Michael Bowden
Michael W. Bowden joined the staff of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) as Vice President for Institutional Field Relations in January 2025. In his role, he serves as a liaison to member institutions, providing advice to institutions and assisting them with accreditation activities. Prior to joining the Commission, Michael served as the Assistant Vice President for Planning and Assessment for 20 years at Coppin State University (MD). Additionally, he served as the institution’s Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO), and he has been a peer evaluator with MSCHE. Prior to his service at Coppin, he was the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Diversity Initiatives at the University System of Maryland (USM) where his primary responsibilities included the development and guidance of a minority achievement plan, faculty workload, and assisting universities with the development, approval, and redesign of academic programs. Michael has also served in other higher education roles at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and Strayer University. Such experiences include grants and contracts, financial aid officer, institutional research, assessment, strategic planning, undergraduate and graduate curriculum development, and adjunct professor. He has also worked in the legal field and for a major political think tank in Washington, D.C. Michael earned his master’s degree from the University of Baltimore where he is obtaining his Doctorate in Public Administration. He earned his B.A. in Public Policy Analysis from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also holds a webmaster certification from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and is a recent graduate of the Rising Scholars Fellowship program with the Education Advisory Board (EAB).