UNCF Played a Prominent Role at ASU+GVS 2025 Summit

(Black PR Wire) UNCF President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Michael L. Lomax recently led a group of UNCF executives to participate in the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego—one of the world’s leading convenings of education, innovation and impact.

Dr. Lomax received the distinguished GSV 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award during the Summit.

The GSV Lifetime Achievement Award honors individuals whose lives have had a profound impact in changing the world for good. These winners share GSV’s belief that all people deserve an equal opportunity to participate in the future. GSV believes in celebrating the education pioneers that have built the foundation for change in the world of learning.

Upon receiving the award, Dr. Lomax said, “I receive this wonderful gift on behalf of all the people who have worked so hard to make the dream of education for African Americans and historically Black colleges and universities a reality. It is not complete today, but we’ve made so much progress, and working with all of you as partners, I know that we can advance those goals and make that belief that education is the pathway to freedom even more of a reality for our nation, for disenfranchised communities, and for those around the world who dream of a better life and want the tool of education to help them achieve it.”

Dr. Lomax joined a renowned cadre of education visionaries who previously received the award and whose work has permanently reshaped the landscape of learning and opportunity. Past recipients include luminaries such as Luis von Ahn, co-founder of Duolingo; Marian Wright Edelman, founder of the Children’s Defense Fund; Geoffrey Canada, president of Harlem Children’s Zone; Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach For America; and Bill Milliken, founder of Communities In Schools.

“Dr. Lomax is not only a champion for higher education—he is a force for transformation,” said Chris Howard, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Arizona State University. “His leadership has opened doors for hundreds of thousands of students, especially those historically excluded from opportunity. This award honors a lifetime devoted to justice, excellence and the power of education to change lives.”

Also, Dr. Lomax headlined two Fireside Chats at the Summit with Chris Howard, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Arizona State University, and Monne Williams, chief impact officer, at Handshake, the career platform for Gen Z with a community of more than 17 million students, alumni, employers and career educators. Dr. Lomax is a member of Handshake’s board of directors. Dr. Lomax also appeared on a fireside chat at an HBCU breakfast during the Summit with Colin Kaepernick, former NFL quarterback and social activist.

Here are links to Dr. Lomax’s remarks at the Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony, a documentary video about his life, and his fireside chat with Chris Howard.