CHARTER DAY CONVOCATION
Commemorating the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Anniversary of the Founding of the University
1867-2026
Friday, The Sixth Of March
Two Thousand Twenty-Six Eleven O’Clock in the Morning
Cramton Auditorium
Main Campus
HOWARD UNIVERSITY
Charter Day
Charter Day is a time for celebration. We celebrate because we are grateful for the March 2, 1867, approval of the Howard University Charter by President Andrew Johnson for an institution dedicated to the betterment of humanity. We are grateful for Howardites— collectively and individually—who, through example and support of their alma mater, exhibit the very spirit that has marked Howard as one of the great romances of American education.
In 1943, the first Alumni Achievement Awards were presented to three alumni. Since then, including this year’s recipients, the University has honored 356 alumni in a variety of fields for their distinguished postgraduate achievements and exceptional contributions to society. The Capstone Distinguished Service Award was established in 2014 to recognize the exemplary service of a Howard University faculty or staff member. A University Committee that includes alumni representatives nominates candidates for both awards. The Board of Trustees approves final selections.
The 2026 Charter Day Celebration continues a 102-year tradition of commemorating the founding of Howard. This year, we are celebrating Howard University’s 159th anniversary. This occasion will recognize the historic legacy, monumental achievements, and positive impact the University has made since its founding in 1867.
HISTORY OF HOWARD UNIVERSITY
Since 1867, Howard has conferred more than 100,000 degrees in the professions, arts, sciences and humanities.
Howard ranks among the highest producers of the nation’s Black professionals in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, engineering, nursing, architecture, religion, law, music, social work and education.
The University has long held a commitment to the study of disadvantaged persons in American society and throughout the world. The goal is the elimination of inequities related to race, color, social, economic and political circumstances. As the only HBCU with R1 status, Howard is one of the major engineers of change in our society. Through its traditional and cutting-edge academic programs, the University seeks to improve the circumstances of all people in the search for peace and justice on earth.
Howard has grown from a single frame building in 1867 to more than 89 acres, including the six-story, 400-bed Howard University Hospital. It has expanded to include a School of Law and a School of Divinity West Campus and another three-fifths of an acre facility in northeast Washington and a 108-acre tract of land in Beltsville, Maryland.
Howard prepares men and women to advance social justice and the preservation of human liberty. In each of its 14 schools and colleges, Howard University seeks to develop technically competent and morally committed individuals.
The University’s library system contains more than 1.8 million volumes, including the Channing Pollock Collection. The Moorland-Spingarn Research Center is recognized as one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive repositories for the documentation of the history and culture of people of African descent in Africa, the Americas and other parts of the world.
The University competes in 19 varsity sports including basketball, football, bowling, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, both indoor and outdoor track and volleyball. Regarded as one of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in the world, current enrollment is more than 14,000 students from virtually every state, the District of Columbia, and more than 90 countries. The University traditionally has had the largest gathering of Black scholars in the world.
Ms. Minnie V. Baylor-Henry, Esq.
Dr. Richard E. Besser
Mr. Chris Carr
Mr. Donald B. Christian
The Honorable Arne Duncan
Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick
Interim President
Mr. Godfrey Gill
Reverend Dr. Michele V. Hagans
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Ms. Leslie D. Hale
Chair
Dr. Lena Hill
Dr. Danette G. Howard
Mr. Marc S. Lampkin
Mr. Kevin E. Lofton
Mr. Mark A. L. Mason Vice Chair
Ms. Depelsha McGruder
TRUSTEES EMERITI
Dr. John E. Jacob
Chairman Emeritus
The Honorable Marie C. Johns
Mr. Robert Lumpkins
The Honorable Gabrielle K. McDonald
Stacey J. Mobley, Esq.
Chairman Emeritus
Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick
Mr. James J. Murren
Mr. Ziad Ojakli
Mr. Levoyd E. Robinson
Ms. Hilary Rosen
Mr. Shelley Stewart Jr.
Mr. Bruce E. Thompson
Mr. Christopher J. Tyson
Dr. A. Eugene Washington
Mr. Chris Washington
Dr. Laurence C. Morse
Chairman Emeritus
Martin D. Payson, Esq.
The Honorable M. Kasim Reed
The Honorable L. Douglas Wilder
Mrs. Benaree Pratt Wiley
PATRON EX-OFFICIO
The Honorable Linda McMahon United States Secretary of Education
OFFICERS OF THE UNIVERSITY
Interim President, President Emeritus, and Charles R. Drew Professor of Surgery
Dr. Allison Bryant
Vice President of Corporate Relations
Dr. Aristide J. Collins, Jr.
Senior Vice President and Secretary
Dr. Andrea Hayes Dixon
Dean of the College of Medicine and Senior Vice President of Health Affairs
Dr. Cynthia Evers
Senior Vice President for Student Affairs
Ms. Princess Gamble Vice President and Interim Chief Development Officer
Dr. Kim M. Lewis Vice President and Chief Research Officer
Dr. Warren Petty Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer
Florence W. Prioleau, Esq.
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Dr. Keyana M. Scales
Senior Vice President, Enrollment Management and Student Success
Ms. Lydia G. Sermons Vice President of Communications and Chief Communications Officer
Ms. Rebecca Vazquez-Skillings Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Dr. Dawn Williams
Interim Provost and Chief Academic Officer
Mr. Rashad Young
Senior Vice President for Administration and Chief Administrative Officer
THE 2026 CHARTER DAY CONVOCATION PROGRAM
PRESIDING
Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick
Interim President, President Emeritus, and Charles R. Drew Professor of Surgery
Howard University
THE ACADEMIC AND PLATFORM PARTY PROCESSIONALS
Felix Mendelssohn
Mark Prowen, Arr.
The Howard University Symphonic Band
Mr. Chancellor Mills, Conducting
THE PRESENTATION OF COLORS
Francis Scott Key
John Stafford Smith, Arr.
The Star-Spangled Banner
The Howard University Symphonic Band
Mr. Clifford Southern, Conducting
James Weldon Johnson
Sam Baltzer, Arr.
Lift Every Voice and Sing
The Howard University Symphonic Band
Mr. Southern, Conducting
THE INVOCATION
The Reverend Dr. Bernard L. Richardson
Dean of the Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel
THE REMARKS
Dr. Frederick
THE GREETING
Ms. Leslie D. Hale
Chair, Howard University Board of Trustees
THE MUSIC
Adolphus Hailstork from Done Made My Vow My Name Is Toil
The Howard University Concert Chorale Dr. Eric Poole, Conducting
THE INTRODUCTION OF THE CONVOCATION ORATOR
Dr. Frederick
THE CONVOCATION ADDRESS
Mr. Donald B. Christian (BBA ’90) Trustee, Howard University Board of Trustees
Partner (Retired)US East Region Advisory Leader PwC US
THE MUSIC
Moses Hogan, Arranger Great Day
The Howard University Concert Chorale Mirabella Gibson, Soprano Soloist Dr. Poole, Conducting
THE CLOSING REMARKS
Dr. Frederick
THE ALMA MATER
Joseph Hunter Brooks and Frederick Dwight Malone, Authors
The Howard University Concert Chorale & Symphonic Band
Mr. Mills, Conducting
THE BENEDICTION
Dr. Richardson
THE RETIRING OF THE COLORS
THE RECESSIONAL
THE CONVOCATION SPEAKER
Donald B. “Don” Christian is a board director, governance leader, and strategic advisor with more than 36 years of experience guiding complex global enterprises and missiondriven institutions. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), and Certified Chief Risk Officer (CRO), he integrates strategy, risk management, operational performance, and principled leadership to drive sustained impact.
Mr. Christian is the Founder and CEO of EquaNX LLC, where he advises founders, entrepreneurs, private equity investors, and C-suite executives on strategic growth, technology-enabled transformation, operating model design, and disciplined risk management.
He retired in 2025 from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) after a distinguished 36-year career. He served on the PwC International Board (2021–2025), one of eighteen global partners overseeing a $55 billion-plus network operating in more than 150 countries, and previously on the PwC US Board (2019–2023), helping guide the strategy and governance of a $22 billion-plus firm. Throughout his career, he held senior leadership roles including Risk Management Leader for US Managed Services, US East Region Advisory Leader, Washington Metro Market Leader, and US Assurance Human Capital Leader, advising Fortune 500, Fortune 1000 and Federal Government clients on transformation and growth.
Since 2018, Mr. Christian has served on the Board of Trustees of Howard University, where he is a member of the Executive Committee and Chair of the Finance Committee, and previously chaired the Audit and Legal Committee. He is also a Trustee of The McDonogh School, serving on its Executive Committee and as Chair of the Audit Committee. A native of St. Andrew, Jamaica, he is the Founding Chairman of the Jamaica Howard University Affinity Network (JHUAN) a non-profit organization that provides scholarship and mentorship, and other forms of support to Jamaican students attending Howard University.
His honors include the Caribbean Luminary Award from the American Foundation for the West Indies (AFUWI), the Presidential Award and National Achievement in Public Accounting Awards from the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) and the Howard University School of Business Alumni Award.
Mr. Christian believes that principled leadership, strategic focus, continuous innovation, and operational excellence are the foundation shaping opportunities at scale. Whether advising executives or stewarding educational and global organizations, he remains committed to building enduring institutions, developing principled leaders, and expanding access for the next generation.
2026 DISTINGUISHED POSTGRADUATE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENTS
DR. JELANI COBB (B.A. ’94) in the field of Journalism
MR. HERBERT B. DIXON, JR. (BSEE ’70) in the field of Law
MS. KAMILAH FORBES (BFA ’98) in the field of Fine Arts
DR. JAMES K. FORTSON (B.S. ’72) in the field of Medicine
2021 DISTINGUISHED POSTGRADUATE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENTS
DR. MAKOLA M. ABDULLAH (EG ’90) in the fields of Engineering and Leadership
MR. THOMAS W. MITCHELL, J.D., LLM (LW ’93) in the field of Law
THE LaRUE V. BARKWELL CAPSTONE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
MS. REGINA DRAKE
Howard University Office of the Provost
THE ALMA MATER
Reared against the eastern sky Proudly there on hilltop high. Far above the lake so blue, Stands old Howard firm and true. There she stands for truth and right, Sending forth her rays of light, Clad in robes of majesty; O Howard, we sing of thee.
Be thou still our guide and stay Leading us from day to day; Make us true and leal and strong, Ever hold to battle wrong. When from thee we’ve gone away, May we strive for thee each day. As we sail life’s rugged sea, O Howard, we’ll sing of thee.
—Words, J. H. Brooks, Class of 1916 —Music, F. D. Malone, Class of 1916
THE MACE
The mace is the ceremonial symbol of the University and is carried by the University Marshal. One of the earliest visual images of the mace is the front-side of the ‘Narmer Palette” of Ancient Egypt, an ovalshaped cosmetic palette inscribed with human and anthropomorphic figures. King Narmer is depicted on the palette as a mighty conqueror wielding a mace over a symbolic enemy. King Narmer, also known as King Menes or King Midas to the ancient Greeks, unified Upper and Lower Egypt circa 3100 B.C., ushering in the great pyramid building of the old kingdom dynasties (circa 3000-2150 B.C.) of Imperial Egypt. At today’s Convocation, the entry of the mace heralds the arrival of the academic procession.
THE PRESIDENTIAL CHAIN OF OFFICE (THE MEDALLION)
The Presidential Chain of Office, worn by President Wayne A. I. Frederick, was presented to the University on the Centennial Celebration in 1967 by Trustee Emeritus Herman B. Wells and his mother, Mrs. Granville Wells. It is a visible symbol of the Office of the President and has been worn by all presidents of Howard University since 1967. The basic material of the chain is sterling silver, plated with hard gold. Both the University Seal and the Centennial Seal are appended to the chain.
LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING
Lift every voice and sing, Till earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of Liberty; Let our rejoicing rise.
High as the listening skies. Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; Facing the rising sun of our new day begun. Let us march on till victory is won.
Stony the road we trod, bitter the chastening rod, Felt in the days when hope unborn had died; Yet with a steady beat, have not our weary feet, Come to the place for which our fathers sighed? We have come over a way that with tears has been watered, We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered; Out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou Who has brought us thus far on the way; Thou Who has by Thy might, led us into the light, Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee, Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee, Shadowed beneath Thy hand, may we forever stand, True to our God, true to our native land.
—James Weldon Johnson (1900)