Superintendent, Detroit Public Schools
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
1986
Bio:
Background Information was gathered from online materials, none of which addressed covered his curriculum vitae. Dr. Arthur Jefferson possessed earned B.A., M.A., and Ed.D degree from Wayne State University. He was appointed Interim Superintendent of Detroit Public Schools in June 1975 with the Interim removed by the end of that year. Jefferson was the first African American Superintendent of Detroit Public Schools. Jefferson was the Chairman of the Board when the African American Museum was opened in Detroit in 1965. He served on the Advisory Committee to national Review panel on School Desegregation Research, 1977-79. Jefferson was also chosen in 1980 as one of the Michigians of the Year, that is, an "outstanding citizen who has helped make living in this state a richer experience for the rest of us, either by their good works or by the example they set." (The Detroit News definition of Michiganian of the Year) The Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters was conferred on Dr. Jefferson during Commencement, University of Detroit, May 17, 1986.