December 22, 2009

Dear Howard University Community, Alumni and Friends,

President Barack Obama recently nominated Trustee Marie C. Johns as deputy administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA).

The SBA—an independent agency of the federal government—aids, counsels, assists and protects the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation.

On behalf of Howard University, I extend our congratulations to Trustee Johns who has been a trailblazer locally and nationally. She has served on the Board since 2000 and chairs the Academic Excellence Committee. Trustee Johns is also the retired president of Verizon-Washington, D.C. and was a mayoral candidate for the District of Columbia’s 2006 Democratic Primary.

In addition to her professional contributions, Trustee Johns has been a long-standing advocate and champion of educational and economic empowerment. She is a member of the boards of directors of several profit and not-for-profit organizations, including Girl Scouts of the USA, the Washington, D.C. Technology Council and chair of the Board of the Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science.

Again, we congratulate Trustee Johns on this nomination and we look forward to the University’s continued partnership with the SBA under her leadership.

Sincerely,

Sidney A. Ribeau President