Dr. Delores Cross Addresses Black Women in Chicago
by Eleana Élan
Defender Contributing Writer
Dr. Delores Cross like the numerous other esteem women of The Association of Black Women in Higher Education (ABWHE) who will convene in Chicago this week is highly educated and credentialed. Education has always been her passion. She worked for seven years as a secretary at the Newark Board of Education, while attending college full and part-time and while being a mother to two young children.
Dr. Cross began her career in education as a kindergarten teacher in Newark, New Jersey. She also taught special educational classes for the emotionally disturbed in New York City, Brentwood, LI and was head teacher for a demonstration school for severely disturbed students at Hofstra University, New York.
Since those humble beginnings her career track record speaks for itself. She has made major leaps and bounds.
She made history when she was selected President of Chicago State where she was the first female to head a 4 years public university in the State of Illinois, a position she held for close to eight years. From there Dr. Cross She went on to join General Electric, Hartford, Connecticut as President of the GE Fund, and later as the Distinguished Professor in Education at City University of New York Graduate School. In October 1998, she was accepted the position of President at Morris Brown College, Atlanta Georgia. In the fall of 2002, invited to DePaul University as Visiting Scholar to direct their doctoral program in education and teach courses in Multi-Cultural Education.
She is the author of two books: Breaking Through the Wall: A Marathoner’s Story chronicles her journey from Newark, New Jersey’s housing projects and doing a personal best to help others achieve all they are capable of achieving.
Her second book: Beyond the Wall: A Memoir: emerged from a harrowing year under house arrest. To sustain herself, she drew upon the lessons of her life, taught by her roots as an African-American woman in the face of injustice, betrayal and relentless prosecution.
She has also published in the areas of multi-cultural education, public policy in higher education as well as access for minorities and women and presented papers both nationally and internationally.
The ABWHE got it right when they selected the program for its 2015 National Conference of the Association of Black Women in Higher Education which kicks off in Chicago Wednesday October 14, 2015. The theme title of the conference says it all, “Excellence to Eminence: The Transformative Power of Black Women in the Academy.” The Conference goes from October 14 through the 16, 2015, at the University of Illinois Student Center, 750S. Halsted, Chicago, IL 60607.
Dr. Cross will address the organization as the luncheon keynote speakerThursday She is the author of two books: Breaking Through the Wall: A Marathoner’s Story chronicles her journey from Newark, New Jersey’s housing projects and doing a personal best to help others achieve all they are capable of achieving.
Her second book: “Beyond the Wall: A Memoir,” emerged from a harrowing year under house arrest. To sustain herself, she drew upon the lessons of her life, taught by her roots as an African-American woman in the face of injustice, betrayal and relentless prosecution.
She has also published in the areas of multi-cultural education, public policy in higher education as well as access for minorities and women and presented papers both nationally and internationally.
A book signing will be held immediately following her keynote
About ABWHE
ABWHE advocates and celebrates the accomplishments of Black women in higher education. It supports and empowers sister scholars, administrators and students through its various resources and networks. As an organization it is a forum for development strategies to improve the quality of education for African Americans.
ABWHE is betting on you to take this on as the moment you seize to make it a movement. It’s on the people to assure that Black lives matter.