Bowie State Launches Philanthropy Fellowship Program

Four Fellows Form First Cohort

MEDIA CONTACT: David Thompson, dlthompson@bowiestate.edu, 301-860-4311

(BOWIE, Md.) – The Bowie State University College of Business has launched a philanthropy fellowship program to better prepare students interested in pursuing careers in non-profit management. The initial cohort of four students will begin the year-long program in June.

The student fellows will be required to maintain a minimum six-credit course load throughout the fellowship year and will be paired with and mentored by a C-suite executive within the fellow’s sponsoring organization. Fellows will also be required to attend monthly BSU Philanthropy Fellowship Seminars for 12 months to provide a vehicle for mutual sharing, group projects, and guidance.

“There are more than 1.5 million charitable organizations in the United States according to the National Philanthropic Trust,” said Dr. James Hyman, assistant professor of public administration in the College of Business. “In 2020, Americans gave $471 billion to education, health, and other causes. “Our Fellows program will enable students to derive a better understanding of the business of philanthropy and prepare them for jobs within the sector.”

Fellows will be involved in strategic planning in the context of grant making and nonprofit operations; non-profit program assessment and evaluation that will inform them about data needs associated with assessing program impacts; and exposure to communities to sensitize the students to the critical and varying needs of communities of color.

“I want to work for an organization that’s mission driven and where I can make a difference, and working for a foundation or another philanthropic entity seems like where I need to be,” said Stephanie Spencer, a recent BSU graduate with a Master's Degree in Public Administration. “Foundations are charitable organizations that provide funding to worthy causes and people in need. This Fellows program will give me valuable experience and provide the pathway I need to help give back to others,” said Spencer.

“The knowledge that I will attain by participating in the Fellows program will be phenomenal,” said Darren Willis, a student in the Masters of Public Administration program at BSU. “I’ve set my goal on working in a field that is about helping others and I believe the Philanthropy Fellows program will give me a leg up when competing with other students for positions in the industry.”

In addition to Spencer and Willis, the additional Philanthropy Fellows are Jakeya Johnson, and Markell Smith, who are students in the Bowie State MPA program. Spencer and Johnson will serve as Fellows with the TIDES Foundation. Smith has been assigned to the Annie E. Casey Foundation and Willis is with the Association of Black Foundation Executives. 

The sponsoring foundations will pay the fellows a salary equivalent to entry level professionals in the field with access to healthcare. “This Fellowship program is a tremendous opportunity for students to get hands on real-time management experience and develop relationships that will last their entire careers,” said Dr. Hyman.

###

About Bowie State University
Bowie State University (BSU) is an important higher education access portal for qualified persons from diverse academic and socioeconomic backgrounds, seeking a high-quality and affordable public comprehensive university. The university places special emphasis on the science, technology, cybersecurity, teacher education, business, and nursing disciplines within the context of a liberal arts education. For more information about BSU, visit bowiestate.edu.