Kurt L. Schmoke, Dean of the historic and prestigious Howard University School of Law, has been elected to the board of Carnegie Corporation of New York, effective June 14th, 2007. Schmoke, a Rhodes Scholar and dynamic urban leader, is the twenty-first member of the board and joins a group of three university presidents, three former governors, as well as current and former leaders from the World Bank, who serve as trustees to the Corporation.
“I am pleased that Kurt Schmoke, the former Mayor of Baltimore, has accepted our invitation to join our board. His experience as a big-city mayor and educator, as well as his commitment to social justice and his lifelong involvement in education and public service will serve to strengthen Carnegie Corporation’s leadership in the coming years,” said Vartan Gregorian, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Before his appointment to Howard in 2003, Schmoke was a partner with the international law firm of Wilmer, Cutler and Pickering. He served as Baltimore’s mayor from 1987 to1999, initiating a number of groundbreaking programs in the areas of housing, education, public health and economic development. During his tenure, the Clinton Administration designated Baltimore an empowerment zone city, citing Schmoke’s programs in economic development and public housing. He was also awarded the National Literacy Award for his efforts to promote adult literacy.
Schmoke began his career in public service during the Carter Administration, serving as Assistant Director of the White House Domestic Policy Staff. From 1982 until he was elected mayor in 1987, Schmoke was the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City.
He received his undergraduate degree in history from Yale University and earned his J. D. from Harvard Law School. He was appointed Honorary Fellow of Balliol college, Oxford University.
Carnegie Corporation of New York was created by Andrew Carnegie in 1911 to promote “the advancement and diffusion of knowledge and understanding.” For over 95 years the Corporation has carried out Carnegie's vision of philanthropy by building on his two major concerns: international peace and advancing education and knowledge. As a grantmaking foundation, the Corporation will invest more than $90 million this year in nonprofits to fulfill Mr. Carnegie’s mission, “to do real and permanent good in this world.” The Corporation's capital fund, originally donated at a value of about $135 million, had a market value of $2.5 billion on September 30, 2006.