Wayne A.I. Frederick

Wayne A. I. Frederick
17th President of Howard University
Incumbent
Assumed office July 21, 2014
Preceded by	Sidney Ribeau
Personal details
Born	(1971-06-17) June 17, 1971 Port of Spain, Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago
Alma mater	Howard University
Profession	Professor, surgeon
Website	Office of the President

Wayne A. I. Frederick (born June 17, 1971) is a Trinidadian-born U.S. scholar, surgeon, researcher and administrator. He was appointed president of Howard University in Washington D.C., after a unanimous recommendation by the University's Presidential Search Committee on July 21, 2014.^[1] He served as Interim President beginning October 1, 2013, following the resignation of Sidney A. Ribeau. He previously served as provost and chief academic officer at Howard University.^[2]

Early life and education

Frederick was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad. At the age of three, Frederick was diagnosed with sickle cell disease, which shaped his outlook on life. As a result of being hospitalized three to six times a year, Frederick became enamored and intrigued by science. He also accompanied his mother, a nurse, on visits and became enthralled by medicine. ^[3][4]

After graduating high school at the age of 14, he took pre-college courses at St. Mary's College in Port of Spain. Frederick enrolled at Howard University in 1988, at the age of sixteen. ^{[5] [6]} As an undergraduate student, Frederick was admitted to Howard University's B.S./M.D. dual degree program. He completed the requirements for both degrees in six years, allowing him to earn both his Bachelor of Science and his medical degree by the age of 22. ^[7]

During his surgical residency at Howard University Hospital, he was encouraged and mentored by renowned doctors including Dr. LaSalle D. Leffall and Dr. Clive O. Callendar. ^{[8] [9]} He completed his post-doctoral research and surgical oncology fellowships at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. ^[10]

Academia

Dr. Frederick began his academic career as Associate Director of the Cancer Center at the University of Connecticut. Upon his return to Howard University, his academic positions included Associate Dean in the College of Medicine, Division Chief in the Department of Surgery, Director of the Cancer Center and Deputy Provost for Health Sciences. He also earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Howard University’s School of Business in 2011. Dr. Frederick continues to operate and lectures to the second-year medical students of Howard University’s College of Medicine. His medical research seeks to narrow the disparity in all cancer-care outcomes, with a focus on gastrointestinal cancers. ^[11]

Presidency of Howard University

Last year, the Howard University Board of Trustees approved the extension of Dr. Frederick’s contract as President of the University until June 30, 2024 – a five-year extension of his original agreement. ^[12]

His accomplishments as President of Howard University include, but are not limited to:

• Howard is now ranked as a Tier 1 national university by U.S. News & World Report and ranked #89, up 53 spots since Frederick's tenure began. ^{[13] [14]}
• Howard University remains a leader in producing Black STEM PhDs and is America's number one institution for producing Black applicants to U.S. medical schools. ^[15][16]
• Successfully launched and expanded Howard West partnership with Google. The strategic partnership with Google is designed to immerse students in educational and professional experiences taught by Google staff and Howard professors. ^{[17] [18]}
• Established the Bison STEM Scholars program to increase the number of underrepresented students in STEM masters and masters/doctorate programs, keeping with Howard’s legacy of providing a diverse pipeline of STEM talent. ^[19][20]
• Successful management of a $1.5 billion real estate portfolio, which includes generating capital for the University while retaining asset ownership, optimizing the value of underutilized real estate assets and modernizing the campus environment to benefit faculty, staff, students and neighboring communities. embarked on a strategic planning process to forward a long-term transformation strategy. ^{[21] [22]}
• FY2016 saw Howard’s strongest financial performance in five years, with a gain from operations of almost $12 million. Operating revenues stabilized in FY2016, and operating expenses were decreased by 8% compared to FY2015. In 2016, both Moody’s and S&P wrote favorably regarding Howard University’s financial strategy. ^[23][24]
• Financial performance at Howard University Hospital has vastly improved over the past two years, and the hospital is now profitable and stable. ^{[25] [26]}
• Established the Office of Faculty Development to improve the quality of faculty life related to teaching and research, career development, and professional satisfaction. ^[27]
• Howard University has significantly advanced its goal of increasing the level of financial aid it provides to its students and their families. In FY2016, Howard awarded to its students over $101 million in University-provided financial aid. As recently as FY2009, Howard disbursed just $40 million a year in University-provided financial aid. ^{[28] [29]}
• Philanthropic giving by the Howard University Board of Trustees is at an all-time high with 100 percent of the board of trustee members committed to making financial contributions to the university. Howard University anticipates the board of trustee gifts and documented pledges will reach $5,520,991 for fiscal year 2018, representing a 217 percent increase from the previous year. ^[30]

He received $953,104 in 2014, ranking 45 among 510 presidents of private colleges.^[31] In the winter of that year, classes were postponed because the college was unable to heat its facilities.^[32]

In February 2017, Frederick and sixty-eight other presidents of black institutions went to the White House to meet with various officials, in the hope of laying the groundwork to secure additional funding from the federal government. ^[33][34] The meeting prompted outrage on campus and a spate of graffiti vandalism that included allegations that Frederick does not care about black people and was an "plantation overseer".^[35][36] Mark Mason, an alum who is chief financial officer at Citigroup and a vice-co-chair of the university's board of trustees later told The New Yorker the graffiti was "inappropriately personalized and should not have happened." ^[37][38]

In 2018, students asked Frederick for assistance with housing issues after the University was unable to assign dorms. On multiple occasions, Frederick responded that students' emails were inappropriate in tone.^[39] After students protested, the housing office was closed and campus police were called.^[40] He later issued a statement saying that he had fallen short of student expectations.^[39]

In April 2018, faculty returned a vote of no confidence in Frederick. Among the faculty who voted, 61 percent expressed a lack of faith in Frederick's leadership.^[41] However, Frederick received a letter of support from the university’s Council of Deans, which represents leaders of Howard’s schools and colleges. The group wrote that it is “confident that the plans, strategies, programs and activities of the University Board of Trustees and President Wayne A.I. Frederick are yielding positive results and are on a positive trajectory for a strong and positive future for our beloved institution.” ^{[42] [43]} The school’s alumni association also rejected calls for Frederick to step down. In a letter sent by Nadia N. Pinto, its president, wrote that it was important to hear the concerns of students and meet their needs, but Frederick had been a capable and effective leader who deserved to remain in his job. ^[44][45]

Awards and Recognition

In addition to his work as an administrator, faculty member, and surgeon, Frederick has conducted research bridging health disparities with a particular emphasis on cancer outcomes among African Americans and other underrepresented groups. He has served as the principal investigator for major collaborations with the National Cancer Institute, Johns Hopkins University, and local and national minority-serving oncology programs. He has published peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, abstracts, and editorials. Frederick is the immediate past Chair of the Surgical Section of the National Medical Association. He has also served as Director of the Drew-Walker Residents Forum of the Surgical Section of the National Medical Association and Vice Chairman of the District of Columbia Board of Medicine.

He has also received various awards honoring his scholarship and service. In January 2017, the Federal Reserve System Board of Governors elected Dr. Frederick to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s Baltimore Branch. In May 2016, President Barack H. Obama appointed Dr. Frederick to the Board of Advisors for the White House Initiative on HBCUs. Dr. Frederick has also received the National Association of Health Services Executives’ Congressional Black Caucus Distinguished Leadership in Health Care Award, and a Congressional Citation for Distinguished Service, presented by the Honorable Barbara Lee on the Occasion of Caribbean-American Heritage Month. In April 2016, Dr. Frederick became a member of the American Surgical Association, known as “the nation's oldest and most prestigious surgical organization.”^{[46] [47]}

References

External links

• Appearances on C-SPAN