Celebrating the life of Professor Emeritus Kenneth N. Addison, Ph.D.

Kenneth N. Addison, Ph.D., a longstanding and significant faculty member in the Department of Educational Leadership and Development, died on June 7, 2026. He was 82 years old. Services were held privately.

Dr. Addison began working at Northeastern in 1981 in what is now the Department of Educational Leadership and Development in the Daniel L. Goodwin College of Education. He earned tenure in 1987 and was promoted to the rank of Professor in 2008. After serving the University for nearly 30 years, Dr. Addison retired in 2010 and earned the rank of Professor Emeritus.

Over his many years of service to Northeastern, Dr. Addison served in a number of roles, including Coordinator of the Educational Foundations Program and Site Coordinator for the School Leadership Program at what is now the Jacob H. Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies. He also helped establish the University’s Department of African and African American Studies, which is still active today.

Dr. Addison had a deep commitment to education. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, with minors in Psychology and Philosophy from North Carolina Central University in 1967. In 1969, he earned his Master of Social Work from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee with a Community Development major and minor in Individual and Group Psychotherapy. Dr. Addison earned his Ph.D. in Psychological Education in 1976 from the University of Wisconsin - Madison’s School of Education. His research focused on integrated education, cultural pluralism and psychology-oriented curriculum for low-income urban Black youth.

Dr. Addison belonged to a number of professional organizations including the National Alliance of Black School Educators, National Association of Social Workers, American Psychological Association, Ortho-Psychiatric Association, Association of Supervisors and Curriculum Developers.

After his retirement, the University established the Dr. Kenneth N. Addison Lecture for Multicultural Education and Social Justice. This annual event, spearheaded by the University’s Educational Foundations program with the support of other programs, departments and units across the University, celebrates and discusses the intersections of cultural pluralism, multicultural education, social justice, advocacy and activism. 

The NEIU Foundation also established the Dr. Kenneth N. Addison Scholarship Fund to honor Dr. Addison as a beloved educator, scholar and social justice advocate. This fund is currently seeking donations to reach its endowment goal so it can award scholarships to outstanding Northeastern students who are committed to equity, advocacy and multicultural education. 

In memory of Dr. Addison, please consider donating to the Dr. Kenneth N. Addison Scholarship Fund to continue the meaningful work of supporting Northeastern students and faculty to deepen their commitment to justice-oriented education, which Dr. Addison championed throughout his life.

To contribute: 

• Visit neiu.edu/give.
• Choose your donation amount. 
• Under “Designation,” select “Other” and type “Ken Addison Fund #2009.”
• Contributions can also be made via check to:
  • NEIU Foundation
    5500 North St. Louis Avenue, 6th Floor
    Chicago, IL 60625
  • Please add “Ken Addison Fund #2009” in the Memo field.

For more ways to donate to the fund, including via Zelle or PayPal, please visit neiu.edu/give.