CHARLOTTE, NC (October 17, 2025) — The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA®) proudly congratulates Bowie State University President Dr. Aminta H. Breaux on being named the 2025 Charm City Champion by Visit Baltimore during the organization’s annual meeting held Thursday, October 16, at R. House in Remington.
The Charm City Champion award honors a leader whose work strengthens both tourism and community impact across Baltimore. Dr. Breaux was recognized for her transformational leadership at Bowie State University and her steadfast commitment to education, innovation, and partnership throughout the greater Baltimore region.
Under Dr. Breaux’s leadership, Bowie State University, Maryland’s oldest historically Black university and a proud CIAA member institution, has been instrumental in strengthening the relationship between the CIAA and the City of Baltimore. Since 2022, Bowie State has served as the official host institution for the CIAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament, an event that draws tens of thousands of fans annually and generates millions in economic impact for the city.
Dr. Breaux played a pivotal role in helping ensure that the CIAA Tournament not only found a home in Baltimore but remained there through 2029. Her leadership, in collaboration with the CIAA Board of Directors and Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams Parker, was central to securing an extension that reflected the shared vision of the conference’s member institutions, Visit Baltimore, and city officials. Together, their collective efforts have created a model for partnership that uplifts both the CIAA and the Baltimore community through education, culture, and sport.
“Dr. Breaux’s vision for student success and community collaboration extends far beyond the walls of Bowie State University,” said CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams Parker. “Her leadership represents the best of what our conference stands for; champions in the classroom, on the field, and within their communities. The CIAA’s continued success in Baltimore is a reflection of her advocacy, partnership, and belief in the power of collective impact.”
Visit Baltimore’s annual meeting brought together more than 350 industry partners, elected officials, and local leaders to celebrate the city’s record-setting tourism achievements and honor those advancing Baltimore’s growth and identity as a premier destination.
Dr. Breaux was one of three honorees recognized during the program, joining Paris Brown, Publisher of The Baltimore Times (recipient of the Bridge Award), and Al Hutchinson, former Visit Baltimore President and CEO (recipient of the William Donald Schaefer Visionary Tourism Award).
The CIAA extends its congratulations to all honorees and to Visit Baltimore for its continued commitment to uplifting community leaders and strengthening Baltimore’s connection to its rich cultural and collegiate legacy.
Media Contact:
Anna M. Butzlaff
Associate Commissioner, Strategic Communications
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)
abutzlaff@theciaa.com
About the CIAA
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the U.S. and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150,000 fans from around the country. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management, the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market, for both 2018 and 2019.
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston-Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.