President-elect Donald Trump announced his nomination of Dr. Ben Carson, a former presidential rival turned prominent supporter, for Housing and Urban Development secretary Monday.

"Ben Carson has a brilliant mind and is passionate about strengthening communities and families within those communities," Trump said , announcing his decision. "We have talked at length about my urban renewal agenda… Ben shares my optimism about the future of our country and is part of ensuring that this is a presidency representing all Americans."

Carson ran for president in the Republican primaries, at one point briefly overtaking the now president-elect in the polls. After dropping out of the race in early March , he endorsed Trump , and became a prominent media surrogate for his campaign thereafter.

Carson is a graduate of Yale and the University of Michigan School of Medicine. He grew up impoverished in Detroit, but later rose to become the director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins. His life story led to his internationally famous book, "Gifted Hands," and the production of a movie by the same title thereafter.

After Trump won election last month, Carson said through a spokesman that he didn't feel qualified to run a government agency, despite previously attempting to win the presidency.

But exit polling indicates Trump did better than 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney with African-Americans. The president-elect reiterated his interest in inner city renewal in his victory speech Nov. 9.