Freeman Hrabowski

Freeman A. Hrabowski III is an educator, mathematician, and higher education advocate known for his leadership at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). During his three-decade tenure as president, Hrabowski guided UMBC's transformation from a regional commuter school into a nationally recognized research university and a leader in STEM education. As president emeritus, Hrabowski continues to consult, lecture, and speak with leaders in higher education, K-12 education, government, and business on topics including leadership, STEM education, workforce development, and civic engagement.

Central to Hrabowski's career is his commitment to expanding minority participation in science and engineering. He co-founded the Meyerhoff Scholars Program with Robert Meyerhoff, supporting high-achieving students who pursue graduate and professional degrees and research careers in STEM fields. The program is recognized as a national model for increasing diversity in science and engineering. Hrabowski has authored numerous articles and co-authored five books, including "Beating the Odds" and "Overcoming the Odds," which focus on parenting and the success of African American students in science. His book "The Resilient University: How Purpose and Inclusion Drive Student Success" explores how university leaders foster resiliency and inclusion. Hrabowski's TED talk, "Four Pillars of College Success in Science," has reached a wide audience and contributed to national conversations about STEM education.

Hrabowski's influence extends beyond UMBC. He chaired the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans and led the National Academies committee responsible for the report "Expanding Underrepresented Minority Participation: America's Science and Technology Talent at the Crossroads." The Howard Hughes Medical Institute established the Freeman Hrabowski Scholars Program to support a more diverse scientific workforce. Hrabowski and UMBC have been featured on CBS's "60 Minutes" for their achievements in innovation and inclusive excellence. As a child-leader in the Civil Rights Movement, Hrabowski was featured in Spike Lee's documentary "Four Little Girls," which examines the bombing of Birmingham's Sixteenth Street Baptist Church.

Hrabowski has received recognition from several organizations for his contributions to education and STEM diversity. The National Academy of Sciences awarded him the Public Welfare Medal and inducted him as a member for his use of science for the public good. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering and named the inaugural ACE Centennial Fellow. TIME magazine named Hrabowski one of America's 10 Best College Presidents and one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World." His honors include the U.S. Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring, the McGraw Prize in Education, the American Council on Education's Lifetime Achievement Award, the Heinz Award for contributions to the human condition, and the Carnegie Corporation of New York's Academic Leadership Award. Hrabowski holds honorary degrees from nearly 50 institutions, including Harvard, Princeton, Duke, Johns Hopkins University, and Georgetown University.