Dr. Leonard L. Haynes III

Dr. Haynes is an humble man of great influence, a man who knows his way around Washington, DC like most of us know our way around town, and is a highly accomplished leader in higher education. He has been awarded 14 honorary degrees and walked with kings, high-ranking officials, and presidents but never lost the common touch. This preacher’s son with a servant’s heart, was challenged by his father to make a difference, to bring his community along with him up the ladder of success, to make his efforts count. He has exceeded expectations.

Dr. Haynes has earned degrees from Southern University, Carnegie Mellon University, and The Ohio State University. He is senior advisor in the Office of the Undersecretary of Education and has been influential in many of the key decisions this administration has made for HBCU. He is/has been a fixture at the U.S. Department of Education for more than 30 years, is former executive director of the White House Initiative on HBCU, and has been a distinguished professor, an adjunct, visiting professor, provost and vice president for academic affairs, –if it can be done, he’s done it.

He is an accomplished author and editor, and has received commendations and congratulations from President George H.W.  Bush, President George W. Bush, and President Barack Obama. He was inducted into The Ohio State University Hall of Fame and received the Congressional Minority Business Award” presented by the Congressional Black Caucus.

He has received honorary degrees from The Ohio State University, Tougaloo College, Wiley College, Alabama A&M University, Florida Memorial College, St. Thomas University, Miles College, Stockton State College, Northwestern State University, Bridgewater College, Claflin University, Johnson C. Smith University, Livingstone College, and Wilberforce University.

He has been cited for Distinguished Service to American Higher Education by the University of Oregon Alumni Association; received a presidential citation for public service, California State University  at Sacramento; Outstanding  Service Award  for  contribution to  the  professional growth of  the employees  of the Office of  Postsecondary Education, U.S. Department of Education, 1991, named 2015 Diversity Champion, The Ohio State Alumni Association College of Education, Hall of Fame.  The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.  2014 – 2017 Trailblazing Award, and honored by the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Northern, Virginia.

He is a member of Phi Delta Kappa; Omega Psi Phi Fraternity (Mu Nu Chapter); Southern University Letterman’s Club, Southern University Alumni Association (Life Member); Fulbright Association; United Methodist Church; Washington Urban League, Inc., Washington, D.C.; American Bahraini Friendship Society, Washington, D.C.; Big Brothers/Big Sisters; Rotary International, Washington, D.C.; Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (Beta Nu Chapter); Ohio State University Alumni Association (Life Member); Listed in Who’s Who in Black Washington, D.C.  and a Trustee for Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara, CA 2015 – 2017, and Director, Quality Education for Minorities Network (QEM), Washington, DC 2016-17. Since 2002, he has been director of the George B. Thomas, Saturday School, Rockville, MD.

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