Dr. Loretta Johnson to Deliver Keynote Address at Spring Convocation

American Federation of Teachers Leader Known for Work in Baltimore

 

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

(BOWIE, Md.) — Bowie State University will welcome Dr. Loretta Johnson, Secretary – Treasurer Emeritus, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), as the keynote speaker for the 2025 Spring Convocation. The event will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 10 a.m. in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center, centering on the theme “African Americans and Labor” in honor of Black History Month. 

Dr. Johnson is a trailblazing labor leader best known for transforming the Baltimore Teachers Union into a formidable political and lobbying force in Maryland. She served as AFT’s executive vice president from 2008 to 2011 before becoming secretary-treasurer, a role she held until her retirement. 

Her career began in Baltimore, where she organized paraprofessionals within the Baltimore Teachers Union and successfully negotiated the first contract for teacher’s aides in 1970. At the time, aides were earning $2.25 per hour with no benefits. Her efforts set a precedent for labor advocacy, improving working conditions for thousands of education professionals nationwide. 

In addition to her leadership at AFT, Dr. Johnson chaired the union’s Benefit Trust and served on the board of directors of the Albert Shanker Institute. She was a vice president of the AFT for three decades and chaired the Paraprofessionals and School-Related Personnel Program and Policy Council for 32 years, playing a pivotal role in shaping labor policies. 

Dr. Johnson’s dedication to political advocacy has earned her numerous accolades. She received the 2018 Economy and Labor Service Award from the Baltimore County Democratic Party and was named the Maryland Democratic Party’s Labor Leader of the Year in 2005. She continues to serve in leadership roles, including assistant treasurer for the Baltimore chapter of the NAACP, co-chair of the Child Labor Coalition, and chair of the Faith and Politics Institute. 

A graducate of Coppin State University’s Career Opportunities Program, Dr. Johnson has been recognized with an honorary doctorate from Coppin State, a United Way community service award, and numerous honors from the labor community, including a service award from the Baltimore Teachers Union’s paraprofessional chapter and a volunteer service award from the Maryland State American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations. 

The Bowie State University community looks forward to an inspiring address from Dr. Johnson, whose lifelong commitment to labor rights and education advocacy continues to impact future generations. 

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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. 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.