Howard University Names Surgeon and MBA as President
By Frederick H. Lowe
Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from TheNorthStarNews.com
(TriceEdneyWire.com) - Howard University Board of Trustees has named Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., a cancer surgeon, as the Washington, D.C., school's 17th president.
"I am deeply honored to be selected by the board of trustees to lead this great university," Frederick said. "Howard University has been an unparalleled catalyst since its founding, opening doors and expanding opportunity for untold individuals while driving research, innovation, service and excellence. On the cusp of our 150th anniversary, I could not be more humbled to accept the mantle of leadership and embrace the sacred trust of our motto, Truth and Service."
Howard, which is named in honor of Union Army Gen. Oliver O. Howard, was founded March 2, 1867. In 2012, the school's enrollment was slightly over 10,000. The university's endowment now stands at $600 million, the highest it has been in the school's history.
The presidential search committee, chaired by Vernon E. Jordan, Jr., on Monday selected Frederick to succeed Sidney Ribeau, Ph.D., who announced in October 2013 that he would retire in December after five years at the helm. Ribeau was 65 years old at the time.
Frederick had served as Howard's interim president since Ribeau's announcement.
Frederick has a long history at Howard.
He enrolled in Howard as a 16 year-old from Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, to become a physician. Frederick earned a bachelor's of science degree and a M.D. at the school.
At 22 years old, Frederick entered the surgical residency program at Howard University Hospital. He completed a post-doctoral research fellowship and surgical oncology fellowship at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
He also earned a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Howard University's School of Business. Frederick, 43, is married and he and his wife have two children.