Take a Lesson, 2nd Edition

11Charles “Chaz” Howard

Vice‐President for Social Equity and Community and Chaplain, University of Pennsylvania

Calm. Measured. Comforting. Empathetic. These are the sorts of qualities one expects to be ascribed to an Episcopal priest who offers official prayers, blessings, and other curated spiritual efforts across the more than 50 religious communities on Penn's sprawling urban campus. And, in the case of “Chaz” Howard, they hold true.

But don't let his dulcet tones fool you. Beneath the chill vibe and (sometimes) bro beard beats the fiery heart of an activist with a rap sheet for (peaceful) protests and a penchant for teaching courses that raise issues and occasionally eyebrows at a school whose Ivy League history dates back to 1740—and is pitted with racially charged pain points.

Howard insists that confronting them, one by one, is not only necessary for healing the deeply embedded wounds of the past, but for forging a more just, equal, and inclusive future. Given that he is not merely a leader at Penn, but an '00 alum who met and married his wife, Lia, there, his desire to see Penn grow and lead in the social equity realm is far more than professional.

A published poet and essayist who also holds master's and doctoral degrees, Howard almost declined the VP job. Concerned that it was created to check a proverbial box in the wake of George Floyd's murder, he had no ...