Actress Taraji P. Henson and NBA Star Chris Paul To Be Appointed to Biden’s HBCU Advisory Board

On Thursday, President Joe Biden announced he would be appointing over a dozen academic leaders, celebrities and athletes to his board of advisors for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), reports CNN. 

The move comes on the heels of the administration’s American Rescue Plan, a $2.7 billion investment towards HBCUs in their “commitment to shared prosperity and equity for all Americans,” per a White House press release.

Among the 18 members selected to serve on the board were actress Taraji P. Henson, NBA star Chris Paul and United Airlines President Brett Hart. Until last year, Paul had been the National Basketball Players Association’s president since 2013 and served on the executive committee for the past 12 years. 

Five HBCU presidents were also nominated, including those leading Alabama State University, Dillard University in New Orleans, Norfolk State University in Virginia, Prairie View A&M University in Texas and Virginia State University.

According to the White House, this set of “qualified and diverse individuals to the Board – will allow the administration to build on that financial commitment with continued institutional support.”

Last Monday, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) asked for Congress to “[make] no reductions in their annual appropriations process this year,” regarding Biden’s 2023 budget proposal, which promises funding for HBCUs, tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCUs), minority-serving institutions (MSIs) and community colleges.

These organizations are seeking for Biden to keep his word of supporting HBCUs, as that was a key campaign promise when running for president. 

Henson and Paul will be joined by Makola M. Abdullah, Javaune Adams-Gaston, Paige Blake, Thasunda Brown Duckett, Willie A. Deese, Patrick Cokley, Monica Goldson and William F. L. Moses, among others.

Henson will also utilize her mental health non-profit, The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, to provide support for Black students enrolled at HBCUs, following her commitment to offer free therapy sessions to Black communities impacted by COVID-19.