Edward B. Fort

Fort was born in Detroit, Michigan. After earning a bachelor's degree in history and a master's degree in educational administration from Wayne State University he earned a doctorate in educational administration from the University of California, Berkeley in 1964.^[1][2]

In 1964 Fort became a curriculum coordinator for the Detroit Public School system. He also taught as a visiting professor at the University of Michigan.^[1] Fort was an adjunct professor of urban education at the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 1968, and a visiting professor at Michigan State University in 1974. He became superintendent of the now defunct Inkster Michigan Public School System, and Sacramento City Unified School District in 1967 and 1971 respectively.^[1] From 1974 to 1981, Fort was chancellor of the University of Wisconsin Colleges, a unit of the University of Wisconsin System comprising 14 two-year colleges.^[3]

On September 1, 1981, Fort assumed the responsibilities of chancellor of North Carolina A&T State University. He would later be inaugurated as the university's eighth chancellor on April 24, 1982.^[4] Under Fort's leadership, North Carolina A&T established itself on the national level as a leader in engineering and technology education.^[4] During the Fort administration, the university initiated more than 30 new academic programs and awarded its first doctoral degrees in mechanical and electrical engineering. In addition, the university experienced substantial growth as more than $50 million in new construction was completed; including a new building for the College of Engineering and a new Library, as well as nearly $30 million in campus renovations. The university also experienced an increase in enrollment in both domestic and international students.^[2] On June 30, 1999, Fort retired as chancellor of the university, and currently serves as a professor of Leadership Studies (Endowed), Chancellor Emeritus and Special Assistant to the Chancellor.^[4]

Fort's wife Lessie Covington died; they had two children together.^[1] The Edward B. Fort Interdisciplinary Research Center (IRC) on the campus of North Carolina A&T was named in his honor in March 1999.^[4]