WASHINGTON (April 15, 2019) – The 2018-2019 Gwendolyn S. and Colbert I. King Endowed Chair in Public Policy Lecture Series, chaired by political strategist and author Donna Brazile, concludes a stretch of enlightening and engaging discussions with “Civic Engagement and the Future of American Democracy,” on Thursday, April 18, at the Founders Library Browsing Room, beginning at 5 p.m. Howard University graduate and U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings, will join Brazile for the final lecture of this year’s King Lecture Series. Rep. Cummings returns to the King Lecture Series after being chairman of the series from 2014-2016. He currently represents Maryland’s 7^thcongressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he has proudly served for more than 20 years. 

Congressman Cummings was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, where he still resides today. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in political science from Howard University, serving as Student Government president and graduating Phi Beta Kappa. He is also a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law. Congressman Cummings has received 13 honorary doctoral degrees from universities throughout the nation.



Congressman Cummings has dedicated his life of service to uplifting and empowering the people he is sworn to represent. He began his career of public service in the Maryland House of Delegates, where he served for 14 years and became the first African American in Maryland history to be named Speaker Pro Tem.  

The congressman often says that our children are the living messages that we send to a future we will never see. In that vein, he is committed to ensuring that our next generation has access to quality healthcare and education, clean air and water, and a strong economy defined by fiscal responsibility.



Congressman Cummings currently serves as the chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform. As the main investigative committee in the House of Representatives, Oversight and Reform has jurisdiction to investigate any federal program and any matter with federal policy implications.  As the committee’s chairman, Congressman Cummings fights to hold the presidential administration to a high standard of excellence and to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the actions of the government of the United States.  He also seeks to identify appropriate reforms that prevent waste, fraud and abuse and that ensure government programs meet the needs of the American people.



He is also a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, serving on both the subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation and the subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.



Congressman Cummings serves on numerous boards and commissions. He is spearheading an effort to strengthen the Maritime Transportation Technologies Program at New Era Academy (NEA) in Baltimore, serving as chairman of the NEA Maritime Advisory Board. He also serves on the U.S. Naval Academy Board of Visitors, the Morgan State University Board of Regents, the University of Maryland Law School Board of Advisors, and the SEED School of Maryland Board of Directors. He is an honorary board member of KIPP Baltimore Schools and the Baltimore School for the Arts. 

“Civic Engagement and the Future of American Democracy”is the final installation of the 2018-2019 Gwendolyn S. and Colbert I. King Endowed Chair in Public Policy Lecture Series, which provides students with access to experienced, senior public service executives who have developed and advanced public policy initiatives. Since 2008, six prominent public leaders have engaged students on issues related to the public interest.

This event is free and open to the Howard community via RSVP to KingLectureSeries@Howard.edu. Due to limited seating, guests are asked to arrive early.WHUT-Howard University Television will stream the lecture live at http://whur.com/whur/tune-in-for-the-king-lecture-series/.    

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Note: All media outlets interested in attending should contact Ramzey Smith, Office of University Communications, Ramzey.smith@howard.edu.

About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, two Marshall Scholars, one Schwarzman Scholar, over 70 Fulbright Scholars and 22 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States.  For more information on Howard University visit www.howard.edu.