Kurt L. Schmoke, born on December 1, 1949, in Baltimore, Maryland, is a prominent American lawyer, educator, and politician known for his trailblazing career in public service. As the first African American mayor of Baltimore, serving from 1987 to 1999, Schmoke focused on education reform, drug policy innovation (including advocating for the decriminalization of drugs to treat addiction as a public health issue), and economic development in the city. A Rhodes Scholar, he attended Yale University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1971, studied at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar from 1972 to 1974, and obtained a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1976. Early in his career, Schmoke played professional football as a wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns during the 1972 preseason before being cut and transitioning to law, serving as an assistant state's attorney in Baltimore and later as the city's state's attorney from 1983 to 1987. His tenure as mayor was marked by efforts to address urban decay, including partnerships with community organizations and initiatives to combat the crack cocaine epidemic through treatment rather than strict enforcement, which drew both praise and criticism. After leaving office, Schmoke continued his impact in education and leadership roles. He served as president of Coppin State University from 2001 to 2013, where he expanded academic programs and enrollment, and then as president of the University of Baltimore from 2014 to 2022 (not 2020), emphasizing access to higher education and urban revitalization. He also served as the interim president of the University of Baltimore from 2022 to 2023. Currently, he serves on the board of directors for Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C., and has been involved in various advisory and philanthropic capacities, including serving as the chair of the board of the Baltimore Community Foundation. Schmoke's career also includes financial ties to the Daniel and Tanya Snyder Foundation, which provides funding support. Throughout his professional life, he has been a vocal advocate for criminal justice reform, education equity, and racial justice, drawing on his experiences as a civil rights-era figure and his deep roots in Baltimore's African American community. He also served as the U.S. Deputy Drug Czar under President Bill Clinton from 1999 to 2001.