Professor Charles Willie was recently given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education (AABHE) at the AABHE President's Awards luncheon in Atlanta.
"It is a pleasure and sheer joy as a teacher and researcher for three decades in the Harvard University learning environment to hear one's peers locally and nationally say, 'Well done, good and faithful scholar,'" Willie said.
Willie focuses his research, teaching, and practice on education planning and school desegregation, the structure and process of family life, community organization, race and ethnic relations, and public health. He has been associated with the Ed School for more than 31 years, having been appointed as a professor of education and urban studies in 1974. Though a professor emeritus since 1999, Willie still teaches the course "Community Power, Decision Making, and Education" every year, which deals with grassroots action to solve community problems, especially in education.
"Born during the third decade of the 20th century, forced to attend racially segregated elementary and high schools as well as college in the South, and volunteering to enroll and work in racially integrated universities in the North, I am grateful for a career in higher education that began in 1952 and that continues to grow today past the half-century mark," Willie said.
The AABHE pursues the educational and professional needs of Blacks in higher education with a focus on leadership, access, and vital issues impacting students, faculty, staff, and administrators.
What fine recognition for an amazing teacher and scholar!
Congrats to my former thesis committee chair and Ed.D advisor at HGSE. Without Dr. Willie's guidance and mentorship I would have floundered and never finished up. I am forever grateful that he was able to take me on as an advisee and the courses I took from him were relevant to my work in my home Rosebud Sioux reservation environment.
Wonderful teacher! Unforgettable support!
Unforgettable guidance! Gracias Dr. Willie!
This is a tremendous honor and recognition of prof. Willie's lifetime work in education and social equity. I had the pleasure of studying and working with Prof. Willie during my doctoral work at HGSE, including a reading course on my work with Spelman College. His guidance and insights during my doctoral work have been amplified in my work in improving student achievement and social equity for many years. All the best, Chuck.