13
April
2016
|
09:46 AM
America/New_York

Bell Center breakfast to feature bank CEO Jordan Miller Jr. as speaker

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Jordan Miller Jr., president and CEO of Fifth Third Bank Central Ohio, will speak at the 11th Annual Bell National Resource Center on the African American Male (BNRC) Lecture Series Fundraising Breakfast. The breakfast takes place at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 14, at The Ohio State University Jerome Schottenstein Center Auxiliary Gym, 555 Borror Drive. Doors will open at 7 a.m.

The breakfast serves as the BNRC’s major fundraiser, and proceeds help to provide programs such as the Early Arrival Program, National Black Male Retreat and Leadership Institute, which support African American males and academic excellence at Ohio State.

“The programs within the Bell Center work to create a sense of community and present opportunities for leadership and mentorship for black males at Ohio State, and our work has contributed to Ohio State’s graduation rate for black males rising to 67 percent over the past five years, well above the national average,” said Dr. James L. Moore III, director of the Bell National Resource Center and associate provost for Diversity and Inclusion.

Gene Smith, Ohio State’s vice president and director of Athletics, will serve as master of ceremonies. Past Lecture Series speakers include Ohio State University Trustee Alex Shumate; DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the National Football League Players Association; Urban Meyer, head coach of Ohio State’s football team; and Warren Moon, the first African American quarterback inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Housed in Ohio State's Office of Diversity and Inclusion, the Bell National Resource Center has created programming for black male students at Ohio State that works to increase the success and retention of those students. The center examines and addresses critical issues in society that impact the quality of life for African American males. It achieves these objectives by conducting robust research studies and evaluations that inform social policy and theory on African American males and developing research-based programs, models and initiatives that could be replicated at other institutions.