NEW YORK — Beginning April 26, 2012, the College Board will bring together education and community leaders to focus on the most critical issues affecting the needs of African American students, at the eighth annual A Dream Deferred™ conference. This year's meeting, hosted in Los Angeles, Calif., will be held April 26–27, 2012, at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites. Former United States Congressman and NBC and MSNBC News Analyst Harold Ford Jr. will set the tone of the forum with his powerful discussion on African American students in the 21st century. One of the highly anticipated sessions will be "Preparing African American Students for STEM Fields," which features a panel of accomplished experts in STEM education.
Over two days, close to 700 professionals from 26 states and the District of Columbia representing K–12, higher education, government agencies and nonprofits will have the opportunity to hear from panelists and presenters from across the country. Attendees will learn about breakthrough strategies, progress and areas of opportunity for African American students.
This year's theme, "And How Are the Children Doing?: Transforming the Educational Experiences of African American Students,” will place special emphasis on closing the achievement gap for minority students.
The conference's distinguished keynote speakers include:
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Harold Ford Jr., Former Tennessee Congressman, Managing Director and Senior Client Relationship Manager, Morgan Stanley, News Analyst, NBC and MSNBC
Tracy Oliver and Madison T. Shockley III, the creative minds behind “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl” Web series
Arlene Wesley Cash, Vice President for Enrollment Management, Spelman College
Jeff Forbes, Program Director, National Science Foundation
Chris L. Hickey Sr., Executive Director, Each One–Teach One
Linda T. Murray, Consultant, The Education Trust–West (ETW)
Robert (Bob) Shepard, Founding Executive Director, Science and Engineering Alliance, Inc. (SEA)
Friday, April 27, 2012
Arlene C. Ackerman, Former Superintendent, The School District of Philadelphia
Frank Ashley, Vice Chancellor, Recruiting and Diversity, The Texas A&M University System
Douglas L. Christiansen, Vice Provost for Enrollment and Dean of Admissions, Vanderbilt University
Youlonda Copeland-Morgan, Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management, University of California, Los Angeles
Willie J. Gilchrist, Chancellor, Elizabeth City State University
Pamela T. Horne, Associate Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and Dean of Admissions, Purdue University
Maghan Keita, Professor, Villanova University
Janina Montero, Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs, University of California, Los Angeles
Adrian Mims, Dean of Students, Brookline High School, Massachusetts
Michael M. Shackleford, Vice President for Student Affairs, Virginia State University
Sylvia Rousseau, Professor, University of Southern California Rossier School of Education
This year the College Board introduced the Model of Excellence Recognition, which acknowledges individuals or organizations that have encouraged African American students to strive for academic success. Recipients of the award have implemented successful methodologies that have positively impacted countless African American students. The inaugural group of awardees includes:
- Jan Marie Barker-Alexander, Stanford University
- St. Louis Bridge Program, University of Missouri
- William A. Keyes, The Institute for Responsible Citizenship, Washington, D.C.
For more information regarding the conference, and to review a complete program, please visit dreamdeferred.collegeboard.org.
About the College Board:
The College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board was created to expand access to higher education. Today, the membership association is made up of more than 6,000 of the world’s leading educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in education. Each year, the College Board helps more than seven million students prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services in college readiness and college success — including the SAT® and the Advanced Placement Program®. The organization also serves the education community through research and advocacy on behalf of students, educators and schools.
Contact: Courtney Stevenson, The College Board 212.713.8052 communications@collegeboard.org