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Bridget Lowrie's Smithsonian Fellowship Journey

Bridget Lowrie, a dedicated criminal justice professor at Montgomery College, has been honored with selection into the prestigious 2026 MC-Smithsonian Faculty Fellowship. This yearlong collaboration between Montgomery College and the Smithsonian Institution seeks to enhance academic experiences by integrating museum resources into the classroom. Lowrie’s focus during her fellowship will be on vital topics such as civil disobedience, leadership, and ethics in a contemporary context.

The 2026 fellowship centers around the theme "Fostering a Culture of Critical and Ethical Learning to Shape Future Leaders." In a world that is continuously evolving, Lowrie aims to engage her students with significant discussions on leadership and integrity.

Having a background as an attorney, Lowrie now coordinates the criminal justice program at Montgomery College. Her hands-on experience in law and her academic prowess make her uniquely suited to tackle tough questions regarding power, fairness, and accountability. “Students face complex dilemmas every day regarding these themes. Utilizing the concrete artifacts and narratives from the Smithsonian will allow them to engage more deeply than just theoretical perspectives,” she stated.

This innovative partnership, initiated to connect Montgomery College's educational mission with the rich resources of the Smithsonian, has seen the involvement of over 256 educators and touched the lives of more than 26,000 students since its inception in 1998. The fellowship is also notable for being the first of its kind established between the Smithsonian and a community college, making it a pioneering initiative in educational collaboration.

Throughout the fellowship, Lowrie intends to create an engaging project that correlates museum artifacts with critical issues in criminology. She has plans to collaborate with well-known institutions such as the National Museum of African American History and Culture, as well as the National Museum of the American Indian. These partnerships will provide students the opportunity to explore how issues of disability, protest, and justice intersect within the cultural narrative.

With her students beginning to engage with this fellowship project in the fall of 2026, they can expect class visits, virtual tours, and research assignments that highlight leadership, ethics, and civic responsibility. This direct engagement is designed to facilitate lively discussions and aid students in making connections between historical events and modern-day issues in criminal justice.

Lowrie teaches within the Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice Department at Montgomery College and has been shaping the minds of future leaders since 2013. Her teaching career followed nearly a decade spent practicing law, where she honed her understanding of the legal system and its social implications. With a J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law, where she served on the Maryland Law Review, and a B.A. in political science from American University, her academic credentials are impressive.

Recognition for her work extends beyond her classroom, as she has been awarded the Top 40 Under 40 honor by the American Association for Women in Community Colleges. Her active engagement in civic and legal organizations further enriches her teaching approach, emphasizing her commitment to connecting students with viable career opportunities in criminal justice. Through her fellowship, Bridget Lowrie not only aims to widen the academic experience of her students but also to inspire them to recognize the weight of leadership and ethics in their future endeavors.

For more information about the MC-Smithsonian Faculty Fellowship, you can explore the Paul Peck Humanities Institute's page on Montgomery College's official website.