today in black history

March 28, 2024

Poet Countee Cullen wins Phi Beta Kappa honors at New York University on this date in 1925.

Beloved NYU Professor Dead at 68

POSTED: September 16, 2008, 12:00 am

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It is with deep sorrow that NSnewstv.com announces the passing of Contributor Dr. Walter Stafford, Professor of Public Administration at the Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service at New York University. After an eight year bout with cancer, Dr. Stafford died Saturday at his Manhattan home.

The 68 year-old scholar was a prominent figure in academia as well as among community activists; the latter of which he included himself. He made history as the first Black full-time professor at the Wagner School, and subsequently as the first Black tenured faculty at the school, the oldest graduate school of public administration in the country.

NSnewstv.com will provide additional background on Dr. Stafford in the days to come as well as provide information on plans for his memorial service. We invite his friends and former students to share their memories of him by sending their thoughts to contribute@nsnewstv.com.

He leaves to mourn his wife Chelli Devadutt, a stepdaughter Gita Stulberg, two sisters Corrie Wingfield and Alta Starr, and a host of colleagues, friends, former students, admirers and partners in the struggle. He will be missed.

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