The Thea Bowman Institute for Excellence and Leadership at Alverno College is a full-tuition scholarship program for Black undergraduate students with a strong desire to serve as leaders. We welcome applications from women seeking professional roles in pursuit of social change and service.

Using a cohort-based model, the Institute provides students with a dedicated advisor, an alumna mentor, exclusive networking opportunities and guaranteed internship opportunities. This program prepares graduates to confidently enter their chosen careers as solidly equipped change agents.

Imagine this Alverno graduate: 

• A Black woman who has experienced a beloved community where she feels welcome and safe
• A Black woman who has developed a deep sense of efficacy and agency
• A Black woman whose voice was heard and amplified
• A Black woman who has experienced healing, and who expresses hope and joy for the future
• A Black woman who is fully equipped with a permanent sense of her own worth as a thinker and a doer
• A Black woman who chooses to return to Alverno to inspire, teach, mentor and lead others