Former FBI Director James Comey was recently appointed as the Howard University 2017 Opening Convocation Keynote Speaker and the Gwendolyn S. and Colbert I. King Endowed Chair in Public Policy for the 2017-2018 school year.
The announcement was made by Howard President Wayne A.I. Frederick on Wednesday morning.
“I am pleased to welcome Mr. Comey to Howard,” Frederick said in a statement on Howard’ the website of the Office of University of Communications. “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.”
In May, Comey’s career became yet another casualty of the Trump administration. The president fired Comey upon his discovery that the former Republican would head an investigation into Russia’s role in the 2016 election and consequently question the legitimacy of Trump’s victory.
In addition to serving as the opening 2017 keynote speaker for the renowned HBCU, Comey will also deliver a series of five lectures throughout the academic year.
“I am honored to hold the King Chair this school year,” Comey said. “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. I look forward to contributing to this remarkable institution and engaging students and faculty alike.”
Comey has no plans of pocketing the $100,000 pay he’ll be receiving for his new role. The money will instead be donated to a Howard scholarship fund that benefits children from foster homes.
NPR reports that Comey’s appointment won’t be he and Frederick’s first time working together. Frederick was invited by Comey to speak to FBI employees in an effort to bring some diversity into the bureau. The topics Comey will discuss in the five-part series has yet to be determined.
