Dive Summary:

• In an interview Friday, University of Maryland-Baltimore County President Freeman A. Hrabowski III--who was chosen to chair a commission guiding President Barack Obama's White House Initiative for Educational Excellence for African Americans--said he believes the new executive order can make a difference, adding, "It is amazing how much can be done once you look a problem in the face."
• Despite not wanting to speak for the entire commission, which has yet to be assembled, Hrabowski discussed some of the issues he'd like to address, including the need for constant review of programs at all levels, the importance of looking at different groups within the African-American community, and the responsibilities of families and communities.
• Hrabowski also said that he has not seen a letter from the National Association of Equal Opportunity in Higher Education sent to President Obama urging him not to release the executive order, as it could hurt historically black colleges.

From the article:

The University of Maryland-Baltimore County is known for its innovative programs to recruit and graduate black students in science and technology fields, sending many on to graduate schools at numbers unmatched by most of American higher education. It may not be surprising, then, that as President Obama signed an executive order last week creating the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, he selected Freeman A. Hrabowski III, president of UMBC, to chair a commission that will guide the effort. ...