As the orator of Howard University’s 159th Charter Day Convocation Mar. 6, alumnus and business leader Donald B. Christian (BBA ’90) reflected on the power of connection, which he said has defined the institution since its founding nearly two centuries ago.

Speaking before students, alumni, faculty, and guests at Cramton Auditorium, Christian recalled walking across The Yard and trying to decode the “music of accents around me — the sing-song Caribbean, the Nigerian bass, voices from across America and the diaspora converging in one place.”

He said Howard has long served as a crossroads where lasting connections take shape.

“Connection matters — deep connection matters,” said Christian. “Do not rush past the people next to you. Many of the relationships you develop in college will last a lifetime.”

Excellence in Truth and Service

Christian is member of Howard’s Board of Trustees and founder and CEO of the consulting firm EquaTerra LLC. He’s also been lauded for creating the Jamaica Howard University Initiative, or J1, which provides scholarships, mentorship, and support to Jamaican students pursuing their education at the university.

Since its launch, J1 has awarded more than 115 scholarships totaling more than $463,000, helping students remain at Howard and continue their studies. He said the initiative connects “the grit, intellect, and creativity of Jamaican people” with the legacy of excellence and truth and service of Howard.

The convocation is part of Howard’s broader Charter Day celebration marking the university’s 159th year. As part of the week’s events, Howard will honor four alumni during the 102nd Charter Day Dinner Mar. 7 with the Alumni Award for Distinguished Postgraduate Achievement. This year’s honorees are journalist Jelani Cobb (B.A. ’94), Judge Herbert B. Dixon Jr. (BSEE ’70), theater producer and director Kamilah Forbes (BFA ’98), and physician James K. Fortson, M.D. (B.S. ’72).

Howard President Emeritus and Interim President Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA, reminded the audience that the institution began as an ambitious national experiment. Founded in 1867 after the Civil War, Howard was created to educate newly freed African Americans when access to higher education was largely denied to them.

“159 years ago, when this institution was created by the stroke of a pen of a United States president, a lot of hope was behind that,” Frederick said, adding that the university’s founders likely could not have envisioned what Howard would become.

“The work of this university will never be complete,” he added. “Our stewardship of this institution is not for a period of time. It is for eternity.”

Frederick, who stepped into the role of interim president last year, said he remains focused on maintaining the university’s progress and serving the Howard community. He pointed to recent developments, including the reopening of the university’s Miner Building and the presence of middle school students on campus, saying the reopening stands as a “visible reminder that we invest early and seriously in the next generation.”

Frederick also reminded the audience that global conflicts continue even as Howard gathers to celebrate. At the ceremony, he acknowledged young men and women serving in the armed forces and thanked those present for their service. He also paused the ceremony to acknowledge the passing of civil rights icon Jesse Jackson, whose funeral took place the same morning.

Frederick also pointed to the university’s Alternative Spring Break program as an example of Howard’s commitment to service. On Mar. 7, while many students across the country begin spring break in pursuit of rest and recreation, more than 1,200 Howard students will depart to more than 20 different cities as part of the program. 

“They will tutor, they will build, they will mentor, they will advocate,” Frederick said. “That is excellence in truth and service.”

Leslie D. Hale (BBA ’94), chair of Howard’s Board of Trustees, expressed gratitude to Frederick for stepping into the role of interim president.

“He answered the call to serve in this moment in time — a moment that requires clarity, stability, and continuity,” Hale said.

She emphasized that Howard’s survival and success have come from generations who have carried its mission forward.

“Howard University was not created by accident, nor sustained by chance,” Hale said. “It exists and persists because generation after generation chose to carry forward what they inherited and advance Howard with courage, conviction and care.”