Dr. George Agbango has been a cornerstone of Bloomsburg University’s academic and civic community for more than 30 years. As he prepares for retirement, his remarkable journey from young political activist in rural Ghana to vice provost and professor in Pennsylvania exemplifies resilience and global citizenship.
Early Life
Born in the early 1950s in rural Ghana, Dr. Agbango grew up during the country’s transition to independence. “That was during the time when my parents were involved in the struggle for Ghana’s independence,” he recalled. His father, a respected elder statesman in their district, engaged deeply in political activism. “[So] my consciousness [opened],” he said. “When I was in school, I became Senior Prefect… [and later] vice president of the National Union of Ghana Students, which exposed me to national politics.”
Three years after finishing college, he ran for Parliament under the People’s National Party during Ghana’s brief return to civilian rule. After winning his seat, he quickly became a prominent voice in government. “I was appointed first Deputy Majority Chief Whip, which put me in the leadership of Parliament,” he said.
That momentum ended abruptly. In December 1981, a military coup overthrew the government. Dr. Agbango had just returned from leading Ghana’s delegation to the United Nations and a peace conference in Moscow. While visiting his northern constituency during the coup, he fled through Burkina Faso into Nigeria, where he taught for two years.
Coming to Bloomsburg
Eventually, he made his way to the United States, earning a master’s degree in public administration and a Ph.D. in political science. In 1990, he saw an advertisement for an assistant professorship at Bloomsburg University.
“My intention was to stay for one year, build my credentials and move to the South, the Atlanta area,” he said. But fate had other plans. “The chairman of the department went on retirement, and my colleagues elected me chair. I was the most junior faculty member, an untenured assistant professor, and being given the privilege to lead the department, I felt that was a great honor.”
From there, his academic career accelerated. Within seven years, he rose from assistant professor to full professor. He served two terms as chair of the Political Science Department, later leading the Mass Communications Department and serving as interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts. From 2014 to 2016, he held the post of vice provost and dean of undergraduate education.
Dr. Agbango remained deeply involved in the campus and broader community throughout his time at Bloomsburg. He served as president of the Rotary Club of Bloomsburg, led the Global Awareness Society International and became the first international president of the Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education, an organization dedicated to minority student success.
He credits his success to mentors like retired union leader and my grandfather, Roy Pointer, and especially to the students. “Your greatest ally [is] the students. When you work with students, show that you genuinely care for them, and they know that, you will succeed,” he said.
A Reflection on the Past
Reflecting on his time at Bloomsburg, Dr. Agbango has witnessed the university’s social and physical transformation. “When I got here in the fall of 1990, the faculty was much more connected,” he said. At that time, professors would often gather in the Pennsylvania Room in the Scranton Commons between noon and 2 p.m. for lunch and conversation. That changed when the space was reassigned. “Faculty were told to mix with the students, which is good, we got to know our students better in a more socialized environment, but it diminished the opportunity for faculty to interact one-on-one.”
He noted that younger faculty today focus more on publishing, teaching and community service, and have less time to connect informally with colleagues. “Some of the older professors I met when I came here have retired, and sooner or later, I’ll also be part of that statistic.”
Still, he is proud of how the campus has evolved. “Bloomsburg University, in its infrastructure, its décor, its beauty, has been enhanced. It’s not the same movement that we saw in the early ’90s in the courtyard,” he said. “That used to be a parking lot made of concrete. Now we have a nice orchard, a beautiful environment.”
He remains optimistic about the future. “We want to attract the best students. The quality of our students is quite good. They’re hardworking. We hope we can make a difference in the state system for higher education.”
Quotes for the next generation
As he plans for phased retirement in 2028, Dr. Agbango reflects on his values with characteristic humility and purpose. “There comes a time when you feel that you’ve done your best, and you have to move on,” he said.
When asked about guiding quotes, he offered one that shaped his life.
“Grandfather always told me, ‘He who shows kindness will find it growing on the heads of his children.’ In other words, if you’re kind to humanity, the law of karma says you will be rewarded, not in heaven, but here on earth. And if not you, then your children.”
Finally, he offered a call to action for students: ”
Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,”
he quoted President Kennedy.
“
You young ones are the future leaders of the world. Think beyond your scope. As long as you have [a] long life, service to humanity is the best call to duty.