Charlene Drew Jarvis is a native of Washington, D.C., a former elected official, a scientist, and the ninth president of Southeastern University. Appointed in 1996, she is the first woman to hold that position. As president she believes that government, business, and higher education must work together in order to build a stronger economy and has strengthened the curriculum in order to produce graduates who are critical thinkers with exit competencies to meet the challenges in today's marketplace and in society.
Drew-Jarvis serves as chairman of the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area; Southeastern is one of the 15 member institutions. She also has returned to the classroom, teaching a graduate seminar at Southeastern in public administration, focusing on the District of Columbia government.
She is a nationally recognized speaker on legislative policy, health science, and economic issues and has received more than 100 awards for her professional and civic accomplishments and her outstanding leadership.
In 2007. she was named one of the most powerful people in Washington by Washingtonian Magazine, which also had selected her one of The 1999 Washingtonians of the Year. In addition, the Women's Business Center, Inc. has honored her for her outstanding long-term support of women-owned businesses.
One of the longest-serving members of the Council of the District of Columbia, Drew-Jarvis was chair pro tem and chair of the Committee on Economic Development. She has also served as the chair of the Board of the Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments.
As chair of the District of Columbia’s Committee on Economic Development, Drew-Jarvis spearheaded efforts to increase revenues to answer the city's financial crisis. She introduced legislation that paved the way for the new Verizon Center and the new Convention Center, both of which created jobs and increased business and tax revenues for the District.
Drew-Jarvis earned a BA at Oberlin College, an MA at Howard University, and a PhD in neuropsychology at the University of Maryland. She received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Amherst College and an Honorary Doctor of Public Service degree from George Washington University.
The daughter of Dr. Charles R. Drew, the noted blood bank pioneer, she has conducted brain research at the National Institute of Mental Health and is an advocate for science and health education.
Drew-Jarvis is a member of the executive committee of the Federal City Council and the Board of Directors of the BB&T Regional Bank, Washington Office. She serves on the boards of the District of Columbia Education Compact, the Community Foundation of the National Capital Region, the Hillwood Museum, Studio Theatre, and the National Committee on Economic Development (CED).
Drew-Jarvis has served on the boards of, or as an advisor to, the National Institute of Mental Health, the Washington chapter of the American Red Cross, the Breast Cancer Task Force of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Women's Health Initiative of the National Institutes of Health, the National Museum of Health, and the National Bone Marrow Program.
She is a former member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. She also has served as chair of the District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Trade's Community Business Partnership, and the Board of Directors of the Washington Convention and Tourism Corporation.
Honorary Doctor of Humanities
Charlene Drew Jarvis ’62
Charlene Drew Jarvis is a native of Washington, D.C., a former elected official, a scientist, and the ninth president of Southeastern University. Appointed in 1996, she is the first woman to hold that position. As president she believes that government, business, and higher education must work together in order to build a stronger economy and has strengthened the curriculum in order to produce graduates who are critical thinkers with exit competencies to meet the challenges in today's marketplace and in society.
Drew-Jarvis serves as chairman of the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area; Southeastern is one of the 15 member institutions. She also has returned to the classroom, teaching a graduate seminar at Southeastern in public administration, focusing on the District of Columbia government.
She is a nationally recognized speaker on legislative policy, health science, and economic issues and has received more than 100 awards for her professional and civic accomplishments and her outstanding leadership.
In 2007. she was named one of the most powerful people in Washington by Washingtonian Magazine, which also had selected her one of The 1999 Washingtonians of the Year. In addition, the Women's Business Center, Inc. has honored her for her outstanding long-term support of women-owned businesses.
One of the longest-serving members of the Council of the District of Columbia, Drew-Jarvis was chair pro tem and chair of the Committee on Economic Development. She has also served as the chair of the Board of the Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments.
As chair of the District of Columbia’s Committee on Economic Development, Drew-Jarvis spearheaded efforts to increase revenues to answer the city's financial crisis. She introduced legislation that paved the way for the new Verizon Center and the new Convention Center, both of which created jobs and increased business and tax revenues for the District.
Drew-Jarvis earned a BA at Oberlin College, an MA at Howard University, and a PhD in neuropsychology at the University of Maryland. She received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Amherst College and an Honorary Doctor of Public Service degree from George Washington University.
The daughter of Dr. Charles R. Drew, the noted blood bank pioneer, she has conducted brain research at the National Institute of Mental Health and is an advocate for science and health education.
Drew-Jarvis is a member of the executive committee of the Federal City Council and the Board of Directors of the BB&T Regional Bank, Washington Office. She serves on the boards of the District of Columbia Education Compact, the Community Foundation of the National Capital Region, the Hillwood Museum, Studio Theatre, and the National Committee on Economic Development (CED).
Drew-Jarvis has served on the boards of, or as an advisor to, the National Institute of Mental Health, the Washington chapter of the American Red Cross, the Breast Cancer Task Force of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Women's Health Initiative of the National Institutes of Health, the National Museum of Health, and the National Bone Marrow Program.
She is a former member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. She also has served as chair of the District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Trade's Community Business Partnership, and the Board of Directors of the Washington Convention and Tourism Corporation.
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