Taraji P. Henson and Chris Paul Among Biden’s Appointments to the Tony Allen Chaired Board of Advisors on HBCUs

Today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to appoint qualified and diverse leaders to the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The President’s Board will advance the goal of the , established by the Carter Administration, to increase the capacity of HBCUs to provide the highest-quality education to its students and continue serving as engines of opportunity. 

In 2021, President Biden appointed Dr. Tony Allen, President of Delaware State University, as the Chair, and Dr. Glenda B. Glover, President of Tennessee State University, as the Vice Chair to serve on the President’s Board of Advisors on HBCUs, respectively. In February, he appointed Dr. Dietra Trent as executive director of the White House HBCU Initiative. 

President Biden announced his intent to appoint the following persons to work with Dr. Allen and Dr. Glover on the Board of Advisors on HBCUs: 

• Dr. Makola M. Abdullah – President of Virginia State University 

• Dr, Javaune Adams-Gaston – President of Norfolk State University 

• Paige Blake – Bowie State University junior student and White House Initiative HBCU Competitiveness Scholar  

• Thasunda Brown Duckett – President and CEO of TIAA, a Fortune 100 provider of secure retirements and outcome-focused investments. 

• Willie A. Deese – Retired pharmaceutical executive and corporate board member. Most recently served as Executive Vice President of Merek and Co., Inc. 

• Patrick Cokley – Chief of Organization Advocacy and Learning  at Civic Influencers, a national nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to increase youth civic power and youth voting. 
• Dr. Monica Goldson – CEO for Prince George’s County Public Schools 
• Brett J. Hart – President of United Airlines 

• Taraji P. Henson – Academy Award-nominated and SAG and Golden Globe-winning actress 

• Beverly W. Hogan – Retired President Emerita of Tougaloo College 

• Lisa P. Jackson – Apple Vice President of Environmental, Policy and Social Initiatives. 

• Shevrin D. Jones – Florida State Sen. Shevrin Jones. 

• Walter M. Kimbrough – President of Dillard University. 

• William F.L. Moses – Managing Director for the Kresge Foundation’s Education Program 

• Christopher E. Paul – A 12-time NBA All-Star with the Phoenix Suns. 

• Quinton T. Ross Jr. – President of Alabama State University 

• Ruth J. Simmons – President of Prairie View A&M University 

• Janeen Uzzell – CEO of the National Society of Black Engineers. 

For more information on the above individuals, see the March 31 White House press release at: