Rooted in Tradition, Ascending in Excellence

From the Dean's Perspective

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.

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 Anniversary: Honorees

Dean Emeritus, Dr. Barron Harvey

Dr. Barron H. Harvey was appointed Associate Provost for Academic Innovation and Strategic Initiatives at Howard University on July 1, 2020, overseeing new academic program approvals, online programs and strategy, strategic partnerships, and innovation projects. A tenured professor in the Department of Accounting for over 25 years, Dr. Harvey previously served as Dean of the Howard University School of Business for 26 years, during which the School achieved top national and international rankings, including 14 consecutive years as Princeton Review’s #1 “Best Opportunity for Minority Students.” Under his leadership, the School became the first in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area to earn AACSB accreditation for its accounting program and secured four separate reaffirmations for all programs. Dr. Harvey was the first Frank Ross/KPMG Endowed Professor in Accounting and has twice been named “Educator of the Year” by the National Association of Black Accountants, while holding faculty appointments at the University of Nebraska, University of Miami, and Georgetown University. He is also the founder of several influential organizations, including the National HBCU Business Deans Roundtable, the Washington Consortium School of Business Research Forum, and the African Venture Capital Association.

Nicholas Perkins, Chairman, President, and CEO of Perkins Management Services Company and Fuddruckers

Nicholas M. Perkins is Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Perkins Management Services Company—which he founded in 2005 at age 24—and of Black Titan Franchise Systems, the entity through which he acquired the Fuddruckers restaurant franchise in 2021, becoming the first African American to hold 100% ownership of a national burger franchise. A Fayetteville, North Carolina native raised by his mother and grandmother, he earned a B.S. in Business from Fayetteville State University and an MBA from Howard University, where he later served as an adjunct entrepreneurship professor. Under his leadership, Perkins Management Services has grown into a multimillion-dollar enterprise serving diverse clients, including universities, hospitals, and the U.S. Department of Defense. Since acquiring Fuddruckers, Perkins has steered a revitalization strategy—including brand repositioning, franchise expansion, and innovations such as the “Burger Bar by Fuddruckers” concept and new loyalty programs—while emphasizing community-driven growth in local markets like Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Charlotte. Committed to civic impact, he holds board positions including as the youngest trustee ever appointed to the National Urban League and has been recognized for his efforts to increase entrepreneurship, diversity, and economic development in under-resourced communities.

Alex Dixon, Senior Advisor to the Board of Directors, Resorts World

Alex Dixon, a third-generation Las Vegas native and Durango High School graduate, earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from Howard University, where his exposure to HBCU leadership and programs like Upward Bound and the HBCU College Tour shaped his path toward Wall Street and executive leadership. After graduating, he began his career in investment banking with J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs, contributing to high-profile transactions including Disney’s acquisition of Pixar. Bringing over two decades of global gaming, hospitality, real estate, and banking experience—including leadership roles at Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts, and as CEO of Q Casino & Resort—he was appointed CEO of Resorts World Las Vegas in January 2025. As the only Black CEO of a major Strip casino-hotel, he views his role as both symbolic and inspirational, often citing that he’s “living the American dream” in a place once inaccessible to his grandmother. Known for his operational and strategic acumen, Dixon has guided large-scale property openings and turnarounds, including MGM Springfield and Circus Circus, and now leads Resorts World through a renewed era of growth and regulatory integrity.

Leslie Hale, President and Chief Executive Cfficer, RLJ Lodging Trust

Leslie D. Hale, a Howard University Trustee since 2013 and vice chair of the Board since 2021, assumed the chairmanship on June 6, 2025. She is the president and chief executive officer of RLJ Lodging Trust (NYSE: RLJ), a leading hotel real estate investment trust with 96 properties and approximately 21,200 rooms across the United States. Since joining RLJ in 2005, she has advanced through leadership roles—chief financial officer in 2007, chief operating officer in 2016, and chief executive officer in 2018—while spearheading major milestones including RLJ’s 2011 IPO and the 2017 merger of two hospitality REITs. In addition to her work at RLJ, Ms. Hale serves on the boards of Delta Air Lines, Inc., the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond’s Baltimore branch, and several industry organizations including the NAREIT Advisory Board of Governors and the AHLA Executive Board. A summa cum laude graduate of Howard University with a BBA, she earned her MBA from Harvard Business School as a Goldman Sachs and Toigo Fellow, following earlier roles at Goldman Sachs and GE in investment banking, mergers and acquisitions, and real estate strategic capital.

Sylvia Taylor, Chief Human Resources Officer, Safe-Guard Products International

Sylvia F. Taylor is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Safe-Guard Products International, where she serves on the Executive Leadership Team and leads the company’s global HR strategy, contributing to its position as the #1 provider of branded finance and insurance solutions. A seasoned executive with experience across Fortune 50 and mid-cap companies, Sylvia has held senior roles at The Weather Channel, AutoTrader, General Motors, PepsiCo, and ExxonMobil, including international leadership in Singapore during the ExxonMobil merger. Her career is distinguished by expertise in change management, talent strategy, and organizational transformation, earning her national recognition such as Savoy Magazine’s Top Influential Women in Corporate America and the National Diversity Council’s Most Powerful and Influential Woman Award. A magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Howard University, where she earned both a B.A. in Sociology and an MBA, Sylvia also holds an Honorary Doctorate from Heidelberg University, where she serves on the Board of Trustees.

Emerald Anniversary Exemplars By Decade

JoVita D. Wells, Esq. - Finance, 1971

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

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 - Insurance, 1993
Dexter Cole - MBA, 1993
Charisse Ford Hughes - Insurance, 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. - Marketing1998
Joanita F. Ricketts - International Business, 1999
Julian K. Petty, Esq. - Marketing, 1999
Timothy J. Edwards - Finance, 1999
Keith Lathan - Finance, 1999

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

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

Dr. 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.

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.