The following is a list of principals and presidents of Towson University and its predecessor institutions.

• 
  McFadden Alexander Newell
  First Principal, Maryland State Normal School (MSNS), 1866–1890
• 
  E. Barrett Prettyman (1830–1907)
  Principal, MSNS, 1890–1905
• 
  George W. Ward (1867–1932)
  Principal, MSNS, 1905–1909
• 
  Sarah E. Richmond (1843–1921)
  Principal, MSNS, 1909–1917
• 
  Lida Lee Tall (1873–1942)
  Principal, 1920–1934, President, 1934–1938
• 
  M. Theresa Wiedefeld (1886–1983)
  President, 1938–1947
• 
  James Fisher (1931–2022)
  President, 1969–1978
• 
  Hoke L. Smith (1931–2004)
  President 1979–2001
• 
  Mark L. Perkins (1948–)
  President, July, 2001–April, 2002
• 
  Robert L. Caret (1947–)
  President, July, 2003–April, 2011
• 
  Maravene Loeschke (1947–2015)
  President, 2012–2014
• 
  Kim Schatzel
  President, 2016–2023
• 
  Melanie Perreault
  Interim President, 2023
• 
  Mark R. Ginsberg
  President, 2023–Present