On Jan. 15, 2026, the Office of External Affairs hosted a dinner to recognize Howard University’s distinguished alumni in public service, as well as to celebrate the convening of the 449th session of the Maryland General Assembly. This year’s event honored alumna Aisha Braveboy (JD ’00), county executive for Prince George’s County, Maryland. 

An alumna of Howard University School of Law, where she was known for her commitment to both the legal clinic and the National Black Law Students Association, Braveboy was awarded the “Bison Breaking Barriers Award” for what Associate Vice President of External Affairs Joe Leonard Jr., Ph.D., referred to as a “strong sense of community and social responsibility,” as evidenced by a career of excellence and firsts. 

Before presenting the county executive with her award, Vice President of Development and Alumni Relations Princess Gamble shared her extensive bio, which includes Braveboy representing District 25 in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2007 to 2015, during which time she supported legislation aimed at reducing mass incarceration, combating domestic violence, and protecting homeowners from deceptive lenders. In addition, she chaired the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, which under her leadership championed legislation and bills promoting education, economic empowerment, and social justice. 

By 2018, Braveboy had been elected to the position of state’s attorney of Prince George’s County — becoming the first African American woman to hold the title. As state’s attorney, she helped implement reforms aimed at reducing mass incarceration, promoting restorative justice, and addressing systemic racism within the criminal justice system. Notably, Braveboy created the county’s first conviction and sentencing integrity unit. After serving in this role for six years, the newly elected county executive was sworn in during a special election on June 19. 

“I’m incredibly grateful to be the county executive of the wealthiest, largest majority Black county in this country,” said Braveboy upon receiving her award and more accolades from Howard University leaders, including Vice President and Chief Communications Officer Lydia Sermons and Dr. Leonard.

Acknowledging her fellow delegates and Bison in the room, Braveboy began by calling attention to that same level of excellence in her state (and beyond) coming out of her alma mater. 

“There are so many amazing Bison representing us at the state level, but there are also an incredible amount of Bison representing us at the local level,” she said. “I’m the third Bison to be state’s attorney, and I’m the third Bison to be county executive.”  

The county executive went on to highlight Prince George’s County’s deep ties to the university. “In so many ways, Howard has shaped Prince George’s County, not just by its leaders but by the number of residents who live in Prince George’s County and went to Howard,” said Braveboy. “Or they have a parent who went to Howard, or their children went to Howard, so much so that on our campaign material, if we went to Howard, we’re going to tell you we went to Howard!” 

“Howard University produces some of the most dynamic individuals in any industry in the world, and they live in Prince George’s County, and we should start talking about that more.” -County Executive Aisha Braveboy 

In fact, according to Leonard, quoting numbers from alumni relations, the state is home to approximately 29,000 Howard alumni, including 12 serving in the general assembly and three in Congress.

Braveboy went on to encourage those in the room to speak more often on the “history, leadership, and services between our university and Prince George’s County.”

“I don’t think there’s many places in the country that have the story that we have, and I think that’s a really important story to share,” she said. “Howard University produces some of the most dynamic individuals in any industry in the world, and they live in Prince George’s County, and we should start talking about that more.”

Braveboy noted that Prince George’s County is known throughout the world, evidenced by those she meets during her travels. She pointed to several areas of success and innovation in the county, including its strides in technological advances, and the young Bison working to make it happen — as well as the opportunities present for current students to make an impact.

Young people are going to be the drivers of innovation, and Braveboy wants to continue strengthening the ties between current Bison and those future innovators and business owners who may one day call PG home. 

“We have so many smaller companies building around quantum, around cyber, around aerospace, and a lot of those young people who have those ideas are coming out of institutions like Howard University,” said Braveboy. “We want to connect more with our university. We want to do more business with our university. We want young people to come and intern with us. We want to support those innovations that young people have; we want to invest in them. We want to grow them, and we want them to locate their businesses in Prince George’s County.”

Stating that while there are some “amazing older folks like me,” including the dynamic leaders in the room, her job as county executive is to “find that talent, bring it to our county, and support it. That’s what I want to do, and I want to start with my alma mater.”

Many of those amazing folks Braveboy spoke of were present at the event, including Howard alumni Delegates Charlotte Crutchfield (B.A. ’86), Ashanti Martinez (B.A. ’18), Stephanie Smith (JD ’09 ), Bernice Mireku-North (JD ’06), and Denise Roberts (B.A. ’95). 

“This is the third time that I have been to this reception, and my first session was the first year that Howard decided to host something like this down here,” said Roberts, who currently serves the 25th District in the seat previously held by Braveboy. “So it was my first session and my alma mater coming together — I felt like they were celebrating me, but not,” she laughed. “Howard means so much to me, and I am always, always going to do whatever I can to support the university.”

Other delegates on hand to celebrate Braveboy’s award included Delegate Edith Jerry Patterson of District 28 in Charles County, whose granddaughter Ryann Patterson, also in attendance, is a Howard University freshman, and Delegate Caylin Young of District 45 in Baltimore City. Alumni Paul Monteiro (JD ’07), former Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation Secretary under Maryland Governor Wes Moore; Barry Hudson (B.A. ’84) former director of the Public Information Office for Montgomery County; and Maryland State Public Defender Natasha Dartigue (JD ’95) also attended, among others. 

Former county executive Rushern Baker (B.A. ’82, JD ’86), who held the role from 2010-2018 and served as a Maryland delegate from 1994-2002, has attended this event recognizing Howard Bison serving in Maryland every year since it began. He echoed Braveboy’s commitment to providing opportunities to students from the university. 

“When I was county executive, 90% of my staff graduated from Howard,” he said. “And The Washington Post once told me, ‘You only hire people from Howard,’ and I said, ‘No, I only hire the best. They happen to go to Howard."

Like many in the room, Crutchfield also frequently reaches out to her alma mater when in need of interns or pages, especially when she notices a lack of Black faces given such opportunities. She encourages others, including the students who will be leaders in the future, to do the same. 

“Whenever you are in a place of authority and you have power, you have to do what’s right, and that is what we are taught at Howard University,” she said. “It is all about service, and it is about us.”

Current Howard students present included Jewel Taylor, a junior legal communications major and political science minor, and Kassie McKinney, a junior majoring in health science with a minor in chemistry on the pre-med track. An aspiring real estate lawyer, Taylor said being in the room with so many accomplished alumni whom she was able to network with and get to know was inspiring. 

“I really hope to be one of those people one day,” she said, referencing the delegates and other public servants in the room making a difference in the community. 

McKinney echoed her fellow student’s thoughts. 

“So many influential people come out of Howard,” she added. “The people in this room still proceed to prevail, and it’s very beautiful.” 

Advising the students in the room to “absorb all of this” referring to the greatness in the room, Braveboy encouraged them to get numbers and emails; and to follow up.

 “We want you to be successful, you are our legacy. You are the future of Howard University and what you do will take Howard to the next level and we want to help you get there.”