Marc Morial

Marc Morial is the president and CEO of the National Urban League, appointed by the board of directors on May 15, 2003. Morial is a respected expert on national policy and its impact on cities, including the arts, transportation and infrastructure, the environment, crime prevention, housing, jobs, and recreation. Exclusively represented by Leading Authorities speakers bureau, Marc Morial brings his expertise on leadership, management, and urban development.

A Mayor's Mayor. Prior to being selected to lead the National Urban League, he practiced law with Adams and Reese LLP, the Gulf South's leading law firm. Morial also served two distinguished 4-year terms as Mayor of New Orleans from 1994-2002. During that time, he also served as president of the United States Conference of Mayors in 2001 and 2002.

As New Orleans' chief executive, he was one of the most popular and effective mayors in the city's history. After being elected as one of the youngest mayors in the city's history, crime plummeted by 60%, a corrupt police department was reformed, new programs for youth were started, and a stagnant economy was re-energized. Under his watch, 7,000 new hotel rooms were added, and 15,000 new homeowners resulted from his progressive and innovative programs. In Morial's final months in office, he orchestrated the return of the NBA to New Orleans, with the relocation of the Hornets from Charlotte to New Orleans. In addition, the Morial Convention Center was expanded to one of the largest in America, a downtown Sports Arena was built, and over 200 miles of streets were reconstructed or resurfaced through Morial's far reaching "Rebuild New Orleans Now!" bond issuances which provided funding for nearly $400 million in city, school board, and criminal justice system infrastructure improvements.

A Man of Honors. The son of the late Ernest N. "Dutch" Morial, New Orleans' first Black mayor, Marc Morial also served two-years in the Louisiana State Senate where he was recognized as Conservationist Senator of the Year, Education Senator of the Year, and Legislative Rookie of the Year for his accomplishments. His private law practice and involvement in many high-profile cases was recognized by the Louisiana Bar Association which honored him in 1988 with its Pro Bono Publico Award. He earned a law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1983 and also earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics and African American Studies from the University of Pennsylvania in 1980. In 2002, Xavier University awarded him an Honorary Doctor of Law degree.