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REFLECTIONS EXCELLENCE

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2026

MOREHOUSE COLLEGE

REFLECTIONS EXCELLENCE OF

FEBRUARY 14, 2026

Order of Program

introduction of the president of morehouse college

Jasmine Gurley

Senior Director, Brand Marketing and Communications and Press Secretary to College President, Office of Strategic Marketing and Communications

greetings

F. DuBois Bowman ’92, Ph.D. 13th President, Morehouse College

opening remarks

Jonathan Martin

Emmy-nominated News Anchor, 11Alive

Willie Underwood III ’88, M.D.

Bennie Leadership Award

James L. Hudson ’61, Esq.

Bennie Trailblazer Award

Willie E. Woods ’85, MBA

Bennie Service Award

honorees

Eric G. Johnson, MBA

Candle in Business Award

Robert L. Satcher, M.D., Ph.D.

Candle Award in Science, Engineering, and Technology

Malcolm D. Lee, MFA

Candle in Arts and Entertainment Award

q & a session

closing remarks

Jonathan Martin

2026 Reflections of Excellence Moderator

Jonathan Martin is an Emmynominated anchor at 11Alive, where he anchors the station’s weekday morning newscasts. He joined the team in July 2023 and brings 20 years of journalism experience covering major stories across the country.

A proud Atlanta native, Martin is honored to tell stories in the city that helped shape him. He’s known for his deep connection to the community and is a strong supporter of HBCUs. Recently, he hosted events for Morehouse’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center and UNCF’s 80th Anniversary celebration, among others.

Martin is the 2024 recipient of the Atlanta Press Club Award for Excellence in Television Reporting. His career took him from Augusta, Georgia, to Nashville, New Orleans, and Houston, before he rerturned home to Atlanta.

F. DuBois Bowman ’92, Ph.D. 13th President of Morehouse College

F. DuBois Bowman, Ph.D., is the 13th President of Morehouse College, a role that marks a fullcircle return to his alma mater. A nationally respected biostatistician and academic leader, Dr. Bowman has had a distinguished career at the intersection of scholarship, leadership, and public service. He brings decades of experience advancing research excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and institutional transformation.

A proud 1992 magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Morehouse College, Dr. Bowman earned his bachelor’s degree in mathematics before completing his master’s in biostatistics at the University of Michigan, and his doctorate in biostatistics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His career reflects a sustained commitment to mentoring the next generation of scholars and expanding diversity in the sciences. He leverages large-scale data to advance human health and social good.

As President of Morehouse College, Dr. Bowman leads with the conviction that excellence, equity, and service are inseparable, believing that institutions grounded in purpose can shape a more just and healthier world.

Prior to his presidency, Dr. Bowman served as dean of the University of Michigan School of Public Health, from 2018 to 2025. He also held the Roderick J. Little Collegiate Professorship of Biostatistics. As dean, he led one of the nation’s top public health schools through significant growth and global impact, elevating its ranking to No. 2 nationally at the time of his departure. He expanded research infrastructure and launched an equity-centered interdisciplinary initiative to create healthy cities, prevent firearm injuries, and combat infectious diseases. Dr. Bowman further contributed to university-

wide priorities in data science, precision health, and sustainability. He also strengthened the faculty, grew student enrollment, and launched innovative academic programs. His leadership emphasized public health as both a scientific enterprise and a moral imperative.

Before joining the University of Michigan, Dr. Bowman held senior academic leadership roles at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. He served as chair of the Department of Biostatistics and as the Cynthia and Robert Citrone–Roslyn and Leslie Goldstein Professor. Earlier, he spent 13 years at Emory University. There, he was a tenured professor, founding director of the Center for Biomedical Imaging Statistics, and a key contributor to interdisciplinary neuroscience and data science initiatives.

Dr. Bowman’s scholarly research has earned him international recognition, focusing on statistical methods for complex biomedical and neuroimaging data, while making influential contributions to understanding Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, mental health, and brain connectivity. He has served as principal investigator or co-investigator on numerous National Institutes of Health–funded projects and has authored or co-authored an extensive body of peer-reviewed publications in leading journals across statistics, medicine, and neuroscience.

His research and leadership have received numerous prestigious recognitions, including the highest honors in science and medicine by being elected to the National Academy of Medicine and becoming a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. His alma mater, Morehouse College, honored him with the Benjamin E. Mays “Bennie” Trailblazer Award in 2019, the highest honor bestowed upon the College’s alumni. He also received a distinguished alumnus award from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he completed his doctoral studies. For contributions within his discipline of statistics, he was elected as a fellow of the American Statistical Association (ASA) in 2012, named an ASA Black History Month Trailblazer in 2020, and presently serves as the vice president and a member of the board of directors of the ASA.

Dr. Bowman is a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia. He and his wife, Cynthia, are the proud parents of four amazing children, and they have two grandchildren.

BENNIE

LEADERSHIP AWARD

WILLIE UNDERWOOD III ’88, M.D.

Urologic Surgeon; President-elect and Past Board of Trustees Chair, American Medical Association

Willie Underwood III, M.D., MSc, MPH, FACS is a urologic surgeon, health equity scholar, and national physician leader whose journey from Gary, Indiana, to the presidency of the American Medical Association (AMA) reflects a life spent turning talent into testimony and achievement into advocacy.

A proud Morehouse Man, Underwood earned his bachelor’s degree in biology on the Atlanta campus which shaped his conviction that Black excellence is not an exception, but an expectation—and that health care must work for the sum of us, not just some of us.

For more than 25 years, Underwood has practiced at the cutting edge of urologic surgery. His experience includes more than 15 years in robotic surgery, as well as years spent building a national reputation as an expert on healthcare disparities and policy reform. His research has attracted millions in federal funding and produced more than 120 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and abstracts, as well as patents for a novel prostate cancer biomarker, all underscoring a career where scientific rigor and moral purpose walk side by side.

Beyond the operating room and the laboratory, Underwood has become a trusted voice in the boardroom and on the public stage. He has served as president-elect and chair of the AMA Board of Trustees and on the boards of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and The Joint Commission, where he presses institutions to confront inequity not as a talking point, but as a mandate. His TEDx talks, national media appearances, and grand rounds presentations invite physicians, policymakers, and communities to imagine—and then insist upon—a system where ZIP code, race, and income no longer predict health outcomes.

In June 2026, Underwood will be inaugurated president of the American Medical Association, stepping into one of medicine’s most visible roles when the stakes for patients and physicians could not be higher. From this platform, he has pledged to fight for a fair Medicare payment system, to cut through the thicket of prior authorization, and to reduce physician burnout, all while keeping health equity at the center of the national conversation.

Tonight, as the “A Candle in the Dark” Gala illuminates the stories of those who lift our communities, we honor a son of Morehouse whose light now shines across exam rooms, board tables, government halls, and neighborhoods that have waited too long to be seen. In the life and leadership of Willie Underwood III, we see what happens when a disciplined mind, a compassionate heart, and an unshakable belief in justice are set ablaze in service to humanity.

BENNIE TRAILBLAZER AWARD JAMES L. HUDSON ’61, ESQ.

Attorney, Academic Lecturer, and Venture Capitalist; Chairman Emeritus, Morehouse College Board of Trustees

James L. Hudson ’61 stands in that distinguished lineage of Morehouse Men whose lives testify to the College’s highest ideals—scholarship, integrity, leadership, and service to something larger than oneself. A man of Morehouse during the era of President Benjamin E. Mays, Hudson came of age when the campus was both classroom and crucible, pressing young men to marry intellectual rigor with moral responsibility. Those lessons would follow him well beyond the red clay of Atlanta, shaping a career that would reach from local communities to global centers of power.

After graduating from Morehouse, Hudson pursued legal training and entered the world of finance with a conviction that capital, law, and public policy could be harnessed in the service of the common good. Over decades, he has distinguished himself as an attorney and investment executive, navigating complex transactions and advising major institutions with a steady hand. His work in banking and international finance placed him at the intersection of markets and missions, where decisions made in boardrooms could translate into roads, schools, businesses, and jobs across continents. In those spaces, he became known not only for his technical expertise but also for his insistence that economic development must ultimately serve people, not just profit.

Hudson’s leadership reached a global stage through his service as a United States director at a major multilateral development bank. In that role, he engaged with some of the most pressing economic and social challenges of our time—supporting efforts to expand infrastructure, stabilize emerging markets, and broaden opportunity in communities often overlooked by traditional investment. Whether the work involved large-scale projects or targeted initiatives, he brought to the table a Morehouse-shaped understanding that progress is measured not only in numbers, but in lives improved and futures expanded.

Yet, for all his international reach, Hudson has never lost sight of his responsibilities closest to home. A steadfast supporter of Morehouse College, he has given generously of his time, talent, and treasure. He has served on boards and advisory bodies, lent his experience to Presidents and senior leaders, and remained a visible, engaged presence in the life of the institution. To students and younger alumni, he has offered mentorship and example—demonstrating that it is possible to move with ease in the corridors of power while staying grounded in humility, faith, and community.

Hudson’s life also speaks to a broader story about Black excellence and institution-building. At a time when access to the highest levels of finance and global policy was limited for African Americans, he helped to widen the path, showing that Morehouse Men could not only enter those rooms, but shape the agenda within them. In doing so, he has served as both trailblazer and bridge—honoring the sacrifices of those who came before him and clearing space for those who will follow.

Tonight, as the “A Candle in the Dark” Gala honors those whose light has helped guide the way, we lift up James L. Hudson ’61 as a statesman of finance, a servant of the public good, and a faithful son of Morehouse. His journey reminds us that true greatness is not found solely in titles or positions, but in the enduring impact one has on institutions, communities, and individual lives. In celebrating Hudson, we affirm a legacy of disciplined mind, courageous heart, and unwavering commitment to leave both Morehouse and the world better than he found them.

BENNIE SERVICE AWARD

WILLIE E. WOODS ’85, MBA

Founder, President and CEO, ICV Partners; Chairman Emeritus, Morehouse College Board of Trustees

There are evenings when the language of Wall Street is not enough, when terms such as “assets under management” and “internal rate of return” cannot capture what is truly at stake, which is the fate of families, neighborhoods, and futures. On nights like this, we remember that capital is not just a number on a page; it is a force that can either widen the distance among us or help close the gap.

Into that high-stakes arena stepped a Morehouse Man who refused to believe that the capital markets were reserved for a chosen few. Willie E. Woods ’85 is a visionary investor, strategist, and builder whose career has been defined by a simple conviction: Capital, rightly deployed, can change more than balance sheets—it can change lives. As president and CEO of ICV Partners, a leading private equity firm he co-founded, Woods has spent more than two decades investing in, and scaling, middle-market companies, particularly those that serve everyday people and anchor local communities. Under Woods’ leadership, ICV has grown into a respected platform known for disciplined performance, trusted partnerships, and a commitment to creating long-term value for employees, customers, and investors alike.

A proud Morehouse Man, Woods graduated in 1985 before continuing his education at some of the nation’s most competitive institutions and launching a career on Wall Street. Across roles in investment banking, private equity, and corporate leadership, he has navigated complex transactions and changing markets with a steady hand and a clear moral compass. Colleagues often note that his greatest talent is not simply spotting opportunity, but seeing possibility—in companies, in people, and in communities others have overlooked.

Beyond the deal table, Woods is a dedicated mentor and civic leader who understands that representation in finance is both a symbol and a strategy. He has championed pathways for young professionals of color to enter and excel in financial services, offering guidance, sponsorship, and access to networks that have historically been closed. His board service and philanthropy reflect a deep belief in education, entrepreneurship, and the power of Black institutions, especially Morehouse, to reshape what leadership looks like in the global economy.

Tonight, as the “A Candle in the Dark” Gala honors those whose lives illuminate the way for others, we recognize Willie E. Woods ’85 as a steward of capital and a guardian of possibility. In boardrooms and classrooms, in mentoring circles and community gatherings, he continues to demonstrate that when excellence is tethered to purpose, investment becomes more than profit—it becomes a promise to the next generation.

CANDLE IN BUSINESS AWARD

ERIC G. JOHNSON, MBA

Chairman, Board of Trustees and Former President and CEO, Baldwin Richardson Foods Co.

Eric G. Johnson is the chairman of Baldwin Richardson Foods Co. One of the largest African- American-owned businesses in the food industry, Baldwin Richardson Foods is headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, with manufacturing facilities in Macedon and Williamson, New York.

In 1989, Johnson, following in his father’s footsteps, became chief executive officer of Johnson Products Co., the nation’s first African-American owned publicly-traded company. After Johnson turned around that company’s performance in 1991, it became the seventh best performing stock on the American Stock Exchange and earned the American Management Association’s Turnaround Award.

A business entrepreneur, Johnson purchased in 1991 the Baldwin Ice Cream Co., a small company established in Chicago in 1921. He expanded the distribution and sales of the company, and, in 1997, completed the acquisition of Richardson Foods from the Quaker Oats Co. The company produced Nance’s Mustard and condiments, Mrs. Richardson’s dessert toppings, and liquid products for McDonald’s.

Baldwin Richardson Foods, in fact, is now a major producer of products and ingredients for McDonald’s Corp., as well as the Kellogg Co., General Mills Inc., Dunkin’ Brands Inc., Starbucks Corp., FritoLay Inc., and the Quaker Oats Co. Baldwin Richardson also has retail brands and food service products that it distributes nationally.

Eric Johnson received his bachelor of arts and science degrees in finance and management from Babson College. In 1971, as the student representative to the management department, he worked with Prof. John Hornaday on the evolution of the entrepreneurial studies program and curriculum.

Johnson has served three terms as a trustee of Morehouse College. Each year, a four-year, full-tuition, scholarship is awarded for the Baldwin Richardson Foods Scholars Program. The company also has a sister program at Spelman College for women in food science.

Johnson is also a member of the board of directors at Lincoln National Corp. and chairman of its Finance Committee, as well as a member of the board of trustees and vice chairman at Babson College, and a member of the board of trustees at the Pérez Art Miami Museum.

In addition, he serves as chairman of the foundation board for The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, vice chairman of The Greater Rochester New York Chamber of Commerce, and a consultant and advisor to The HistoryMakers, the world’s largest repository of African American Oral Histories housed in The Smithsonian Institution and The Library of Congress.

2026 “A CANDLE IN THE DARK” HONOREES

CANDLE IN SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND TECHNOLOGY AWARD

ROBERT L. SATCHER, M.D., PH.D.

Orthopedic Surgeon and Oncologist; Chemical Engineer; and former NASA Astronaut

Robert L. Satcher Jr., M.D, Ph.D., is an orthopedic oncologist, chemical engineer, and former NASA astronaut whose career stands at the intersection of science, surgery, and service. An accomplished clinician and researcher, he has devoted his life’s work to improving outcomes for patients with complex bone and soft tissue cancers while advancing innovative approaches to care in academic medicine.

Satcher earned his undergraduate degree in chemical engineering before completing both a doctorate in chemical engineering and a medical degree, preparing for a vocation that unites rigorous scientific inquiry with hands-on healing. He went on to specialize in orthopedic surgery and musculoskeletal oncology, building a reputation for technical excellence, compassionate bedside care, and a deep commitment to those facing some of medicine’s most challenging diagnoses.

In 2004, NASA selected Satcher to join its astronaut corps. This invitation answered one of Satcher’s childhood dreams, allowing him to step into a pioneering role in American spaceflight. He flew as a mission specialist on STS-129 aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis, becoming the first orthopedic surgeon to travel to space. Over the course of that mission, Satcher conducted experiments related to human physiology in microgravity and completed spacewalks to help install equipment and support operations on the International Space Station. His work in orbit contributed to a growing body of knowledge on how spaceflight affects the human body and how that knowledge might one day improve care on Earth.

After completing his NASA service, Satcher returned to academic medicine, where he continues to blend clinical practice, research, and education. His work has included leadership in global health collaborations, efforts to expand access to advanced cancer care, and early exploration of telemedicine and virtual care as tools to reach patients far beyond the walls of major medical centers. He remains a sought-after lecturer and mentor, encouraging the next generation of physicians, engineers, and explorers to bring both curiosity and conscience to their work.

For the Morehouse community, Dr. Satcher’s journey—from the laboratory to low Earth orbit and back to the clinic—offers a powerful example of what it means to use one’s gifts in service to humanity. His life demonstrates that excellence in science and medicine need not be detached from empathy, and that discovery is at its best when it expands both human knowledge and human possibility.

In honoring Dr. Robert L. Satcher Jr. at the “A Candle in the Dark” Gala, Morehouse College salutes a surgeon, scientist, and astronaut whose light has reached the stars and still returns, again and again, to illuminate the lives of patients, students, and communities here at home.

CANDLE IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT AWARD MALCOLM D. LEE, MFA

Critically Acclaimed Film/Television Writer, Director, and Producer; Founder, Blackmaled Productions

Malcolm D. Lee is an acclaimed filmmaker, writer and producer known for films such as The Best Man franchise, Girls Trip, Night School and more. Lee’s work has earned him critical acclaim, a loyal fanbase, and honors, including the NAACP Image Award and AAFCA Award, and recognition at the Critics Choice Awards Celebration of Black Cinema & Television.

Since he was 12 years old, Lee has been making films in animation, video, and Super-8 film formats. He has also been working professionally in the industry since age 17 as a production assistant, apprentice film editor, casting associate, assistant director, and director’s assistant.

Lee completed his undergraduate studies at Georgetown University in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in English with a fine arts minor, and then accepted a year-long fellowship in screenwriting from Walt Disney Studios. Following his early Hollywood experience he gained entry into New York University’s Tisch School Of The Arts, honed his craft as a director and writer, and went on to make the award-winning short film, Morningside Prep

Since 1999, Lee’s directorial work has included his critically-acclaimed feature film debut The Best Man, which opened at No. 1 at the box office, Undercover Brother, Barbershop: The Next Cut, and the smash hit Girls Trip—the first film with a full African-American creative team, both in front of and behind the camera, to surpass the $100 million mark at the domestic box office. Girls Trip grossed more than $140 million worldwide, followed by Night School, another box office hit grossing over $100 million.

One of Hollywood’s most bankable filmmakers, Lee released the popular Space Jam: A New Legacy, starring LeBron James, in 2021, followed by Peacock’s The Best Man: Final Chapters, an eight-part series, in December 2022.

Through his Blackmaled Productions banner, Lee is currently overseeing the development of several feature and television projects, including directing and executive producing the spy procedural Need to Know, as well as a television adaptation of Ellen Won Steil’s novel Becoming Marlowe Fin, at Peacock.

In 2025, Lee expanded his storytelling into the literary world with the release of his debut novel, The Best Man: Unfinished Business, the first in a planned trilogy that continues the journey of the iconic characters from his film series. Lee’s untitled next feature film, starring Lynn Whitfield, Chloe Bailey and Coco Jones, is scheduled to premiere in 2026.