<p>Freeman A. Hrabowski, III -- a charismatic leader who was jailed for almost a week as a 12-year-old in the fight for civil rights in the early-'60s Alabama -- has spent two decades as the president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) striving to channel minorities toward grad school. His research and publications focus on science and math education with special emphasis on minority participation and performance. He chaired the National Academies' committee that produced the recent report "Expanding Underrepresented Minority Participation: America's Science and Technology Talent at the Crossroads". He was also recently named by President Obama to chair the newly created President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans.</p><p>With philanthropist Robert Meyerhoff, Hrabowski co-founded the Meyerhoff Scholars Program in 1988; this encourages all high-achieving students to pursue advanced degrees and research careers in science and engineering. As well as promoting the advancement of underrepresented minorities in these fields. Based on the program's outcomes, Hrabowski has authored numerous articles and co-authored two books--"Beating the Odds" and "Overcoming the Odds"--which focus on parenting and high-achieving African American males and females in science.</p><p>Hrabowski has attracted national attention for UMBC campus's achievements in innovation and inclusive excellence. <em>Time</em> magazine named Hrabowski one of "America's 10 Best College Presidents" in 2009 and one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World" in 2012.</p><p>After three decades of transformational leadership at UMBC, President Hrabowski retired at the end of the 2021-2022 academic year, on June 30th.</p>
Advocate for Science and Technology Education for African Americans
<ul><li><strong>Beating the Odds: Raising Academically Successful African-American Males</strong></li><li>Today, young Black men are more likely to be killed or sent to prison than to graduate from college. Yet, despite all the obstacles, some are achieving at the highest academic and professional levels. Freeman Hrabowski shares remarkable stories and shows audiences what African-American families have done to raise academically successful sons, sons who are among the top two percent of African-American males in terms of SAT scores and grades. He will show precisely how young African-American men can succeed despite the roadblocks of racism, the temptations of crime and drugs, and a popular culture that values being "cool" over being educated. This presentation offers insight, guidance, and hope for anyone concerned about the plight of young African-American men and the society they live in.</li><li><strong>Overcoming the Odds: Raising Academically Successful African-American Young Women</strong></li><li>Statistics indicate that African-American females, as a group, fare poorly in the United States. Many live in single-parent households-either as the single-parent mother or as the daughter. Many face severe economic hurdles. Yet despite these obstacles, some are performing at exceptional levels academically. Freeman Hrabowski provides a wealth of information about how and why they have succeeded--what motivates them, how their backgrounds and family relationships have shaped them, even how it feels to be a high academic achiever. He offers specific and inspiring examples of the practices, attitudes, and parenting strategies that have enabled these women to persevere and triumph. This presentation is an invaluable guide on creating the conditions that lead to academic-and lifelong-success.</li></ul>