Dr. Glenn Anderson, UALR assistant professor of interpreter education, was recently honored at a surprise ceremony at the National Black Deaf Advocates’ 30th anniversary gala in Baltimore. The organization established a scholarship in Anderson’s name to honor the first black deaf scholar to earn a Ph.D.

Born and raised in the south side of Chicago, Anderson became deaf at age 7. Encountering barriers and obstacles during his childhood, he was told by his parents “you have to be twice as good as anyone else to be successful.”

He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1968 at what was then known as Gallaudet College and went on to earn his master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling at the University of Arizona in 1970. Following a professional career as a vocational counselor for the state of Michigan, he earned his doctoral degree in rehabilitation counseling at New York University.

In 2008, he joined the Interpreter Education faculty within the Department of Counseling, Rehabilitation and Adult Education at UALR.

Anderson was accompanied by his family at the Baltimore event, including his son Jamaal Anderson, defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals.