Anne Arundel County is partnering with Gaudenzia and Bowie State University to create a rolling internship program at Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park, expanding the county’s broader effort to transform the former Crownsville Hospital site into a place focused on healing, wellness, and long-term community impact.
The Gaudenzia Crownsville Campus Internship Program was formalized through a signed memorandum of understanding and is being filled on a rolling basis with spring, summer, and fall cohorts. The county said the initiative has already welcomed its first group of students.
Internship Program Focuses On Behavioral Health, Equity, And Community Reintegration
The program is designed for Bowie State students in counseling, psychology, nursing, social work, and criminal justice. County leaders said it provides hands-on experience tied to behavioral health services, community reintegration, and equity, with interns immersed in trauma-informed care and working with justice-involved populations across the continuum of care.
“Crownsville holds a complex and painful history, marked by the medical mistreatment and discrimination faced by Black patients,” said County Executive Steuart Pittman. “This partnership with Gaudenzia and Bowie State University is a way for the county to address that history — not by rewriting it, but by striving to create an equitable future. I want to thank our partners for working with the next generation to ensure that our residents can access the mental health and medical care they need.”
Gaudenzia And Bowie State Leaders Highlight Real-World Experience
Gaudenzia CEO Dr. Deja Gilbert said the program is intended to give students meaningful experience from the start.
“Bowie State students are gaining meaningful, hands-on experience through their Gaudenzia internships from day one,” Gilbert said. “They’re learning alongside our teams in real-world care environments, building the skills and confidence to serve others with compassion. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to preparing the next generation of professionals while strengthening the communities we serve. We’re honored to walk alongside these students as they grow, contribute, and prepare to lead in powerful ways.”
Bowie State President Dr. Aminta H. Breaux called the partnership an extension of the university’s equity and workforce mission.
“As Maryland’s oldest HBCU, Bowie State University is deeply committed to
transforming lives and advancing equity through education,” Breaux said. “This partnership at Crownsville provides our students with meaningful, hands-on experience across critical fields including healthcare, mental and behavioral health, social work, and criminal justice — areas that are vital to the well-being of our communities. We are proud to contribute to the site’s legacy of healing and transformation while preparing the next generation of professionals to lead with intellect, compassion, and purpose. We look forward to continuing this important collaboration with Anne Arundel County and Gaudenzia.”
Program Tied To County’s Crownsville Master Plan
County officials said the internship program aligns with the vision for Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park that has been developed through community outreach and planning work since the county acquired the former Crownsville Hospital complex from the State of Maryland in December 2022. Pittman unveiled the site’s final master plan in February 2025, describing it as a roadmap for future development and land use aimed at fostering healing and supporting long-term community needs.
How To Learn More
Students interested in the internship program can find more information at gaudenzia.org/internships. Additional information about Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park is available at AACounty.org/CrownsvillePark.
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