Charles H. Ford was born in Bellevue, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh, on January 5, 1964. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh in 1985, he earned his Masters and Ph.D. at Vanderbilt University.  In 1992 he was hired at Norfolk State University (NSU) in Norfolk, Virginia as an assistant professor of history and in 2003 became the Chair of NSU’s History Department. During the 1990s, Ford’s research focused on eighteenth century Britain and the Atlantic World and his first monograph, Hannah More:  A Critical Biography, was published in 1996. Later, Ford’s research interests expanded to include the history of slavery, school desegregation and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered issues. Ford’s involvement in the community echoed his research interests and Ford was an active participant at community events, particularly those related to the 50th anniversary of the end of Massive Resistance. His interests in the gay community’s issues were combined with Ford’s community service, including his work with the Tidewater AIDS Community Taskforce (TACT).  Since 1994, he served as a member of the Board of Directors of TACT in multiple capacities.  As of 2010, he was still involved in this organization and, having received tenure in 2007, was named an interim associate dean at NSU.

Note written by Mel Frizzell