MFANYA D. TRYMAN

Professor Mfanya Tryman (at left in the above photo with PhD student Kwame Antwiboasiako) focused on American Politics and Public Administration, and specialized in public policy and African-American politics. He received his PhD from Florida State University, and was at MSU since 1990. Professor Tryman taught specialized graduate courses in Civil Rights and Affirmative Action, Public Policy, and Government Organization and Administrative Theory, an undergraduate class in African American Politics, and more introductory classes in American Government. He published extensively on public policy issues pertaining to African-Americans, diversity, and civil rights. Tryman spearheaded the doctoral dissertation research program in our department, and was an MSU leader on issues involving diversity and human justice.

Tryman worked closely with our students, and chaired nearly half of our doctoral dissertation committees. In the above picture, he appears with Doctoral student Ronnie Tucker, who is now a university professor, as well as with the former Provost and immediate past President of MSU. He won numerous awards, including the Outstanding Political Science Professor, and was recognized for his important contributions to the community and profession. The author of numerous journal articles and book chapters, Tryman was also author and editor of the books: Affirmative Action As Organization Development: A Case Study of the Johnson Space Center; Afro-American Mass Political Integration: A Causal and Deductive Model; Apartheid South Africa and American Foreign Policy; and Institutional Racism and Black America: Challenges, Choices and Change. He recently co-edited a book on Malcolm X. Tryman received numerous research grants and graduate fellowships that made graduate education possible for many of our students.

Professor Tryman's vita illustrates some of his many contributions to improving the quality of life for his students and community.

The university and community mourned the passing of Professor Tryman. A student offered a tribute to Professor Tryman. The funeral was held in early March, 2005.