Former FBI Director James Comey will be joining Howard University, a Historically Black College, as an endowed chair in public policy, the school announced in a statement.
Comey will “engage the Howard community through a lecture series designed to foster fruitful discussion and spur meaningful interaction,” the announcement said.
As the 2017-2018 Gwendolyn S. and Colbert I. King Endowed Chair in Public Policy, Comey will conduct five lectures on a variety of topics.
“I am pleased to welcome Mr. Comey to Howard,” said Howard University President Wayne A.I. Frederick. “His expertise and understanding of the challenges we continue to face today will go a long way in sparking rich discussion and advancing meaningful debates across campus.”
The statement also said he will be donating his compensation from the position to the University’s scholarship fund.
The King Chair was established to provide students access to experienced, senior public service executives who developed and advanced public policy initiatives. Mr. Comey will announce the topic of the lectures after consulting with student leaders and other campus stakeholders on topics relevant to the Howard community. Mr. Comey will be donating his entire King Chair compensation of $100,000 to a Howard University scholarship fund. The fund will support students coming from a foster home environment.
Comey said he was “honored” to hold the King Chair for the upcoming academic year.
“Howard has a longstanding history of being a vibrant academic community and the perfect place to have rich dialogue on many of the most pressing issues we face today,” he said. “I look forward to contributing to this remarkable institution and engaging students and faculty alike."