SPARTANBURG, SC - On May 24, at its annual Lyceum, Sherman College of Straight Chiropractic inaugurated Jerry Hardee,EdD, as its third president - the first African-American president of any U.S. chiropractic college.
"I firmly believe that Sherman College has found in Dr. Hardee an outstanding leader who possesses not only a high level of integrity and strong skills and experience in higher education administration, but also an individual who has demonstrated over the years his unwavering commitment to Sherman College and to the chiropractic profession," enthused previous Sherman Board of Trustees Chairman Thomas A. Gelardi,DC.
Dr. Hardee expressed that ideally, his appointment to this highly recognized position will encourage an increase in minority interest in chiropractic. Since his inauguration, he has rigorously worked to inform parties at historically black colleges and universities about the opportunities for students in the chiropractic profession. Dr. Hardee has also been proactive with the American Black Chiropractic Association (ABCA), and recently was a speaker at its annual convention.
"The lack of African-American and other minority role models among doctors of chiropractic today makes it more difficult to mentor prospective minority students," Dr. Hardee said. "Although the number of women in the chiropractic profession has grown in the past 15 years, minority representation in the field continues to lag way behind."
Data from the 1998 National Board of Chiropractic Examiners indicate that less than seven percent of practicing DCs are minorities, and less than one percent are African-American.
Dr. Hardee has served as vice president for academic affairs at Albany State University (Georgia); assistant to the president and professor of educational leadership at Valdosta State University; Georgia director of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity; and board member for the American Red Cross and the Boy Scouts of America. He has also been involved with the anti-racism campaign "Project Change," for the Levi Strauss Foundation, which assists low-income families with home ownership and boosts minority enrollment in upper-level high school classes.
With more than 30 years in educational administration, Dr. Hardee's background includes memberships on the advisory board of the University of South Carolina and Spartanburg College of Education, and a doctorate in education from Northern Illinois University. He also has a master's degree in science education and a bachelor's degree in mathematics.
Dr. Hardee served as president of the Valdosta Kiwanis Club, in his hometown, and recently joined the Spartanburg Kiwanis chapter. His wife, Wyonnie Thomas Hardee, is a fourth-grade teacher in Valdosta.
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