Germantown Native Becomes Yale's First Black Student Body Prez

GERMANTOWN, MD — Kahlil Greene, a Germantown native and Poolesville High School graduate, has been elected as the first black student body president at Yale University.

The rising junior made history last month when his peers elected him as next year's leader of the Yale College Council. According to Yale Daily News — the university's student-run newspaper —Greene ran uncontested in the April election, winning 1100 votes, or 89.72 percent of the total votes.

On Wednesday, Greene sat down with FOX 5's Shawn Yancy about his journey.

"I feel like I wanted to kind of amplify the voices of the underserved communities on campus, especially students of color," Greene said while wearing a Yale Kente sweatshirt, a brightly colored cloth that represents the black student community at Yale. "So, being the first black president, I feel like I'm in a position where I can really do that."

During the interview, Greene was asked whether he feels more pressure because he is Yale's first black student body president.

"In a way, but I feel like it more so symbolizes the progress the university has made over the years for the journey we still have ahead of us. So I think we can be a more diverse and inclusive campus and I'm grateful for the role that I will have in making it happen."

ICYMI: @Yale University students elected their first ever black student body president. He’s Montgomery County, MD native, Khalil Greene. He joined me today on @fox5dc to talk about the awesome task ahead of him... & what inspired him to get involved in student government. pic.twitter.com/BXAoWcOYSH
— ShawnYancy (@Fox5Shawn) May 30, 2019