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At the Alliance, we believe that uplifting a wide variety of perspectives and experiences in the environmental movement is crucial for the success of our work. With more than 18 million people living in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, engaging and collaborating with a wide array of community voices across the region is core to the Alliance’s programmatic delivery.
In an effort to chip away at the “green ceiling” and engage more people in Bay restoration, the Alliance has partnered with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) to deliver environmental-focused professional development, educational, and volunteer opportunities for their students, faculty, and staff.
HBCU and MSIs have an extensive history of advancing academic excellence and innovation in the United States, especially related to environmental issues. As pillars of academic excellence and anchors in their communities, they have made significant contributions towards climate action, sustainability, and environmental justice.
For a more detailed description of the history of sustainability actions at HBCUs, read The HBCU Climate Action Blueprint: Sustainable Campuses, Empowered Communities.
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The Alliance has partnered with HBCUs and MSIs since 2018 in an effort to provide support and resources for these institutions as they continue to grow in their excellence and innovation.
In doing this type of engagement, the Alliance aims to achieve the following three goals:
Strengthen the pathway to green careers for students
Advance campus environmental initiatives by building staff and faculty capacity to implement education and stewardship projects
Build a community of students and faculty at colleges and universities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed
The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay began its work with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) in 2018, working with Bowie State University (BSU) to host the first cohort of BSU students at the Chesapeake Watershed Forum.
This partnership eventually evolved into a network of partnerships with HBCUs and MSIs in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to support development, educational resources, and environmental career pathways for students, faculty, and staff.
The first cohort of Bowie State University (BSU) students attends the Chesapeake Watershed Forum.
A second group of BSU students attends the Chesapeake Watershed Forum.
The Alliance receives funding from MD DNR to support year-round engagement with BSU.
The Alliance hosts 2 virtual seminars and a water quality monitoring session with Dr. Alan Anderson’s sustainability and environmental classes at BSU
The Alliance’s Environmental Projects internship launches!
The Alliance begins hosting in-person seminars focused on the Chesapeake Bay and environmental-focused professional development topics.
First cohort of University of DC (UDC) students attend the Chesapeake Watershed Forum
The Alliance receives funding from Chesapeake Bay Trust to restore Peace Park on BSU’s campus
Began hosting in-person seminars with Coppin State University.
The Alliance and partners host the first MD/DC HBCU/MSI Chesapeake Bay Summit.
The Alliance secures the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Chesapeake Bay WILD Grant for the restoration of the Uhler Tract property in partnership with BSU
The Alliance receives funding to enhance the internship program, we launch a forest restoration project on land adjacent to Bowie State’s campus.
The second MD/DC HBCU/MSI Chesapeake Bay Summit is held at the NorthBay Outdoor Education Center
The Alliance hosts the Symposium on Emerging Contaminants in the Bay in partnership with Morgan State University (MSU)
The Alliance begins hosting in-person seminars at UDC
Alliance hosts the third MD/DC HBCU/MSI Chesapeake Bay Summit with 100 attendees
Alliance receives funding through the Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program for The Chesapeake Leadership in Environment, Access, and Resilience (CLEAR) Fellowship in partnership with MSU
The first Virginia HBCU/MSI Chesapeake Bay Summit takes place at the Roslyn Conference and Retreat Center, hosting 24 students and faculty from five of Virginia’s HBCUs and MSIs
The final wetlands plan for the Uhler Tract is completed
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EXPLORE PEACE PARK STORYMAP
DISCOVER THE REVITALIZATION STORYMAP
Our engagement efforts connect students and faculty with current sustainability projects, research, and conservation professionals to support career readiness, leadership growth, and technical skill enhancement.
The annual HBCU/MSI Chesapeake Bay Summit brings together college students and faculty from across the watershed for two days of professional development, environmental learning, and community building. Planned in partnership with our university partners, the Summit features expert speakers, student-led lightning talks, creative showcases, and hands-on outdoor activities that help participants explore green career paths.
READ MORE: 2026 VA Summit Recap | 2025 MD/DC Summit Recap | 2023 MD/DC Summit Recap
We collaborate with students and faculty to host lectures, panels, and discussions tailored to each university’s interests. Topics span air quality, green jobs, and climate action.
OUR IMPACT: Hosted 12+ seminars in partnership with Bowie State, Morgan State, and Coppin State over the last five years. Last year alone featured 21 speakers and engaged over 250 students.
Waste management professional Keanah Turner presenting at Coppin State University’s 2026 Earth Day seminar.
We work directly with faculty to embed real-world restoration techniques and field experiences into existing academic curricula.
IN ACTION: Partnering with Bowie State University’s Field Biology course, the Alliance’s forestry and wetland restoration specialists lead outdoor field exercises in collaboration with BSU faculty Dr. Anne Wiley that expose students to hands-on conservation techniques and active local projects.
READ MORE: BSU Hands-on Clean Water Education
The Alliance provides paid experiences for students from our HBCU and MSI partner universities to provide real-world environmental experience.
February 2025 Emerging Contaminants Symposium with Morgan State University (70+ participants exchanged research and community-centered solutions).
We support our partners in designing, funding, and sustaining long-term environmental initiatives on campus and facilitating professional skill-building for faculty.
The Alliance collaborates on active campus sustainability groups and annual educational programming.
We serve as active members alongside students, faculty, and community partners to co-plan campus sustainability programming. Learn more about C4.
Professor Anne Wiley offering ecology lesson to students as they explore the Uhler grounds as part of a 2025 Earth Month nature walk.
Beyond campus events, the Alliance hosts faculty and staff skill-building sessions. These events offer space for connection and to share best practices on topics such as grant writing, internships, and community engagement.
The Alliance plans hands-on service projects that serve as accessible entry points for students to engage with their campus and local communities.
Student Courtney Matthews uses a bucket to collect water while Liz Chudoba, Director of Water Quality Programs for the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, associate professor Dr. Alan Anderson and the Alliance’s Sophie Stern look on while scouting potential water quality monitoring site, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020.
Partnered with Bowie State University through the Alliance’s RiverTrends program to train students and faculty in monitoring standards, inspiring student-led monitoring initiative at BSU.
Coordinated student cleanups through Project Clean Stream at Bowie State University and Coppin State University, removing more than 200 pounds of trash from sites along the Jones Falls Trail and Horseshoe Falls in Baltimore.
Teamed up with BSU students and staff through Treelay to plant 20 native trees, expanding campus green space.
We support physical, on-the-ground restoration work tailored to the unique culture, history, and environment of each campus. Follow our active restoration journeys through the interactive StoryMaps found at the beginning of this page.
Explore This Work
BSU faculty and students and Alliance staff at 2026 volunteer trash clean up
As a Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps (CCCC) member with the Alliance , my service year has been focused on increasing access and opportunities within the green workforce.
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The Alliance hosted students and faculty from five of Virginia’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) to build connections across the James River watershed.
Last month, the Alliance hosted students and faculty members from universities across MD and DC at the 3rd Annual HBCU/MSI Chesapeake Bay Summit. Students and faculty members brought expertise and passion for an array of academic backgrounds, including biology, environmental science, business, and creative studies.
The Alliance’s collaboration with our HBCU and MSI partners has significantly strengthened universities’ capacity to engage in meaningful environmental initiatives while advancing workforce development in the field.
As of 2025, this collaboration has resulted in:
Community showcase panel discussion at the 2026 VA HBCU/MSI Bay Summit.
“This partnership has led to significant outcomes throughout our academic community. For example… students now have a deeper understanding and increased awareness of Bay Conservation… The internships and field experiences are better preparing them for careers in environmental science. Faculty members feel more empowered and reported to take on impactful environmental projects. In addition, our teaching and research capabilities have been enhanced. And moreover, the university, specifically the leadership, exhibits a stronger dedication to sustainability, with the leadership actively championing initiatives and fostering a campus wide culture of sustainability and appreciation for the environment.” – Dr. Alan Anderson, Department of Natural Sciences Professor at Bowie State University
Donate today to support the Alliance’s HBCU/MSI engagement work across the watershed.
Please reach out to Trinity Lee at tlee@allianceforthebay.org if you want to get involved or have any questions.
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