On May 21, 1956, their first son, Charles David, Jr., was born. After his discharge, they returned to Chicago and he began to look for work as a laboratory technician but, because of his race, he found the door shut many times as he sought employment. He finally secured a position at the University of Chicago as an animal technician and later found a job as a laboratory technician at Oak Forest Hospital in Oak Forest, Illinois.

Simultaneously, Charles Moody worked nights at the Chicago Post Office, served in the Army Reserves as a captain, and returned to school at Chicago Teachers College, where he received a master's degree in science education.

In 1959, he began his career in education teaching the mentally handicapped in Chicago. Later he taught science and social studies in Posen-Robbins and in Evanston, Illinois, where from 1967 to 1968, Charles served as assistant principal of a junior high school.

In February 1968, he was appointed the first Black superintendent of schools in Harvey, Illinois, at which time he began work on his doctorate in education at Northwestern University as a T.T.T. Fellow. He received his Ph.D from Northwestern in June 1971.

In 1970, Charles Moody and his family, which now included two more sons, Corey and Cameron, moved to Ann Arbor when he took the position as director of the Program for Educational Opportunity (PEO) at the University of Michigan's School of Education.

During his tenure at PEO he assisted school districts throughout the Midwest that were attempting or resisting desegregation. PEO sponsored many educational conferences and published books, articles, and proceedings that are still used today. It was at this time that Dr. Moody developed his equity based four-dimensional model. The model addresses four stages that institutions must experience if they are to successfully reach desegregation. The stages are access, process, achievement, and transfer.

While completing his dissertation on Black superintendents, the first such study in the United States, he received a grant from the Metropolitan Applied Research Corporation (MARC) Foundation to organize the Chief Black School Officers. 16 persons attended the first meeting. Membership was soon extended to include all Black educators and became the National Alliance of Black School Educators, known as NABSE, and currently has a membership of over 6,000 and 125 affiliates across the United States, and in Canada, the Bahamas, England and Germany. The 27th National Conference will be held in Nashville, TN, and November 9-14, 1999. Some of the goals of the Alliance are: greater emphasis upon research, especially as it relates to Blacks; increased involvement in legislative activities at all levels; curriculum innovation to more completely embrace Black America; and development of international projects for cooperation with all peoples of the world. In his honor, the research arm of NABSE is named the Charles D. Moody Institute for Research and Development on African American Education.

Dr. Moody serves or has served on over 61 committees/task forces at the University, state, and national level. He is a member of Phi Delta Kappa, Sigma Pi Phi and Omega Psi Phi fraternities. He serves as Chairman of Board of Network for Instructional TV, Inc. (NITV) and sits on the Executive Board of the National Alliance of Black School Educators as the Founder.

Dr. Moody has been a fellow for I. /D. /E. /A., T.T.T., and Metropolitan Applied Research Corporation (MARC) and has received several awards from the National Alliance and his alma mater, now Central State University, which include a Doctor of Law, and induction into the first Alumni Hall of Fame. Because of his efforts in desegregation and the founding of NABSE, November 5, 1988, was designated Charles D. Moody Day in the State of Wisconsin. He appears in Who's Who Among Black Americans and Who's Who Among Educators. Over the years he has received well over 100 plaques, various awards and honors, including an Alumni Merit Award from Northwestern University, and a Living Legend Designation Award from NABSE.

Since 1974, Dr. Moody conducted many major conferences and workshops for the University of Michigan. He published and edited a number of conference proceedings and has presented a multitude of major speeches and papers at state, international and national conferences in numerous states, the District of Columbia, Canada and South Africa. He has served as a consultant to numerous school districts, universities, and national and state committees.

In June 1987, Dr. Moody was appointed Vice Provost for Minority Affairs at the University of Michigan with responsibility for the development of programs that deal with minority student recruitment and retention; and minority faculty recruitment, development, and retention. He worked with academic units to arrive at appropriate affirmative action goals, strategies, and schedules to monitor and evaluate progress. From 1987 to 1992 he oversaw the rise in total enrollment of student of color from 13.5% to 21.4% and total number of faculty of color rose from 8.8% to 12.9%. African American faculty almost doubled. It grew from 79 in 1987 to 155 in 1992. To help with the diversity thrust, he developed and published A Checklist for a Multicultural University.

Additionally, Dr. Moody brought many distinguished guests to the University, including the Mayor Faku from Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Andrew Young, Danny Glover, Mayor Willie Brown, Paula Giddings, Dr. Frances Cress Welsing, Jesse Jackson, Damon Keith, Susan Taylor, Alex Haley, Julianne Malveaux, Faye Wattleton, Gloria Naylor, Cesar Chavez, Molefi Asante, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Maulana Karenga, and Douglas Wilder.

While he was vice provost, The University of Michigan hosted several Black Issues in Higher Education Teleconferences. He also instituted the DREAMKEEPER AWARD that was awarded each year during the Martin Luther King, Jr. Symposium to individuals who had demonstrated a commitment to improving the quality of life for people of color.

On January 15, 1993, the State of Michigan Legislature passed a Special Tribute to honor Dr. Moody for his dynamic efforts as Vice-Provost and
"His valuable contributions to education and to the furtherance of African American expectations."
The Regents of the University of Michigan developed a resolution on June 11, 1993 to "express their gratitude to Vice Provost Moody for helping to lead the University in developing an environment which encourages and sustains racial and ethnic diversity." They further stated,
"It was not an easy task to undertake, and there were no road maps to follow. As a result of his vision and commitment, the University of Michigan is a different and better place today than it was before he became vice provost. Through his efforts, the University has come a long way toward achieving an academic community that embraces both excellence and pluralism."

A defining episode in Dr. Moody's life was the opportunity to personally confer an Honorary Degree to Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg on September 10, 1991, from the University of Michigan. The degree was granted while Mandela was imprisoned and after his release from prison, Dr. Moody led a contingent of University of Michigan professors and his wife to Mr. Mandela's office, where the degree was conferred.

Mr. Mandela's gentle demeanor and sense of grace gave new meaning to the word, forgiveness. He was unassuming, attentive, and brimming with charisma. He embodied all the hopes and dreams of a New South Africa and after a visit to Soweto, Dr. Moody decided to make a professional shift.

In June 1993 Dr. Moody was appointed Executive Director of the South Africa Initiative Office. The South Africa Initiative Office (SAIO), grounded in the belief in human potential, dignity, and worth, has as its mission institutional transformation and improved life chances for all Black South Africans. The interventions and programs developed and utilized in the transformation of institutions will enhance the delivery of services and the quality of life for stakeholders in South Africa and the United States.

Since 1991, Dr. Moody has traveled to South Africa 10 times and visited other African countries while on those visits. He helped the University of Fort Hare establish the archives for the liberation papers of South Africa through a grant from USIA, helped establish guidelines to be used by universities and other institutions working with historically black colleges in South Africa, and worked with universities to develop graduate programs. He established mentorship programs with students and faculty and began a book drive to deliver needed supplies to schools and universities. With his wife, he co-authored a book on South Africa and donated the proceeds to help South African students. In their honor The Charles D. Moody and Christella D. Moody South Africa Initiative Fund was established to help South African and University of Michigan students and faculty to become actively involved in the transformation of South Africa.

When he retired from the University of Michigan in 1996, he received special recognition for his 26 years of service from the President of the University and Board of Regents. He received the President's Medallion
"In appreciation of exemplary service"
And was named vice provost emeritus for minority affairs and professor emeritus.

Dr. Moody and his wife hosted University of Michigan Alumni tours to Russia, countries along the Danube River, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and a safari in Botswana. This led to a desire for more travel and adventure, which he and his wife continue today.

Currently, Dr. Moody serves as Co-Chair of the Committee on African American Achievement for the Ann Arbor Public Schools and is active in the selection, training, and placement of school superintendents. He continues his research on African American Superintendents and Effective Schools. He also helps his wife administer the C.D. Moody Construction Company Educational Foundation, which was founded by his son in 1991 and has distributed over 80 scholarships to deserving high school students.

Ask Charles Moody what he is most proud of and he will say, "My family, the fact that two of my sons work for their brother in C.D. Moody Construction Company, a Black Enterprise Top 100 company in 1998, my church (Bethel A.M.E.), my professional accomplishments at the University of Michigan, and the National Alliance of Black School Educators."