The director of African-American studies at the University of New Mexico is defending the hiring of a founding member of the Black Panthers.

Finnie D. Coleman says recruiting former Panther leader David Hilliard, 64, to be a visiting lecturer presents both students and the university with an unprecedented learning opportunity, The Albuquerque Journal reports.

Responding to criticism, Coleman says there is no one person he could hire who is more qualified to teach the history of the Panthers than Hilliard.

Founded in 1966 by Huey P. Newton, Bobby Seale and Hilliard, the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense was held responsible for the deaths of at least 15 police officers and the injury of dozens more.

During its first four years, 34 Panthers died as a result of police raids, shootouts and internal conflicts, the online encyclopedia Wikipedia.org says.

Hilliard reportedly shows his students that many of the Panthers' early documents reveal a desire to promote social justice and defend their community from what they say as an oppressive police force and government.