Rooted in Tradition, Ascending in Excellence

55th Anniversary Logo
From the Dean's Perspective
Dr. Wilbon

Since its founding, the Howard University School of Business has been a leader in shaping not only the future of business education but also the broader impact on industries across the globe. Our history is rich with stories of alumni whose contributions have shaped and revolutionized diverse sectors, from finance and technology to healthcare, law, and beyond. These leaders—trailblazers who came from various backgrounds—have left an indelible mark on the corporate world and social enterprises alike.

Over the past five decades, the School of Business has produced executives, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders who continue to push the boundaries of excellence in their respective fields. They serve as role models for current and future generations, demonstrating the power of education, resilience, and innovation. Our alumni are not only contributing to the success of Fortune 500 companies but are also laying the groundwork for social impact, working diligently to create more equitable and sustainable systems within their industries.

As we celebrate this rich history, it is equally important that we look forward. The Howard University School of Business is not only commemorating its past successes but also positioning itself to continue being a leader in business education for the next 55 years. Our strategic vision is clear: to raise $8MM - $ 10MM annually in philanthropic revenue, primarily from our alumni. These resources will allow us to expand our academic offerings, develop world-class programs, and continue to prepare our students for careers in the most lucrative and sought-after industries.

Your support would significantly enhance our vision for commitment to maintaining and strengthening our academic rigor while providing students with innovative, out-of-the-classroom opportunities that complement their learning experience. These programs—ranging from immersive internships to leadership development initiatives and high-impact partnerships with industry leaders—are designed to ensure our students are not just graduates but equipped professionals ready to excel in the 21st-century marketplace.

Lloyd Freeman, '04, Anniversary: Dinner Chair

As Dinner Chair for the Howard University School of Business 55th Anniversary Gala, I am honored to invite our alumni to join us in celebrating this historic milestone. For fifty-five years, the School has produced leaders who continue to shape industries and communities worldwide. Your participation—through sponsorship, table support, or attendance—will ensure that we not only honor this legacy but also secure the resources needed to prepare the next generation of executives, entrepreneurs, and innovators.

 

Make a Donation
LLoyd Freeman
Sherman Avenue School of Business

Sponsorship Package

Click Here

Please contact Cecelia Pitt at cecelia.pitt@howard.edu to learn more about the 55th Anniverssary sponsorship opportunities and to purchase tickets.

Customized  sponsorship packages are always available to best serve your interests. 

Tax Deductibility Notice

Each table purchased through a sponsorship and each individual ticket sale includes a non-deductible goods and services value of $150 per seat. This portion represents the fair market value of benefits received and is not tax-deductible. For individual tickets priced at $475, $325 will be considered a charitable contribution for tax purposes.

For sponsorships, the tax-deductible portion is calculated by multiplying the number of seats included in your sponsorship by the $150 goods and services value, and subtracting this amount from the total sponsorship payment. The remaining balance represents the charitable contribution eligible for tax deduction under applicable laws.

Emerald Celebration: Honorees

Leslie D. Hale (BBA ’94)

Chair of Howard University Board of Trustees

Leslie D. Hale, elected to the Board of Trustees in 2013 and vice chair since 2021, was appointed chair on June 6, 2025. She is president and chief executive officer of RLJ Lodging Trust (NYSE: RLJ), a leading hotel REIT that owns 96 U.S. hotels totaling approximately 21,200 rooms. Since joining RLJ in 2005, Hale has helped shape and execute the company’s strategy through successive leadership roles—CFO (2007), COO (2016), and CEO (2018)—and led milestone transactions including RLJ’s 2011 IPO and the hospitality sector’s first REIT-to-REIT merger in 2017; she also serves on RLJ’s Board of Directors. Hale sits on the Board of Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE: DAL), is a Trustee of Howard University, and serves on the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s Baltimore Branch board; her industry affiliations include the MINA Advisory Board, NAREIT Advisory Board of Governors, AHLA Executive Board, IREFAC, and the Real Estate Roundtable. Earlier in her career, she held senior roles at GE (Commercial Finance M&A and Real Estate Strategic Capital) and was an investment banker at Goldman Sachs. Hale earned a BBA, summa cum laude, from Howard University and an MBA from Harvard Business School, where she was a Goldman Sachs and Toigo Fellow.

Ms. Lofton

Adrienne Lofton

Adrienne Lofton serves as the Senior Vice President of Global Brand Marketing at Google, where she spearheads brand strategy and engagement initiatives worldwide. With a track record of elevating major global brands, her leadership and vision have consistently driven market performance and innovation. Previously, she held senior roles at renowned companies like Nike, Under Armour, and Levi Strauss & Co. Recognized for her strategic insight and creativity, Adrienne has been featured in numerous industry lists, celebrating her as a trailblazer in marketing excellence.

Mr. Dixon

Alex Dixon

Alex Dixon is the Strategic Advisor to the Board of Directors of Resorts World Las Vegas, a premier luxury destination on the Las Vegas Strip. Dixon brings over 20 years of leadership experience spanning gaming, hospitality, real estate and finance to this pivotal role. Known for his expertise in revitalising legacy brands, optimising real estate assets and fostering high-performing teams, Dixon has built a career distinguished by strategic innovation and operational excellence. A native of Las Vegas, Dixon has held leadership positions at some of the most iconic organisations in the industry, including MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment and Goldman Sachs. His extensive experience, coupled with a deep commitment to community engagement, positions him to lead Resorts World Las Vegas into its next chapter of growth and transformation.

Nicholas Perkins

Nicholas Perkins

Chairman, President, and CEO Perkins Management Services Company and Black Titan Investment Corporation, The Parent Company of Fuddruckers “Worlds Greatest Hamburgers”. This the acquisition made Mr. Perkins, the first African American to own a National Hamburger Franchise System. Mr. Perkins was born in Fayetteville, NC and raised by his single mother with assistance from his maternal grandmother. Mr. Perkins’ solid upbringing and desire to become an entrepreneur inspired him to deftly exact impactful goals with demonstrated excellence. To that end, Mr. Perkins has committed himself to economic development and creation of job opportunities within under resourced  communities.

Mrs. Taylor

Sylvia Taylor

Sylvia F. Taylor is a global human resources leader and trusted C-suite partner, currently serving as Chief Human Resources Officer and Executive Leadership Team member at Safe-Guard Products International, where she architects and executes the enterprise HR strategy underpinning the company’s position as the world’s leading provider of branded finance and insurance solutions. Previously EVP of Human Resources at The Weather Channel and VP of Human Resources at AutoTrader, she led large-scale transformation in change management, performance alignment, talent acquisition, and leadership development during periods of rapid growth. Her earlier career includes strategic roles at General Motors, PepsiCo, and ExxonMobil, where she served in Singapore as an expatriate leader and on the Asia Pacific M&A team during the Exxon–Mobil merger. A recognized industry voice, Taylor has been honored with Business to Business Magazine’s Women of Excellence Award, the Global HR Summit’s Top 10 Breakaway Leaders Award, Savoy’s Top Influential Women in Corporate America, and the National Diversity Council’s Most Powerful and Influential Woman Award; she has also been profiled in SHRM Magazine and serves on NAAAHR’s Executive Advisory Board. Taylor earned both a B.A. in Sociology (Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude) and an MBA from Howard University, holds an honorary Doctorate in Business from Heidelberg University—where she is a Trustee—and resides in Atlanta, Georgia.

Barron H. Harvey, PHD, CPA

Dean Emeritus, Howard University School of Business

Dr. Barron Harvey is Associate Provost for Academic Innovation and Strategic Initiatives at Howard University (appointed July 1, 2020), overseeing new program approval, online strategy, and strategic partnerships. A tenured professor of accounting and dean of the Howard University School of Business for 26 years, he was the School’s first Frank Ross/KPMG Endowed Professor, a two-time NABA “Educator of the Year,” and the architect of key AACSB milestones—including the D.C. region’s first separate accreditation for Accounting and multiple reaffirmations. During his deanship, the School earned sustained national recognition, including Princeton Review’s No. 1 “Best Opportunity for Minority Students” for 14 consecutive years and top-50 Bloomberg Businessweek rankings. His professional service spans leadership roles with the AICPA, AACSB, the American Accounting Association, and the D.C. Board of Accountancy. He previously held academic appointments at the University of Nebraska, the University of Miami, and Georgetown University, and founded the National HBCU Business Deans Roundtable.

Emerald Anniversary Exemplars By Decade

1970 - 1979

  • JoVita D. Wells, Esq. - Finance, 1971

1980 - 1989

  • Alvin L. Kendall, Esq. - Accounting, 1982
  • Greg Dulan - Management, 1982
  • Douglass P. Selby - Marketing, 1986
  • Carla Hall - Accounting, 1986
  • Cornell McBride, Jr. - Marketing, 1987
  • Brian Q. Carmichael - Accounting, 1988
  • Caroline R. DeMarco - Finance, 1988
  • Garfield L. Swaby - Finance, 1989
  • Kelvin J. Pettaway - Accounting, 1989
  • Charlie Lewis - Finance, 1989
  • Keith Lathan - Finance, 1989

1990 - 1999

  • Martavius D. Jones - Finance, 1990
  • Arlene L. Lyons - Computer Information Systems, 1991
  • Kimberly F. Gartrell - MBA, 1991
  • Sean E. Morris - Hotel-Motel Management, 1991
  • Camye Mackey - Management, 1991
  • Dionne C. Lomax, Esq. - Finance, 1992
  • Tanya J. Brinkley - Finance, 1992
  • Bjorn J. Haines - Finance, 1993
  • Cory D. Mims - Finance, 1993
  • Dexter Cole - MBA, 1993
  • Charisse Ford Hughes - Finance, 1993
  • Corey N. Martin - Finance, 1994
  • Jacques L. Garibaldi - Finance, 1994
  • Tyrone R. Johnson - Marketing, 1994
  • Kanika Jones, PhD - Accounting, 1994
  • Dana M. Reed - International Business, 1995
  • Alicia R. Schwarz, Esq. - Finance/ International Business, 1998
  • Joanita F. Ricketts - International Business, 1999
  • Julian K. Petty, Esq. - Marketing, 1999
  • Timothy J. Edwards - Finance, 1999

2000 - 2009

  • Jocelyn D. Wright - MBA, 2000
  • Byrnes N. Guillaume, Esq. - MBA, 2001
  • Robert Earles - Management, 2001
  • Erik M. Causey - Accounting, 2002
  • Selena Singleton - Marketing, 2008
  • Ryan L. Smith - Finance, 2008

2010 - Current

  • William (Tre) Clayton, III - Finance, 2016
  • Solomon Mangham - Finance, 2017
  • Deanna Laster - Executive MBA, 2021
  • John Ferguson - MBA, 2021
  • James (Jimi) Page - Executive MBA,2024

Faculty Exemplar

  • Dr. Debby Lindsey-Taliefero, B.A. in 1976, an M.A. in 1978, and a Ph. D. in 1983

Levoyd Robinson, '87

CFI Partners, Inc.

Howard University School of Business: Board of Visitor

For 55 years, the Howard University School of Business has been a catalyst for opportunity—empowering generations of students to rise as innovators, leaders, and changemakers. The School’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its ability to connect education with real-world impact has created pathways that not only transform careers but also strengthen industries and communities across the globe.

Celebrate 55 Years of Excellence at Salamander Washington DC

The Howard University School of Business is pleased to announce Salamander Washington DC as the preferred hotel for our 55th Anniversary Gala. Located along the Southwest Waterfront and steps from the city’s most iconic landmarks, Salamander offers unmatched luxury and convenience for our alumni, partners, and friends. Guests will enjoy elegant accommodations, exceptional dining by Chef Kwame Onwuachi, and world-class spa and wellness amenities, all within a refined setting that reflects the significance of this milestone celebration.

As our preferred partner, Salamander Washington DC provides a premier experience that complements the prestige of the Gala. With versatile event spaces, impeccable service, and exclusive accommodations for attendees, Salamander is the ideal choice for those joining us in honoring 55 years of excellence at the Howard University School of Business.

Book Today

Arlene Isaacs-Lowe

Independent Board Member | Fortune 500 Global Executive

Howard University School of Business: Board of Visitor, Vice Chairperson

Howard University’s School of Business gave me more than an education—it gave me the confidence, resilience, and network to thrive as an executive. Every success I have achieved is rooted in the foundation built here. As we mark 55 years of excellence, I believe it is our responsibility as alumni to reinvest in this institution, ensuring that its infrastructure, resources, and opportunities match the boundless potential of the next generation of Bison leaders.