Alumni Spotlight: John E. Jacob (M.S.W. ’63)
John E. Jacob: Civil Rights Leader, Corporate Executive, and Author of I Will Fear No Evil
The Howard University School of Social Work (HUSSW) proudly shines an Alumni Spotlight on John E. Jacob, M.S.W. ’63—an iconic figure whose extraordinary career spans civil rights advocacy, corporate leadership, and now, authorship.
Jacob’s recently released memoir, I Will Fear No Evil, is both a personal journey and a national call to reflection. In the book, he offers a penetrating assessment of a pivotal era in American history—the Reagan and Bush years—when the country, he argues, ignored critical warnings about the long-term consequences of economic and educational neglect. As President and CEO of the National Urban League from 1982 to 1994, Jacob used his platform to advocate for equity in education, job training, and social services. His voice was among the few consistently calling attention to the widening opportunity gap in American society.
Having received his B.A. degree in Economics in 1957 and his MSW degree in 1963 from Howard University, Jacob began as a social worker in Baltimore’s Department of Public Welfare in the early 1960s. He later moved into leadership roles with Urban League affiliates in Washington, D.C., and San Diego. His visionary leadership eventually brought him to the helm of the National Urban League, where he fought to preserve social programs, modernized internal systems, and launched initiatives such as the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Training Center and the NULITES youth development program.
After stepping down from the Urban League, Jacob transitioned into corporate America, joining Anheuser-Busch as Executive Vice President and later serving in global communications. Even in the corporate sphere, he remained committed to equity and service, chairing the company’s charitable contributions committee and helping to endow key academic and community initiatives.
A longtime trustee and former Chairman of the Board at Howard University, Jacob’s contributions to his alma mater are enduring. In 2012, he and his wife funded the John E. and Barbara S. Jacob Distinguished Professorship in the Howard University School of Social Work—the first such position in the school’s history. This gift was awarded under the leadership of Dean Emeritus Cudore Snell and during the celebration of HUSSW's 75th anniversary. The inaugural holder of the professorship was the late Professor Mildred “Mit” Joyner, a known social work advocate and former president of CSWE and NASW. The Anheuser-Busch/John E. Jacob Chair in the School of Business also stands as a testament to his legacy of excellence and giving back.
Jacob’s accolades include the NAACP Lifetime Achievement Award, the National Action Network “Keeper of the Dream” Award, The Inabel Burns Lindsay Award, and numerous honorary degrees and board appointments. He has been inducted into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame and continues to inspire through his writing and public service.
In I Will Fear No Evil, Jacob recounts history and challenges today’s leaders to recommit to an opportunity for all. His journey is a powerful reminder that the work of social work is never done—and that the values instilled at Howard University continue to shape the leaders the world needs most.
To hear his story in his own voice, listen to GrandStories: Profiles in Aging, a podcast delivered by the Howard University Multidisciplinary Gerontology Center:
Now Available: I Will Fear No Evil by John E. Jacob
I WILL FEAR NO EVIL by JOHN E. JACOB | eBook | Barnes & Noble®