WS Chronicle

By Howard University Newsroom Staff

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Howard University has appointed James Comey as this year’s Opening Convocation keynote speaker and the 2017-2018 Gwendolyn S. and Colbert I. King Endowed Chair in Public Policy.

Comey is the FBI director fired by President Donald Trump in May.

He will kick off the school year with an address to the university and engage the Howard community through a lecture series designed to foster fruitful discussion and spur meaningful interaction.

Scheduled for Sept. 22, Opening Convocation officially signals the beginning of the academic year. Comey will formally welcome the Class of 2021 to the 2017-2018 school year and recognize the university for its accomplishments and its commitment to excellence in truth and service.  As the holder of the King Chair, Comey will lead and conduct five lectures featuring speakers that will touch on several topics.

“I am pleased to welcome Mr. Comey to Howard,” said Howard University President Wayne A.I. Frederick. “His expertise and understanding of the challenges we continue to face today will go a long way in sparking rich discussion and advancing meaningful debates across campus.”

“I am honored to hold the King Chair this school year. Howard has a longstanding history of being a vibrant academic community and the perfect place to have rich dialogue on many of the most pressing issues we face today,” said Comey. “I look forward to contributing to this remarkable institution and engaging students and faculty alike.”

The King Chair was established to provide students access to experienced, senior public service executives who developed and advanced public policy initiatives. Comey will announce the topic of the lectures after consulting with student leaders and other campus stakeholders on topics relevant to the Howard community.

Comey will be donating his entire King Chair compensation of $100,000 to a Howard University scholarship fund. The fund will support students coming from a foster home environment.