Bowie, Md.-- Lonnie R. Morris Jr. brings new energy and leadership to Bowie State University as director of admissions. He will provide strategic leadership to both the undergraduate and graduate admissions operations. A leader in the areas of college admissions, enrollment management, and institutional effectiveness, Morris is a trendsetter in urban higher education. 

He joins Bowie State during an upswing in student enrollment which rose to 5,483 in fall 2008 while new transfer enrollment increased more than 10 percent from fall 2007 to fall 2008 and new graduate enrollment, over 25 percent.  University officials project an increase in transfer, graduate and continuing education students entering the institution this fall.

Morris plans to use his leadership experience to advance the admissions process. He previously served as vice president of enrollment management at Holy Names University in Oakland California, director of admissions at LeMoyne-Owen College in Memphis, Tennessee and director of admissions for Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Florida. He has experience working with programs of widely-recognized agencies such as the National Organization of Concerned Black Men, the College Bound Foundation, TRIO programs, the Black College Network and Sylvan Learning Systems.“I plan to combine my passions for outreach and volunteerism with my leadership initiatives to take the admissions process at Bowie State to a new level,” said Morris, who holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Morgan State University and a master’s degree in organization development from Johns Hopkins University.

The assistant vice president for enrollment management, Don Kiah, oversees the division which encompasses the admissions office. He commented, “We are excited about our admissions team, having worked to assemble a group of people with innovative ideas and both traditional and nontraditional experience in admissions. Our new admissions director has the right mix of leadership experience and abilities to help us achieve the goals we have set.”

The University will host a Graduate Information Session on June 17 for prospective students interested in applying to graduate school. Sessions also are scheduled for June 30, July 15, and July 30.

About Bowie State University
Bowie State University (BSU) is an important higher education access portal for qualified persons from diverse academic and socioeconomic backgrounds who seek a high quality and affordable public comprehensive university.  The University places special emphasis on the science, technology, teacher education, business, and nursing disciplines within the context of a liberal arts education. For more information about BSU, visit the website at www.bowiestate.edu.