Michael Lomax
Encyclopedia
Dr. Michael Lucius Lomax (born October 2, 1947, in Los Angeles, Calif.) is, since 2004, the president
and chief executive officer
of the United Negro College Fund
of the United States
. Lomax is the son of Lucius W. Lomax, Jr. (1910-73), a Los Angeles attorney, and Hallie Almena Davis Lomax
(1915-2011), a journalist.
Lomax taught literature at Morehouse College
and Spelman College
, Emory University
, the Georgia Institute of Technology
and the University of Georgia
. For seven years he served as president of Dillard University
in New Orleans, Louisiana
, where he was able to increase enrollment by nearly 70%; complete $54 million in acquisitions and renovations, including the first new academic building since 1993, the Dillard University
International Center for Economic Freedom; double the university’s assets; and nearly triple the fundraising from alumni, individuals, corporations and foundations.
Lomax also served for 12 years as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Fulton County, Georgia
, part of the greater Atlanta, Georgia
, region. In 1989, he was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for mayor of Atlanta.
Lomax also serves as the Chairman of the Board of the United Negro College Fund
Special Programs Corporation (UNCFSP), which provides support for institutions of higher learning to build relationships and create partnerships with the government and other organizations. He is also Chairman of UNCF’s Advisory Board for the Frederick D. Patterson Institute, which is the first black-led research institute in the country to design, conduct, analyze, interpret and disseminate research to the public, policymakers, and educators.
Lomax’s ongoing involvement in civic affairs also includes service on the United Way of America's board of governors, and on the board of the Studio Museum in Harlem
, and the National Black Arts Festival
, of which he was founding chair. He is on the board of Teach for America
, Emory University
, The Carter Center, and a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity. U.S. President George W. Bush
appointed him to the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
, and United States Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert appointed Dr. Lomax to the National Museum of African American History and Culture
Plan for Action Presidential Commission.
Lomax was the brother of Los Angeles civil rights lawyer Melanie E. Lomax
, who died in 2006. Lomax and his wife, Cheryl Ferguson Lomax, have two daughters, Michele and Rachel. His oldest daughter, from a previous marriage to playwright and author Pearl Cleage
, Deignan Cleage Lomax, graduated from Dillard University
in 2000. Lomax and his family live in Atlanta, Georgia
.
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
and chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of the United Negro College Fund
United Negro College Fund
The United Negro College Fund is an American philanthropic organization that fundraises college tuition money for black students and general scholarship funds for 39 private historically black colleges and universities. The UNCF was incorporated on April 25, 1944 by Frederick D. Patterson , Mary...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Lomax is the son of Lucius W. Lomax, Jr. (1910-73), a Los Angeles attorney, and Hallie Almena Davis Lomax
Almena Lomax
Hallie Almena Lomax was an African American journalist and civil rights activist. Born in Galveston, Texas, Lomax moved as a young child with her family to Chicago and later California, where she studied journalism at Los Angeles City College...
(1915-2011), a journalist.
Lomax taught literature at Morehouse College
Morehouse College
Morehouse College is a private, all-male, liberal arts, historically black college located in Atlanta, Georgia. Along with Hampden-Sydney College and Wabash College, Morehouse is one of three remaining traditional men's colleges in the United States....
and Spelman College
Spelman College
Spelman College is a four-year liberal arts women's college located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The college is part of the Atlanta University Center academic consortium in Atlanta. Founded in 1881 as the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary, Spelman was the first historically black female...
, Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
, the Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
and the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
. For seven years he served as president of Dillard University
Dillard University
Dillard University is a private, historically black liberal arts college in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 1930 incorporating earlier institutions that went back to 1869, it is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church....
in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, where he was able to increase enrollment by nearly 70%; complete $54 million in acquisitions and renovations, including the first new academic building since 1993, the Dillard University
Dillard University
Dillard University is a private, historically black liberal arts college in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 1930 incorporating earlier institutions that went back to 1869, it is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church....
International Center for Economic Freedom; double the university’s assets; and nearly triple the fundraising from alumni, individuals, corporations and foundations.
Lomax also served for 12 years as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Fulton County, Georgia
Fulton County, Georgia
Fulton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Its county seat is Atlanta, the state capital since 1868 and the principal county of the Atlanta metropolitan area...
, part of the greater Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, region. In 1989, he was an unsuccessful Democratic candidate for mayor of Atlanta.
Lomax also serves as the Chairman of the Board of the United Negro College Fund
United Negro College Fund
The United Negro College Fund is an American philanthropic organization that fundraises college tuition money for black students and general scholarship funds for 39 private historically black colleges and universities. The UNCF was incorporated on April 25, 1944 by Frederick D. Patterson , Mary...
Special Programs Corporation (UNCFSP), which provides support for institutions of higher learning to build relationships and create partnerships with the government and other organizations. He is also Chairman of UNCF’s Advisory Board for the Frederick D. Patterson Institute, which is the first black-led research institute in the country to design, conduct, analyze, interpret and disseminate research to the public, policymakers, and educators.
Lomax’s ongoing involvement in civic affairs also includes service on the United Way of America's board of governors, and on the board of the Studio Museum in Harlem
Studio Museum in Harlem
The Studio Museum in Harlem is an American contemporary art museum in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, New York. It was founded in 1968 as the first such museum in the U.S. devoted to the art of African-Americans, specializing in 19th and 20th century work as well work of artists of...
, and the National Black Arts Festival
National Black Arts Festival
The National Black Arts Festival was founded in 1987 after the Fulton County Arts Council commissioned a study to explore the feasibility of creating a festival dedicated to celebrating the work of artists of African descent. The study provided compelling reasons why the Atlanta community was the...
, of which he was founding chair. He is on the board of Teach for America
Teach For America
Teach For America is an American non-profit organization that aims to eliminate educational inequity by enlisting the nation's most promising future leaders to teach for two or more years in low-income communities throughout the United States...
, Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
, The Carter Center, and a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity. U.S. President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
appointed him to the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Historically black colleges and universities are institutions of higher education in the United States that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the black community....
, and United States Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert appointed Dr. Lomax to the National Museum of African American History and Culture
National Museum of African American History and Culture
The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a Smithsonian Institution museum established in 2003. It will be built on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.. In 2006, the Smithsonian's Board of Regents selected a site near the grounds of the Washington Monument and the...
Plan for Action Presidential Commission.
Lomax was the brother of Los Angeles civil rights lawyer Melanie E. Lomax
Melanie Lomax
Melanie Elizabeth Lomax , was a civil rights lawyer and former head of the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners.Lomax was the daughter of Lucius W. Lomax, Jr...
, who died in 2006. Lomax and his wife, Cheryl Ferguson Lomax, have two daughters, Michele and Rachel. His oldest daughter, from a previous marriage to playwright and author Pearl Cleage
Pearl Cleage
Pearl Cleage is an African-American author whose work, both fiction and non-fiction, has been widely recognized. Her novel, What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day was a 1998 Oprah’s Book Club selection. Cleage is known for her feminist views, particularly regarding her identity as an...
, Deignan Cleage Lomax, graduated from Dillard University
Dillard University
Dillard University is a private, historically black liberal arts college in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 1930 incorporating earlier institutions that went back to 1869, it is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church....
in 2000. Lomax and his family live in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
.