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San José State University

Ken Noel graduated from San José State University in 1966 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, later earning a master’s degree in sociology in 1968. He received his doctorate in political science from UC Berkeley in 1980. He taught sociology at San José State for 10 years before transitioning to the technology industry in Silicon Valley.

As a San José State student in 1967, Dr. Noel co-founded the United Black Students for Action (UBSA) along with Harry Edwards, who was teaching sociology at the time. The UBSA was formed to address housing segregation, unequal and racist treatment of student-athletes and limited educational opportunities for students of color.

Dr. Noel also worked with the College Commitment Program, which helped recruit students to San José State who otherwise may not have had a pathway to college. He was one of the founding members of the Olympic Committee for Human Rights, the organizing body that later formed the Olympic Project for Human Rights. This became an international platform dedicated to addressing cultural, political, social and economic needs.

In 2023, the NAACP inducted Dr. Noel, along with Dr. Edwards, into the NAACP California Hawaii State Conference Legacy Hall of Fame to honor their contributions to the civil rights movement. 

In recognition of his lifelong commitment to social justice and his pioneering efforts as a civil rights advocate, the Board of Trustees of the California State University and San José State University are proud to confer upon Dr. Ken Noel the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters.