Overview Northeastern University's (NU) Affirmative Action Office (AAO) was created in 1975 in response to several federal laws and regulations designed to encourage employment and educational equity at institutions throughout American society. President Asa Knowles was head of a group of Boston-area university presidents who tried to adhere to these new rules. During his tenure, NU established the Afro-American Institute and sought to enroll and retain African American students as well as hire and...