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Milton Jones Jr. named first Black chairman of UNCF board of directors

Milton H. Jones Jr. is making history as the first Black man to be elected as chair of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Board of Directors. Jones succeeds William F. Stasior Sr., retired Chairman and CEO of Booz Allen Hamilton, who served as UNCF’s Chair for 11 years.

A business and civic leader, Jones held several senior executive positions throughout his 32-year career at Bank of America. He is also a founding member of Peachtree Providence Partners Holding Company LLC, an Atlanta-based private investment and consulting firm specializing in providing income for small and mid-level businesses. As a founding member, he advises and collaborates with CEOs across sectors, including financial services, healthcare, technology, government and higher education.

Jones has been Vice-Chair of the UNCF Board and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2005. Now that he has been elected as board chair, Jones is the first Black man to hold the title in the organization’s nearly 80-year history. In his new position, Jones will focus on expanding the UNCF endowment fund which benefits the 37 HBCUs belonging to the UNCF network.

UNCF President and CEO Michael L. Lomax has known and worked with Jones for more than four decades.

“All of us at UNCF are excited to have Milton become our new Board Chair,” Lomax said. “Milton brings a wealth of business knowledge and a thoughtful and collaborative leadership approach that will help us thrive and continue to drive UNCF’s and our HBUCs’ impact and growth.”

Jones wears many hats, also serving as Vice-Chair of the Meharry Medical College Board of Trustees, Treasurer and board member of 100 Black Men of America and Co-Chair of the Atlanta Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors.

“We are incredibly proud of Milton as he assumes this role with UNCF. Milton’s life and career are a testament to his devout commitment to helping others and serving the community. We know he will do excellent things and leave a legacy that inspires others to support and revere our country’s HBCUs,” said Angela Webb, a founding member of Peachtree Providence Partners.

UNCF is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. The organization supports students’ education and development through scholarships and other programs and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment and curriculum and faculty development programs.

“Since 1944, UNCF has played an integral role in changing the life trajectory for each student it has served, and I look forward to continuing that legacy,” Jones said. “Our member institutions and students remain the focus of our collective efforts. As we progress each year, we will grow our organization by building upon the strong foundation laid at UNCF’s inception and strengthened throughout its history.”