An accomplished actor and stage director, Phylicia Rashad became a household name when she portrayed Claire Huxtable on The Cosby Show, a character whose enduring appeal has earned her numerous honors and awards for over two decades. She has appeared as Carol on NBC’s This Is Us (2019 and 2020 Emmy nominations), Diana Dubois on the popular Fox TV series Empire, and as Dr. Woods-Trap in Tarrell Alvin McCraney's Peabody Award-winning series David Makes Man, on the OWN Network. In 2004, Ms. Rashad made history as the first Black actress to win the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her portrayal of Lena Younger in A Raisin in the Sun. She continued to grace the stage with performances in productions such as Gem of the Ocean and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Her excellence was further recognized in 2022 when she won her second Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for Skeleton Crew.

Beyond her acting career, Ms. Rashad has been a dedicated educator, serving as the dean of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University from 2021 to 2024. Her leadership has inspired a new generation of artists and performers.

Her enduring commitment to the arts and education exemplifies the spirit of excellence and service. Please join me in welcoming the incomparable Phylicia Rashad.