By Katie Rhodes
Dr. Anthony Hill grew up in a household that was shaped by absence. His mother’s mental illness kept her in and out of institutions and his father was not present in his life. Those gaps, and the community that filled them, have helped Hill to craft a professional journey built around being deeply present for those in need. Hill has spent decades in human service in his native city of Springfield: a counselor in the public schools, a principal, a pastor in a Black church, a social worker, and for many years, a professor of social work at Springfield College.
Hill has spent the majority of his life in Springfield. He was born and raised here, went through the Springfield public school system, and then went on to complete his undergraduate degree at Springfield College.
The hardship Hill faced turned into a motivator to support the community that helped raise him. He has dedicated his life to supporting individuals who may be going through similar struggles to those he faced.
Hill’s mother was 16 years old when she had him and her schizophrenia was always a difficult topic.
“People didn’t really talk about mental illness much,” Hill said.
The silence around his mother’s condition created shame within the family that Hill could sense even as a child. His father’s absence was simpler, but no less painful.
“My father, I could probably count on two hands how many times I’ve seen him,” Hill said. “Thankfully, I had the love of my grandmother.”
Both Hill and his older sister were raised by their grandmother, who had ten children of her own. His grandmother gave him unconditional love and guidance, being the strongest maternal figure in his life. His early support system also consisted of his many aunts and uncles.
“There’s a village that helped raise me,” Hill recalled.
The village extended beyond Hill’s family. Teachers, coaches, and close friends helped to create the community which supported him. Hill said, “Where I grew up, there was a lot of poverty. I saw people making bad decisions… my escape was through sports.” Basketball, in particular, gave Hill direction and confidence as he grew up. “I got really, really good at it,” he said.
Education became a turning point in Hill’s life. In 1988, he was awarded the Dr. Jesse Parks Scholarship due to his dedication to education and community service which allowed Hill to attend Springfield College. At first, he felt out of place. The college wasn’t diverse and felt very different than the Springfield he knew.
“I was like, ‘wow, I don’t know if I can make it here,” Hill admitted. “But I had amazing professors and did better in college than I did in high school. So that motivated me.”
His professors became mentors. Hill found community in his dorm and joined the Social Sciences Club. Springfield College also gave him the opportunity to study abroad in London and Zimbabwe. He described those experiences as “eye opening”. As his world grew, so did his belief in his own potential.
The idea of becoming a social worker was very appealing to Hill. “I really liked the idea of being able to help people and be a part of the solution,” Hill said, “just to give back what so many people gave to me.”
After receiving his master’s degree in social work, at the University of Pennsylvania, Hill returned to Springfield to begin his career.
“I was a school social worker at the elementary level, and absolutely loved it. That was my dream job,” Hill said. Working in the Springfield public school system, Hill felt he was able to be a mentor and a support to young men. As a male social worker, Hill felt he had an advantage in making connections. Additionally, he was familiar with the struggles they faced. “I always knew about the anger and the rage and just the way I can be a source of support in healing,” Hill said.
Eventually, Hill’s career took him into administration, becoming an assistant principal then a principal. But Hill didn’t feel satisfied in these roles. He was able to take courses at UMass Amherst, and work towards a doctorate in education.
“I thought I was going to be a social work director, a guidance director, or even a superintendent, but then I started adjunct teaching. I really loved teaching and I [have] ever since,” Hill said.
After receiving his doctorate, Hill was looking for openings in teaching positions when he discovered that Springfield College was looking for someone. He applied for and got the position and has been working as a professor in the social work department since August, 2012. “It’s like coming back home,” Hill said, “Springfield College is a place that really helped me grow and mature as a young person.”
During his time as a faculty member at Springfield College, Hill has worked to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. In 2018, Hill was selected as the Distinguished Professor of Humanics and worked on a Humanics project focusing on Healthy Masculinity in college age and high school young men. This program brought over 100 males, primarily of color, from the Springfield public school system together to discuss healthy masculinity, leadership, responsibility, and growth. The program strives to motivate young men to consider post secondary education, vocational trades, and the military as a potential pathway to future success. This work was especially meaningful to Hill, as it allowed him to continue his work with Springfield youth.
At Springfield College, Hill has been able to share his passion for his occupation with the next generation of social workers. Ava Coppola, a junior in the social work program says: “As a person, he is always energetic and he brings that energy into other people’s lives.” She describes her opportunity to study under him as a privilege. “He is passionate about his work and brings enthusiasm everywhere he goes,” she said, “That’s what makes him such a great social worker.”
“He is creating a community in the classroom in a manner that his own professors created for him,” a colleague of Hill’s, Miguel Arce said. “Dr. Hill shows genuine interest in students. He takes time to learn about the challenges and strengths and values them for who they are,” Arce added.
Through his work, Hill has been able to return the support he received through his childhood, uplifting and inspiring others. Hill said, “There’s a saying attributed to Marian Wright Edelman, ‘Service is the rent we pay for living on this earth’, and so many people gave inspiration, support, encouragement, and mentorship to me, so I just want to give back.”