Na'im Akbar

Noted scholar, lecturer, and author Dr. Na'im Akbar has established a highly respected reputation for his research in African American psychology. His scholarship in this area has led to numerous honors including the Distinguished Psychologist Award from the National Association of Black Psychologists; Honorary Doctorates of Humane Letters from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and Lincoln University, as well as commemorative days named in his honor in a half dozen major American cities; and a Development Chief in Ghana, West Africa.

Dr. Akbar has served on the Boards of Directors of several important civic and professional organizations, including the Board of the National Association of Black Psychologists, to which he was elected president in 1987.

Dr. Akbar is a graduate of the University of Michigan, where he earned BA, MA, and PhD degrees. He served as chairman of the Department of Psychology at Morehouse College and on the faculty at Norfolk State University. In 2008, after 28 years, he retired from the psychology faculty at Florida State University to devote himself full time as president of his private consulting and publishing company.

He has received world renown for his books, especially his widely read Visions for Black Men and Breaking the Chains of Psychological Slavery. He has been sought as an expert on numerous national television talk shows including The Oprah Winfrey Show, Tavis Smiley's Annual State of Black America, The Geraldo Show, and many others. Significant articles about him have appeared in many national and international newspapers and magazines, including The Washington Post and Essence Magazine. Akbar has been lauded for his eloquence and expertise at conferences on five continents and he is recognized as one of the great thinkers and orators of our time.