Remembering Dr. William E. Cross, Jr.

This past December in 2024 the DU community lost Professor Emeritus of Higher Education, Dr. William E. Cross, Jr. Dr. Cross, known to friends and colleagues as Bill, was a preeminent scholar of psychology and Black identity development. In this episode, we are remembering the life and work of Dr. Cross by speaking with three people who knew him well. 

First, we speak to Kahlea Hunt-Kabir, DU Higher Education Masters alumni and current doctoral student at the University of Maryland, about working with Dr. Cross as a student. Next, Dr. Roslyn Caldwell, Associate Professor at the DU Graduate School of Professional Psychology. She reflects with us about Dr. Cross as a mentor and friend. Then, we talk with Dr. Ryan Evely Gildersleeve, former DU faculty member and associate dean, who shares memories of working with Dr. Cross on the higher ed faculty. And finally, Sarah shares her memories.  

About Dr. William E. Cross, Jr.:  

An alumnus of the University of Denver, Dr. Cross earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology here at DU before earning his Ph.D. in Psychology from Princeton University. He taught and was on the faculty at Cornell University, Penn State, the City University of New York, and University of Nevada-Las Vegas. He came home to DU in 2012 to teach in the Morgridge College of Education, where he was faculty for both Counseling Psychology and Higher Education, including serving as Chair of the Higher Ed Department. He retired and received Emeritus status in 2018. 

Dr. Cross was known for his groundbreaking theory of Nigrescence and his work on Black Identity Development. Nigrescence theory explains how Black individuals come to understand and embrace their racial identity. It describes a journey from possibly downplaying Blackness, through a period of cultural awakening and exploration, to ultimately developing a strong, positive sense of self rooted in Black identity. It’s a powerful framework for understanding personal transformation in the face of racism and societal pressure. 

Some Links to Dr. Cross’s Work:  

Video: APF at Home Fireside Chat with Dr. William Cross 

Book: Shades of Black: Diversity in African-American Identity 

Book: Black Identity Viewed From a Barber’s Chair: Nigrescence and Eudaimonia 

Podcast: Nigrescence Theory Turns 50: A Conversation with Dr. William E. Cross, Jr, Liberation Now Podcast