I was born in Chicago, Illinois, the oldest of four girls, but
grew up in South Bend, Indiana. My dad worked at the Studebaker
Auto Plant, my mother as a Secretary at the Y.W.C.A. I completed
elementary and high school there
After high school graduation I enrolled in Howard University
in Washington, D.C. where I earned my BA Degree in 1964. In 1966,
I earned my Masters Degree in Social Work from the University
of Illinois and some 12 years later in 1978 my Ph.D.
From 1966-68, I was a Social Worker with the Jewish Family Service
in New York, New York, a Psychiatric Social Worker for the Virgin
Islands Department of Mental Health, St. Thomas, V. I. 1968 -
1969; Social Worker in the Unit #4 School District - 1970 - 1993
(intermittently; Assistant Principal at the Edison Middle School
1992-1993 and lastly, Principal 1993-2000 at the Booker T. Washington
School.
I have done a lot of research in many areas, but I feel my Master's
thesis titled "Pre-Natal Care Among Champaign-Urbana Negro
Mothers" was most outstanding in content and according to
the late Mr. Vernon Barkstall, laid the groundwork for the establishment
of the Frances Nelson Health Center.
Academic honors include: Phi Beta Kappa, Post-Doctoral Appointment
1978-1980, University of Illinois Institute on Racism.
I am the wife of Dr. Frederick Rodgers, retired from the University
of Illinois College of Education. We are the parents of 4 children,
3 sons, all graduates of West Point and one daughter attending
Illinois Wesleyan University.
Arnetta
Collins Rodgers