Joan Langdon, a Professor of Computer Science and Founding Dean of the School of Arts and
Sciences at Bowie State University, received a BA degree from Hampton Institute (1973), an
MA from the College of William and Mary (1977), an MS from Old Dominion University (1985),
and the Ph.D. from The American University (1989).
Dr. Langdon began her career in higher education as a community college teacher at Rappahannock Community College in 1977. From 1979 to 1985, she was an instructor at Hampton Institute, where she also served as the first director of the Mathematics/Science Laboratory. After completing her Ph.D. at The American University in 1989, Dr. Langdon joined the Bowie State University (BSU) community as an associate professor. During her tenure at Bowie State she has served as director of the Summer Institute in Engineering and Computer Applications (SIECA) Program since 1989; coordinator of Computer Science, (1993-94); Faculty Administrative Intern (1995); and Director of the Student Program for Academic and Cultural Enrichment (SPACE) project (1995-1997).
Dr. Langdon has held various other positions such as chair and vice-chair of the Faculty Senate, and was elected to the Council of University System Faculty (CUSF) for two consecutive terms. Additional University service includes advising the Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society in which she holds membership. Dr. Langdon's community service activities include serving as a Women in Science and Mathematics role model. Her board memberships include the Advisory Board of the Maryland State Department of Education and the Washington Capital Area American Heart Association Board. She was one of the founding members of the Prince George's County Board of the American Heart Association and chaired its Leadership Council.
During her professional career, Dr. Langdon has received several honors, fellowships, and awards. She was awarded a Ford Foundation fellowship from Fall l969 until Spring 1973; was an Ada Fellow in 1984 and a Patricia Roberts Harris Fellow from 1985 until 1988; was featured in The American Magazine in 1994; and was nominated by a former student to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities in 1995. In February 1997 she was featured in The Prince George’s Post as the “Neighbor of the Week.” Summer 1997, Dr. Langdon was a Summer Institute for Women in Higher Education Administration Fellow at Bryn Mawr College. Academic Year 1997-1998, she was a member of Prince George’s County Leadership Class XIII.