Freeman A. Hrabowski III is a prominent advocate for racial equity in higher education, with a special emphasis on minority participation and performance. As the president of UMBC since 1992 he has received some of the nation’s highest accolades in higher ed leadership and advised the National Academies, NIH, and the National Science Foundation on building the pipeline of strong STEM students. Dr. Hrabowski was appointed by President Obama to chair the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans. He has been awarded honorary doctorates by more than 30 institutions and co-founded the Meyerhoff Scholars Program with philanthropist Robert Meyerhoff in 1988. The program is open to all high-achieving students committed to pursuing advanced degrees and research careers in science and engineering, and advancing underrepresented minorities in these fields. Dr. Hrabowski was also a child-leader in the civil rights movement, and has been an advocate for racial justice on several fronts. His most recent book, Holding Fast to Dreams: Empowering Youth from the Civil Rights Crusade to STEM Achievement, describes the experiences that most critically shaped his character as an educator and leader.