Dr. Randal Pinkett knows he has been fortunate. And, as Donald Trump's newest apprentice, Pinkett knows that expectations of him are high. Having made history as the first African American at Rutgers University to receive a Rhodes Scholarship, Pinkett has been on the ride of his career since winning the Apprentice title. He admits that he's "been moving at a thousand miles a minute" since the December 15 live finale. But, starting February 6, his top priority became his apprenticeship. "I want to really focus on this opportunity and learn as much as I can," he says. "I want to take advantage of the opportunity to learn from Trump. Certainly, the celebrity of The Apprentice will open doors for other opportunities: [promoting] the show, speaking engagements, as well as some exciting opportunities that I am close to making public.

Pinkett, 34, views the apprenticeship as a part of his 2006 plan. He says he will commute to Atlantic City from his home in New Jersey, where he lives with his wife Zahara. The assignment is "right in my backyard," or rather, an hour and a half away. Pinkett chose the project in Atlantic City, which has him overseeing the 110-million dollar renovation of Trump's three properties: The Trump Taj Mahal, The Trump Plaza and The Trump Marina. He expects to learn a great deal in what he considers the rebirth of the Trump organization in Atlantic City.

"The project is just so high profile. I think it really is emblematic of the Trump name. It's an opportunity for me to help advance Mr. Trump's agenda and also learn a lot in that industry."

Pinkett admits that his life hasn't been the same since that fateful night in December. He has done more interviews, public appearances, speaking engagements, VIP receptions and autograph signings than ever before in his life. But he's enjoying it, as he knows the year ahead is going to be exciting indeed.

Pinkett is not only the first Black apprentice, he is the most educated, with five degrees: Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Rutgers; Master of Science in Computer Science from Oxford University in England as a Rhodes Scholar; Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the MIT School of Engineering; Master of Business Administration from the MIT Sloan School of Management; and Doctor of Philosophy from the MIT Media Laboratory.

Despite his impeccable credentials, controversy accompanied his hiring. Soon after being named the victor by Trump himself, Pinkett was asked live, in front of millions of viewers, if he would hire his competitor, Rebecca Jarvis, as his co-apprentice. Pinkett had responded to his new boss that he had earned the title of the sole apprentice and that the show was not called The Apprentice. And then things got ugly. He soon found himself defending himself on Larry King Live and in various print and broadcast forums. There were even rumors that Trump had fired Pinkett in the midst of the controversy.

"I did not anticipate that there would have been so much discussion about what had happened. After we were done taping [the finale], I went to the party and went about my business. I did not know that, waiting for me the next day, was this firestorm about what went on in the boardroom.

"From my vantage point, I didn't expect it to be as heavy as it was. There were issues relating to race that started surfacing…issues relating to shar5ing versus excellence. Do you share? Do you deliver a message that excellence should be rewarded or not recognized? This is a big issue that has been on people's minds for over a month."

Pinkett confides that he is still amazed at the significance of the audience's response to his hiring. He finds that a part of the response is healthy but that a part of it is still a bit perplexing. And Pinkett says he understands that people have their own perceptions and their own interpretations, some of which they have shared and some they have not.

Have no fear, though. Pinkett is on excellent speaking terms with his former competitor.

"I have nothing but positive things to say about Rebecca. She was an incredible competitor. We were a great team. We worked really well together and we have a good friendship. She sent me a text message on New Years' Eve, just after midnight, wishing my wife and me a happy new year. And I sent one back to her and her boyfriend, Matt, saying the same. I am going to be out in Chicago for a speaking engagement soon and I am going to try and get in touch with her."

Pinkett has kept in close touch with his former teammates, both from Capital Edge and Excel. He has received phone calls and e-mails from the other cast members, asking him how things are going personally and professionally. Pinkett, Mark Lamkin, Brian Mandelbaum, Josh Shaw and Chris Valetta have been tapped as spokespeople for a line of men's grooming products called Amenity. He is happy to report that Shaw recently became a first-time father while Jennifer Murphy is engaged to be married.

"Josh and Alla [Wartenberg], in my opinion, were the two most impressive people from the show. They're very accomplished, very astute and very experienced in the world of business. In Josh's case, his abilities were underrated while he was on the show. And it's ironic that the same people who argued that Rebecca was my equal said that Alla and I would be the final two in the end."

So what exactly made Pinkett audition for the show? His wife, Zahara. She had downloaded an application for the show and placed it on her husband's desk, planting the seeds in his mind. And the more Pinkett thought about it, the more he was game for what he calls the opportunity of a lifetime.

"The more I thought about it, the more I said, ‘win or lose, this will be a great way to showcase my abilities on a nationally televised program.' It looked like it would be challenging. I would meet great people, get to run around New York City, and without question take some lessons learned to apply to my life."

Recalling the many tasks he performed as a team player and as project manager, Pinkett says the high-tech expo at the senior citizen home was his favorite.

"It played to one of my strengths. My eyes were beaming when they announced that task." (Pinkett is the co-founder of BCT Partners, a multi-million dollar management, technology and policy consulting services firm.)

"It made a difference in the lives of the residents, holding a high-tech tool or gadget in their hands. The reward for that task had our team going to a hospital and handing out gadgets and hightech stuff to the kids. You couldn't have asked for a better task or a better reward!" he says.

Working with senior citizens "was almost poetic, having just lost my grandmother. The last thing I did with my grandmother … I took a picture of her on my camera phone. The task on the show almost mirrored the last task we did together. And it was literally within a week of her passing and just days after her memorial service. The task resonated with me in so many ways. It was incredible."

Pinkett has discovered that working with his new boss is also incredible. He says Trump is down to earth, personable and even witty. Pinkett recalls that America got to see a different side of the multi-billionaire when he flew his future apprentice to his grandmother's memorial service via his helicopter.

As for funny? Pinkett has yet to think of a conversation they have had where The Donald hasn't made him laugh. Pinkett recalls some of those moments where Trump added a couple of jokes in the boardroom with Markus Garrison, Toral Mehta and Alla Wartenberg.

Although the apprenticeship will keep Pinkett busy, he has more than his fair share of upcoming projects. He is as committed as ever to Autism Speaks, the organization that he worked so hard for and touted in his final Apprentice task. He has written a book, Black Faces in White Places: The Experiences of Two Black Males in Predominantly White Schools, with Sakina Spruell-Cole and his business partner, Dr. Jeffrey Robinson. Pinkett is also the author of Campus CEO, a book about successful entrepreneurs (including him) at college campuses. He expects one of the books to be released at the end of the year. And then there are the commercial deals and product endorsements.

So much to do, so little time. Randal Pinkett's outlook for 2006:

"The opportunities brought to me, the lives of the people I hope to touch…it's just a blessing. I really feel honored to be in this position because there are so few opportunities for business people to have that kind of reach. It's such a rare opportunity. It's just humbling."