b'Keynote SpeakerMeldon Hollis, JD, The First Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities Meldon Hollissadministrative positions at the University expertise onof Maryland, Texas Southern University, the Americanand Harvard University.He has also taught presidency andundergraduate and graduate courses in Blacks CollegesGovernment, Law, Public Administration, emerges fromAfrican American Studies, Political Science, his longstandingand Emergency Management at Northeastern work toUniversity, University of Maryland, Howard strengthen theUniversity, and Savannah State University. relationship between U.S.His public service and volunteer work includes presidents and HBCUs. While serving inthe Board of Directors of Friends of the President Jimmy Carters administration asNational Zoo in Washington, D.C., Board of Special Assistant to the Assistant SecretaryTrustees of the Massachusetts Bay Community for Education at the Department of Health,College, President of the Baltimore City School Education and Welfare (HEW), Hollis playedCommissioners, Chairman of the Board of a central role in the initial conceptualizationthe Baltimore Urban League, and Board of and ultimate establishment of the WhiteDirectors of the Hilton Head Island Gullah House Initiative on Historically BlackMuseum.Colleges and Universities. Hollis also enjoyed a radio station talk show He also served as the first Executive Directorhost career for nine years on WEAAFM in of the White House office in 1980. He laterBaltimore. He is a graduate of the U.S. Military returned to the White House Initiative onAcademy, University of Maryland, University HBCUs in 2009 to work as the Associateof Legon in Ghana, West Africa, and Harvard Director during the Obama presidency. InLaw School.Hollis is married to Jenetha that capacity, he collaborated with federalMcCutcheon Hollis; the couple reside in departments and agencies to assure access andHardeeville, S.C.participation in federal programs for more than 100 HBCUs. Holliss storied professional career extends to roles such as Coordinator of Intergovernmental Affairs at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), along with high-level 2 Virginia State University'