The first Black president of a major white university, Fortune 500 CEO, and deputy secretary of state reflects on a life of resilience and achievement.
In 1969, Clifton R. Wharton Jr. made history as the first African American president of a large, predominantly white university, leading Michigan State University with poise and purpose through an era marked by civil rights upheaval and antiwar protests. His success there was only the beginning. Dr. Wharton went on to break barriers across academia, government, and corporate America, becoming a pioneering African American leader in roles that had long been reserved for white men.
Nicknamed “the quiet pioneer” for his humble yet persistent achievements, Wharton shattered glass ceilings throughout his career. He became the first Black chancellor of the State University of New York and the first Black CEO of a Fortune 500 company, steering the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (now TIAA) to new heights. He was later appointed deputy secretary of state under the Clinton administration, though his tenure was turbulent and marked by friction with his superiors.
Despite the racial prejudice he faced, Wharton was determined to excel without leaning on his racial identity as a point of focus. “I’m a man first, an American second and a Black man third,” he once stated, underscoring his commitment to merit and personal integrity over tokenism. In his memoir, Privilege and Prejudice: The Life of a Black Pioneer, he reflected on the values that drove him: hard work, intellectual rigor, and an unflagging belief in equality.
Dr. Wharton’s achievements were far-reaching. As an agricultural economist, he worked to improve living standards in Latin America and Asia, earning a reputation as a visionary advocate for international development. His influence extended into the arts as well, with his wife Dolores, a prominent arts advocate, by his side. Together, they founded the Wharton Center for Performing Arts at Michigan State, further cementing their legacy of cultural and educational leadership.
Born into a family of high achievers, Wharton was inspired by his father, the first Black career diplomat and ambassador to Norway, and his mother, a professor and social worker. After a distinguished education at Harvard and Johns Hopkins, he went on to become the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago, where he formed a lifelong passion for agriculture and development.
Throughout his life, Dr. Wharton insisted on letting his achievements speak for themselves. “I had been able to overcome barriers in part because I had not constantly waved the flag of racism or the banner of Blackness,” he wrote. “Instead I had committed myself to superior performance to overcome any racism and stereotyping.”
Dr. Clifton R. Wharton Jr. passed away on Saturday in Manhattan, leaving behind his wife of 74 years, Dolores, and a legacy that endures in the institutions he shaped and the countless individuals he inspired. His story stands as a testament to the power of resilience, excellence, and quiet determination in the face of formidable obstacles.
