Asa Hilliard, III, PhD, was born in Galveston, Texas, on Aug. 22, 1933 to Asa G. Hilliard II and Lois O. Williams. Dr. Hilliard graduated from Manual High School in Denver, Colorado. He attended the University of Denver, earning his Bachelors of art degree in 1955. Soon after he began teaching in a Denver public school until 1960, followed by him teaching as a fellow at he University of Denver. He would remain there to complete his Master’s degree in counseling in 1961 and his EdD degree in educational psychology in 1963. After graduation with his doctorate degree, he accepted a faculty position at San Francisco State. In his eighteen years at San Francisco State, Dr. Hilliard served at department chair and dean of education. Outside of the university, he served as a consultant to the PEACE Corps and superintendent of schools in Monrovia, Liberia. Hilliard has also served on the National level at the Department of Educational Policy Studies and the Department of Education Psychology and Special Education.
As an education psychologist, Hilliard also had a passion for African history and culture. He was a founding member and served as vice president of the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations and a founding member of the National Black Child Development Institute. He wrote countless articles on ancient African history, teaching strategies and public policy. In addition to his numerous publications he has also received hundreds of honors and awards. Hilliard was the recipient of the Outstanding Scholarship Award from the Association of Black Psychologists; the Morehouse College “Candle in the Dark Award in Education;” American Evaluation Association, President’s Award; Republic of Liberia Award as Knight Commander of the Humane Order of African Redemption; and the National Alliance of Black School Educators, “Distinguished Educator Award.” Hilliard was an American Psychological Association fellow and a recipient of honorary degrees from several institutions.
Hilliard’s career was dedicated to exploring ways to better educate children and to teach the truth about the history of Africa and the African diaspora. He developed African centered curriculums and lead study groups to Egypt and Ghana frequently throughout his career. As a board certified forensic examiner, Hilliard would lend his expertise as an expert witness in federal landmark cases on test validity and biasness. He lectured at leading universities and other institutions throughout the world, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Smithsonian Institution and the National Geographic Society.
In 2001, Hilliard was given the name Nana Baffour Amankwatia, II, which means generous one. Dr. Hilliard was enstooled as development chief for Mankranso, Ghana. He spent more than 30 years leading study groups to Egypt and Ghana as part of his mission to teach the African diaspora. He also co-chaired the First National Conference on the Infusion of African and African-American Content in the School Curriculum in Atlanta, and was the founding member and first vice president of the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations and a founding member of the National Black Child Development Institute. In addition, Dr. Hilliard was a key adviser for the African Education for Every African Child Conference sponsored by the government of Mali.
Dr. Hilliard’s resume boasts more than 1,000 publications, including journal articles, magazine articles, special reports, chapters in books, and books, as well as hundreds of awards and recognitions from prestigious organizations and institutions, include Morehouse College, the National Alliance of Black School Educator, and the American Evaluation Association, and the Republic of Liberia. His contribution to the field is evident in the generous amount of his works published to guide future educational psychologist, teachers and historians.
Bernstein, A. (2007, August 16). Professor, Afrocentrism Proponent Asa Hilliard III
The Washington Post. Retrieved from:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/15/AR2007081502328.html
The History Markers (n.d.) Asa Hilliard III. Retrieved from:http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/asa-hilliard-39