U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today announced the appointment of Charles Greene as executive director of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).

"Charles' broad experience in business, community development and government will be a tremendous asset in his work on behalf of the nation's many historically black colleges and universities," Spellings said. "I look forward to working with him in our efforts to support HBCUs."

From 2002 until his appointment, Greene served as director of community and economic development for Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.). From 1999 to 2002, he was president and chief executive officer of the Partnership for the Advancement of Self-Sufficiency Inc., a workforce development agency in Philadelphia, Pa.

As executive director of the White House Initiative on HBCUs, Greene will oversee the presidentially appointed HBCU Board of Advisors and assist the secretary as the liaison between the executive branch and HBCUs. He will also work with some 32 federal agencies that support HBCUs through federal grants and contracts.

The president's Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities advises President Bush and Secretary Spellings on strengthening these institutions. The board also: issues an annual report to the president on HBCU participation in federal programs; advises the secretary on increasing the federal role in strengthening HBCUs; and reports to the president on how to increase private sector support for HBCUs, which enroll 14 percent of all African American students in higher education. In 1999, these institutions matriculated 24 percent of all African American students enrolled in four-year colleges, awarded masters' degrees and first-professional degrees to about one in six African American men and women, and awarded 24 percent of all baccalaureate degrees earned by African Americans nationwide.

Prior to 1999, Greene served as a managing regional vice president of Lockheed Martin; a manager and managing director for Verizon Communications; the deputy mayor of Philadelphia; and the assistant vice president for development at Howard University.

Greene received a B.A. degree from Virginia Union University, an HBCU in Richmond, and did graduate work in business and public administration at both the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pennsylvania. He serves on numerous boards and committees.

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