Howard Community College Establishes Thomas P. Clement Professorship
News related to:Howard Community College · 2 min read
COLUMBIA, MD, Sept. 21, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Howard Community College has taken a significant step in fostering innovation and creativity within its engineering and technology programs by establishing the Thomas P. Clement Professorship of Engineering and Technology Innovation. This professorship, endowed by acclaimed inventor Thomas P. Clement and world-renowned visual artist Wonsook Kim, aims to support and advance the field of engineering education and innovation.
Dr. Ghazanfer Bozai, a professor and department head of engineering at Howard Community College, has been appointed as the inaugural holder of the professorship. Bozai will also serve as the founding executive director of the Thomas P. Clement Center for Engineering Innovation (TPCCEI), a new center that will serve as a hub for innovation, creativity, engineering education, and community engagement. The center is built around three interconnected components: the Thomas P. Clement Creativity, Ideation, and Innovation Workshop, the Thomas P. Clement Think Tank, and the Thomas P. Clement Scholars Summer Program.
The Creativity, Ideation, and Innovation Workshop introduces students to the discipline of invention, while the Think Tank provides a collaborative space for students to explore and develop their ideas. The Scholars Summer Program extends student innovation and research experiences beyond the academic year, offering a unique opportunity for hands-on learning and development.
The TPCCEI is not the only initiative supported by the generous contributions of the T&W Foundation. The foundation has committed $425,000 to support STEM programs through naming opportunities in six spaces throughout the campus, including a lecture hall, simulation suite, radiologic technology skills bays, and the Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Hall Executive Suite.
Thomas P. Clement, founder of Acroventions Laboratories and holder of more than 75 patents for surgical devices, expressed his commitment to the future of engineering and technology education.
The college's commitment to innovation is further evidenced by the recent success of HCC student Troy Murray, who received a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office after working through Clement's workshop. This milestone marks the first such achievement in the program's history and underscores the college's dedication to fostering a culture of innovation and creativity.
The T&W Foundation's initial $2.5 million gift in 2024 that named Thomas P. Clement Hall has since grown to more than $4.3 million, making it the largest philanthropic partnership in the college's history. This significant investment signals to the next generation of engineering faculty that Howard Community College is a place where meaningful careers can be built.
The establishment of the Thomas P. Clement Professorship and the Thomas P. Clement Center for Engineering Innovation marks a significant milestone in the college's efforts to create a robust and innovative engineering ecosystem. By providing a dedicated faculty member and center focused on innovation, Howard Community College is positioning itself as a leader in engineering education and research.