Together We Soar
Dr. Falecia D. Williams, Ed.D.
This year, as I reflect on the journey of Prince George’s Community College, I am reminded of the extraordinary strength that emerges when people unite around a shared purpose.Read Full Message
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When PGCC professor Neeharika Thakur, Ph.D., talks about the College's STEM students, her eyes light up. Her passionate spark comes not only from experience, but also from future possibilities.
Clinical nursing experiences prepare students for real-world careers
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This year, Prince George's Community College empowered nearly 30,000 students to move forward in their educational journeys. PGCC makes higher education accessible to all who desire to learn.
Of 16,645 credit students, 74% attend part-time.
Marlboro Hall, PGCC’s latest capital improvement project, is a brand new 215,000 square foot structure with classroom space, a sprawling art gallery, specialized art studios, and collaborative workspaces. The Silver LEED-certified building features a high-quality air filtration system supported by an underground ice field cooling system that reduces the chilled air supply needs by nearly 500 tons. Marlboro Hall is illuminated with 100% LED lighting, supporting the natural light infiltration into the interior spaces. All restrooms feature reduced water usage fixtures.
Shared garden cultivates connection, learning, and access to healthy food
The garden, launched through a partnership with the Service-Learning Office and Transform Mid-Atlantic (TMA) AmeriCorps VISTA grant, welcomes students, faculty, staff, and community members. Volunteers till, plant, maintain beds, and water produce. “We’re planting seeds that grow hope, nourishment, and opportunity for everyone involved,” Student Garden Club member Anna Davis said.
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Intercollegiate athletics marks new era with Division II move, program expansions, and national recognition
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This year, Prince George's Community College empowered nearly 30,000 students to move forward in their educational journeys.
UTC Program Coordinator of Student Engagement Kennith Ford received the Student Affairs Employee of the Month award for outstanding service and dedication at the University Town Center
Professors Jennifer Madkin and Loren Taylor gave a poster presentation titled "Creating a Relaxation Space for Students During Finals Week: A Wellness Initiative" at the MAADND Conference in April 2025.
Danielle Weller-Roche, DNP, presented "Improving Outcomes When Elder Patients are Asked What Matters Most" at the Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystems Elders (HICHE) conference in November 2024, and an abstract poster presentation, "Enhancing Nursing Student Success and Retention Through Community Flu Vaccination Clinic Participation: A Hands-On Approach to Learning and Engagement" at the Maryland Association of Associate Degree Nursing Directors (MAADND) Conference in April 2025.
When PGCC professor Neeharika Thakur, Ph.D., talks about the College's STEM students, her eyes light up. Her passionate spark comes not only from experience, but also from future possibilities. In her career as a scientist, she studied solar energetic particles and cosmic rays at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and spent nearly four months at McMurdo Station in Antarctica as a vital part of NASA's Long Duration Balloon mission. Yet what excites her most is helping PGCC students realize that they, too, belong in STEM.
In 2015, Thakur joined PGCC as professor of physics and astronomy and has worked diligently to transform the College's curricula into a pathway. She sought funds to upgrade laboratory equipment that now supports nine STEM courses, strengthen physics and chemistry curricula, and build connections to world-class research institutions.
"We are excited about the opportunities this grant provides for our students to engage with NASA and gain invaluable experience in their fields of study," she said. "This partnership not only enhances our academic programs but also empowers our students to reach new heights in their educational and professional journeys."
Her leadership enabled PGCC to secure $1.2 million from NASA through the Minority University Research and Education Project Curriculum Awards grant. PGCC is one of only five institutions nationwide and one of just two community colleges selected for this competitive award. As principal investigator of the project, Thakur is expanding research during the academic year, creating paid summer internships, and strengthening long-term partnerships with NASA and the University of Maryland. In the past two years alone, 14 PGCC students have earned internships at NASA and UMD.
A recipient of the NASA Group Achievement Awards for the BESS-Polar and BITSE missions and the United States Antarctica Service Medal, Thakur models scientific excellence. Still, her proudest achievements are her students. She mentors students, encouraging them to pursue competitive NASA placements.
For Thakur, space exploration is not only about studying the universe. It is about expanding opportunity. Every lab upgraded, every grant secured, and every internship earned is another step toward making sure PGCC students see themselves not just as learners of science, but as its future leaders.