Anderson to be recognized as USI Honorary Degree recipient

Dr. James Anderson, the Edward William and Jane Marr Gutgsell Professor Emeritus of Education at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree for his lifelong dedication to education.

The American Educational Research Association (AERA) honored him with the Presidential Citation, adding to previous recognitions such as the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. His notable contributions also earned him the title of Fellow for Outstanding Research by the AERA in 2012. His reputation as a scholar was solidified with his election to the National Academy of Education in 2008.

In 2021, Anderson achieved a milestone by joining the esteemed American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and in 2020, he assumed responsibilities on the Board of Trustees at Stillman College, earning induction into the Stillman College Educator Hall of Fame.

Anderson's impactful scholarly work, specifically The Education of Blacks in the South, 1860-1935, received the outstanding book award from the AERA in 1990. Serving as Senior Editor of the History of Education Quarterly from 2006 to 2016, he also contributed to PBS documentaries on American public education.
Among the numerous honors received from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Anderson was granted the IMPACT award from the Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center in 2019. Recognizing his continued influence, he was selected as a Center for Advanced Study Professor of Education for the campus in 2013. His multifaceted contributions underscore the enduring legacy he has left in education.

Anderson received his bachelor's degree in sociology from Stillman College. He earned a master's degree in history and social studies education and a doctorate in history of American education, both from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.