Celebrating the Leadership of President Ronald Mason Jr.

President Mason: A Commitment to Excellence

Ronald Mason Jr. J.D. is the ninth president of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC), the only public university in the nation’s capital and the only exclusively urban land-grant institution in the United States. President Mason announced last July that he would step down from his role when his contract concludes on June 30, 2023. Having begun in 2015, Mason is the University’s longest-serving president.

Under his leadership, UDC ranked #17 in the 2022-2023 U.S. News & World Report Best Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), an increase from the #30 position last year. A total of 77 historically Black colleges and universities were compared—only with one another—for these rankings. Within the ranking, UDC holds the distinction of being ranked 7th among all public HBCUs. UDC also ranked #5 for Clinical Law Training for the David A. Clarke School of Law’s Clinical Program in the 2023 U.S. News & World Report Graduate School Rankings (tying with Yale University).

The University also began a multi-million-dollar capital renovation and expansion program during President Mason’s tenure. During this time, spending on research almost tripled; two new Ph.D. programs were initiated and launched (Urban Leadership & Entrepreneurship and Engineering & Computer Science), and the Center for Diversity, Inclusion & Multicultural Affairs (CDIMA) was created.

One of the most notable highlights under his helm: The institution secured the most significant private gift in its history—$2.3 million for need-based scholarships.

UDC is Mason’s third presidential appointment. Previously, he served a five-year term as the chief executive officer of the Southern University and A&M College System and spent ten years as president of Jackson State University. Before that, Mason developed a successful record of progressive leadership at Tulane University, including senior vice president, general counsel and vice president for finance and operations. He also served as the founder and executive director of the National Center for the Urban Community at Tulane and Xavier Universities.

Mason has served in many leadership roles over the years, including two terms on the National Association for Institutional Quality and Integrity and multiple terms on the Thurgood Marshall College Fund Board. He has chaired the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Education and advised three U.S. presidents through the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Mason formerly served on the Board of the American Council on Education and the American University of Nigeria Board. He is a Digital Promise Board Member, serves on the Educational Testing Service HBCU Advisory Committee and is the Vice-Chair of the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area.

Mason is the recipient of numerous recognitions, including the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Award for Educational Leadership, the Benjamin E. Mays Educator of the Year, Columbia University John Jay Award for Distinguished Professional Achievement, TMCF Educator of the Year, the City of New Orleans Medal of Honor, and the Tulane/Xavier/Loyola Lifetime Achievement Award.

We extend to President Mason our gratitude. Your historic leadership has been instrumental to Team UDC.