Michael Lomax facts for kids
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Michael Lucius Lomax is an important American leader. He was born on October 2, 1947. Since 2004, he has been the president and CEO of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). This organization helps students go to college.
Before joining UNCF, Dr. Lomax was the president of Dillard University. This is a special kind of college called a Historically Black University (HBCU). He also made history in Georgia. He was the first African American to lead the government of a major county there.
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Michael Lomax's Early Life and Education
Michael Lomax was born in Los Angeles, California. His father, Lucius W. Lomax, Jr., was a lawyer. His mother, Hallie Almena Davis Lomax, was a journalist.
He started college at Morehouse College when he was just sixteen. He graduated in 1968 with a degree in English. He also studied Spanish and history. He was one of the first students at Morehouse to join Phi Beta Kappa. This is a very respected honor society.
Later, he earned a master's degree from Columbia University in 1972. In 1984, he received his Ph.D. from Emory University. His studies focused on American and African American topics. His Ph.D. paper was about Countee Cullen, a famous poet from the Harlem Renaissance.
Teaching and Leading Colleges
In 1969, Dr. Lomax began teaching English at Morehouse College. He taught at Morehouse and Spelman College for 20 years.
From 1997 to 2004, he was the president of Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana. During his time there, many good things happened. The number of students at Dillard grew by almost 50 percent. The money the university received from private donors increased by 300 percent. Also, alumni (former students) gave much more money. Dr. Lomax also led a big project to improve the campus. This made the living and learning spaces better for students.
Public Service in Atlanta
Dr. Lomax started working for the public in Atlanta in the 1970s. He worked for Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson. Mayor Jackson was the city's first African American mayor. Dr. Lomax also helped create Atlanta's Office of Cultural Affairs. This office supports arts and culture in the city.
In 1978, Dr. Lomax was elected to the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. Two years later, he became the chairman of the board. This made him the first African American to lead a major county government in Georgia. He was chairman for 12 years. He managed a large budget and many county employees.
As a commissioner, he helped bring big events to Atlanta. These included the 1988 Democratic National Convention and the 1996 Olympic Games. He also helped with major building projects. These included building Georgia's Interstate 400 and improving Grady Hospital. He also helped build the new Fulton County government center. He started the Fulton County Arts Council and the National Black Arts Festival. He also worked as the commissioner for Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs in Atlanta.
He ran for mayor of Atlanta in 1989 and 1993 but was not elected.
Leading the United Negro College Fund
Since 2004, Dr. Lomax has been the president and CEO of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF). UNCF is the largest private group that gives scholarships to students who need help.
He started UNCF's Institute for Capacity Building. This program helps HBCUs become stronger and more independent. Under his leadership, UNCF has raised over $5 billion. This money has helped more than 200,000 students get college degrees. In 2023, UNCF was named one of America’s Top 100 Charities.
Each year, UNCF helps 50,000 students go to college. They do this through scholarships and by supporting their 37 member HBCUs. Dr. Lomax oversees more than 400 scholarship programs. These programs give out over 10,000 scholarships every year. Students who receive UNCF scholarships are more likely to graduate than other U.S. college students.
Dr. Lomax has also worked with public and private groups to help HBCUs. In 2023, UNCF received a $190 million gift from Fidelity Investments. In 2024, they received a $100 million grant from the Lilly Endowment. This money supports UNCF's $1 billion fundraising goal. This was the largest gift in UNCF's history. It helps create a bigger shared fund for its 37 member HBCU colleges.
Boards and Associations
Dr. Lomax serves on the boards of several organizations. These include Handshake, the KIPP Foundation, Cengage Group, and Teach for America. He is also a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Senate. He belongs to the Alpha Phi Alpha and Sigma Pi Phi fraternities. He is a trustee for the Studio Museum in Harlem. He also helped start the National Museum of African American History and Culture at the Smithsonian Institution. U.S. Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert appointed him to this role. U.S. President George W. Bush also appointed Dr. Lomax to a board that advises on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
He used to be a board member for America's Promise Alliance, The Carter Center, and Emory University.
Awards and Honors
Dr. Lomax has received many awards for his work. In 2018, he received the Dr. Eugene D. Stevenson, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award. This is the highest honor from the Higher Education Leadership Foundation. In 2004, he received the Emory Medal. This is Emory University's most important alumni award.
He also received the Omicron Delta Kappa Laurel Crowned Circle Award. This is the highest honor from that organization. Morehouse College gave him the Bennie Achievement Award. He has also received 17 honorary degrees from different colleges.
Personal Life
Dr. Lomax has three daughters named Michele, Rachel, and Deignan. He also has five grandchildren.
He is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha and Sigma Pi Phi fraternities. He was also inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa in 2000 at Dillard.
