February 27th 2023.
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The educational background and travels of Clifton R. Wharton, Jr., the first African American to head a Fortune 500 company, are a testament to his upbringing in the home of his diplomat father. His multiple degrees from Harvard, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Chicago, combined with his international research and teaching experience, enabled him to lead MSU and TIAA-CREF. He was also the trustee or director of over 26 business corporations and public affairs associations, as well as the author of several books and articles. Throughout his career, Wharton has earned honorary doctorates from 63 universities, and his legacy continues to inspire and empower generations of Black executives.
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Clifton R. Wharton Jr. was a trailblazer in the corporate world, having become the first African American to lead a Fortune 500 company. His roots in Boston, where his father was a diplomat, were reflected in his educational background and legacy. Leveraging his knowledge and leadership, he built a multi-billion dollar corporation from the ground up. His influence reaches beyond his time as chairman and CEO, having served as trustee or director of more than 26 businesses and public affairs associations since 1967. Wharton holds an undergraduate degree in history from Harvard, a Masters degree in international affairs from Johns Hopkins University, and a PhD in economics from the University of Chicago. His international experience includes teaching and conducting research in Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia, as well as serving as vice president of the Agricultural Development Council. Wharton has also made history by becoming the first African American to serve as the fourteenth president of Michigan State University. His commitment to the education of the economically disadvantaged saw him receive 63 honorary doctorates, write and edit four books and monographs, and contribute to 50 professional journal articles. In 1977, he left his chancellorship at the State University of New York to become chairman and CEO of TIAA-CREF.
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