Graduate Staff Spotlight | Sonia Bowie

Service has been a common thread throughout my career. I’m an educator, mentor, community advocate and proud mom whose career has centered on helping people recognize their potential and find their voice. Early in my career, I served as a youth minister, worked as a Spanish speaking victim-witness advocate for the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office and a counselor with the Department of Juvenile Justice. I later joined the National Recreation and Park Association, supporting youth programs and initiatives serving underserved communities nationwide. I spent the last five years supporting students in Hood’s Doctoral Program in Organizational Leadership.

I hold a bachelor’s degree from UMD, a master’s degree from UMGC, and certificates in nonprofit management from Georgetown University and women’s leadership from Cornell University. As a first-generation U.S. college graduate raised in a multicultural, interfaith family, I value the power of education to broaden perspectives, build understanding and create opportunity.

Outside of Hood, I remain committed to mentorship and service through the Miss America Organization. As Miss Maryland 2000, I made history as the first South Asian and Latina woman to hold the title. Valuing the importance of scholarship opportunities, I recently helped facilitate Hood College’s scholarship partnerships with the Miss Maryland and Miss America Organizations, expanding opportunities for women to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees.

I’m passionate about using my experiences, education, and relationships to open doors for others and help them see what’s possible for themselves.

As the assistant director of graduate student success at Hood College, my focus is helping all graduate students, both domestic and international, navigate the many challenges that can affect their ability to succeed and ultimately graduate. No two days look exactly alike. I reach out to students who may be struggling academically, personally or with the transition to graduate school, while also supporting retention initiatives, student engagement and academic resources. I’m especially interested in creating a stronger sense of connection and belonging for graduate students because success is about much more than what happens in the classroom, whether in person or online. It’s about making sure students know there is someone in their corner.
My days also include serving on campus committees, including the Social & Service, Cultural Programming and Commencement Committees, where I enjoy bringing people together to connect, celebrate and support one another. In addition, I’m participating this year in the nine-month Leadership Frederick County (LFC) program through the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce. This has been an incredible experience, allowing me to learn more about our community, connect with local leaders and explore ways to contribute to Frederick County’s continued growth. Service and building meaningful connections are important to me, both on campus and beyond.

What attracted me to this position was the opportunity to return to the part of my career that has always meant the most to me: helping people succeed. Throughout my career, whether I was working in youth development, community programs, nonprofit leadership or higher education, I’ve been drawn to roles where I can be a resource, a connector and an advocate. Graduate students are balancing academics, careers, families, finances and so many other responsibilities, and I want to be part of creating an environment where they feel supported rather than having to navigate those challenges alone. This position felt like a natural next chapter in the work I’ve been doing for years.

Participating in the Miss America competition helped me earn my master’s degree debt-free and taught me the value of service, public speaking and listening to diverse perspectives. I believe in paying that opportunity forward through mentorship and the Forever Maryland Sisterhood Scholarship Fund, which I founded in 2016 to provide additional scholarship support to young women connected to the Miss Maryland program.

My community involvement centers on education, mentorship and creating opportunities for all. Beyond mentoring young women in pageants, I have had the pleasure of mentoring high school students through the Distinguished Young Women Scholarship Program, The National FFA Organization and The American Legion National Oratorical Contest. I mentor young people in leadership service, interview preparation, public speaking, professional appearance, scholarship applications, resume writing and confidence building. It has been incredibly rewarding to work with students nationwide, particularly from Wisconsin, California, Alabama, Virginia, D.C. and Maryland. I’m also humbled that students and families find their way to me through word-of-mouth referrals, a testament to the trust they place in me.

Through mentorship, I’ve helped young women prepare for and earn local and state titles, with others advancing to state and national finals. I’ve also supported students as they prepare for competitive scholarship interviews and college opportunities, including the Robertson Scholars Leadership Program, the Banneker/Key Scholarship, Ivy League institutions and the U.S. Naval Academy. I’m grateful to be part of their journeys and proud to have played a role in their achievements.

A fun fact I’m proud to share is that I recently published a children’s book, "The Girl Between Worlds: A Story of Identity, Courage, and Finding My Voice." A portion of the proceeds supports the scholarship fund I founded to help young women pursue higher education. Whether through scholarships, mentorship or storytelling, I hope to remind others that their stories matter, their voices deserve to be heard and they each have something meaningful to contribute to our beautiful world.

One thing I’ve learned throughout my career is that sometimes the smallest moments have the greatest impact. A conversation, a kind word, a mentor who believes in you or simply having someone take the time to listen can change the way a person sees themselves and what they believe is possible. That is the philosophy I try to bring to every position I hold. Whether I’m working with a graduate student, mentoring a young person, serving my community or writing for young readers, I hope to leave people feeling seen, heard and encouraged to believe in themselves long after our paths have crossed.