Adobe Awards Bowie State University an Additional $1 Million

Funding Will Support a New Social Justice Initiative, Athletics and Other Areas

 

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

(BOWIE, Md.) – Bowie State University has been awarded $1 million from the Adobe Foundation to support a new social justice initiative, athletics, faculty development and other areas as part of the organization’s ongoing effort to invest in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs).  Adobe has invested $3 million in Bowie State since 2021.

The new social justice program will align with the “Adobe for All Pillar” which promotes providing enhanced access to technology to equip university students and returning citizens with the skills they will need to enter the workforce and continue life-long learning. The program will confront social injustice by addressing systematic inequalities that disproportionately impact people of color.

This year’s funding will also support BSU faculty development through fellowships and workshops for 240 full-time faculty and 340 adjunct faculty.  Additionally, the award will support advanced student career skills building through BSU’s Entrepreneurship Innovation Center’s (EIC) Building Business @ BSU program to prepare 150 students for internships, job searches and entrepreneurial ventures.

“Adobe’s commitment to Bowie State has been unwavering,” said Dr. Aminta Breaux, president of Bowie State University. “We are an official Adobe Creative Campus which means that all students, faculty, and staff can advance their digital communication skills with access to Adobe’s creative cloud programs.”

In addition to the social justice program, EIC work and faculty development, the recent investment from Adobe will provide continued funding for the endowment and the athletic department which does not receive funding from the Maryland State Government.

An Adobe Foundation Tutorial Center with smart boards, laptops and desktops will be developed in the Leonidas S. James Physical Education Complex. The renovated space will provide students more access to technology to create, innovate and collaborate. BSU racquetball courts will be transformed into an adaptive educational environment to support robots and drone building.

“Our partnership with Adobe continues to evolve and expand providing our students with the skill sets they will need to compete for the current and emerging jobs which are increasingly focused on AI, cybersecurity and other technologies,” said Dr. Breaux.

Adobe began working with BSU earlier this year to offer a new cybersecurity internship program for students to bolster training in cyber defense. The internship program provides select BSU students with hands-on cybersecurity experience and professional development from Adobe to prepare them for careers in the cybersecurity workforce.

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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.