Impact Howard Year-End Challenge Finishes Big

With the magnanimous support of Bison alumni, friends and supporters, Howard University raised $1,322,740 in the Impact Howard Year-End Challenge 2024 as of Jan. 6. In the campaign, the University’s array of Impact Funds and other funds were supported by more than a thousand donors as of Jan. 6: 886 alumni, 98 friends, 45 parents, 17 faculty, 13 staff and 4 students.

Art Basel Recap

This year at Art Basel in Miami Beach, Florida, the Department of Alumni Relations, the College of Fine Arts and the Howard University Alumni Club of South Florida highlighted the impact of HBCUs on art and culture with sold-out panels, the HU Student Art Exhibition, the 2024 Point Comfort Art Fair and the Bison Art Crawl.

The weekend, Dec. 5–7, wrapped up with the Sunset Soiree, bringing alumni and friends together. Thank you to all who joined us to celebrate Howard University’s impact on art and culture at Art Basel! We look forward to seeing you next year.

Save the date: Howard University Day at Nationals Park

On April 7, the Washington Nationals are scheduled to welcome Howard alumni to Nationals Park, to see them play the Los Angeles Dodgers. The plans for the festivities call for a Howard singer or choir to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and a Howard alumnus to make the opening pitch. Howard’s own “Showtime” Marching Band is due to perform and, as a bonus, a Washington Nationals cap with the Howard Bison logo is to be given as a promotion. Game time is 6:45 p.m., Monday, April 7, at Nationals Park. Look for information on how to purchase special tickets.

Join the Impact Howard Year-End Challenge

Your gift can be matched dollar-for-dollar

We have an incredible opportunity to build on Howard’s successes — including ranking No. 1 on Forbes magazine’s list of the top HBCUs in the nation — by raising $1 million in our Impact Howard Year-End Challenge 2024. A generous friend of the University will match each dollar we raise by December 31, up to $500,000. Your gift is tax deductible and will be worth twice as much!

Women’s soccer and volleyball cap amazing seasons

Bison women are the 2024 MEAC soccer champions who earned their spot in the NCAA tournament. Although losing 8–0 to top-seeded Duke University in the first round, our women played with the valor of champions.

Our women’s volleyball team clinched the 2024 MEAC regular season title undefeated in conference (14–0) but fell short 3–2 against Delaware State University in the tournament match. Despite the loss, our volleyball team secured many individual awards.

From student-athlete to college president: Charles J. Gibbs’ remarkable journey

By Kelvin Childs

Charles J. Gibbs (’91, BBA; ’04, MEd; ’20, EdD) stands as a testament to the transformative power of education. He credits Howard University not only for sharpening his skills and talents but also for preparing him to lead as the seventh and first African-American president of Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY). His journey to the presidency was forged through his education and 16 years of leadership at Howard from 2000 to 2016.

Golden Classes Reunion Save the Date

By Lauren Ivey

Howard leads stage at AfroTech Conference

Hundreds participated in a first-of-its kind activation and stage titled “The Yard at AfroTech U” in the exhibition hall of the four-day-long 2024 conference in Houston. Celebrating HBCU resilience and unity, the networking space attracted HBCU alums, supporters and enthusiasts. Named for our iconic Yard, the event partnered the University with Blavity/AfroTech.

Alumni Leadership Academy to build skills, boost participation

By Kelvin Childs

Soon, a new initiative of the Board of Trustees — the Alumni Leadership Academy — will launch to boost alumni participation in campus life.

The pilot of the Academy starts in January in tandem with the spring 2025 semester, said Danette G. Howard, PhD (’97, B.A., summa cum laude), a Howard trustee who is leading the initiative. 

3rd Annual Dr. Bernadine Mays Lacy Symposium on Health Equity