This year, Bowie State University commemorated a monumental milestone, celebrating 160 years since its founding on Jan. 9, 1865. Originally established as the Baltimore Normal School for Colored Teachers at Calvert and Saratoga streets in Baltimore, the institution proudly relocated to its current location in Bowie, Maryland, in 1911.

What began as an institution dedicated to offering educational opportunities for Black teachers has flourished into a vibrant university offering more than 65 bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and certificate programs. Among its diverse offerings are cutting-edge disciplines in STEM, including cybersecurity, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and an exciting new master’s program in the Internet of Things. According to Bowie State University President Aminta H. Breaux, Bowie State’s evolution encompasses a broader vision.

BMCC, home to over 20,000 students, is nationally recognized for its exceptional impact on advancing minority student achievement. Ranked #5 among community colleges nationwide in granting associate degrees to minority students, according to data from the U.S. Department of Education, BMCC has established itself as a leader in providing opportunities for historically underrepresented groups to achieve academic success.

Bowie State University celebrated the opening of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center, a vibrant environment for learning and creativity designed to inspire students to harness the power of their voice and free expression to shape the future.

State and local officials, university leaders and project partners gathered to cut the ribbon and officially open the $166 million, 192,000 square foot center that will serve every BSU student. It will be home to the Departments of Language, Literature and Cultural Studies; History and Government; Communications and Military Science.

Dr. King’s own words will be a constant inspiration for students in the building. Abstract impressions of vocal sound waves from his 1964 Nobel Peace Prize speech are incorporated into the design of the façade and interior finishing of the main entrances echoing his call to have “the courage to face the uncertainties of the future.” With a focus on visibility, connectivity and storytelling, the design of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center expresses the power of voice and community.

Bowie State University’s fourth annual HBCU+ Entrepreneurship Conference welcomed more than 900 virtual participants and highlighted the power of the entrepreneurial mindset as a crucial element for success in starting their businesses.

The conference theme, "Igniting Innovation, Building Legacies: Empowering the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs," aimed to inspire participants who have had ideas about using their talents to branch out and start their own small business or develop a service to address an unanswered need.

“It’s a call to action,” said Johnetta Hardy, executive director of the Entrepreneurship Innovation Center at Bowie State. “The theme reflects Bowie State's commitment to providing resources, mentorship, and real-world opportunities for students to develop their ideas and build lasting legacies in their communities."

The university hosted the conference in collaboration with the White House Initiative on HBCUs.

Bowie State University’s Entrepreneurship Innovation Center (EIC) has received the 2024 Highly Commended Outstanding Award in the Emerging Entrepreneurship Centers category from the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers Annual Conference. The award recognizes the EIC for demonstrating excellence, innovation and impactful contributions. BSU is the first HBCU to be recognized in the category for schools with fewer than 7,500 students.

The award celebrates entrepreneurship centers making an impressive impact within five years and highlights the centers’ ambitious goals, dedicated teams, sustainable operating plans and strong relationships with stakeholders. It also showcases those centers with early signs of success and potential for long-term growth.

The University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents has selected Dr. Rosemary Shumba, chair of Bowie State University’s Department of Computer Science, as a recipient of a 2025 USM Regents Faculty Award for Excellence in Mentoring. The award represents the highest honor the Board confers to recognize exemplary faculty achievement and outstanding contributions.

Since joining Bowie State in 2019, Dr. Shumba has worked tirelessly to boost enrollment in computer science majors while offering steadfast guidance and mentorship to students.

Xiomara V. Medina, associate director for clinical training in the Department of Counseling & Psychological Studies at Bowie State University, has been appointed to the Maryland State Board of Education by Governor Wes Moore.

The Bowie State University community will now have increased access to reproductive healthcare and other wellness products through the golden wellness kiosks placed in multiple locations around the campus. The kiosks are in the Student Center game room, Thurgood Marshall Library, Alex Haley Residence Hall and the Entrepreneurship Living Learning Community.

The wellness kiosks are the brainchild of a collaboration between Bowie State alumna Jakeya Johnson ’23 and Maryland State Senator Ariana Kelly. Johnson developed the initial policy as part of a class project while earning her Master of Public Administration degree at Bowie State. Johnson would later bring her proposal to Senator Kelly’s office, who brought the bill before the General Assembly before Gov. Wes Moore signed it into law.

Kamila Palacios, a senior government major at Bowie State University, is taking her next step toward a career in immigration law after receiving the prestigious Fannie Angelos Scholarship to attend the University of Baltimore School of Law. Palacios is a participant in Bowie State’s government concentration, which supports students pursuing careers in law, public service, and civic leadership.

“I just want to help people,” Palacios said. “Whatever law firm I work for, I want to know that I am making a difference.”

But her journey has been marked by more than just academic achievement. Palacios has maintained high marks in the classroom despite being recently diagnosed with dyslexia. After her diagnosis last year, Palacios was quickly connected to Bowie State’s Student Success Center, where she was provided with a variety of services and accommodations — including extended exam time — to support her learning needs. She credits the university’s smaller class sizes and supportive faculty for helping her feel seen and understood.

A new club to encourage Black men on campus to become leaders has been launched by Zaire Bond, a sophomore majoring in education with a history concentration. The Black Male Educators and Leaders Alliance is open to all undergraduate and graduate students regardless of an individual’s major.

“The focus of the club is on leadership and education,” said Bond. “We want to provide the necessary tools for young Black men to become leaders, which means providing positive input and reinforcement such as peer mentoring.”

Bond is among 17 Black male students who are now attending Bowie State to earn their degrees in education through the four-year $1.5 million Augustus F. Hawkins grant awarded to the university by the Department of Education in 2023 to support the Black Male Teachers program.

Bowie State University graduate Brian Kelley is making his mark as a serial entrepreneur leading High-Level Sports Management, the Mid-Atlantic Basketball Classic (MABC) and the luxury wine brand Imperial 94, punctuating the lasting impact HBCUs have in fostering innovation, leadership and community-driven success.

He graduated in 2017 with a degree in communications, using his background in basketball and media to launch High-Level Sports Management, a company focused on guiding young athletes toward long-term success. Through High-Level Sports Management, Kelley created the Mid-Atlantic Basketball Classic, a premier high school tournament that provides student-athletes with exposure to college scouts and media. His dedication to supporting student-athletes extends beyond the court, ensuring they have the resources to succeed long term.

In 2019, Kelley expanded into the luxury beverage industry with the launch of Imperial 94, a wine brand that blends sophistication with culture. With its pink rosé selling out twice, the brand has quickly gained recognition, solidifying Kelley as one of Maryland’s youngest Black wine owners.

Bowie State University alumna Monica Goldson was selected as the new president and chief executive officer of Junior Achievement of Greater Washington, becoming the first Black woman to ascend to the role in the organization’s history.

Goldson graduated from Bowie State with a master’s degree in education administration in 2000, and she credited her experience at the university with giving her the information and tools that propelled her 30-year career in teaching and education.

“One thing I love about HBCUs is that you’re going to get a well-rounded experience where you’re going to have the opportunity to talk about the issues plaguing a community that is predominantly Black and brown,” said Goldson. “They’re going to give you the tools and strategies to be successful in that area. Bowie State did a fabulous job of giving me those experiences.”

Former Bowie State defensive end/linebacker Joshua Pryor '22 will be in tiger stripes this NFL season after signing with the Cincinnati Bengals on Aug. 7, joining a defense that’s looking to move back into the top five rankings in the league.

Pryor, who graduated in December 2022, signed with the Washington Commanders as an undrafted free agent during the 2023-24 season and played in seven games during his rookie year. Pryor was named the 2022 CIAA Defensive Player of the Year during his senior season after finishing with 47 total tackles (20 solo), 10.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.