Woodrow McClain Parker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Woodrow McClain Parker
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| Born | April 23, 1941 Atmore, Alabama. U.S.
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Woodrow McClain "Max" Parker (born April 23, 1941) is an American teacher, counselor, and writer. He focused on helping people from different backgrounds understand each other better. Before he retired in 2016, he taught at the University of Florida. He also worked there as a counselor, helping students with their mental health. Mr. Parker gave advice to schools and colleges across the United States on how to improve diversity and race relations. He has written many books and articles.
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Max Parker's Early Life and School
Max Parker was born on April 23, 1941, in Atmore, Alabama. It was a small town where people of different races were kept separate. He was the fourth of five children born to Mark and Nellie Parker.
Parker went to the Escambia County Training School for all 12 grades. When he was a teenager, he worked hard as a migrant worker. He picked cotton, harvested potatoes, and cut corn. This work helped him earn money for clothes and to support his family.
He earned his first college degree, a Bachelor of Science in English, from Stillman College. Later, he got a Master of Science degree in Counselor Education from the University of South Florida in 1971. In 1975, he earned his highest degree, a PhD, from the University of Florida.
Max Parker's Career and Work
Max Parker worked as a professor at the University of Florida for 19 years. He taught in the Counselor Education Department. He also worked as a mental health counselor, helping students at the university's health center.
He shared his research and ideas in many books and journals. He even won an award for being a "Most Prolific Contributor" to the Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development. This means he wrote a lot of important articles for that journal.
Parker also worked with many school districts and advised colleges. He led group discussions and did research in places like West Africa and Puerto Rico. In 1996, he received two awards from the university for being an excellent teacher and researcher.
Some of the books Max Parker wrote include:
- Consciousness-Raising: A Primer for Multicultural Counseling
- Multicultural Relations on Campus: A Personal Growth Approach
- Images of Me: A Guide to Group Work with African American Women
- Becoming Multiculturally Responsible on Campus: From Awareness to Action
He also wrote a memoir about his life called The Real Education of Sweet Papa T. Another book, The Mask Wearing Journey of Sweet Papa T, was inspired by a famous poem.
In 2010, the University of Florida College of Education gave him a Lifetime Achievement Award. He also received a Lifetime Service Award for his work in counseling from the Florida Counseling Association.
Max Parker's Personal Life
Max Parker is married to Sylvia Brandon Parker. He loves to ride bikes and is a dedicated cyclist. He has trained for and completed several famous marathons. These include the New York, Boston, and Marine Corps marathons.
Awards and Special Honors
- Named the "Most Prolific Contributor" to the AMCD Journal (1982 – 1987).
- Received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Florida, College of Education (2010).
- Added to the Atmore Area Hall of Fame for Educational Achievement (2011).
- The Florida Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (FAMCD) created the Max Parker Award for Multicultural Excellence in his honor (2013).
