Noted Civil Rights activist Vernon Jordan spoke to the scholars about his childhood and education in the largely segregated city of Atlanta, Georgia.  He discussed his rise from his college job as chauffer to an Atlanta banker to one of America’s most powerful non-elected leaders.  Much of the material that Jordan discussed is written in his autobiography, Vernon Can Read.

Mr. Jordan hosted the students at the Washington law firm, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, where he serves as Senior Counsel.  Prior to joining Akin Gump in 1982, Mr. Jordan served most notably as president and chief executive officer of the National Urban League and executive director of the United Negro College Fund.

His presidential appointments include the President's Advisory Committee for the Points of Light Initiative Foundation, the Secretary of State's Advisory Committee on South Africa, the Advisory Council on Social Security, and the National Advisory Committee on Selective Service.  Mr. Jordan served as the chairman of the Clinton Presidential Transition Team in 1992.

He may serve on more corporate boards than any other African American.  These currently include America Online Latin America, American Express, Asbury Automotive Group, Dow Jones & Company, J.C. Penney Company, Revlon Group, Sara Lee Corporation, Shinsei Bank, and Xerox Corporation. He serves on the international advisory boards of DaimlerChrysler and Barrick Gold.  And he is a trustee of Howard University and the LBJ Foundation.