WASHINGTON – Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA, was honored today as a 2021 “Great Immigrant, Great American” by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the nation’s oldest grantmaking foundation.

The annual list honors 34 individuals who have enriched and strengthened American society and democracy through their contributions and actions. President Frederick, a cancer surgeon who hails from Trinidad and Tobago, is being honored for developing methods to narrow racial, ethnic and gender disparities in cancer outcomes. 

President Frederick said he was humbled to be honored by the Carnegie Corporation and to be included among such an impressive group of individuals who were recognized.

“Ever since I arrived in the United States at the age of 16, I have developed a deep love and affection for America,” Frederick said. “Certainly, there are aspects of our society that are problematic and in need of fixing. But the strength of our democracy and the endurance of our national values have made me a firm believer in the potential of America. We need look no further than Howard University and our esteemed alumna, Vice President Kamala Harris, to see what our country is capable of.” 

The philanthropic foundation invites Americans to celebrate the distinguished individuals on the list by participating in its online public awareness campaign Great Immigrants, Great Americans (#GreatImmigrants).

The Class of 2021 represents more than 30 countries of origin and emphasizes service to society, including honorees who are recognized for helping others as medical providers and researchers; as advocates for the disadvantaged, disabled and disenfranchised; and as changemakers in politics, voting rights, climate change and teaching. 

The honorees have a wide variety of backgrounds and careers, including the chairman and CEO of Pfizer; the head of Google’s interactive design; the creator of language-learning software Duolingo; winners of the Pulitzer, Nobel, Vilcek and Beard prizes; and celebrities such as actress Helen Mirren and comedian John Oliver.

About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue more than 140 programs of study leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced one Schwarzman Scholar, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 12 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. 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.