Representation in leadership matters. In 2024, Fortune reported that only 1.6% of Fortune 500 companies had a Black CEO, accounting for just eight out of the 500 CEOs of organizations ranked. In addition, according to a report from the American Council on Education, Black Americans accounted for only 13.6% of college- or university-level presidents in 2022.
This is a stark illustration of the barriers Black Americans face in reaching leadership roles in those spaces. Yet, Dr. Mark A. Brown has defied the odds. He has spent years developing strategies to advance education and support the needs of HBCU students.
Ahead, we celebrate Dr. Brown’s accomplishments, including his appointment as the 10th President of Tuskegee University. We honor him for his work with Student Freedom Initiative (SFI) and address his connection to philanthropist Robert F. Smith.
Dr. Mark A. Brown and Tuskegee University
In July 2024, Dr. Brown was appointed the 10th President of Tuskegee University, becoming the first alumnus to lead the institution in its over 140-year history.
“Over the last three years, it has been a privilege to work with the team at SFI to advance the organization’s mission of closing the racial wealth gap through the lens of education,” said Dr. Brown. “I look forward to returning home to lead Tuskegee University, growing its impact and preparing students for leadership in the second quarter of the 21st Century.”
Dr. Brown received his bachelor’s degree from Tuskegee University in 1986. He was enrolled in the Air Force ROTC program and, ultimately, served in the Air Force for 32 years. After graduating from Tuskegee, Dr. Brown became Chief Operating Officer of Federal Student Aid for the U.S. Department of Education over Title IV funding. Most recently, he served as President and CEO of SFI.
Alumni, trustees, faculty, university staff and students were entrusted with selecting Tuskegee’s next president after the retirement of Dr. Charlotte P. Morris.
Dr. Mark A. Brown and SFI
As President and CEO of SFI, Dr. Brown significantly boosted its reach and growth. SFI is a single-purpose nonprofit organization that assists students attending HBCUs, other Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and Tribal College and Universities (TCUs). SFI helps increase access to education and works to reduce the burden of overwhelming student loan debt. It aims to help students from communities that often lack access to opportunities and resources. The hope is to increase freedom in professional and life choices for students.
Under Dr. Brown’s leadership, SFI’s partnerships with institutions of higher education have grown substantially. The SFI cohort has increased from nine to 61 HBCUs and has added three other MSIs and two TCUs across 22 states. During Dr. Brown’s tenure, over 500 students received funding for their college education via the Student Freedom Loan Agreement. He also led the charge to close the digital divide by helping over 40 HBCUs get federal funding. In total, under Dr. Brown’s leadership, SFI has helped approximately 200,000 students.
Smith’s Support of SFI and Dr. Brown
Both Smith and Dr. Brown are staunch advocates of philanthropic efforts in education. The catalyst for launching SFI was Smith’s landmark $34 million gift to the Morehouse College graduating class of 2019. He paid off the students’ loans and the Parent PLUS Loans held by their guardians. Smith then generously donated $50 million to create SFI. Fund II Foundation, of which Smith is the founding director and President, matched the donation.
“I wish Mark the best of luck in his new role and look forward to partnering with him to provide Tuskegee’s students with critical resources that will allow them to affordably pursue high-quality STEM education,” said Smith in a statement from SFI.
Stay up to date with Smith and the latest initiatives he supports by following him on LinkedIn. And, learn more about SFI via its website.
