Dr. Frederick D. Opie

Class of 1983
Dr. Frederick D. Opie Inducted: 2006
Physical Education

A graduate of Croton-Harmon High School in Westchester County, NY, Frederick D. Opie is an Associate Professor of History and Director of the African Program at Marist College, Poughkeepsie, where he teaches history. From 2002-03, he was an Assistant Professor of Latin American and Caribbean Studies in the History Department of Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA. Opie attended Herkimer College from 1981 to 1983, earning his associate degree in Physical Education. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University in 1986. He earned his master’s degree from Shippensburg University in 1991 and the Ph.D. in History from Syracuse University in 1999. He has published several articles, including “Foreign Workers, Debt Peonage and Frontier Culture in Lowland Guatemala, 1884 to 1990.” He is completing a study of African-American culinary history and will turn his attention to revising a manuscript on Race, Labor and Nationality in Caribbean Guatemala, 1884 -1925. In addition to his academic career, Opie has a history of many lacrosse accomplishments including All-County Honors in high school; All-American Honors at Herkimer College (1982 and 1983); varsity letters in lacrosse at SU (1984 and 1985); club championships with Long Island and Maryland Lacrosse Clubs; and a World Championship with the Men’s National Lacrosse Team in Perth Australia (1990). Currently he is faculty advisor for the Marist College Red Foxes men’s lacrosse team.