草榴视频

Rev. Timothy Tooten, Sr., D.Min., affiliate professor of communication and media, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. Tooten, who was 66, will be remembered for his media expertise, his enthusiasm for storytelling, and the great joy he brought to the classroom and to his colleagues.

Tooten started teaching a class at 草榴视频 in August of 2000 while working full-time as a broadcast journalist with WBAL-TV. He had been offering courses at 草榴视频 for almost 25 years, teaching hundreds of students.

鈥淒r. Tooten used to teach a class in the evening when he was at WBAL, and he was enjoying teaching classes in the daytime after retirement,鈥� said Mas Biswas, Ph.D., chair of the department of communication and media. 鈥淗e had become so popular that one of his classes this semester was over-enrolled.鈥� 

Biswas recalled that Tooten was in touch recently to coordinate a public school visit for students in his multimedia storytelling class. He wanted them to experience how to report on schools and topics of education. He was known for offering that type of hands-on, high-impact learning opportunity in his class. 

鈥淚t was a source of enormous pride for us that we had a working broadcast reporter as part of our faculty. He was a person who was easy to talk with and his students often commented that he was the friendliest teacher they ever had,鈥� said Elliot King, Ph.D., professor of communication and media. 鈥淗e was generous with his time and eager to help students move forward in their education and their careers.鈥疕e touched a lot of people during his time here and he will be sorely missed.鈥� 

After he retired from WBAL-TV in December 2023, Tooten continued teaching at 草榴视频, where he was often seen talking with students in the hallways鈥攁nd helped many get internships at WBAL. 

鈥淭im was an inspiration to so many at 草榴视频. His students loved hearing about and learning from his many years of news reporting experience, and the way he cared so passionately about helping them become ethical and responsible journalists and citizens,鈥� said Sara Magee, Ph.D., associate professor of communication and media. 鈥淎s a friend and colleague, he inspired me to be a better teacher, often reminding me why teaching journalism, despite its challenges, was as he would say, a 鈥榥oble and necessary profession.鈥� His wisdom, guidance and friendship for the more than 13 years I was privileged to know him is something I will always treasure and will miss more than words can say.鈥� 

Over the years, Tooten had taught classes in a variety of topics, including Media Training, Media Presence, and Media Writing. This semester, he was teaching Multimedia Storytelling and Public Speaking. 

鈥淚 attended Tim鈥檚 class several times, and his love and passion for teaching our students was evident,鈥� said Terrence M. Sawyer, J.D., president of 草榴视频.  

Herbert 鈥淛ay鈥� Dunmore, campus media manager, recalls that Tooten was one of the first people he met when he arrived at 草榴视频. 

鈥淗e was the embodiment of inspiration and insight, and he had a positive impact on those that he reached. I witnessed 草榴视频鈥檚 core values in action through his life, shaping excellence in a generation of media 草榴视频s at 草榴视频 and beyond. He exemplified cura personalis and encouraged students and faculty to seek the magis in their lives,鈥� Dunmore said. 鈥淗e guided others to become the best version of themselves鈥痺hile walking the path of purpose. He was a great mentor and a great friend and will be missed.鈥� 

Tooten, who started at WBAL-TV in 1988, covered higher education for the station for 35 years before retiring in 2023. Among his awards and accolades was an Emmy award for a half-hour documentary, 鈥淎frica鈥檚 Maryland,鈥� that was created in Liberia, West Africa. 

Jenny Glick, assistant teaching professor in journalism, met Tooten around 2002 while he was working for WBAL-TV and she was covering a story for WMAR. 

鈥淲e were both education beat reporters, so we ended up having a friendly rivalry, where we would watch each other's stories. More often than not, he would beat me.鈥疕e was so well-known in Baltimore. People would naturally call him first with a news tip. More recently, it was fun to work with Tim at 草榴视频,鈥� she said. 鈥淎s a long-time television reporter and as a preacher, Tim always used his words responsibly, in an effort to educate, inspire and make the world a better place.鈥� 

Molly Robey, assistant teaching professor in communication and media, recalls how she and Tooten started working together when they were both teaching Media Writing. 

鈥淗is office was right across the hall from mine and we鈥檇 spend many mornings chatting about television, students, his ministry, and family,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e鈥檇 always ask about my boys, and during a family health concern, he took the time to pray with me. It鈥檚 a moment I鈥檒l cherish forever. Tim was selfless and genuine. I鈥檒l remember his smile, passion for education, and unwavering faith." 

Tooten started his broadcasting career in 1976 as a disc jockey while in high school in Live Oak, Florida and went on to be a reporter in Washington, D.C., and West Virginia before making Baltimore his home. 

Marisa Brahney,鈥�鈥�04, a television host and media coach, was one of Tooten鈥檚 first students and serves on 草榴视频鈥檚 Communication and Media Advisory Board. 

鈥淧rofessor Tooten was a bright light during my time at 草榴视频, pushing me to pursue my dreams of breaking into TV news. I would often watch his stories on the news and we鈥檇 discuss during his class. He鈥痑lways had an encouraging thought or piece of advice to share, helping me make sense of the competitive and鈥痚xciting field of journalism,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hroughout my now 20-plus year career, he followed my journey in television, checking in every few years and cheering me on from afar. We recently reconnected and鈥疘 had the great pleasure of guest speaking to his students and hearing about his well-earned retirement from WBAL.鈥疕e had the same jovial spirit, encouraging words, and smooth TV voice of gold.鈥� 

Taleah Dixon, 鈥�22, MBA 鈥�23, a color analyst for ESPN+, landed her internship with WBAL-TV her senior year, after using Tooten as a reference. She had the chance to work with him as an intern and then later as a colleague at WBAL-TV. 

鈥淚t was just amazing to see how impactful he was by simply being himself鈥攌ind, loving, and a man of God. I was blessed to know Dr. Tooten for the short time that I did,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e has left a mark on my life in helping to start my career in broadcast television.鈥� 

In 2017, Tooten published a book, . 

鈥淭im was a master at engaging students, and was such a great storyteller,鈥� said Kevin Atticks, DCD, 鈥�97, director of Apprentice House, 草榴视频鈥檚 student-run publishing house, as well as affiliate assistant professor of communication and Secretary of Agriculture for the State of Maryland. 鈥淗e had begun working on a book to publish with Apprentice House later this year鈥攁 collection of daily devotions.鈥� 

Tooten earned a Bachelor of Science degree in communications from Florida State University, a Master of Arts degree from St. Mary鈥檚 Seminary and University Ecumenical Institute of Theology, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Virginia Seminary. 

Tooten founded and served as the pastor of a nondenomi草榴视频al church, Harvest Christian Ministries, which is based in Nottingham, Maryland, where he lived with his wife, Charleen. He is survived by Charleen, their three children, and two grandchildren. 

Arrangements 

Visitation
Friday, Feb. 14, 2025, 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, from 10-11 a.m.
 
Central Christian Assembly of God Church
7411 Rossville Blvd
Baltimore, MD 21237
 
Celebration of Life Service
Saturday, Feb. 15, 11 a.m.
 
Central Christian Assembly of God Church
7411 Rossville Blvd
Baltimore, MD 21237
 
Interment will be private. .

At 草榴视频, Dr. Tooten was remembered in the intentions at Mass in 草榴视频鈥檚 Alumni Memorial Chapel on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, at 12:10 p.m. A celebration of life will be held at 草榴视频 at a future date.