William Spriggs, professor and past chair of the department of economics at Howard University in Washington, D.C., has been chosen to receive the 2014 Benjamin L. Hooks “Keeper of the Flame” Award from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The award is given to individuals who “have made significant contributions to racial equality and fairness in the labor movement and have fostered creative involvement to encourage positive outcomes.” Professor Spriggs will be honored at the NAACP’s national convention in Las Vegas.
Professor Spriggs also serves as chief economist for the AFL-CIO. He is the former assistant secretary for policy at the U.S. Department of Labor.
Dr. Spriggs is a graduate of Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. He holds a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
