The Reginaldo Howard Leadership Program
In April 2024, the Reginaldo Howard Memorial Scholarship transitioned into the Reginaldo Howard Leadership Program. The Reginaldo Howard Leadership Program honors “Reggie” Howard’s legacy by supporting Black academic excellence, intellectual community, and leadership on campus through an intentionally designed series of engagement opportunities. The Office of University Scholars and Fellows and the Mary Lou Williams Center for Black Culture partner in administering this new program.
Although new merit scholarships for the Reginaldo Howard Memorial Scholarship will not be awarded, support will be provided for current Reggie Scholars through their graduation, the new Reginaldo Howard Leadership Program, and need-based financial aid. This scholarship honors Reginaldo “Reggie” Howard, the first African American President of the Associated Students of Duke University and an A.B. Duke Scholar. He was tragically killed in an automobile accident during his sophomore year in 1976, but his ambition and commitment to helping others lives on.
Spotlight on Ana Herndon
I am a senior studying public policy with minors in psychology and economics. Throughout my time at Duke, I have served as a Costanzo Teaching fellow in Psychology, teaching Intro to Psychology, and as a House Course Instructor for "Inequity in Higher Education." My overarching research interests are in positive and negative belonging-related phenomena, particularly for people from underrepresented backgrounds. I take an interdisciplinary approach in my work, asking questions about how others see us and how we see our most authentic selves. Currently, I am researching cross-racial friendships in the workplace and political party impression management in novel cross-party interactions. I see conversations around difference as these "courageous conversations" that allow individuals to engage in discussions that may initially foster anxiety but, when done correctly, can have noticeable benefits like increased closeness and belonging. After graduation, I will pursue a Ph.D. in Business Administration at the University of California, Berkeley's Haas School of Business. Many thanks to everyone who supported me. You all helped me get to where I am today. I truly couldn’t have done it without you!