By Mike Cason, Associated Press
President Joe Biden has appointed Alabama State University President Quinton Ross to the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
The White House announced the 18 members of the board on Thursday. Ross has been president of ASU since 2017.
The board, first established by President Jimmy Carter, is expected to help carry out a Biden administration initiative to advance educational equity, excellence and opportunity through HBCUs.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to supporting the vital mission of HBCUs,” a press release from the White House said. “Through the American Rescue Plan, grant funding, and by forgiving capital improvement debt of many of these institutions, the Biden- Harris Administration has already committed more than $5.8 billion in support. Reestablishing the White House HBCU Initiative – and appointing qualified and diverse individuals to the Board – will allow the administration to build on that financial commitment with continued institutional support.”
Ross holds three degrees from Alabama State, a bachelor’s in political science, a master’s in secondary English and a doctorate in educational leadership, policy and law. He has worked in education for more than 28 years, including as director
of adult education at Trenholm State Community College from 2004-2014 and as principal at Booker T. Washington Magnet High School in Montgomery from 2000-2003.
Before becoming the 15th president at ASU, Ross represented a Montgomery district in the state Senate from 2002 to 2017.
The advisors board includes four other HBCU presidents. Among the other members are actress Taraji P. Henson, NBA star Chris Paul and United Airlines President Brett Hart. Delaware State University President Tony Allen serves as the chairman of the Advisory Board, and Tennessee State University President Glenda Glover is the vice chair.
