Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Assistant Chancellor Paul Pitts was honored Oct. 26 at the 27th Annual Black Tie Ball, sponsored by 100 Black Men of Alton. Pitt received an award for his dedication and commitment to education.
Along with his 20 years of service promoting higher education at SIUE, Pitts has served as a member of the Edwardsville School District 7 board since 2007 and is a member of the Edwardsville Human Relations Commission, as well as a board member of the Edwardsville Branch NAACP.
“I am so honored to have been chosen to receive this award,” Pitts said. “All of my life, I have understood the value of education. I have seen how it opens a world of opportunity to each generation, and continues to be an important tool for us that we use to navigate our paths along the way throughout our lives.”
Prior to taking his role at SIUE, Pitts served as the assistant to the chancellor for Equal Opportunity Programs at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, assistant director of Affirmative Action at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., and as an affirmative action compliance officer with the city of Minneapolis, Minn. Before taking his role in Minneapolis, he was a veterans’ employment specialist with the University of North Dakota.
Pitts earned his bachelor of science in business administration from the University of North Dakota and his MS in public administration from SIUE. He is a retired member of the U.S. Air Force Reserves. During his military career, he served in Vietnam and was called to active duty during Desert Storm.
The 100 Black Men of Alton chapter was established in 1986 and became a recognized chapter of the national organization, 100 Black Men of America, Inc., in 1989. The chapter’s mission is to improve the quality of life within our communities and enhance educational and economic opportunities for all African Americans.
According to its values, the chapter is committed to the intellectual development of youth and the economic empowerment of the African American community, based on the precepts: respect for family, spirituality, justice and integrity.