An 83-year-old woman becomes the oldest person to graduate from Howard University with a doctoral degree.

Marie Fowler, an 83-year-old woman, has just reached an incredible milestone: she is now the oldest person to receive a doctoral degree from Howard University. Her journey to this achievement took three years of hard work and dedication at the university's School of Divinity, after having been away from academia since 1959. According to WJLA, Fowler's pursuit of her degree was not just a pursuit of education, but also a calling from God that inspired her to return to the academic world. This calling came after she had already completed her bachelor's degree and two master's degrees at the Maple Springs Baptist Bible College and Seminary.

Fowler never imagined that she would go beyond one semester of studies, and she even had doubts about her ability to retain information. As someone in their later years, she also worried about having enough financial resources to support her studies. But she was motivated by her parents' experiences, who were born in a time when it was illegal for them to learn how to read and write. Fowler and her family had even taught her father how to read and write so that he wouldn't have to sign documents with an "X."

Howard University's School of Divinity focuses on integrating spiritual and religious teachings with immersive scholarly experiences. As the university's Dean Yolanda Pierce, Ph.D. stated in 2023, the school is dedicated to developing scholars and professionals who can make a positive impact on the world, and who embody truth and service in all that they do. Since the start of the pandemic, the School of Divinity has noticed a shift in students' goals, with many now wanting to pursue social justice work, policy roles, or non-profit endeavors. This indicates a broader scope of outreach and messages that these students hope to share with the world.

By completing her studies at the divinity school, Fowler is now equipped to teach and share her knowledge and message with others. At 83 years old, she hopes to serve as an inspiration to others that it is never too late to pursue one's goals, and that with dedication and determination, anything is possible.

[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]