2010 Speaker Series - 9/16/10

September  16th 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Work: Howard University Research and Development Park CM|1.5

Presentation Description:

Howard University has owned its “North Campus”, located in Beltsville Maryland, since 1971, and has conducted scientific research from this location for several decades. However, prior to 2009, relatively few Prince Georgians knew that Howard University owned this campus or engaged in educational activities within the County. That all changed in June of last year, when Howard sought rezoning of its North Campus (through the County’s cyclical update of the Subregion 1 Master Plan), to enable the University to pursue development of a premier scientific Research and Development (R&D) Park. That zoning change was approved in June of this year, with the adoption of the new Subregion 1 Master Plan.

What does this scientific research and real estate development aspiration mean for Prince George’s County and Howard University? What are the economic and community development implications of the University’s pursuit of this R&D Park? How does Howard University fit into Prince George’s County and why is the development of this R&D Park an important objective for the University? What is the realistic potential for a university-led scientific center in Prince George’s County? Are there other implications for Prince George’s County through this development, particularly in terms of potential impact on the County’s public schools?

Presenters' Biographies:

Alvin Nichols

Alvin Nichols, land use and real estate development advisor to Howard University, will discuss the economic and community development implications of Howard University’s North Campus R&D Park aspirations, including the drivers that make Howard’s North Campus an attractive location for this use. He will then lead an illuminating panel discussion on Howard University’s R&D Park vision with distinguished panelists Artis Hampshire-Cowan, Senior Vice President and Secretary at Howard University, and Dr. James W. Mitchell, Dean of Howard University’s College of Engineering.

Alvin Nichols is the Principal of NICHOLS Creative Development (NCD), a real estate development consulting and investment firm. Prior to forming NCD, Alvin served 14 years in multiple capacities at Fannie Mae, including Director of Corporate Real Estate, Director of the Washington Partnership Office, and Chief of Staff of the Community Investments group.

Before joining Fannie Mae, Alvin’s career included Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Business Development for former Prince George’s County Executive Paris Glendenning; Vice President for Management Operations for Horning Brothers Real Estate; and in separate stints, City Manager and Director of Community Development for the City of Takoma Park Maryland.

Alvin currently serves as an appointee of Governor Martin O’Malley to the Maryland Port Commission, and is a member of American University’s “Kogod School of Business Real Estate Council”. He holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration, from American University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban and Environmental Studies, from Case Western Reserve University, in Cleveland, OH.

Artis Hampshire-Cowan will discuss Howard University’s mission and why and how a Research and Development Park is intrinsic to the University’s growth and mission fulfillment. Ms. Hampshire-Cowan will also discuss Howard University’s historical and prospective engagement in Prince George’s County, through the University’s North Campus and Howard’s greater profile and synergies with the community.

Prior to joining the Howard University leadership team, Ms. Hampshire-Cowan served as an Assistant District Attorney in Philadelphia, followed by a distinguished 12-year career with the District of Columbia. Her varied roles with the District government included Chief of the Office of Compliance at the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs; Historic Preservation Development Expert; Senior Advisor/Attorney Advisor to the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and City Administrator; and General Counsel at R.F.K. Stadium, where she served as in-house counsel and the chief negotiator for numerous sports initiatives.

Artis Hampshire-Cowan holds a Business Management degree from Morris Brown College in Atlanta, GA, and a Juris Doctor degree from the Temple University Law Center in Philadelphia, PA.

Dr. James Mitchell

Dr. James Mitchell will discuss the scientific standing and research portfolio of Howard University, its current research program at the North Campus and its main campus in Washington DC, and the University’s broad vision and opportunity for the development of a premier R&D Park at the North Campus. Dr. Mitchell’s discussion will include offering perspectives on the challenges and opportunities inherent in the branding and development of an R&D Park.

Dr James W. Mitchell, a National Academy of Engineering Member and Bell Labs Research Fellow, was named Dean of the Howard University College of Engineering in July 2010. His various leadership roles at Howard include the David and Lucille Packard Professor of Materials Science, and Director of the CREST Nanoscale Analytical Sciences Research and Education Center. Prior to joining Howard University, Dr. Mitchell served as Vice President of Materials Research at Lucent Bell Labs, Murray Hill, NJ. He is recognized for developing high reliability quantitative characterization methods, which laid the foundation for the analytical chemistry of optical waveguide technology.

Dr. Mitchell holds a B.S. degree in chemistry from North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, NC. He received his Ph.D. from Iowa State University.

Following the presentations, the panelists will have an open Q&A with the audience.