SUNY Oswego Mourns the Passing of Dr. Alfred (Al) Frederick at Campus Ceremony to Honor his Impact on Education

• by Mary C. Toale, Ed.D.
• December 1, 2023

The six-time Fulbright scholar came to SUNY Oswego in 1985 SUNY Oswego hosts A Celebration of Community in his Honor It is with profound sadness that I share news of the passing of Dr. Alfred (Al) Frederick, a Distinguished Service Professor who left a global impact on the world of education. An international scholar and teacher who advocated for culturally relevant pedagogies in the classroom and a demonstration of multicultural ideals in the everyday lives of the students he taught and among his colleagues. Dr. Frederick assembled a team of scholars that traveled to Benin in West Africa. He hosted multicultural events every year for his students and faculty and staff at the College. He routinely brought his students to Black churches in Syracuse to give them first-hand experience in important institutions in the Black community.  The six-time Fulbright scholar came to SUNY Oswego in 1985 and shared his passion for teaching with the world both far and near – honored within the Oswego community and in Syracuse, as well as in Benin and Brazil for his tremendous impact in those nations.  An international scholar and teacher who advocated for culturally relevant pedagogies in the classroom and a demonstration of multicultural ideals in the everyday lives of the students he taught and among his colleagues. Dr. Frederick assembled a team of scholars that traveled to Benin in West Africa. He hosted multicultural events every year for his students and faculty and staff at the College. He routinely brought his students to Black churches in Syracuse to give them first-hand experience in important institutions in the Black community. A member of the university’s curriculum and instruction faculty, Dr. Frederick made cross-cultural communication, understanding and education his passion and life’s work. He developed the first multicultural education and culturally relevant teaching courses at SUNY Oswego, and focused on how to deliver cross-cultural education in meaningful and relevant ways that resonated with the object learning method that the university’s founder Edward Austin Sheldon helped make famous.  In January 2020, the African nation of Benin honored Dr. Frederick for his more than two decades of service with praise from education officials, support from many friends and former students, and general recognition of the contributions in educational publications and in schools the Oswego professor provided since his first Benin visit in 2000. Dr. Frederick’s overarching leadership of our institution’s relationships in Benin led to the first-ever SUNY Oswego education abroad program to Africa, starting in January 2008. In 2017, Dr. Frederick earned the title of Citizen of the State of Piauí, an award bestowed by the northeastern Brazilian state’s Legislative Assembly for his more than 25 years working to improve education in the state of Piauí and elsewhere in Brazil. Fluent in English, French and Portuguese, Dr. Frederick published numerous works on multicultural education, including his books “Curriculum and the Social-Cultural Context” and “Bridging the Gap Between Home and School: A Paradigm for Monitoring, Assessing and Improving the Schooling Process for Culturally Diverse Student Populations.”  Colleagues recall him as a friendly and engaging man who was passionate about creating a campus that valued and practiced culturally relevant teaching while providing immersive cultural opportunities in diverse communities. He would bring in world-renowned teaching experts and broad perspectives while seeking to build bridges and greater understanding. He provided new perspectives and connections that opened students’ eyes, minds and hearts. The International Center of Syracuse presented him its 2015 Outstanding International Educator Award for, among other things, his ongoing efforts to connect SUNY Oswego students with cultural and other activities in the community. He also earned a Syracuse Post-Standard Achievement Award in 2009 for these activities. Dr. Frederick always credited his mother, Sallie Frederick, who moved with him from her job in the cotton fields to the small city of Opelika, Alabama, when he was 2, for insisting he obtain a college education and for his quest for intercultural understanding. After becoming his high school valedictorian, Dr. Frederick earned his bachelor’s degree at Northern Illinois University, a master’s degree at Columbia University and a doctorate at the University of Brussels and performed postdoctoral work at Harvard University. Al’s impact will live on, in his students, colleagues, friends and family. We are fortunate he chose SUNY Oswego as his professional home. He advocated for the university community to continually improve and aspire towards becoming a more equitable and just place for all. We are a better community because of Al and it is our responsibility to persist in the efforts of enhancing the university community for everyone. Memorial services took place at Bethany Baptist Church (149 Beattie St. in Syracuse) Saturday, August 5, 2023.