BOND Academy Champions Black Male Educators

Annual Gathering Provides Platform to Seek Solutions

 

MEDIA CONTACT: media@bowiestate.edu

(BOWIE, Md.) — Bowie State University recently hosted the 2025 BOND Academy Education Conference, drawing education advocates, scholars and community leaders from across the country to spotlight the challenges and opportunities facing men of color in education, and to emphasize the urgent need to elevate and retain Black male teachers. 

“This year’s conference was one of the best we’ve ever had,” said Dr. Julius Davis, a BOND Academy founder and director of the Center for Research and Mentoring of Black Male Students and Teachers. “Participants told me they felt reenergized, were receiving job offers and expanding their professional networks all through the Academy. For many of our conference attendees, the BOND Academy reinvigorates their commitment to pedagogy and staying in the field,” said Davis. 

Dr. Shantram Hawkins, an assistant principal in Chicago Public Schools and a featured panelist, spoke on the significance of hosting the event at Maryland’s oldest historically Black college or university. 

“It was beautiful to have the BOND Academy conference at a historically Black college, particularly in the D.C. area,” said Hawkins. “Bowie State University has programs dedicated to building the educational pipeline for African American males that directly align with BOND’s mission to increase the presence of Black and Latino male educators and help them grow and stay in the profession.” 

Attendees participated in a series of sessions and workshops focused on leadership development, school improvement, mentorship, and the integration of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in education. 

Dr. Inger Swimpson, who launched the BOND Project in Montgomery County, Maryland, in 2019, said she was responding to concerns from Black and Brown male educators who felt isolated and undervalued in their schools. 

“Male educators of color — especially Black and Latino men — are not just disciplinarians,” said Swimpson. “They’re scholars who know their content, researchers who understand pedagogy and teachers who build strong, meaningful relationship with students.” 

“My hope is that the BOND Academy becomes self-sustaining and continues to grow,” said Dr. Davis. “I want to see even more Black male candidates from high school, college and in-service educators taking active roles. It’s not just about attending, it’s about leading, networking and building a brand in education.” 

Since its inaugural event in 2020 with just 50 attendees, the BOND Academy has expanded to welcome more than 500 participants at its sixth annual conference earlier this month — marking a significant milestone in its growth and impact.

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About Bowie State University
Founded in 1865, Bowie State University is the first Historically Black College/University (HBCU) in Maryland and one of the ten oldest in the country. Bowie State has earned the ‘Research College and University’ designation in the 2025 Carnegie Research Activity Classification. As a leading institution of higher learning, Bowie State offers more than 65 bachelor's, master's, doctoral and certificate programs across arts and sciences, technology, business, education, healthcare and related disciplines. The university provides high-quality and affordable educational opportunities in a supportive environment that empowers students to think critically, make new discoveries, value differences and emerge as leaders in a highly technical, rapidly changing global society. For more information about Bowie State University, visit bowiestate.edu.