Dillard's Michael Lomax Named to Head UNCF

Dillard University President Michael Lomax has been named president and CEO of the United Negro College Fund, succeeding William Gray III, and he immediately announced that he plans to increase the organization’s endowment to $100 million annually, with an ultimate goal of $1 billion within 10 years. The endowment was $40.1 million last March 31.

Photo credit: www.dillard.edu Michael Lomax

UNCF describes itself as the nation’s oldest and most successful minority higher education assistance organization, supporting its 39 member institutions and 65,000 students at more than 950 colleges and universities.

Lomax, 56, assumes his new position on June 1, succeeding Gray, a former Democratic House majority whip who headed the UNCF for 13 years.

The new job ends Lomax's seven-year tenure as head of the historically black university, which said it would begin a nationwide search for Lomax’s successor.

“It was a bittersweet decision,” Lomax said, adding that his stint at Dillard was the most satisfying job in his 35 years as an administrator. He is a past chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Fulton County, Ga., which includes Atlanta.

Lomax's tenure at the New Orleans university has been marked by intense fundraising campaigns and campus construction. Academic overhauls saw the university rise in national rankings of U.S. News & World Report's list of the best comprehensive undergraduate colleges in the South. Dillard tied for 19th place.

UNCF said that during Lomax's tenure, student enrollment increased by 49 percent, private funding by 300 percent, and alumni giving more than 2,000 percent.

Lomax's fundraising background weighed heavily on the UNCF board’s final decision.

“We are confident that his impressive background in education, management and fundraising will help UNCF continue to grow and expand its mission,” said Michael H. Jordan, chairman of UNCF’s board of directors.

During a campuswide meeting, Lomax reassured administrators, faculty and students at Dillard that concerns about the completion of current programs and projects under his administration would not be abandoned.

“It is business as usual and we will continue to do our work,” he said. “I regret leaving, but the good news is I get to continue to work with Dillard, and now Xavier [University] very closely and with the wonderful alumni that we have in the community.”

Charles Ferguson, chairman of Dillard’s Board of Trustees, has begun the search process, employing the assistance of Brown University President Ruth Simmons, a Dillard alumna, to spearhead the search.

Lomax attended Morehouse College, a UNCF member institution, and taught at Morehouse and Spelman colleges, Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Georgia in Athens.

“He is very aware firsthand on how the UNCF provides great assistance for students,” said Maureen Larkins, head of Dillard’s office of Communications.

Lomax is also a member of the board of trustees of the United Way of America.

“Michael is a strategic thinker, strong manager, and an effective fundraiser,” Gray said. “I am quite sure he will be able to take UNCF to even higher levels and I wish him all the success in the world.”

Shearon Roberts, a student at Dillard University, is editor in chief of The Courtbouillon. Jessica Jolly, news editor of The Courtbouillon, contributed.

Posted Feb. 11, 2004