Thurgood Marshall College Fund Makes Historic and Timely Choice

On January 4, 2024, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), an organization dedicated to serving Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Predominantly Black Public Institutions (PBIs) nationwide, announced the , appointed Raquel Auden as chair of the board. . Auden, a Black woman, is the first woman to serve in this important role in her 37-year history at TMCF. A statement from the organization said: “Mr. Auden’s appointment as board chairman comes at a time when diversity and inclusion efforts are facing challenges, especially in the wake of the recent Supreme Court decision on affirmative action. “It is a powerful symbol of TMCF’s dedication to promoting sexuality.”

Mr. Auden is the US head of HSBC Bank, where he leads the wealth banking and personal banking divisions. She brings a wealth of experience to her TMCF leadership role, and the organization plans to leverage her expertise. TMCF shared that Ms. Auden’s “work in industry puts her in a unique position to serve as an advocate to secure new partnerships.” According to Auden, “TMCF represents 80% of all students attending HBCUs. As a board member for the past 16 years, I have worked to improve access, equity, and foster growth in HBCU talent through scholarships and leadership development.” I have supported TMCF in promoting gender, inclusiveness, and as the first woman in this role, I am excited to continue building on that tradition of service.”

TMCF Chairman Harry L. Williams is excited about the possibility of working with Mr. Auden. and inclusion. Her leadership intends to take TMCF to new heights, cementing our position to change the world one leader at a time, and establishing ourselves as an authority on equity and inclusion. ”

TMCF was founded in 1987 by visionary N. Joyce Payne with the express purpose of supporting African American students seeking higher education. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to serve as president of Morgan State University, a TMCF member university,” said David Wilson, president of Morgan State University, a TMCF member university. “I applaud Dr. Joyce Payne’s vision in birthing TMCF. She was and is dynamic. And she is a leader in creating an alternative to represent private HBCUs that was hastily changed by the state for funding. She understood that public HBCUs that were not represented by these organizations needed a voice.” She added, “It was her bravery and vision that gave birth to TMCF.”

Continuing in Payne’s tradition, TMCF is “defending” a tradition of inclusion and equity at a time when the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion is being questioned across the country. The group views Auden’s appointment as “a sign that TMCF’s pursuit of fairness goes beyond rhetoric.”

Morgan State’s Wilson is particularly pleased that Auden has corporate experience and is a graduate of historic Blackhampton University. He said: “Having someone like Auden at the head of the board is so important at a time when we seem to be going through a period of confusion about why this country is recognized as the best in the world.” Ta.He added, “America is a nation of diversity, created by different groups and is the envy of the world. It is very fitting that one of the national organizations representing the voices of HBCUs would appoint someone like Auden.” That’s because the very purpose of this organization – of which she would be the chief advocate – was to encourage the country to realize its national ideals: the Constitution and its ideals. teeth At the core is diversity, equity and inclusion [DEI]”

Amidst the debate about the value (and even legitimacy) of DEI efforts in higher education and other fields, Wilson said: “HBCUs can’t run away from their DEI. It’s our birthright, it’s our DNA.” We’re not going to ban history or run from the facts. We are truth tellers. We are not afraid to make people uncomfortable as they learn. Our country cannot become the most competitive nation in the world unless HBCUs drive key parts of the higher education agenda. I commend the TMCF Board of Directors for elevating a man of immense talent and experience to a leadership role. I can’t wait to work with her. ”

Robert Palmer, a professor at historically Black Howard University and an expert on HBCUs, sees Auden’s appointment as “an important milestone for TMCF,” but one that could have an even bigger impact on HBCUs overall. I think there is. He said, “At a time when equity and diversity are being challenged nationally, we must remember that these issues play out very differently at HBCUs. When we think about gender, many people think of these issues in the context of race, but at HBCUs, equity and diversity issues can manifest in the form of gender.” “There are disparities in the treatment of female presidents at HBCUs, and some have expressed concerns about sexism and the inclusion of Black women in executive leadership positions.”

Palmer said Auden’s appointment to a key position at TMCF will encourage more HBCU officials, especially boards, to “not only consider having more women in leadership positions; I hope that they will begin to critically examine their internal policies and practices to ensure that they have female presidents and female presidents.” Other female executives are treated equally to their male counterparts. ”

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