Howard J Wiarda was born in
Grosse Pointe, Michigan, grew up in
Grand Rapids, and was in the honors program at the
University of Michigan where he received his BA degree. He earned M.A. and Ph.D. degrees at the
University of Florida. He also earned a Master of Science at the
National War College in 1993. Wiarda married Dr. Iêda de Barros Siqueira, February 4, 1964. She was a Brazilian American Research Specialist at the
Library of Congress and Professor of Political Science at the
University of Georgia. The couple had three children, Jon Wiarda, Howard Wiarda, and Kristy Williams. == Academic career ==