WASHINGTON — Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick, M.D., MBA, has been appointed to the NCAA Division I Presidential Forumand will serve a three-year term beginning September 1. The Presidential Forum is comprised of one president or chancellor from each of the 32 Division I Conferences. 

“I am honored to represent Howard University and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference institutions as a member of the NCAA Division I Presidential Forum,” said President Frederick. “From my experience as the soccer team manager as a freshman to overseeing our 21 Division I sports, I hope to bring a range of experiences and perspectives to this role. I look forward to working with the governing body to address intercollegiate athletics and its relationship to higher education.”

The purpose of the forum is to assist the NCAA Division I Board of Directors in accomplishing its strategic mission in the Division I governance structure and help ensure that the NCAA core value involving presidential leadership of intercollegiate athletics at the campus, conference and national level is achieved.

As the 17th president, Dr. Frederick’s goal is to enhance the Howard University legacy, ensure that the University maximizes its impact and that its students receive a well-rounded educational experience. Through his experience as a scholar and an administrator, Dr. Frederick strives to develop innovative approaches to focus on the institutional priorities of his beloved alma mater and support the success of its students.

As an undergraduate student, Dr. Frederick was admitted to Howard University’s B.S./M.D. dual degree program. He completed the requirements for both degrees in six years, allowing him to earn both his Bachelor of Science and his medical degree by the age of 22. 

A distinguished researcher and surgeon, Dr. Frederick is the author of numerous peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, abstracts and editorials. He has also received various awards honoring his scholarship and service. In January 2017, the Federal Reserve System Board of Governors elected Dr. Frederick to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s Baltimore Branch. In May 2016, President Barack H. Obama appointed Dr. Frederick to the Board of Advisors for the White House Initiative on HBCUs. Dr. Frederick has also received the National Association of Health Services Executives’ Congressional Black Caucus Distinguished Leadership in Health Care Award, and a Congressional Citation for Distinguished Service, presented by the Honorable Barbara Lee on the Occasion of Caribbean-American Heritage Month. In April 2016, Dr. Frederick became a member of the American Surgical Association, known as “the nation's oldest and most prestigious surgical organization.”

# # #

Media Contact: Alonda Thomas, alonda.thomas@howard.edu