An MSU professor was named a 2001 Michiganian of the Year by The Detroit News last week.
Darlene Clark Hine, the John A. Hannah Professor of History, is one of 12 recipients of the honor this year. Hine was selected from 209 candidates nominated by the paper’s readers.
“She’s a remarkable individual,” said Marty Fischhoff, assistant managing editor of The Detroit News.
“She’s one of the leading figures in the field of African-American history.”
Past MSU recipients include Tom Izzo in 2000 and MSU President M. Peter McPherson in 1998.
This year’s nominees include entrepreneurs, doctors, philanthropists, religious leaders and company presidents. The list of nominees includes such notables as former mayor of Detroit Dennis Archer and Gordie Howe, a Detroit Red Wings hall of famer.
Hine said she was delighted and surprised by the award.
“The award ceremony was an opportunity to meet (the winners) for this year,” Hine said. “To hear their stories, to talk to them, it was all very inspiring because these are very accomplished people who have performed exemplary services for the state of Michigan.”
Besides being a professor at MSU, Hine has received national recognition for co-editing of a two-volume encyclopedia, “Black Women in America: An Historical Encyclopedia.”
She also wrote a textbook about black history, “The African-American Odyssey.” Hine will be using it to teach her course, Integrated Arts and Humanities 211C, Origins of Modern Black America.
Born in Chicago, Hine was influenced by the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. The desire to fully understand the causes of the movement drove Hine to change her college major from molecular biology to history.
Hine did her undergraduate studying at Roosevelt University in Chicago and attended graduate school at Kent State University in Ohio, where she earned master’s and doctoral degrees.
She began her professorship at South Carolina State University in 1972. In 1974, she was in assistant professor at Purdue University.
Hine has been a professor at MSU since 1987.
“The award speaks well for not only her but the entire university and its mission,” said Lewis Siegelbaum, chairman of the Department of History.
Graduate student Marshanda Smith, research assistant for Hine said she changed her major from engineering to history because of Hine.
“She is a hard worker, a very warm person, very caring,” Smith said. “She makes sure her students get their work done and graduate. She treats everyone the same. She will give you a chance, she cares about her students.”
