Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Chris Binns graduated from Virginia State University as a History major, where he was recognized as one of the top scholars in the department.  He was president of his class for two consecutive years and chaired a number of Student Government Association committees.  He was also very active through the Betterment of Brothers and Sisters organization, as corresponding secretary of his fraternity and a resident assistant.  In 2006, Chris received the Distinguished Collegian Award on behalf of the Alpha Phi Alpha Education Foundation, Inc.   In 2007, he was accepted to the Peace Corps and hopes to be assigned to a West African nation.

During his first summer at the Institute, Chris interned with the American Academy for Liberal Education.   He interned for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund during his second summer and is now employed as a program career counselor at its national headquarters in New York.