Hampton University News January 4, 2017 Dr. William R. Harvey's Leadership in Higher Education Celebrated in National Awards Tour Hampton University President Dr. William R. Harvey's contribution as a true transformational leader in the world of education and beyond is being heralded from the White House, through the Ivy League halls of Yale University and in the most prolific and honorable ways within the National Geographic Society. Three esteemed awards bestowed within as many months, are an indelible testament to Dr. Harvey's unparalleled passion for enhancing the lives of others through dedicated service. His tireless efforts span nearly four decades at Hampton University alone where he lifted the prestigious Historically Black College and University (HBCU) from an institute to a world-class university. He is replete with not just an astounding academic acumen but with wisdom, perseverance, and keen foresight. The caliber of leader embodied in the person of Dr. William R. Harvey is acknowledged by the historic renowned figures whose names grace the awards. For example, the award presented to Dr. Harvey at Yale University by the Connecticut State NAACP carries the name of Attorney Charles Hamilton Houston, (1895-1950). Houston was memorialized as a stalwart soldier in civil right's history who gave his life to the betterment of young people yearning for equality in education. Known as the "man who killed Jim Crow," Attorney Houston is also credited for "training" the honorable Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Both names, now adorn the mahogany and gold plaque presented to Dr. Harvey in a humbling ceremony on December 1st, symbolizing a shared passion for service in higher education, leadership and economic development. As a sought after voice on higher education, Dr. William R. Harvey's compelling speech to the Connecticut State wide NAACP cited the dire need for minority teachers at every level of education. The research he presented during his widely publicized speech included a dismal accounting from the National Center for Educational Statistics. In that 2014 report, 50.3% of students in K-12 were minorities in this country. Yet, only 7.6% of the teachers were African American. The numbers are even more astonishing when it comes to African American male teachers who make up only 1.7% of the teacher population. The Department of Education reports that 82% of public school teachers are white. Dr. Harvey also made note of the decreasing number of college bound African Americans who have chosen to study education. The result of these trends will contribute to a crippling disparity of teachers of color educating students of color. (Click here for entire speech<http://docs.hamptonu.edu/?document=EAC469D5-6674-4471-BCD0A9011A1EDD1F>) The second award is symbolic of how Dr. Harvey's respected leadership has garnered the attention of the highest office and the highest officer in the land. The White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities honored Dr. Harvey for his "Unconditional Commitment and Enduring, Dedicated Service" as chair of the President's Board of Advisors. President Barack Obama asked Dr. Harvey to chair the Advisory Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities back in 2010. Dr. Harvey's service to the office of the President, however, didn't begin with the election of President Obama. Harvey has long been active on the national scene as a result of his appointments to national boards by six presidents of the United States. He has served on the President's National Advisory Council on Elementary and Secondary Education, the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Service, the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education where he served as Chair, the Commission on Presidential Scholars, and the U. S. Department of Commerce Minority Development Advisory Board. Additionally, Dr. Harvey has served as Chair of the Southern Universities Research Association (SURA) Council of Presidents, Chair of the Board of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO), and Chair of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Council of Chief Executive Officers. The advisory board on HBCUs was created in 1981 and is responsible for advising the President and the Secretary of Education on methods, programs and strategies. In the capacity of chair of the Advisory Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, he has championed the cause of HBCU's for the irreplaceable value these colleges and universities offer not just to the students who are educated on these campuses but to an entire nation that benefits from the bright minds sharpened in classrooms under the watchful guidance of dedicated educators who have answered the call to teach. The half may never be told on how instrumental Dr. William R. Harvey's years of service have been to the White House. He will remain as chair of President Obama's Advisory Board of Historically Black Colleges and Universities until the new presidential administration takes office in 2017. Dr. Harvey's board appointments are representative of the endless requests he receives to employ his proven leadership model by joining forces with some of the top businesses and organizations in the nation. The national and corporate boards that Dr. Harvey has served on, are Fannie Mae, Trigon Blue Cross Blue Shield, Signet Bank, Newport News Shipbuilding, Wachovia Bank, Newport News Savings Bank, Pepsi Cola Bottling Company of Houghton, Michigan, National Merit Scholarship Corporation, The Harvard Cooperative Society and the Division I National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The third award bestowed upon Dr. William R. Harvey was in recognition of his contribution as a member of the National Geographic Society's Board of Directors. Dr. Harvey is often recognized for his proven results in strengthening the financial stability of organizations. Under Dr. Harvey's watchful eye, Hampton University has balanced its budget and achieved a surplus during each of the 39 years he has served as President. The endowment, which stood at $29 million when he became President, now exceeds $250 million. As it is noted, on the ten-step, William R. Harvey leadership model, fiscal conservatism is crucial to the sustainability of any operation. The National Geographic Society paid tribute to Dr. Harvey for his years of service to the society's board of directors. During a dinner celebration in his honor, on December 8th, Dr. Harvey's fiscal savvy was touted with a specific reference to the financial initiatives he championed that will be of lasting benefit to National Geographic. Specifically, his colleagues celebrated his tenure on the board and his advocacy of a 4% spending policy of interest earned from National Geographic Society's endowment. The chairman of the finance committee added a tribute to him for his memorable gift of that cost saving edict, saying that it will forever be known as the "Harvey Rule." SANDRA M. PHOENIX HBCU Library Alliance Executive Director Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library 111 James P. Brawley Drive SW Atlanta, GA 30314 404-978-2118 (office) 404-702-5854 (cell) http://www.hbculibraries.org/ sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org<mailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org%3cmailto:sphoenix@hbculibraries.org>> Honor the ancestors, honor the children. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hbculibraryalliance1/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/HBCULibAlliance Check out "PULSE!" The HBCU Library Alliance's News Source! - https://hbculibraryalliance.wordpress.com/