January 10, 2017

Senator Bob Corker

Chairman
Committee on Foreign Relations
U.S. Senate
423 Dirksen Building
Washington, DC 20510

Senator Ben Cardin

Ranking Member
Committee on Foreign Relations
U.S. Senate
423 Dirksen Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Chairman Corker and Ranking Member Cardin:

On behalf of UNCF (United Negro College Fund), I am pleased to provide this letter in
regard to the nomination of Rex Tillerson to be U.S. Secretary of State by President-elect
Donald J. Trump. UNCF is the nation's largest and most effective minority education
organization, including its 37 member historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).
While UNCF does not have a position on Mr. Tillersons foreign policy credentials, we do
want to express our views on his leadership on behalf of UNCF. Mr. Tillerson served as
an active and engaged member of UNCFs board of directors from 2006 to 2010. During
his tenure, Mr. Tillerson chaired UNCFs 63rd A Mind Is Gala, our signature donationgenerating event, for which his company donated $1 million. In total, ExxonMobil has
donated nearly $16 million to UNCF over the past 35 years to support scholarships for
minority students to attend college. He was truly committed to the mission of HBCUs and
their students in both words and deeds, taking the time to visit our member institutions,
such as Tuskegee University, to better understand their rich heritage.
Mr. Tillersons leadership was crucial to ExxonMobil issuing the challenge grant that
created UNCFs Campaign for Emergency Student Aid (CESA), which provides just-in-time
scholarships to students attending UNCF-supported HBCUs. Launched in 2009 during the
Great Recession, CESA provides final-year undergraduate students with the funds they
need to complete their education. Since ExxonMobils initial challenge grant, nearly $30
million has been raised for more than 11,000 CESA scholarships averaging $2,500 each.
Due to Mr. Tillersons commitment, ExxonMobil remains a valued corporate member of
UNCFs board, even after he could no longer be personally involved because of his service
as national president of the Boy Scouts of America. We look forward to working again
with Rex in his new role as U.S. Secretary of State, if confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you would like additional information.
Sincerely,

Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D.

President and CEO
UNCF