Edmund Gordon facts for kids

Edmund Wyatt Gordon, born on June 13, 1921, is a famous American psychologist and professor. He is known for his important work in African-American studies. In 2011, he received the John Hope Franklin Award, which is a big honor. Dr. Gordon often mentioned three people who greatly influenced him: Herbert G. Birch, W. E. B. Du Bois, and Alain LeRoy Locke.

Early Life and Influences

Edmund Gordon was born in 1921 in Goldsboro, North Carolina. At that time, the town was segregated, meaning Black and white people were kept separate. His father, who came from Jamaica, was a doctor. His mother was an elementary school teacher. Because his father was a respected doctor, the Gordon family had some special privileges. For example, they were allowed to shop in a department store on Wednesday afternoons, even though other African Americans could not shop alongside white Americans.

Focus on Student Success

Dr. Gordon's studies have mostly focused on helping students succeed. He paid special attention to African-American students, ethnic minorities, and those from families with low socioeconomic status. These students often faced many challenges but still managed to do well.

He is well-known for his research on how different people learn and how to teach them best. His work includes ideas like "the Achievement Gap". This idea looks at differences in academic success between groups of students. He also developed concepts like "Affirmative development of academic ability" and "Supplementary Education". These ideas aim to improve how well diverse students learn. Dr. Gordon has written over 200 articles and 18 books.

Important Mentors

In an article about his life, Dr. Gordon talked about three mentors who helped him a lot. These were Alain LeRoy Locke, Herbert G. Birch, and W. E. B. Du Bois. When he was a student at Howard University, Alain LeRoy Locke encouraged him to stay focused on his studies. Dr. Gordon said Locke helped him become a serious scholar.

Later, he met Herbert G. Birch, a research psychologist. Birch encouraged Dr. Gordon to read many books in the library. Finally, Dr. Gordon was mentored by W. E. B. Du Bois. Du Bois was a famous writer, activist, and a co-founder of the NAACP. He suggested that Dr. Gordon study how many minority students succeed even when they face big challenges.

Professional Journey

Edmund Gordon worked at Stanford University. There, he collaborated with colleagues who were involved in President John F. Kennedy's early social change programs. After President Kennedy was assassinated, Lyndon Johnson became president. Dr. Gordon was then given the job of evaluating the Head Start program.

Head Start Program

Head Start is a program that helps young children from low-income families get ready for school. Dr. Gordon believed that getting this job was partly due to his doctoral studies and partly due to affirmative action. He has said that Head Start has been a success from the government's point of view. However, he also felt the program could have done even more. He and his colleagues hoped it would not only help children develop but also improve the lives of their families and communities. While this bigger dream for Head Start has not fully happened, he still sees the program as a success overall.

Education and Degrees

Dr. Gordon earned several degrees during his education. He received his bachelor's degree in Zoology and Social Ethics in Divinity from Howard University. He then earned a Master of Arts degree in Social Psychology from American University. His Doctor of Education degree in child development and guidance came from Teachers College, Columbia University. He also received honorary Master of Arts degrees from Yale University and honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees from Yeshiva University and Brown University.

Key Roles and Honors

From July 2000 to August 2001, Dr. Gordon was the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Teachers College, Columbia University. He is also a professor emeritus of Psychology at Yale University. He was a professor at Teachers College, Columbia University, and helped start two important institutes: the Institute for Urban and Minority Education and the Institute for Research on African Diaspora in the Americas and Caribbean (IRADAC).

In 2006, Dr. Gordon became a Senior Scholar in Residence at SUNY Rockland Community College. This appointment was renewed in 2010. In 2003, the Educational Testing Service created a special position in his honor.

Dr. Gordon was elected to the National Academy of Education in 1968. In 2005, Columbia University named its campus in Harlem, NY, the Edmund W. Gordon Campus of Teachers College, Columbia University. On June 28, 2010, he received the "Relating Research to Practice Award" from the American Educational Research Association (AERA).

From 2011 to 2013, he led the Gordon Commission with Educational Testing Service. This group published important reports. In 2014, a building at the University of Texas System was named the Gordon-White Building] in honor of him and his wife, Susan Gitt Gordon, along with Charles W. and Frances B. White.

In 2017, he was chosen as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2019, Dr. Gordon hosted a national conference at Teachers College, Columbia University. This event brought together experts, leaders, and students to discuss new ways of using information from tests to help diverse learners in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

In April 2021, Dr. Gordon was named Honorary President of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). He was the first person ever to receive this special recognition from the organization. On May 6, 2024, the board of Rockland Community College voted to rename the Ellipse as the Dr. Edmund W. Gordon Room.

Personal Life

In 1967, Dr. Gordon bought the land where W. E. B. Du Bois' childhood home once stood. This site became a landmark in 1987.

He was married to Susan Gitt, a pediatrician, from 1948 until she passed away in 2016. They had four children, including Jessica Gordon Nembhard, nine grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. In 2000, they started The CEJJES Institute in Pomona, New York. This institute helps people from the African diaspora. Dr. Gordon turned 100 years old in 2021.