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Articles about Major Gifts from Alumni and Friends

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Ruth Hamilton Scholarship in Jazz Studies

Ruth Simms Hamilton was so much more than a sociology professor at MSU. Of the many influential projects she undertook, she pioneered the study of the African Diaspora when the notion of diasporas––peoples settled far from their ancestral homelands––was a relatively obscure concept. She was one of the founding and core faculty members of the MSU African Studies Center, and led the study of African urbanization.

Hamilton, who died in November 2003, enriched the world with her life and lives on in countless students, friends, and colleagues. She leaves behind a legacy of excellence and integrity at MSU that stretches far beyond her professional field.

Friends, colleagues and admirers James Forger, director of the College of Music, and Deborah Moriarty, professor of piano and chair of the Keyboard Area at MSU, created the Ruth Priscilla Simms Hamilton Endowed Scholarship in Jazz Studies at MSU in her memory.

Hamilton loved classical and jazz music, and wanted to ensure the success of the MSU Jazz Studies Program. This forged another close friendship with Rodney Whitaker, director of jazz studies at MSU.

“Dr. Ruth Hamilton was a beacon and light for African and African American culture,” said Whitaker. “I was truly grateful to have benefited from her wisdom and guidance during my first year as director of jazz studies. I believe that without Dr. Hamilton’s candor and honesty, there would not be an undergraduate jazz studies program at MSU. It is indeed an honor to have a jazz scholarship in her name.”

Kristopher Johnson, an undergraduate in Jazz Studies (trumpet), was the first recipient of this scholarship.

“After seeing firsthand (at the memorial service) how respected she was by those in the community and around campus, and after learning how accomplished she was, I was extremely honored to have been chosen as the first recipient of this scholarship,” said Johnson. “She cared a lot about the jazz program and provided the encouragement to move it to the next level.”

Whitaker and Johnson, along with other music faculty and students, performed at Hamilton’s memorial service in April 2004 at Wharton Center on the MSU campus.