The Africa Center Elects Dana Reed to Board of Trustees

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - May 19, 2015) - The Africa Center, the New York City-based multidisciplinary institution with a mission that spans African policy, business and culture, today announced that Dana Reed, the CEO of PanAfrican Investment Co., has been elected to the Board of Trustees. Upon a unanimous vote from the Board led by Hadeel Ibrahim and Chelsea Clinton, Reed became the sixth Member of The Africa Center's Board of Trustees. The Africa Center recently announced the appointment of former United States Ambassador Michelle Gavin as Managing Director.

As the newest member of the Board of Trustees, Reed will bring fresh perspective and extraordinary global business expertise to The Africa Center. She will oversee The Africa Center as it achieves its capital campaign goals and completes construction on its stunning facility at 1280 Fifth Avenue at the Northeast corner of Central Park. Reed will help to guide The Africa Center's development of meaningful thought leadership around the role of the business community in strengthening transatlantic ties, and will also help ensure that The Africa Center is a valuable resource to the local Harlem community where she lives.

As CEO of PanAfrican Investment Co. that makes strategic capital investments on the African continent, Reed is responsible for managing its day-to-day business and for overseeing all investment decisions. Prior to joining PIC, Reed was Managing Director at Semper Capital, served as Vice President of Institutional Equity Sales at Friedman Billings Ramsey and thereafter as Vice President in the Investment Banking Group at FBR. She has also held positions in the Investment Banking Groups of JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs. Reed began her career as a Fellow at the Export-Import Bank of the U.S.

In a statement, The Africa Center's Board of Trustees said, "We are delighted to welcome Dana Reed to the Board of The Africa Center. As a champion of both Harlem and Africa, with a distinguished record of professional achievement and public service, it will be a privilege to work alongside Dana to realize our ambitions for this institution."

Michelle Gavin, Managing Director of The Africa Center, said, "I am delighted to be working with Dana, who brings both local and global perspective to The Africa Center's team. With her boundless energy, passion for the project, and instincts for smart partnerships, she will be a great asset to The Africa Center as we create a dynamic new institution to showcase the best content from the African continent."

Reed received her BBA in International Business with minors in Marketing and Spanish from Howard University and her MBA from Howard University. Reed was appointed by former New York Governor Paterson to serve as a Director of the Harlem Community Development Corporation and continues to serve in that capacity. In addition to serving on the Board of The Africa Center, Reed also serves on the Board of Directors of Randall's Island Park Alliance, PrePex, Shea Yeleen and Mobius Motors. She is an active member of Metro-Manhattan Links, Inc. and Jack & Jill of America and is a member of the African Leadership Network. In 2013, Reed received the Council of Urban Professionals Catalyst for Change: Finance Award. Reed lives in Harlem with her eight year old twin boys.

The Africa Center's Board of Trustees Member Dana Reed said, "As a resident of Harlem and an investor in Africa, I couldn't be more thrilled to become a part of The Africa Center. I look forward to working with Michelle Gavin and the other Trustees to realize the vision for creating a center specifically for Africa that will spark cross-cultural dialogue and promote a broader and deeper understanding of African issues."

For more information, visit The Africa Center online at www.theafricacenter.org.