Throughout the day, guest speakers reinforced how the BOV structure fits within Howard’s broader vision, a mission-driven, student-centered strategy to graduate more leaders prepared to serve. “A Provost’s Dialogue with Deans,” led by Provost and Chief Academic Officer Anthony K. Wutoh, Ph.D., R.Ph., spotlighted the academic core, with discussion centered on elevating student success, expanding research, and embedding industry partnerships across disciplines. 

BOV chairs then convened for a roundtable moderated by Trustee Emeritus Marie C. Johns, surfacing cross-school opportunities to scale mentoring pipelines, experiential learning, and sponsored research collaborations.

“The roundtable discussion was a powerful reflection of what can happen when Howard’s boards think collectively about student success,” said Johns. “By surfacing cross-school opportunities to scale mentoring pipelines, expand experiential learning, and strengthen sponsored research collaborations, we’re not just sharing ideas—we’re building connectivity across every college and school for a common purpose: preparing Howard students to lead and serve at the highest levels.”

The agenda also featured “Development Spotlight: BOV Engagement Case Studies,” facilitated by Associate Vice President for Individual Giving Ragan Royal. Her presentation highlighted tangible models for aligning philanthropy to student-centered outcomes. School and college working sessions that followed enabled each BOV to translate those ideas into near-term priorities and metrics to report back to the university community.

As we look ahead to Impact Howard 2027, we look forward to engaging new partners, strengthening collaboration, and continuing our commitment to ensuring the Board of Visitors Program leaves a lasting impact on Howard University.”

Networking opportunities including lunch and a student-led campus tour worked to deepen connections between board members and the scholars they champion. Friday’s program continued the focus on students, beginning with a pre-convocation breakfast and culminating at Opening Convocation in Cramton Auditorium, followed by the “Impact Howard” closing luncheon, a fitting bookend that centered the university’s mission and the next generation of Bison.

As the Congress adjourned, Frederick offered three questions to sustain the work beyond the convening. “What is the single highest-leverage action our board can take in the next 12 months, who are three partners we must enlist to make it happen, and how will we measure and report progress to this community?” he asked.

“Impact Howard” ultimately served as both a milestone and a starting line: a university-wide alignment of advisors, advocates, and partners ready to pair counsel with commitment and turn ambition into measurable outcomes for students. The Biennial Congress established a recurring forum for boards to convert insights into action and help Howard press its advantages at a consequential moment for the university, and for higher education at large.

“It has been a true pleasure to bring the Biennial Congress of the BOV Program to life,” said Young. “As we look ahead to Impact Howard 2027, we look forward to engaging new partners, strengthening collaboration, and continuing our commitment to ensuring the Board of Visitors Program leaves a lasting impact on Howard University.”