Graduate Staff Spotlight | Sonia Amir-Bowie

Born to a Pakistani father and Colombian mother, I came to America at a young age and later went on to earn my bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland College Park and then my master’s from the University of Maryland University College, followed by an executive certificate in nonprofit management from Georgetown University and a certificate in women in leadership from Cornell.

Professionally, I have worked with various nonprofit organizations and helped establish national youth leadership and workforce development initiatives. I also founded Miss Maryland Sorority, which is a nonprofit that provides scholarship awards and service opportunities to Miss Maryland participants. I currently work at Hood College as the administrative assistant for the doctoral program in organizational leadership. 

As the program assistant for the doctoral program in organizational leadership (DOL), I support the director, faculty, students and alumni with administrative support, leadership and service opportunities. I coordinate special events celebrating milestones for doctoral students, while also organizing networking events to further the program’s goal of preparing leaders and transforming communities. I established the first Nonprofit Board Fair in 2022, where more than 30 nonprofits in the local area had the opportunity to connect with doctoral students and alumni who were interested in board positions. This year, I will be spearheading the second Nonprofit Board Fair on Saturday, November 9, in the Whitaker Campus Center. The fair is open to the Hood Community. It will give nonprofit organizations the chance to speak with doctoral and graduate students who may be interested in board or committee positions and meet undergraduate students who may be seeking ways to give back as volunteers and interns. My goal with starting this event was to help connect more people to opportunities to do good.

Having the opportunity to engage with young female leaders on campus has been inspiring! We currently have students who were Distinguished Young Women of their respective cities and states attending Hood College and taking advantage of the incredible scholarship award that they earned through the partnership between DYW and Hood College. 

To help promote the sisterhood that DYW offers and the great community that Hood College offers its students, I initiated a DYW gathering each semester to support the sisterhood by sharing service opportunities and other campus-related events. Highlighting the achievements of these incredible leaders also benefits Hood College. The name Hood College is now recognized statewide and nationwide because of these partnerships.

With the support of Proffesor Timothy Jacobsen and his team of media students, we created a video highlighting our DYWs of Hood. Nikki Bamonti, interim vice president for enrollment management, approved my idea of creating special DYWs at Hood t-shirts to welcome all the DYWs attending Hood. My goal is to do the same as we begin welcoming the Miss Maryland Teen participants to Hood.

Being nominated for the 2024 Educator DoGood-er Award for Frederick was such an honor. As the recipient of this award, I was humbled to be recognized for my service to support young leaders on our campus and throughout our state. As an immigrant who came to America in pursuit of the American dream, I know firsthand how much of a difference it makes when people believe in you and care enough to offer guidance. I will never forget the mentors who showed me compassion and opened doors for me along the way. Their belief in me gave me the courage to dream bigger, and it’s that same belief I carry forward to inspire and uplift others.

I am grateful to Hood College and my colleagues who support my desire to give back. I also have to thank my family, who understand my need to stay involved. My oldest daughter is a sophomore at Hood, and my youngest is in her senior year of high school planning her college future. Both participated in the Distinguished Young Women program and gained so much confidence (during their years, I had to step away from the program and be a mom of a participant and not a volunteer). Both of my girls make me so proud each day with their commitment to learning both in and out of the classroom and their dedication to service. They both received presidential recognition for earning their Girl Scout Gold Award—the highest award a girl scout can earn. They have made an impact in their communities through the programs they initiated and continue to work with. Service is a part of who I am, and it means a lot when my daughters are making service a part of their lives. I believe it’s our responsibility to share our blessings with others and pay it forward. I live by a quote from Mohammad Ali, “Service is the rent we pay to others for a room here on earth.”

Becoming Miss Maryland 2000 opened doors for me that I never thought possible. As the first South Asian and Latina Miss Maryland representative, I was invited to various events throughout Maryland and the United States. From singing the national anthem at Camden Yards to meeting the then Super Bowl Champions the Baltimore Ravens to working with organizations to create intervention efforts for children in gangs, my year of service was full of life-changing moments— ones I will never forget.

So many people assume pageants are focused only on the superficial, but I have to disagree. While the show that we see on stage or television may focus on the gowns and other materialistic parts, the actual importance takes place behind the scenes. From the private interview the candidate has with a panel of respected professionals to the thoughtful, genuine service initiatives the candidate has participated in to make a difference, that is where the focus truly lies. Any question can be asked in the interview, stemming from one’s values, politics and goals, but the women who can lead that interview with strength, diplomacy, intelligence and grace are the ones who will stand out.

These programs are all about being well-rounded while teaching life skills. Interview etiquette; how to present yourself in an interview from one’s attire to one’s overall brand; how to promote oneself on social media; how to carry oneself on stage or in a room of strangers; how to lose or win with grace; what wardrobe is appropriate for various phases in life—from interview to a fundraising gala! Everything a person needs to be confident and successful can be learned through pageantry. Like everything in life, it’s a balance and learning these life skills are necessary for success.

Hood has an alumna, Carlie Collela, who became Miss Maryland 2011 and represented our state at the nationally televised Miss America Pageant! I had the privilege many years ago to mentor her with another former Miss Maryland from Frederick, Lori Windsor-Hunt (Miss Maryland 1988). Lori was my mentor, and together we helped Carlie prepare for the state competition, which she won! Hood also has a very involved student, Casey Chamberlin, who is the current Miss Frederick 2023 and who was the Distinguished Young Woman of New Hampshire 2021. Carlie and Casey are part of a sisterhood from two scholarship organizations that take the time to inspire, empower and uplift others. They are examples of the amazing young leaders from Hood College who are doing great things and whom we are very proud of. I am excited to continue my mission on our campus to believe in the power of doing good. I am grateful to volunteer my time with programs like Miss America and the Distinguished Young Women that encourages the next generation to be the leaders our world deserves.

Inspired by Sonia's accomplishments? Ready to #GOFURTHER in your career? Learn more about Hood College’s doctoral programs by clicking here.