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Cheryl Boone Isaacs has become the first African American president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The 86-year-old Academy is responsible for the annual Oscar Awards. The president is elected through its Board of Governors, a 48-person board who chose Boone-Isaacs for the role. Though the AMPAS’ reputation has been predominately white and male in its 6,000-person membership, the annual telecast and organization has supposedly been working toward diversity in the recent years.

Cheryl Boone Isaacs is the third woman to be elected president, behind actress Bette Davis and screenwriter Fay Kanin.

Boone Isaacs currently heads CBI Enterprises as a marketing executive. She had recently produced the 4th annual Governor’s Awards for the Academy.  She served as president of theatrical marketing for New Line Cinema and executive vice president of worldwide publicity at Paramount Pictures. She has also served in nearly every position at the Academy prior to her election of president.

As president, one of Boone Isaac’s first responsibilities is to choose a host for the 2014 telecast.

Little Known Black History Fact: Cheryl Boone Isaacs  was originally published on blackamericaweb.com

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