WH Names Former NFL Player Executive Director for HBCU Initiative

According to reports, the White House is expected to name Johnathan Holifield as the next Executive Director of the White House Initiative on HBCUs. Holifield, a graduate of West Virginia University, completed his M. Ed. and J.D. from the University of Cincinnati. The former Cincinnati Bengals running back is the co-founder of ScaleUp Partners, a consulting agency that, according to its website, strives for “inclusive competitiveness.” ScaleUp primarily works to develop strategies for entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities. The company has worked with the Ohio Board of Regents and provided services for start-up companies across the country. Outside of ScaleUp, Holifield was the former VP with the Cincinnati USA Chamber of Commerce and the founding Executive Director of CincyTech, a company that consults and invests in new tech companies in Southwest Ohio. So all of this begs the question: what experience, if any, does he have to prepare him for this appointment? UNCF’s President and CEO Michael Lomax said the group looked forward to hearing how Holifield would advance the interests of HBCUs and ensure more African Americans get the opportunity to attend and graduate college. More here.