BOWIE, Md. — Bowie State University has announced that the Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley, one of the nation’s most influential faith leaders and a powerful voice for justice, will serve as the keynote speaker for its Winter 2025 Commencement Ceremony. The celebration will take place Friday, December 19 at 9 a.m. in the Leonidas S. James Physical Education Complex.
Dr. Wesley is the senior pastor of Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia—one of the oldest and most storied Black congregations in the nation. As only the eighth pastor in the church’s more than 200-year history, he has led the congregation through extraordinary growth, expanding its membership to more than 12,000 and cultivating a digital ministry that reaches over 25,000 viewers weekly. His leadership has strengthened the church’s longstanding commitment to spiritual formation, social justice, and community empowerment.
Among his signature contributions is the annual Historically Black College/University (HBCU) Festival and College Fair, hosted in partnership with Alfred Street Baptist Church. Now in its 23rd year, the event stands as a major pipeline for area youth—providing on-site admissions, scholarships, and application fee waivers to hundreds of high school students. The festival has become a national model for expanding access to higher education and celebrating the transformative legacy of HBCUs.
Dr. Wesley is widely regarded for sermons that challenge, uplift, and speak directly to the conscience of the nation. His preaching has earned national recognition, with several sermons archived in the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
A Chicago native, Dr. Wesley graduated magna cum laude from Duke University with a dual degree in biomedical and electrical engineering. He later answered a spiritual calling, leaving medical school to pursue ministry. He went on to graduate summa cum laude from the Boston University School of Theology as a Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholar. He holds a Doctor of Ministry in preaching from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary and multiple honorary doctorates.
Beyond the pulpit, Dr. Wesley has served on numerous influential boards, including the Hampton University School of Religion Board of Visitors, the Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Missionary Convention, and the Flint Hill School Board of Trustees. He is a past chair of the United Negro College Fund’s National Interfaith and Education Initiative and previously served as vice-chair of the John Leland Center for Theological Studies. His leadership contributions also extend to Duke Divinity School and Virginia Union University. A lifelong member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., he is also a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity and holds the distinguished title of the 78th Laurel Wreath Laureate.
Bowie State’s selection of Dr. Wesley underscores the university’s commitment to uplifting thought leaders who inspire academic excellence, community engagement, and social responsibility. As the oldest HBCU in Maryland—founded in 1865—the university continues to serve as a beacon of opportunity, offering more than 65 degree and certificate programs and preparing graduates to excel in a rapidly evolving global society.
For more information about Bowie State University, visit bowiestate.edu.