Scholars Fellow Program
The Scholar Fellows program is a mentoring, networking, and professional development platform for undergraduate, masters, and doctoral scholars interested in teaching, leading, mentoring, and research, while developing Black male teachers and students. Scholar Fellows will network and receive mentoring from Black college professors, educational leaders and alumni committed to supporting their academic, career, and professional development. The Scholar Fellows program will work to create a personalized pedagogical, educational and leadership plan that will promote career enhancement, and entrepreneurialism by supporting each fellows reach professional goals.
Faculty, staff, teachers, alumni, entrepreneurs, and partners connected to and associated with the Center for Research and Mentoring of Black Male Students and Teachers will support Scholar Fellows in teaching, leading, mentoring, researching, or serving Black male students, teachers, and leaders.
Objectives
- Fellows will network and receive mentoring from Black college professors, Black male teachers and leaders, and alumni who will support their academic, leadership, career, or entrepreneurial development;
- Fellows will learn about developing their educational and career trajectories, pedagogical repertoire, and entrepreneurship endeavors;
- Fellows will participate in, engage in, or lead mentoring programs for Black male students or prospective teachers;
- Fellows will engage in local, statewide, national, and international projects and experiences that serve students, schools, families, communities, and programs;
- Fellows will be actively engaged in the Black Male Teachers College, Black Male Teacher Initiative Consortium, Bowie Black Male Educators and Leaders Alliance; and/or community outreach;
- Fellows will participate in workshops and professional development opportunities for teaching, mentoring, leading, applying for and succeeding in graduate school, conducting and understanding research;
- Fellows will be provided with the opportunity to conduct research individually and collaboratively with faculty, researchers, and peers;
- Fellows will attend, participate in, and present at conferences, publish manuscripts;
- Fellows will learn about earning a master's, or doctoral degrees will be provided mentorship and educational support and guidance;
- Fellows will learn about becoming teacher leaders, school leaders, district leaders, superintendents/CEOs in schools and districts, and mentorship and career development guidance and support.
Scholar Fellows are encouraged to participate in the experiences, programming, and initiatives that are most closely aligned with their personal, educational, career or entrepreneurial goals.
Applying to the Program
Students can apply or may be invited to be scholar fellow: please send an email to: centerforblackmales@bowiestate.edu
Frequently-asked Questions
The Bowie Black Male Educators Project (Bowie BME) is a federally funded grant initiative created to address the urgent shortage of Black male teachers across early childhood, elementary, special education, and secondary education. The program prepares teacher candidates who can deliver culturally relevant, evidence-based instruction to diverse learners. Over four years, the project will recruit and prepare 50 Black male teacher candidates to become certified educators equipped to serve in high-needs local education agencies.
The program is open to:
- Candidates with 60 college credits or more
- Community college students or graduates
- 4-year college/university transfer students
- Current Bowie State University teacher candidates
- Substitute teachers, paraeducators, and teacher's assistants
- Career changers
Applicants must:
- Have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA (preference given to 3.0+)
- Have completed or be in progress toward 60+ college credits
- Be committed to pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Education at Bowie State University
Having taken college classes already puts you in a position to take advantage of the scholarship because you have already earned college credit. However, bear in mind that all the credits taken already may not transfer over to the education degree program.
1. Complete the Pre-Application
- Pre-Application Form
- Priority deadline is July 1, 2025. the final day of the undergraduate addmissions. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis thereafter
2. Participate in the Program Interview
3. Apply to Bowie State University if not already enrolled
Selected teacher candidates will receive:
- Full scholarship covering in-state tuition and fees through Fall 2026 semester
- Support for course books and materials
- Financial support for certification exams and performance assessments
- Membership in the Scholar Fellows Program
- Access to residential living (must be enrolled full-time to live on campus).
- Professional development and networking opportunities
All candidates will complete an English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL} Pathway, which includes:
- A series of ESOL-focused courses
- Preparation for the Maryland ESOL certification exam
- Dual certification in their selected education major AND ESOL
This ensures candidates can teach and support linguistically diverse students in today's multicultural classrooms and it increases the candidates' explicit knowledge of their own linguistic awareness.
Eligible education certification programs include:
- Early Childhood/ Special Education Elementary Education
- Secondary Education in:
- English
- Mathematics
- Biology
- History
All students must pass Maryland-required certification exams and performance assessments to graduate and become licensed educators.
The Bowie BME Project starts fall 2025.It requires a part-time commitment ( 6 credits per semester) minimally with the goal of committing to classes full-time(12 + credits per semester), including coursework (in-person, hybrid, or online), field experiences, and a year-long teaching internship.