Dear Brothers and Guest,
I have included excerpts from a White House Press release on the appointment of Brother Ken Tolson who is a legacy of Brother Melvin B. Tolson (Omega History Book) and Brother William Harvey who has been appointed to the White House Presidential Board of Advisors' on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Additionally, Bro. Edward Lewis, Co-Founder and Publisher Emeritus of Essence Magazine was appointed by President Obama. The full text of the press Release can viewed at www.whitehouse.gov.
Brother Lewis is a member, Brother Tolson is a senior advisor and member and Brother Harvey is the chair of the board. This makes five Omegas in very senior roles and advisors to the President. Brother Charles Bolden was recently appointed as the NASA Administrator and Brother Rick Wade was instrumental in President Obama’s election campaign and is now with the Department of Commerce.
* Brother Melvin B. Tolson was portrayed by Denzel Washington in the movie the Great Debaters which was produced by Oprah Winfrey, and released in 2008. AMS Pictures released the documentary on Melvin B. Tolson. Its title is "The Real Great Debaters". More info is available at www.themelvinbtolsonfoundation.org.
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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_______________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 26, 2010
President Obama Re-establishes President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Announces Members
WASHINGTON – Today, President Barack Obama signed a new Executive Order re-establishing the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
The Board of Advisors, created in 1981 by Executive Order, is tasked with advising the President and the Secretary of Education on methods, programs, and strategies to strengthen these valued institutions. The signing of the Executive Order today represents the Administration’s commitment to assure increased access to federally-sponsored programs and opportunities for the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities. It will also contribute to the Administration’s efforts to increase the number and percentage of college-trained Americans by the year 2020.
President Obama also announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to serve on the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities:
· William R. Harvey, Chairman, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
· Lawrence S. Bacow, Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
· Evelynn M. Hammonds, Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
· Beverly Wade Hogan, Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
· Edward Lewis, Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
· Ronald Mason, Jr., Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
· Valerie Mosley, Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
· Willie Pearson Jr., Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
· Beverly Daniel Tatum, Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
· Kenneth Tolson, Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
· David Wilson, Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
President Obama said, “I am pleased to announce the appointments of these talented, diverse and accomplished individuals to the Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, all of whom have shown a deep commitment to the mission of these institutions, which are as relevant and necessary to our society today as they were when first established.”
President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities:
William R. Harvey, Appointee for Chairman, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Dr. William R. Harvey has served as President of Hampton University since 1978. During his tenure, he has increased enrollment, raised the endowment, raised the average SAT scores for entering freshmen, and implemented innovative programs which have led to increased opportunities for Hampton graduates. Prior to joining Hampton, Dr. Harvey worked in various roles at Harvard University, Fisk University, and Tuskegee University. He previously served on the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges as well as the President’s National Advisory Council on Elementary and Secondary Education, Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, Commission on Presidential Scholars, and U. S. Department of Commerce Minority Development Advisory Board. Dr. Harvey is currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Reserve. He is a graduate of Talladega College and earned his doctorate in College Administration from Harvard University.
Edward Lewis, Appointee for Member, President’s Board of
Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Edward Lewis is the Co-Founder of Essence magazine and
Chairman and Publisher Emeritus of Essence Communications Inc., which is one of
the largest African-American owned communications companies in the United
States. For 35 years, he led
the strategic direction of Essence and built it into the multi-media leader
that it has become today. A
frequent speaker at universities and business schools across the country, he is
also the current Chairman of Latina Media Ventures and former Chairman of the
Magazine Publishers of America.
Lewis received his B.A. and M.A. from the University of New Mexico.
Kenneth Tolson, Appointee for Member, President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Kenneth Tolson is the Executive Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and Innovation Transformation Officer for the Emerging Technology Consortium, a division of TBED21. TBED21-ETC is a non-partisan research and educational institute whose mission is to formulate and promote public policies to advance technological innovation and economic productivity in America. Tolson has served in various senior information technology and management focused roles for both public and private sectors. He has held the position of Chief Information Officer and Chief Technology Officer managing large scale technology implementation programs for the Federal Government and other agencies. He is a member of the National Society for Black Engineers and multiple technology industry associations. Tolson also founded The Melvin B. Tolson Foundation in honor of his grandfather who was a noted African American poet and educator. He received his B.S. from Morehouse College and is a former United States Marine Corps Reserve Officer Candidate.