“Dr. Walters was a great advisor to me and many other
elected officials throughout out our great country as a public policy and political
thinker,” Meek said. “I am very proud to have been selected to serve as a
Fellow in the Ronald Walters Leadership and Public Policy Center.”
As a visiting fellow, elected or appointed officials are
chosen to share their expertise with the Walters Center and the greater campus
community. Meek will facilitate lectures on topics that will include both
foreign and domestic policy. He will also contribute to informational sessions
geared toward students.
“Historically, Howard University has been at the forefront
of advocacy and political discourse,” Meek said. “No other HBCU can celebrate
or even have access to what Howard students have access to.” He added, “I’m
excited to have the opportunity to work with a student body that’s politically
motivated. To share my experiences and to allow other members of Congress to
interface with the student body is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Meek’s political involvement began at the age of 12, as he
helped his mother, former Congresswoman Carrie Meek, run for state legislature.
He continued to hone his political leadership skills at Florida Agricultural
and Mechanical University (FAMU) where he was the founder and president of the
university’s Democratic Club and later statewide president of the Young College
Democrats.
After graduating in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in
criminal justice, Meek began his career as a patrol trooper with Florida
Highway Patrol. He was later promoted to captain and assigned to the security
detail of Democratic Lt. Gov. Buddy McKay. However, he was
determined that writing laws – instead of enforcing them – would be where he
could have his greatest impact. Meek resigned from the Florida Highway Patrol
in 1994, and ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives. After
winning, Meek served in the Florida House from 1995 to 1998 and the Florida
Senate from 1999 to 2002.
Meek accomplished a great deal as state legislator. In 2000,
he and another state legislator staged a sit-in in the office of Gov. Jeb
Bush around the issue of “One Florida,” a plan to end official race/gender
preferences in state government. When the Florida legislature failed to act on
overcrowded classrooms in the Pre K-12 education system in Florida. Meek, also
lead a statewide petition to drive and successful Florida constitutional
amendment for smaller class sizes in the state which was approved by Florida
voters.
In 2003, Meek was elected to represent the 17th, U.S.
Congressional District of Florida, and became the first son to succeed his
mother in Congress. During his tenure, Meek was an early member of the House
Select Committee on Homeland Security, a precursor to the Homeland Security
Committee where he also served. He was an active member of the House Armed
Services Committee and by appointment of the Speaker was one of 12 officials
tapped to serve on the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Meek also was a member of
the House Steering and Policy Committee helping to define the legislative
policy and messaging priorities of the Democratic Caucus. He served until 2010
and was appointed by U.S. President Barack Obama to serve as a Special
Representative to the United Nations in 2011.
As a visiting fellow at the Ronald Walters Center, Meek will
meet with members of Congress to promote the Walters Center and engagement
between Howard University and members of Congress on policy matters.