The United Negro College Fund announced that Dr. Michael L. Lomax, who has led the organization as president and CEO since 2004, will step down in June 2027. The decision, made by the UNCF Board, concludes a tenure that has spanned more than two decades of leadership at an institution central to the financial and educational mission of historically Black colleges and universities across the country.
Lomax's announcement comes as the UNCF continues its work supporting HBCUs through scholarships, institutional grants, and advocacy. The organization has long served as a critical pipeline of resources for students attending the nation's Black colleges and universities, helping to sustain institutions that have educated generations of African American leaders, professionals, and changemakers.
The transition timeline—giving the organization roughly eighteen months to plan—signals an orderly succession process. The UNCF Board's approach reflects the significance of the role and the need for thoughtful preparation as the organization moves into its next chapter. Leadership transitions at major HBCU-serving organizations carry weight across the entire network, influencing funding priorities, advocacy strategies, and the relationship between HBCUs and the philanthropic ecosystem that supports them.
Lomax's tenure has coincided with significant evolution in how HBCUs are funded and supported nationally. The organization he leads has remained a steadfast advocate for Black colleges during periods of shifting federal policy, changing donor priorities, and evolving challenges in higher education access and affordability. His departure will inevitably prompt reflection on the priorities and direction of UNCF's work going forward.
The announcement does not yet specify details about the search process for a successor or the timeline for naming new leadership. Such transitions typically involve comprehensive board-led searches designed to identify candidates who can navigate the complex landscape of HBCU funding and advocacy.
For the HBCU community, leadership changes at organizations like UNCF matter deeply. UNCF's work—distributing scholarships, providing institutional support, and advocating for policy changes that benefit Black colleges—touches nearly every corner of the HBCU network. The organization's priorities and strategic direction influence which institutions receive support, how funding flows to students, and how HBCUs are positioned in national conversations about higher education.
Why this matters: The UNCF has been instrumental in sustaining HBCUs through decades of change, and transitions in its leadership shape the future of funding and advocacy for the entire network. As the organization prepares for new leadership, the HBCU community will be watching to see how priorities evolve and what direction the next chapter of UNCF's mission will take.