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Maryland Agencies, CodePath, and Bowie State University Partner to Expand Tech Career Pathways
Maryland Higher Education Commission and Maryland Department of Labor Facilitate New Opportunity for Students
BALTIMORE, MD – The Maryland Higher Education Commission and the Maryland Department of Labor are proud to announce a new partnership between CodePath and Bowie State University to expand tech career opportunities and Maryland’s cyber workforce. CodePath is a national nonprofit that integrates career-ready computer science courses into college degree programs, and Bowie State University is Maryland’s first historically Black university.
This collaboration is the result of a cross-agency effort to strengthen the state’s technology workforce pipeline and expand access to high-demand tech career pathways for Maryland students. Through CodePath’s curriculum and industry connections, Bowie State students will gain access to advanced training in software engineering, cybersecurity, and related fields, as well as career support and direct employer engagement.
This initiative is part of Maryland’s broader effort to expand CodePath’s impact statewide, providing free training to at least 800 students in cybersecurity and AI. Working with partner universities, the program aims for 60 to 80 percent of CodePath students to secure technical internships or job placements in fields such as software engineering and cybersecurity, helping Maryland build a stronger pipeline into critical sectors.
“Maryland is committed to ensuring our students have career-connected and industry aligned learning, resulting in economic mobility,” said Secretary of Higher Education Dr. Sanjay Rai. “These efforts prepare home grown talent and make Maryland more competitive in attracting and retaining key industries.”
“By joining forces with education and industry partners, we are not only helping students to complete their education, but also ensuring they gain the hands-on experience that employers demand,” said Maryland Department of Labor Secretary Portia Wu. “This will prepare them to move into good jobs in a dynamic and increasingly technology-enabled economy.”
To highlight the new partnership, Bowie State University hosted a Demo Day with CodePath today, where students showcased projects and connected with industry leaders, employers, and the campus community.
“At Bowie State University, we are committed to preparing our students to lead in workplaces of the future with innovation, creativity and an entrepreneurial mindset,” said Bowie State University President Dr. Aminta H. Breaux. “The partnership with CodePath and our state agencies expands access to advanced training in fields such as cybersecurity and software engineering, and it also ensures that Bowie State students have a clear pathway from the classroom to high-demand careers. Together, we are building a stronger, more inclusive technology workforce for Maryland and beyond.”
CodePath’s programs are designed to bridge the gap between college degree programs and competitive AI-enabled technology roles while centering on the needs of underserved students.
As part of this effort, Secure by Design content has been added to CodePath’s cybersecurity pathway, secure coding practices are being integrated into all programming courses, and new cross-cutting lessons are being developed. The partnership with Bowie State reflects Maryland’s commitment to advancing equity, workforce readiness, and innovation across higher education.
“A key ingredient in Maryland fulfilling its potential as a tech hub is building stronger pathways from higher education to the workforce,” said CodePath Co-founder and CEO Michael Ellison. “This is about helping students in the state access rigorous technical training, real industry-aligned projects, and career support that they need to excel in leading tech roles. We’re excited to be collaborating with Bowie State University and look forward to working with many more institutions across Maryland.”
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The Maryland Higher Education Commission is the State of Maryland's higher education coordinating and regulatory board responsible for establishing statewide policies for Maryland public and private colleges and universities and for-profit career schools. The agency also administers financial aid programs to students across the state. Visit mhec.maryland.gov to learn more.
The Maryland Department of Labor strives to create an equitable and inclusive Maryland where all residents have the opportunities and resources to attain financial stability, reach their career potential, and contribute to their communities; where businesses have access to capital and the skilled workforce they need to succeed; where workplaces are safe and well-regulated; and where the economy is resilient and growing. For updates and information, follow Labor on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and visit our website.
Founded in 1865, Bowie State University is the first Historically Black College/University (HBCU) in Maryland and one of the ten oldest in the country. Bowie State has earned the ‘Research College and University’ designation in the 2025 Carnegie Research Activity Classification. As a leading institution of higher learning, Bowie State offers more than 65 bachelor's, master's, doctoral and certificate programs across arts and sciences, technology, business, education, healthcare and related disciplines. The university provides high-quality and affordable educational opportunities in a supportive environment that empowers students to think critically, make new discoveries, value differences and emerge as leaders in a highly technical, rapidly changing global society. For more information about Bowie State University, visit bowiestate.edu.
CodePath is a nonprofit dedicated to reprogramming higher education to create the first AI-native generation of engineers, CTOs, and founders. We deliver industry-vetted courses and career support centered on the needs of first-generation and low-income students. Our students train with senior engineers, intern at top companies, and rise together to become the tech leaders of tomorrow. CodePath serves over 30,000 students at more than 700 colleges and universities across the country. Visit www.codepath.org for more.
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