Philanthropists Kenneth and Kathryn Chenault Donate $2 Million to Howard Law for Vernon Jordan Endowed Chair

Philanthropists Kenneth and Kathryn Chenault have donated $2 million to Howard University in memory of their longtime friend and mentor, the late Vernon Jordan, to support an endowed chair at the School of Law. The gift for the Vernon E. Jordan Jr., Esq., Endowed Chair will be made to support the recruitment, teaching, research, service and other activities of the professor.

“Ken and Kathryn have been loyal friends of Vernon Jordan for decades,” said Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick. “The value of that relationship is manifested here in this generous gift to the Vernon E. Jordan Jr., Esq., Endowed Chair. This gift will allow students and faculty to continue to benefit and grow in the likeness of Mr. Jordan. The shared values of Mr. Jordan and the Chenaults will also be embraced and celebrated through the endowed chair.”

“We are thankful to the Chenaults for this gift to the Vernon E. Jordan Jr., Esq., Endowed Chair,” said Danielle Holley-Walker, dean of the Howard University School of Law. “Mr. Jordan’s love of the law school, lifetime of public service, and commitment to racial justice are an inspiration to our students, faculty and alumni. With this generous donation, Howard Law graduates will uphold his legacy of excellence in their own lives and careers.”

Jordan (J.D. ’60) died in 2021 at 85. He had a storied career as a civil rights activist. As a lawyer, his firm sued to desegregate the University of Georgia. Later, Jordan worked with the NAACP, Southern Regional Council, Voter Education Project, United Negro College Fund and National Urban League. He also was an adviser to President Bill Clinton.

As a pioneering and influential business figure, Jordan championed and mentored Black senior executives, including Ken Chenault, who served as chairman and CEO of American Express from 2001-2018. Jordan was the longest-serving independent board director in the company’s history.

Currently, Ken Chenault is chairman and managing director of the venture capital firm General Catalyst. Kathryn Chenault is a patron of the arts and an advocate for equitable education and health care. A former practicing attorney, Kathryn Chenault serves on many boards that reflect her deep commitment to community and civic service. Together, their philanthropic commitments are a reflection of their dedication to social justice, education, and making a lasting positive impact on society.

“Vernon’s education at Howard law was a catalyst for his extraordinary success in life,” said Ken Chenault. “It gave him the knowledge to harness the law for social justice and the confidence to thrive in the business world, where he was a mentor and champion to many, and a dear, supportive friend to Kathy and me. We are honored to make this gift to Howard law so the Vernon E. Jordan Jr., Esq., Endowed Chair may continue his legacy of excellence.”

Both of Ken Chenault’s parents were Howard alumni and Commencement speakers who finished first in their classes, Anne Chenault from the School of Dental Hygiene and Hortenius Chenault from the School of Dentistry. Kathryn’s mother, Elaine Hancock, and her stepfather, Victor Hancock, also were Howard alumni, and Victor was a top graduate from the School of Dentistry. Kathryn’s grandfather, Albert Cassell, a noted Black architect, designed several buildings on campus, including the historic Founders Library.

[SOURCE: HOWARD.EDU]

President Biden nominates Indiana judge, Doris L. Pryor for Midwest federal appeals court

The Biden administration is nominating an Indiana judge and IU grad to join a federal appeals court that oversees parts of the Midwest.

The White House announced Wednesday it was nominating Doris L. Pryor to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which has jurisdiction over federal court cases appealed out of Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.

Judge Doris L. Pryor has served as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Southern District of Indiana since 2018. From 2006 to 2018, Judge Pryor served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana. She served as National Security Chief for the office from 2014 to 2018. From 2005 to 2006, Judge Pryor served as a Deputy Public Defender for the State of Arkansas Public Defender’s Commission. Judge Pryor served as a law clerk for Judge J. Leon Holmes on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas from 2004 to 2005 and for Chief Judge Lavenski Smith on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit from 2003 to 2004.

Judge Pryor received her J.D. from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law in 2003 and her B.S. from the University of Central Arkansas in 1999.

President Biden nominates Roy W. Minter, Jr for U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Georgia

President Biden has announced his third round of U.S. Marshal nominees, officials who will be indispensable to upholding the rule of law.

These individuals were chosen for their devotion to enforcing the law, their professionalism, their experience and credentials in their fields, and their dedication to pursuing equal justice for all.

Among those individuals is Roy W. Minter, Jr, Chief of Police for the Savannah Police Department.

Roy W. Minter, Jr. has served as the Chief of Police for the Savannah Police Department since 2018. Mr. Minter previously served as the Chief of Police in Peoria, Arizona from 2011 to 2018. He served as the Chief of Police for the Denton, Texas Police Department from 2007 to 2011. From 1992 to 2007, Mr. Minter served in the Aurora, Colorado Police Department, where he held numerous leadership positions, including as Training Section Commander and Operations Support Section Commander. From 1982 to 1992, Mr. Minter served in the Houston Police Department. Mr. Minter received his M.A. in 1998 and his B.A. in 1996, both from the University of Phoenix.

Lucy McBath wins Georgia primary

U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath has defeated fellow Democratic U.S. Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux in a Georgia primary race between two incumbents who became rising stars after flipping districts long held by Republicans.

"This night isn't the end of an election," McBath told supporters gathered in a ballroom at the Hilton Atlanta NE in Peachtree Corners. "Tonight, we are not at the end of the challenge, but we are actually on the face of a mountain, one arm ahead to pull ourselves up. The other stretched back to embrace those who feel forgotten or left behind.

"America has always been defined by the challenges that we face and we face a grave one tonight. We can be a nation where the many who do not look like us, think like us or worship or act like us are simply one nation, so, tonight, I stand before you as Lucy McBath, a daughter of the Civil Rights movement, a woman who survived breast cancer twice and a mother who lost her son to gun violence."

McBath face the winner of the Republican primary, which appears be headed to a runoff between Mike Corbin and Mark Gonsalves.

U.S. House District 7 - Democrat Votes

Lucy McBath 33,442 63%

Carolyn Bourdeaux 16,262 31%

Donna McLeod 3,344 6%>/p>

Herschel Walker & Raphael Warnock to face off in Georgia Senate race

Former football star Herschel Walker has clinched Georgia’s Republican nomination for the Senate, NBC News projects, setting up a general election against Sen. Raphael Warnock, the Democratic incumbent, who also won his party’s primary Tuesday.

The race, which is projected to be one of the most competitive in the country, will be a rare case of two Black candidates competing in a critical Senate contest.

[SOURCE: NBC NEWS]