Jakeya Johnson Secures Future Reproductive Care Access

Johnson’s Efforts Vital to Passage of Reproductive Health Legislation

 

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

(BOWIE, Md.) – Jakeya Johnson, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, graduates from Bowie State with a master’s degree in public administration this week and is already on a fast track establishing herself as change agent, social justice advocate and someone who is making a difference in the world. 

Johnson was given an assignment in one of her graduate courses that required developing a policy solution for a public problem. Since she is a major proponent of reproductive rights and freedom, that issue became the topic of her research project and much more. Increasing reproductive health care services on Bowie State’s campus became her number one goal so she sought guidance from Maryland State Senator Ariana Kelly. 

They collaborated to write legislation addressing contraception and other reproductive health issues that confront women at all of Maryland’s institutions of higher learning. 

Governor Wes Moore signed the legislation earlier this year that became state law on August 1, requiring all University System of Maryland (USM) schools to devise reproductive health care plans with referral networks and 24-hour access to emergency contraception. 

For her work, Johnson has received numerous accolades. USM selected her as a Langenberg Fellow along with one student from other schools in the system who seek to improve the world through local, justice-oriented action. She also received the Charlotte Ellertson Innovation Award from the American Society for Emergency Contraception for improving access to emergency contraception. 

“Advocacy is the pathway to change,” said Johnson after receiving the award. “Let’s keep pushing boundaries challenging the status quo and making bold moves to better our communities.” 

Johnson was in the first cohort of BSU’s Philanthropy Fellows program and completed her fellowship at the Tides Foundation, a non-profit and philanthropic organization that shifts resources and power to communities that have historically been denied both to unlock transformative change. She’s now employed full-time at Tides as a grants specialist.  

Johnson earned her bachelor’s degree in healthcare from Western Governors University. 

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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.