Hampden-Sydney College Names Its First Black President
Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia has named Christopher B. Howard as its 24th, and first black, president. He will assume his position this summer. The selective liberal arts college has about 1,100 students. Only 5 percent are African Americans.
Dr. Howard has been vice president for leadership and strategic initiatives for the University of Oklahoma. He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy where he served as president of his class. He was a running back on the academy’s football team. Selected as a Rhodes Scholar, Howard completed a master’s degree and a Ph.D. at Oxford University. He also holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School.
Still active in the Air Force Reserve, Howard was called to duty in 2003 to serve as an intelligence officer in Afghanistan, where he won the Bronze Star.
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