With her incredible journey, Marie Fowler, now 83 years old, has inspired many and become the oldest graduate from Howard University, having received a doctorate in divinity.
Marie, who completed her doctorate in divinity at Howard University School of Divinity, called her academic career a divine calling. She persevered, driven by a strong sense of purpose, in spite of early concerns about her capacity to remember knowledge after decades without formal schooling.
Marie had already completed her master’s and bachelor’s degrees at Maple Springs Baptist Bible College and Seminary. She then committed three years of her time at Howard University to completing her PhD, which she completed three years ahead of schedule.
When Marie looked back on her path, she gave credit to her late parents, whose struggles with racial discrimination kept them from pursuing their degrees and strengthened their resolve. She underlined the importance of their fight, recalling how they overcame legal restrictions on literacy and giving her a deep respect for education as a tool for self-determination.
“It is never too late,” is Marie’s message of optimism and resiliency to others. She encourages others to embrace their potential and follow their goals, demonstrating at 83 years old that age is no longer a barrier to doing so.
Marie’s contagious energy and unwavering ambition made her a beloved member of the Howard University community. Professor of the Hebrew Bible Dr Alice Ogden Bellis called Marie “the life of the party,” emphasizing her determination to reach her objectives and her clarity of purpose.
Since I entered school after having not attended one since 1959, I never imagined that I would continue for more than a semester. She remarked, “I wasn’t even sure if I could even retain information.”
“When my parents were born, learning to read and write was forbidden for them. In order to save him from having to write that X, we taught my dad how to read, write, and sign his name,” she remarked.
Marie claimed that finishing her doctorate in three years was more than she had anticipated. “What I wish to convey is that there is always time. She remarked, “I want everyone to understand that I am 83 years old, so why can’t you do it too?
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CREDIT: Allschoolabs, ALLSCHOOL
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