Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Sydney Freeman, Jr.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?

I am originally from Camden, NJ. and attended private Christian schools in Cherry Hill and Trenton, NJ. I was always a little different in the sense that I read a lot especially the newspaper even when I was in middle school. I was very interested in US politics. However, the formative events that shaped much of my life was exposure to Black excellence. In elementary school I had the opportunity to be a part of a program called, Youth2Leaders that was created by journalist and tv/radio personality, Tavis Smiley. That program exposed me to political leaders, activists, and artist such as Sonia Sanchez. We delved deep into topics like the supreme court and the future of the Black community. My dad would also take me to academic conferences and I was able to attend lectures at Ivy League institutions at a young age. In middle school, I had the opportunity to spend a couple years sitting in on the choir practices led by Grammy Award winning artist, Tye Tribbett. This was the first time I saw a young person with so much energy but with focus and discipline. It was the first time that I knew that I was in the presence of someone who was going to be famous. He just had the “it” factor. But he did not rest on his laurels. He worked hard as you saw he wanted to be great. I also had the opportunity to spend time with another Camden legend, the great actress Tasha Smith. At that time she was young actress in California. But from both of them I learned that you could make a large impact even if you came from Camden. This was important because Camden was often ranked as one of the most dangerous cities in America at that time.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

One of the unique aspects of my life is that I often I only had one choice. For example, only one college in undergrad accepted me. For my masters and PhD, only one school accepted me. I only had one job offer once I completed my PhD. So, that gave me the mentality that I needed to maximize every opportunity. I may not have attended Ivy League institutions but I positioned myself in a way that I could compete professionally with those caliber of individuals. I had great mentors but often did not have people that could sponsor me (speak up for me) in rooms that I was able to advocate for myself in. So, I have had to ensure that my work is so good that it could not be denied.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

I am Full Professor who teaches Leadership at the University of Idaho. Recently my research has centered around the experiences of Black people associated with higher education in the United States. I am most known for being the first African American male to earn the rank of Full Professor at the University of Idaho. I have also lead the establishment of the University of Idaho’s Black & African American Cultural Center, Black History Research Lab, and Black Research Institute for Flourishing and Thriving. I recently graduated from the United Nations Human Rights Fellowship program for People of African Descent in Geneva, Switzerland. The majority of the program took place in Geneva over the month of November within the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. As a Fellow I focused on advocating for Reparations for Black Americans and Capacity and Infrastructure Building for Black-led activist organizations. This program had over 1,000 applicants. I was one of the 10 finalists selected for the opportunity. And the sole fellow to represent the United States of America. I am also a prolific author with nearly 100 publications to my credit and have lectured and presented at institutions such as Harvard University, Oxford University (UK), Jerusalem College of Technology (Israel), University of Bucharest (Romania), and RMIT University Vietnam, Saigon. I have been nationally and internationally recognized for my scholarship in multiple areas including Education, History, Black studies, and Religion.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?

I would advise those who plan to become professors and/or higher education administrators to chose graduate programs based on the professors that study the topics that align with your professional goals. Then think about the reputation of the institution and program. While it may be tempting to stop and work after undergraduate studies. I would advise not stopping until you complete your doctorate. It is harder to try to manage manage school and life responsibilities when you get older. Get it done as early as you can. I would also suggest that someone take as many classes and trainings in organizational psychology and behavior as they can. It is important to be self-aware and understand how office politics can advance or derail you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.drsydneyfreemanjr.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsydneyfreemanjr/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sydneyfreemanjr
• Twitter: https://x.com/DoctorSFJ
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SydneyFreemanJr

Image Credits

Photo Credit: Christopher McNish & Irina Popa