WHITE HOUSE EXECUTIVE WILL GIVE TALLADEGA ADDRESS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Talladega College
Office of Public Relations/Mrs. Nicola Lawler
Telephone:  256-761-6207
E-mail: nllawler@talladega.edu
April 9, 2012 
 
Talladega, Alabama—Talladega College will host its annual Honors Convocation on Thursday, April 12.  This year’s speaker is Dr. John S. Wilson, the executive director who was appointed by President Barack Obama to head the White House Initiative on HBCUs.
 
Dr. Wilson spearheads a White House team that works with over 32 federal agencies and private corporate and philanthropic entities to strengthen the capacity of the nation’s 105 historically black colleges and universities. Prior to his White House post, Dr. Wilson served as an associate professor in the Graduate School of Education at George Washington University (GWU). At GWU, he was also the executive dean of the Virginia campus and he helped develop the university’s strategic plan. Prior to GWU, Dr. Wilson served for 16 years at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in various capacities as the director of foundations relations, assistant provost and other lead positions. As an MIT fundraiser, he served as a senior officer on capital campaigns with goals of $700 million and $2 billion. He more than doubled the productivity of an office he managed and peaked a record annual revenue of over $50 million.
 
Dr. Wilson is a graduate of Morehouse College. He has a Master’s in Theological Studies from Harvard University; and he also obtained a master’s and doctorate degree in administration, planning and social policy from Harvard. While serving as the Greater Boston Morehouse College Alumni Association president, Dr. Wilson raised over $.5 million in scholarships and $.5 million toward community outreach for his alumni chapter. He also served as a teaching fellow in Harvard’s Afro-American Studies Department and the Graduate School of Education while employed at MIT.
 
The College will salute its honor roll students, Dean’s List students and Presidential scholars beginning at 10 a.m. Thursday morning in DeForest Chapel. The convocation is open to family, friends, and the general public. For more information, please contact 256-761-6212.
 
 ABOUT TALLADEGA COLLEGE
Talladega College, founded in 1867, is Alabama’s oldest historically black private college and among the oldest liberal arts colleges in the nation.  Located in the historic district of the city of Talladega, Alabama, the college offers a range of degrees in four divisions:  Business and Administration, Humanities and Fine Arts, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and Social Sciences and Education. Talladega College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to award baccalaureate degrees; and the school holds several institutional memberships. For more information visit www.talladega.edu