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“I think, as an HBCU, we still have huge value for the African

American community,” she said. “And we, I hope, will always

hold on to that. At the same time . . . demographics are

changing. And so we are competing with the schools [in the

area]. We’re also competing with the schools that are in

Pennsylvania and Delaware and across the region and

across the country, in certain markets.”

Breaux succeeds Mickey Burnim, who stepped down this

year after more than a decade as president.

“I think she is exactly the right person to carry on what he had

done and really take it to the next level,” Brady said.

Breaux is one of a handful of new presidents at Washington-

area universities. Thomas J. LeBlanc is the incoming

president of George Washington University, and Sylvia M.

Burwell took over this year at American University. Burwell,

like Breaux at Bowie State, is the first female president of AU.

“It means quite a bit,” Breaux said. “To be the first of anything

means a lot. But for this institution, for its history, since 1865,

to be the first female president here is very, very special. First

female African American president at Bowie State. With that

comes expectations.”

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