,” Wilson said.
