Science and technology company Battelle disclosed on Monday that Dr Wayne A I Frederick, current president of Howard University and the Charles R Drew Professor of Surgery, has been elected to the Battelle board of directors.

Dr Frederick will initially serve in an advisory role and will become a full voting member on the company's board in 2022.

Following post-doctoral research and surgical oncology fellowships at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dr Frederick began his academic career as associate director of the cancer center at the University of Connecticut. He was appointed the seventeenth president of Howard University in 2014 and has been responsible for advancing the university's commitment to student opportunity, academic innovation, public service, and fiscal stability. He previously served as provost and chief academic officer.

Currently, Dr Frederick serves on the board of directors for the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and Humana Inc.

Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio and founded in 1929, Battelle conducts research and development, designs and manufactures products, and delivers critical services for government and commercial customers. Battelle also supports science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education.