Sydney Freeman Jr. makes history as first African American man descended from slaves to gain full professorship

Sydney Freeman Jr. recently became the first African American man who is a descendent of slaves to be promoted to the rank of full professor at the University of Idaho.

Freeman was previously working as an associate professor of higher education following the tenure track. He quickly moved through the ranks, earning the title of full professor in just five years and seven months. 

After shadowing the president of Auburn University, Freeman knew higher education was something he was passionate about. He achieved a major in interdisciplinary studies with an emphasis in business management, focal performance and public relations. 

He later went on to receive a Ph.D. in higher education and administration at Auburn University. 

Coming from Tuskegee, Alabama Freeman was willing to go outside his comfort zone and move to northern Idaho.  

He was also motivated to share his experiences with other people of color and figure out ways to empower the next generation of faculty, staff and students.  

Freeman recognizes the lack of representation Black people face in leadership positions. As an African American leader, he chooses to be authentically himself, embracing his nuances and encouraging others to do the same. 

“A majority of people around any table you’re at don’t look like you and they don’t have your experiences,” Freeman said. “So you have to know more about their experiences than they know about their experiences. You have to know more about them then they know about them, to be successful in their space.” 

Freeman recognizes the distinction between where he came from and how those experiences compare to his other Black colleagues.  

“If we don’t share that this happened, share some of the challenges we’ve had, then we have more years without people of color earning these kinds of positions,” Freeman said. 

His strategy for achieving the rank of full professor was simple. 

“Do my job and do it so well that I can’t be denied, even if someone doesn’t like me,” Freeman said. 

Freeman advises those after him to listen to their mentors to help navigate these challenges and opportunities. 

Passionate about lifting other up as he climbs, Freeman hopes to become an endowed chair, with aspirations of helping faculty of color and women faculty members achieve the status of full professor.  

This story has been corrected to reflect Freeman’s status as the first African American man who is a descendent of slaves to be promoted to the rank of full professor at the University of Idaho, not as the first Black man to gain full professorship at UI. Wudneh Admassu, an Ethiopian native, became the first person of African descent to earn the rank of full professor at the university. The first and only Black woman promoted to full professor at UI is Shaakirrah Sanders, who achieved the rank in 2019.

Aleea Banda can be reached at [email protected]