NSPAA 2016 Technical Assistance Workshop Program Agenda | Page 21
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dr. Ivory A. Toldson, Executive Director
White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and
Universities (WHI-HBCU)
Dr. Ivory A. Toldson was appointed by President Barack Obama to devise
national strategies to sustain and expand federal support to HBCUs, as the
executive director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges
and Universities. He is currently on leave from his position as full professor at
Howard University. He has also served as senior research analyst for the
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, and editor-in-chief of The Journal of
Negro Education, and contributing education editor for The Root, where he debunked some of the most
pervasive myths about African-Americans in his Show Me the Numbers column.
In addition to ongoing work with elected officials, government executives, HBCU leaders and advocacy
groups, Dr. Toldson conceptualized the White House Initiative on HBCUs All-Stars program, which
identifies and engages the top HBCU scholars. He also co-authored a series of blogs on federal
sponsorships for various federal agencies and hosted a series of webinars, in an effort to increase the
approximately $5 billion of federal revenue that flows to 100 HBCUs.
Dr. Toldson has more than 65 publications, including 4 books, and more than 150 research presentations
in 36 US states, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Scotland, South Africa, Paris, and Barcelona. He has
been featured on MSNBC, C-SPAN2 Books, NPR News, POTUS on XM Satellite Radio, and numerous
local radio stations. His research has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, The
Root, The National Journal, Essence Magazine, and Ebony Magazine.
Dubbed a leader "who could conceivably navigate the path to the White House" by the Washington Post,
one of "30 leaders in the fight for Black men," by Newsweek Magazine, and the "Problem Solver" by
Diverse: Issues In Higher Education, Dr. Toldson, according to U.S. Secretary Arne Duncan, is "a prolific
young scholar and myth buster." According to Capstone Magazine, "Toldson has spent a lot of time
traveling across the country talking with teachers about misleading media statistics that invariably either
link Black males to crime or question their ability to learn." Dr. Toldson was named in the 2014 and 2013
The Root 100, an annual ranking of the most influential African-American leaders.
After completing coursework for a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at Temple University, Dr. Toldson
became a correctional and forensic psychology resident at the United States Penitentiary. There, he
completed his dissertation on Black Men in the Criminal Justice System. Upon completion, Dr. Toldson
joined the faculty of Southern University and became the fourth recipient of the prestigious DuBois
Fellowship from the US Department of Justice. He also served as the clinical director of the Manhood
Training Village. He has received formal training in applied statistics from the University of Michigan,
and held visiting research and teacher appointments at Emory, Drexel, and Morehouse School of
Medicine.
“Expanding Sponsored Programs and Research Possibilities With
Contracts: Understanding The Requirements For Success”
June 7-10, 2016
Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel, Arlington, VA
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