Newby Endowment

Drs. James E. and Patricia E. Newby are lifelong educators, civil rights activists, and trailblazers whose personal journeys into higher education began at Cal State LA and carried them to national prominence in education and scholarship. Both overcame early challenges and devoted their careers to advancing educational opportunity, equity, and leadership for future generations. From Patricia’s groundbreaking role as the first female superintendent of Grand Rapids Public Schools to James’s pioneering scholarship documenting the contributions of Black authors in education, the Newbys have lived lives of service, resilience, and impact. Their decision to establish this endowment reflects not only their gratitude to Cal State LA but also their desire to ensure that future educators—especially those facing hardships—are supported in reaching their goals. The following paragraphs share more about their remarkable lives and the inspiration behind their lasting gift to Cal State LA students.

Dr. Patricia E. Newby
Dr. Patricia Evans Newby, a pioneering educator and leader, was born in Los Angeles, California. After the passing of her parents at a young age, she and her brother were raised by their grandparents in Little Rock, Arkansas, where she attended public schools and graduated from Horace Mann High School in 1957.

She returned to Los Angeles to pursue higher education, earning an Associate of Arts degree from Los Angeles City College in 1959 and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from California State University, Los Angeles in January 1961.  While a student, Dr. Newby was initiated into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Pi Chapter at UCLA since there was not a chapter at Cal State LA at the time.  But later, Dr. Newby played a vital role in establishing the Epsilon Zeta Chapter at Cal State LA in 1962. She went on to earn a master’s degree in Instructional Media and School Administration from California State University, Long Beach in 1970, and a Doctor of Education in School Administration from the University of Maryland, College Park in 1985. In recognition of her distinguished career, she also received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, where she served as a commencement speaker.

Dr. Newby dedicated over four decades to education, beginning with 14 years in the Los Angeles City Schools as a teacher, curriculum specialist, consultant, and assistant principal. Following her husband, Dr. James Newby, to Washington, D.C., she joined the Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland, where she advanced through roles as assistant principal, principal, supervisor, and director. She later served in the Baltimore City Public Schools as Assistant Superintendent and ultimately Deputy Superintendent.
In 1997, she achieved a historic milestone when she was appointed the first female Superintendent of Grand Rapids Public Schools in Michigan. She served with distinction for five years, retiring in 2002 after 41 years in education. In her honor, the Dr. Patricia E. Newby Close Up Scholarship Fund was established in Grand Rapids to support high school students in attending a week-long program in Washington, D.C., exploring the workings of government. Since its inception, approximately 80 students have benefitted from this scholarship opportunity.

Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Newby played a significant role in the early civil rights movement and was at the forefront of school desegregation in Little Rock, Arkansas. In 1956 - more than a year before the “Little Rock Nine”- she was among the African American students escorted by Mrs. Daisy Bates to enroll at Central High School. Though denied admission by Superintendent Virgil Blossom, this courageous act, documented in Life and The Crisis magazines, helped lay the groundwork for desegregation efforts.

Arkansas Democrat - January 23, 1956
Dr. Patricia Newby, pictured in the first row on left.

Life Magazine - February 6, 1956
 

Dr. Newby’s community leadership extended nationally. She served on the boards of Coca-Cola, the Educational Research and Development Institute, the Grand Rapids Symphony, Grand Rapids YMCA, Baltimore Theater, and both the Baltimore and Grand Rapids Children’s Museums, among others. Twice named Citizen of the Year, Dr. Newby was also a frequent speaker at many local and national conferences.

An active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., she contributed to major initiatives including fundraising, mentoring, and youth programs. In retirement, she has remained deeply committed to supporting the next generation, serving on advisory boards and continuing her advocacy for children and education.

Together with her husband James, Dr. Newby enjoys family history research and extensive travel. She has visited all 50 U.S. states, more than 128 countries, and all seven continents, a testament to her boundless curiosity and global perspective.

Dr. James E. Newby
Dr. James Edward Newby is a distinguished professor, bibliographer, and civil rights activist whose career has spanned teaching, scholarship, and leadership in advancing educational equity.
Raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. Newby attended public schools while working to support his family. Frustrated by segregation and limited opportunities, he relocated to California, where he was later drafted into the military. He pursued higher education with determination, earning an A.A. degree in Sociology and Psychology from Los Angeles City College in 1963, a B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Psychology from California State University, Los Angeles in 1965, an M.A in Social Foundations of Education with a minor in Educational Psychology from California State University, Long Beach in 1970, and an Ed.D. in Education from the University of Southern California in 1974. His education also included legal studies at Southwestern University School of Law (1966-1967) in Los Angeles.  

While at Cal State LA, Dr. Newby became deeply involved in the civil rights movement. He joined and later chaired the campus chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), where he organized activities supporting the 1964 Freedom Summer, including Freedom Schools and voter registration drives in Mississippi. He also led boycotts, petitions, and campaigns challenging housing and racial discrimination.

Dr. Newby’s scholarship has been foundational in documenting and elevating the contributions of Black authors in education and beyond. His doctoral dissertation, Equality of Educational Opportunity: Content Analysis of Six Selected Negro Authors, 1960–1970 (1974), explored the writings of key African American intellectuals such as William Brazziel, Kenneth Clark, Walter Daniel, Edmund Gordon, Benjamin Mays, and Charles Thompson. He went on to publish the first known annotated bibliography of books in education authored by African Americans, Black Authors and Education (1980), followed by the expansive Black Authors: A Selected Annotated Bibliography (1991), which catalogued more than 3,000 significant writings by African Americans (and a few African and Caribbean authors) between 1773 to 1990.  To this day, Dr. Newby’s bibliographic contributions remain a vital resource for African American studies and educational scholarship.

In terms of his teaching and academic leadership, Dr. Newby taught at several California post-secondary institutions, including California State University, Long Beach and Pepperdine University. He then joined Howard University’s School of Education, where he served as an Associate Professor, Chair of the Department of Foundations of Education (1984–1989), Chair of the Department of Educational Administration & Policy (1995–1997), and Guest Co-Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Negro Education (1998). Before he retired as Associate Professor Emeritus, Dr. Newby taught courses in school law and the social and historical foundations of education, while continuing to publish in leading journals and reference works, including multiple articles in the Encyclopedia of African-American Education (1996). His publications also include Teaching Faculty in Black Colleges and Universities: A Survey of Selected Social Science Disciplines, 1977–1978 (1982)
A member of numerous professional organizations—including the American Educational Research Association (AERA), the American Sociological Association (ASA), the Educational Law Association (ELA), and the Modern Language Association (MLA)—Dr. Newby is widely recognized for his lifelong commitment to educational opportunity, civil rights, and scholarship.

Now retired, Dr. Newby continues to share his passion for research and history with his wife, Dr. Patricia E. Newby. Together, they pursue family history projects and have traveled extensively, visiting all 50 states and more than 128 countries across all seven continents.

Purpose of their Named Endowment:
Drs. James E. and Patricia E. Newby dedicated their lives to advancing educational opportunity, civil rights, and the success of future generations. As career educators, administrators, and scholars, they witnessed firsthand the many challenges students face in accessing and completing higher education, especially those from underserved communities. Recognizing that today’s students often struggle with homelessness, food insecurity, and financial hardship, the Newbys established this endowment to support underserved students in the College of Education at Cal State LA - the very institution where both began their journeys of higher learning.

For Dr. Patricia Newby, this cause is deeply personal. While a student at Cal State LA, she once relied on an emergency grant created by a woman who understood the need for short-term financial assistance for college women. That support allowed her to continue her studies and ultimately launch a career that led to national leadership in education. Together, Drs. Patricia and James Newby hope this endowment will honor that legacy of generosity by providing emergency and ongoing assistance to Cal State LA students preparing to become educators. Their vision is to ensure that future teachers - regardless of their circumstances - have the opportunity to complete their degrees and go on to shape and inspire the next generation.