The selection of Montgomery College criminal justice professor Bridget Lowrie for the 2026 MC-Smithsonian Faculty Fellowship cohort represents a significant development in how educational institutions are preparing future professionals for complex ethical challenges. This yearlong academic partnership connects college classrooms with Smithsonian collections, scholars, and digital resources, with the 2026 fellowship theme focusing specifically on "Fostering a Culture of Critical and Ethical Learning to Shape Future Leaders." For HR vendors serving the talent development sector, this initiative demonstrates how institutions are moving beyond traditional curriculum to address leadership and ethics in a rapidly changing world.
The MC-Smithsonian Faculty Fellowship, housed in the College's Paul Peck Humanities Institute, grew from a collaboration with the Smithsonian Office of Educational Technology and the Smithsonian Learning Lab. As the first partnership of its kind between the Smithsonian and a community college, the initiative has involved 256 Montgomery College faculty and more than 26,000 students and their families since 1998. More information about the fellowship structure and history is available through the Paul Peck Humanities Institute's fellowship page at https://www.montgomerycollege.edu/special-programs/paul-peck-humanities-institute/smithsonian-faculty-fellowships.html.
Lowrie will use the fellowship to develop a project on civil disobedience, leadership, and ethics that connects museum artifacts to contemporary questions in criminology. Her proposal includes potential partnerships with the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the National Museum of the American Indian, as well as virtual artifact collections that help students examine the intersections of disability, protest and justice. "As an attorney and criminal justice professor, I see students wrestling every day with questions about power, fairness, and accountability," Lowrie said. "Working with Smithsonian collections on civil disobedience and social movements will give them concrete objects, stories, and images to ground those conversations, not just abstract theories."
The interdisciplinary fellowship is open to faculty from all three Montgomery College campuses. Fellows participate in seminars with Smithsonian curators and educators, explore on-site and virtual exhibitions, and design projects that embed museum resources into their courses. Lowrie's students will begin engaging with the fellowship project in fall 2026 through class visits, virtual collections, and research assignments focused on leadership, ethics, and civic engagement.
This selection matters significantly for HR vendors and talent management professionals because it represents a concrete example of how educational institutions are bridging academic theory with tangible historical evidence. In the field of criminal justice, where questions of ethics and leadership are paramount for future professionals, this approach provides deeper context for understanding complex social dynamics. By connecting students with primary sources from Smithsonian collections, Lowrie's project moves beyond textbook explanations to engage with actual artifacts and stories, creating more robust learning experiences.
The fellowship's focus on critical and ethical learning addresses pressing societal questions about justice and accountability that directly impact workplace environments and organizational leadership. For HR vendors developing training programs or consulting on ethical workplace practices, this initiative demonstrates innovative approaches to preparing students to become more informed citizens and professionals in a complex world. Lowrie's background as a Maryland attorney and prosecutor informs her approach to connecting criminal justice education with real-world applications and ethical considerations, creating educational experiences that more closely mirror the challenges professionals will face in their careers.
As organizations increasingly seek employees with strong ethical frameworks and leadership capabilities, educational initiatives like the MC-Smithsonian Faculty Fellowship provide valuable models for how institutions can develop these competencies. The project's emphasis on civil disobedience, social movements, and ethical decision-making offers insights into how future professionals might approach workplace challenges involving power dynamics, fairness, and accountability. For HR vendors monitoring educational trends that will shape the future workforce, this fellowship represents a significant development in how critical thinking and ethical reasoning are being integrated into professional education.
