Ron Brown Scholar Program Announces New Board Members

26 Jun 2008

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Leading Women Become Newest Advisors to Ron Brown  Scholar Program

Ambassador Diana Lady Dougan and MTV Executive VP Marva Smalls Join Toni Morrison, Earl Graves Sr., Others on Board of Prestigious Organization

Washington, D.C. (June 26, 2008) – The Ron Brown Scholar Program, the nation’s leading scholarship program for African American youth, today announced that former Assistant Secretary of State and chairman of the Cyber Century Forum, Ambassador Diana Lady Dougan, and Marva Smalls, Executive Vice President of Global Inclusion Strategy for MTV Networks, have been named to the Program’s elite Advisory Board. In this capacity, Dougan and Smalls will help guide strategic development of the Ron Brown Scholar Program and ensure that the Program is fulfilling its core mission of fostering the nation’s next generation of great African American leaders.

“We are thrilled and honored to welcome Ambassador Dougan and Ms. Smalls to the Program’s Advisory Board,” said Michael Mallory, executive director of the Ron Brown Scholar Program. “The tremendous experience and insight they bring from the fields of public service, business and communications are invaluable to the outstanding young men and women who become Ron Brown Scholars. Their vision and leadership will help guide our program to new heights over the next decade and beyond.”

Founded in 1996 in honor of the first African American Secretary of Commerce, the Ron Brown Scholar Program provides students with the financial resources to attend some of the finest colleges and universities in the country, in addition to promoting outstanding service opportunities for the next generation of promising African American leaders. Of the more than 5,000 applications received annually, no more than 20 high school students are awarded this honor.

Within just the last 12 years, the program has marked several impressive achievements including a 100 percent graduation rate; 54 percent of Scholars have graduated from Ivy League universities; two Ron Brown Scholars were elected to be the First Marshals of their Harvard University graduating classes, considered the highest honor bestowed upon an undergraduate; one Ron Brown Scholar has been selected as a Truman Scholar and two Ron Brown Scholars have been selected as finalists for the Rhodes Scholarship.

“Because of my own long term commitment to mentoring others as well as promoting initiatives to help make a positive difference in the world, I am delighted to accept the invitation to join this Ron Brown Scholars board.  In addition to the organization’s ability to help clear a path for future generations of African Americans to become world leaders, I am very impressed by the dedication and potential of current Ron Brown Scholars and alumni to be inspiring mentors and role models for other young people,” said Ambassador Dougan. “I look forward to helping the program continue Ron Brown’s legacy of commitment to public service, education and positive social change.”
Ms. Smalls echoed those words, adding, “Helping young African Americans advance into the highest corporate and professional positions in our nation’s business community has been a personal goal of mine for many years. The Ron Brown Scholar Program has an impressive track record in this regard and I feel privileged to be able to help the Program continue in its success.”

Ambassador Dougan has served in senior communications technology, foreign policy, and management positions for more than three decades, including full U.S Senate confirmed appointments by both Republican and Democratic U.S. Presidents. As the first statutory U.S. Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy and administratively as Assistant Secretary of State from 1982-88, Ambassador Dougan oversaw the international telecom, broadcast and information technology policy interests and related international negotiations of over a dozen federal agencies.  Over the years she has spearheaded a number of multi-industry global initiatives involving both developing and developed nations. She is currently Chair of the Cyber Century Forum (501c3), Senior Advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC and Co-founder of the Center for Information Infrastructure and Economic Development (CIIED) under the auspices of the prestigious Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) in Beijing. In addition to numerous awards for her public service in both government and industry, she has been accorded the permanent rank of Ambassador. 

Marva Smalls is Executive Vice President of Public Affairs, Chief of Staff for Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids & Family Group and was recently appointed Executive Vice President of Global Inclusion Strategy, MTV Networks. In her new role, Smalls works with the leadership of all MTVN brands to champion multiculturalism, inclusiveness and diversity across the company worldwide.  Under Smalls’ leadership, Nickelodeon’s pro-social campaigns have been recognized by presidential administrations and have garnered the support of top names in the entertainment industry such as Whoopi Goldberg, LL Cool J, Shaquille O’Neal, Mariah Carey, Meg Ryan and Paula Abdul.

The Advisory Board’s other members include: Ms. Toni Morrison, acclaimed author and Professor Emeritus at Princeton University; Mr. Earl G. Graves Sr., Founder and Publisher of BLACK ENTERPRISE Magazine; Ms. Regina M. Benjamin, MD, MBA, Founder and CEO of the Bayou La Batre Rural Health Clinic; Ms. Terri Dean, Sr. Vice President of Global Communications for Verizon Business; Mr. Jonathan D. Mariner, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Major League Baseball; Mr. Anthony M. Pilaro, Chairman, CAP Charitable Foundation and CAP Advisers Limited; Mr. Tom Werner, Emmy-winning producer and Chairman of the 2004 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox; and Mr. Aaron S. Williams, Vice President for International Business Development for RTI International.
For biographical information on Ambassador Dougan or Ms. Smalls or for more information about the Ron Brown Scholar Program, visit www.ronbrown.org.

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About the Ron Brown Scholar Program

Named for the late Secretary of Commerce and inspired by his dedication to public service, the Ron Brown Scholar Program was established in 1996 to provide academic scholarships, service opportunities and leadership experiences for young African Americans of outstanding promise.  The Program seeks to accelerate their progress into the mainstream of leadership positions in business, education, government and a wide spectrum of professions, while instilling a dedication to leadership and service.