Campus Happenings

Bill Gates Discusses Climate Change with Howard, Other D.C. Universities Howard Establishes the Marriott-Sorenson Center for Hospitality Leadership

Howard University joined Bill Gates and other local universities to discuss topics surrounding his new book, “How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need,” during a recent online event. The conversation surrounded what individuals, advocates and governments can and must do to reduce the world’s greenhouse gas emissions to zero.

The discussion was moderated by CBS News correspondent Michelle Miller (B.A. ’89) and included audiences from Howard University, American University, Georgetown University and George Washington University. Gates discussed the need for governments, corporations and individuals to prioritize going green. He named several industries that make up most of the world’s carbon emissions, including transportation, electricity, manufacturing, agriculture, and heating and cooling.

Senior biology major Tyler Colon asked Gates about how to offset the economic costs of going green, also known as the “green premium,” which hinder everyday individuals from purchasing green technologies.

“We’ve done some of that by having the tax credit for electric cars, but if you look at those, it’s not across the entire economic spectrum,” said Gates. “Maybe there needs to be a different credit amount for people across the economic spectrum. At the end of the day, affordability is the metric we’ve got to win on.” The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation has announced a $20 million endowment to launch the MarriottSorenson Center for Hospitality Leadership at Howard University. The effort is in honor of Marriott International’s president and CEO, Arne Sorensen, who recently passed away from pancreatic cancer.

The center, which will be housed in the School of Business, will feature a best-in-class program that expands educational and professional opportunities for Howard students and aims to develop future executives in the hospitality industry. The goal will be to expose students to the hospitality industry through a management lens.

In addition, the Arne M. Sorenson Hospitality Fund is being created to support the programmatic and career development elements of the center. Marriott has pledged the first donation of $1 million and is inviting other companies, organizations and individuals – from all industries – to support this effort.

President Frederick calls this partnership a game-changer. “What we are creating is a direct connection between an industry that is on the edge of change and a top-caliber talent pool for them to recruit from,” he said.

To learn more about the Marriott-Sorenson Center for Hospitality Leadership and the Arne M. Sorenson Hospitality Fund, or to make a donation, please visit www.howard.edu/ sorensonfund.

Alternative Spring Break 2021

More than 800 students elected to forego what some might consider a “traditional” spring break to serve with Howard University Alternative Spring Break (HUASB). Coordinated by the Office of the Dean of the Chapel, the first-ever virtual HUASB program addressed social injustices across the globe during Spring Break, March 8-10, 2021. Students from all backgrounds, with varying majors and missions, united to complete more than 100,000 service hours.

HUASB site initiatives covered critical issues, including education, youth and community empowerment, poverty, homelessness, literacy, environmental and social injustice, and cultural exploitation.

Participants served and engaged with organizations in more than 16 communities, with first-ever sites including:

Jamaica Sacramento, California Bronx County, New York

As a tradition, service continued in New Orleans, Chicago, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

HU and Columbia University Press Partner to Diversify Academic Publishing

Howard and Columbia University have collaborated in producing a scholarly book series in the field of Black studies. The effort is designed to publish more robustly in Black studies and support a cohort of editorial fellows interested in the publishing industry.

The series, called “Black Lives in the Diaspora: Past/ Present/ Future,” to be published by Columbia University Press, is a first of its kind in academic publishing. An editorial board of eight faculty – four from each university – will oversee the new series. Acquisitions for two to three publications per year in the new series will begin immediately. Funding is currently being sought to expand the program to publish up to 20 titles per year and augment the staff of Columbia University Press with a new full-time Black studies editor and graduate student fellows. The partnership replaces Howard’s own press that was discontinued a decade ago.

President Frederick Joins U.N. Women’s Global HeForShe Initiative

In an effort to create a new alliance for gender equality, Howard University has joined the United Nations’ HeForShe Alliance. This movement, launched by U.N. Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson, aims to engage men and boys as allies to support the women’s movement and ultimately create an equal world for all.

Howard joins HeForShe with a commitment to addressing representation at leadership as well as promoting consciousness on masculinities, with a focus on Black men. The alliance presents a unique opportunity for organizations and institutions around the world to join a network of 12-14 industry leaders, partner with heads of state and create long-lasting change. President Frederick joins leaders from professional services consultancy PwC, diamond company De Beers Group, and British multinational telecommunications company Vodafone.

Applications Open for USDA APHIS Foreign Services Fellowship Program

Applications for the inaugural U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Foreign Service Fellowship Program (AFSFP) are being administered by Howard. The USDA program prepares individuals interested in careers in international diplomacy with a focus on the health and value of American agriculture and natural resources.

The Agriculture Fellowship awards up to $46,000 annually for a two-year graduate program at Tuskegee University’s College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences. The Veterinary Medicine Fellowship awards up to $66,000 annually for a two-and-a-half-year period at Tuskegee’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

Those interested in either the agriculture or veterinary graduate fellowships can find more information about each program at afsfprogram.org.

Business School Receives $10 Million Gift to Create HPS Center for Financial Excellence

A new center and scholarship have been created to help prepare business students for careers in private investment and investment banking. Thanks to a $10 million gift from HPS Investment Partners, LLC and The Kapnick Foundation, the School of Business will create the HPS Center for Financial Excellence. The new center will host a finance lab with the latest technology and software; programs and curriculum in private equity, investment banking and investment management; professional development; internships at HPS and recruitment opportunities at other firms. Two scholarship funds will also be available: the HPS Partners Endowed Scholars program for undergraduate business students and The Kapnick Foundation Endowed Scholars program for graduate students in the JD/MBA program.

154TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHARTER DAY

Every year, Howard University holds a Charter Day Convocation ceremony to commemorate the signing of the federal charter on March 2, 1867, which established Howard as a university. Despite the pandemic, this year was no different. Held virtually on March 5, the 154th anniversary ceremony featured President Frederick as the keynote speaker, who acknowledged the challenges and the latest signs of hope related to the pandemic. He proudly noted the ascension of Howard’s own alumna, Kamala Harris, to the vice presidency of the United States. He talked about Howard’s dedication to being a university of inclusivity, regardless of race and gender.

“On Charter Day this year, we should pause to remember the great romance between Howard and America,” said President Frederick in his keynote speech. “Certainly, there is a great tension in that love affair, and plenty of contradictions that are embedded into our founding charter. We were given life by a president who was committed to limiting our freedoms and our rise in society. We are a Black institution that is open to any person regardless of the color of their skin. It is our everlasting duty to embrace that complexity, never to shrink away from it.”

The March 5 convocation set the stage for this year’s Charter Day Virtual Celebration. Traditionally a black-tie gala, the virtual celebration was a fundraising event with the proceeds supporting financial aid for Howard students. Cedric the Entertainer served as master of ceremonies. Entertainment included Matt the Violinist and Step Afrika!, the award-winning company founded by Howard’s own C. Brian Williams.

Howard also announced the 2021 recipients for the Alumni Award for Distinguished Postgraduate Achievement. This special event honors alumni who made valuable contributions in their respective fields. All awardees have undergraduate or graduate degrees from Howard and are nominated by alumni.

This year’s honorees included: Virginia State University President Makola M. Abdullah, Ph.D.; property law scholar Thomas W. Mitchell, J.D., LLM; and Ward 8 public servant Mary Roach, PharmD. In addition, the LaRue V. Barkwell Capstone Distinguished Service Award was presented to Howard University archivist and historian Clifford L. Muse, Jr., Ph.D.