The University of Iowa Eight Over 80 Award
Dr. William "Bill" J. Daniels (64MA, 70PhD)
Throughout his long career in judicial politics and public law education, William J. "Bill" Daniels has been an unwavering advocate for peaceful conflict resolution, receiving numerous accolades for his community service and leadership.
Daniels was a professor and dean in the Rochester Institute of Technology's College of Liberal Arts, where he worked for 16 years and established a summer program in Croatia. He also co-founded a congressional internship program while at Union College and was a founding member of the National Conference of Black Political Scientists, of which he was president. In addition, he served as vice president of the American Political Science Association and held numerous fellowships, including a Fulbright Fellowship and another for a U.S. Supreme Court justice.
In 2005, Daniels became a certified mediator in the state of New York, working with the Center for Dispute Settlement. At this nonprofit community-resolution center, he holds numerous arbitration and mediation certifications, including specializations in divorce, special education, Lemon Law, and other categories. The center honored him with the Janus Peacemaker Award in 2014 and named him Volunteer of the Month in December 2023.
Daniels dedicated his time and leadership to a wide range of nonprofit and municipal organizations, chairing the board of directors for Hillside Children's Center, where he served for 15 years, and for the Urban League of Rochester, New York. Additionally, he mentored high school students, arbitrated housing disputes, and served as a member and chair of a civilian review board for local law enforcement.
He is the recipient of several distinguished volunteer service awards, including the United Way's Howard Wilson Coles Community Leadership Award.