BSU Installs Dr. Aminta H. Breaux As 10th President, First Woman To Lead

Everyone who has anything to do with leadership at Bowie State University claimed responsibility for bringing Dr. Aminta Breaux in to lead the school April 12.

That’s the kind of impression that she’s made in the brief 8 months she has served thus far.

Since July 2017, when the new president was just realizing that she’d also signed up for beltway traffic when she accepted the offer to become the university’s tenth president, she’s been assessing the culture of the campus and weaving in her Racing to Excellence vision. So, as she met with BSU leaders, Breaux also applied her brand of relationship building with students. As she connected with area leaders and organizations, Breaux also began establishing new support networks. Enrollment is up, students are responding and faculty and staff say they feel the faster pace, but that it’s a good pace because they see the vision.

It is a pace whose momentum sparkled during inaugural week at the university. The week started with a gospel event April 8, an inaugural dance concert April 11, and the ceremony and black tie gala April 12.

Through it all, Breaux has been the beneficiary of a level of affection that goes beyond the title she has earned.

“I want you all to know that I am responsible for Dr. Breaux being here,” said Bowie State Foundation Chair Glenn Mahone with humor. “The other people on the [search] committee were around but I made it happen.”

He was the first but far from last to claim the new leader. No less than five others made the same claim exemplifying the excitement at the confidence in the new executive administrator.

The new president delivered an insightful speech with a message that centered on her awareness of the richness of the past woven with her determination to bring new opportunities and growth to BSU.

“I see new partnerships and business incubators. I see interactive learning environments. I see global education with more courses being taken abroad. I see entrepreneurial living/learning communities here on campus,” she said.

Breaux recognized students who epitomize excellence in spite of obstacles. She introduced Michaelangelo Hayes, who overcame homelessness to build his own hip-hop based music company; and Janay Carpenter, who, while a mother of four, is also a student leader working on a masters degree in Communications.

Carpenter spoke at the inaugural and delivered a riveting address.

In that recognition is a lot of what centers Breaux’ core philosophy: “Every obstacle will make us wiser,” she said of the future work at BSU. “Every road block will strengthen our resolve.”

Breaux was supported by her family which included husband, Melvin, three daughters (Allison, Danielle and Melanie) and her grandson. Breaux’ mother, Allison Woodley, and two brothers, Jeffrey and Alex, were also in attendance.

"This is such an amazing moment for my family," said Danielle Gilliard, Breaux' middle daughter on the night before the installation. "I speak for my other sisters as well in that we are more than proud of our mother."

Gilliard says the announcement of her mother becoming president of a historic university comes as no surprise.

"I always saw great things on her horizon. This is no surprise. She has worked hard and has been in academia all her professional life," Gilliard says.

Others who have known Breaux expected great opportunities to catch up to her great approach toward the work. They say she had the right insight, the right plan and the right touch.

"She could collaborate across the lines," said Dr. C. Reynold Verret, president of the University of Louisiana. He traveled to Maryland to witness Breaux' installation. Verret knew Dr. Breaux when he was dean of arts and sciences and working with special needs students.

"She was dean of students and we were joined at the hip - we had to be in order to be successful. Aminta was a great partner," Verret said. "I remember one student who was in crisis and needed to move elsewhere. We worked together and arranged for him with to move and get set with another school. Three years down the line, he called me and said 'I am now finishing my Masters!' I called Aminta immediately and told her 'you have to hear this because sometimes you have to see the victory in your work.' There are many examples like that."

Breaux' attention to the details in students' lives is no coincidence in her view of the big picture of being the university's top executive, primary diplomat and ambassador. She connects the present to the future through the details: "Old men plant seeds for shady trees that they will never sit under," Breaux said as a broad hush went over the audience. "They don't do it for themselves. They do it for their children and the great things it will allow them to do."

Bruce and Barbara Byrne say that Breaux will bring the highest of expectations for the university. They have known the Breaux family for decades and they know the steps she will take.

"She will bring high expectations. She will work hard to give everyone the tools they need to meet those expectations but she will expect things of them to meet the vision."