Diverse Education July 21, 2014 Howard University Board Unanimously Selects Frederick as 17th President by Jamal Eric Watson Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, who has held a variety of administrative and teaching positions at Howard University, has been unanimously selected by the school's board of trustees as its 17th president. Frederick, 43, who has been serving as interim president since Dr. Sidney A. Ribeau stepped down last October, is an alumnus of the university, having enrolled at Howard as a 16-year-old from Port of Spain, Trinidad, to pursue his dream of becoming a physician. "I'm absolutely excited," he said in a phone interview with Diverse. "This is a very humbling moment. I am very honored." The national search, was headed by veteran civil rights leader and prominent attorney Vernon E. Jordan, who has been a member of Howard's board of trustees since 1993. "Selecting a university president is one of the most critical decisions a Board of Trustees is entrusted to make, and Dr. Frederick's selection is the result of an extraordinarily thorough and thoughtful process," said Jordan. "After conducting an exhaustive national search, we identified a finalist pool, comprised of both internal and external candidates. From this stellar group, Dr. Frederick stood out as supremely qualified, remarkably motivated, and uniquely suited to lead Howard University." Frederick, who was named an Emerging Scholar by Diverse in 2011, completed a dual B.S./M.D. degree program at the age of 22 and then went on to enter a surgical residency at Howard University Hospital. He completed a post-doctoral research fellowship and a surgical oncology fellowship at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and later earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Howard's School of Business. He said that he wants to help other youngsters pursue the kinds of opportunities that were afforded to him. "My story is not a story that is unique," he said. "I came here 26 years ago from Trinidad with the dream of becoming a physician. Howard provided a rich and nurturing environment for me to do that." As the university looks to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2017, it continues to face a number of mounting fiscal challenges. But Frederick said that "the future for Howard is very, very bright" and added that "our outcomes are very strong right now." Stacey J. Mobley, chairman of the board of trustees said that he is pleased with the selection of Frederick. "It is our assessment that Dr. Frederick will bring insight, energy, and the requisite vision to advance the Capstone through collaboration, engagement, and accountability," said Mobley. "He also has a keen awareness of what the University needs, and possesses the skills to lead Howard." Jamal Watson can be reached at jwatson1@diverseeducation.com. You can follow him on twitter @jamalericwatson SANDRA M. PHOENIX Executive Director HBCU Library Alliance sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org> www.hbculibraries.org<http://www.hbculibraries.org/> 800-999-8558, ext. 4820 404-702-5854 Skype: sandra.phoenix1 1438 West Peachtree NW Suite 200 Atlanta,GA 30309 Toll Free: 1.800.999.8558 (LYRASIS) Fax: 404.892.7879 www.lyrasis.org<http://www.lyrasis.org/> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Register now http://www.hbculibraries.org/html/2014meeting-form.html for the October 26-28, 2014 HBCU Library Alliance 6th Membership Meeting in Atlanta GA!