VCU news

By Brian McNeill

The oldest ethnic studies organization in the United States has moved its headquarters to Virginia Commonwealth University.

The National Association for Ethnic Studies, founded in 1972, is an interdisciplinary forum for scholars and activists concerned with national and international dimensions of race and ethnicity. It is now located within the Political Science Program in the College of Humanities and Sciences.

“VCU is an institution on the move,” said NAES Board of Directors President Ravi Perry, Ph.D., who recently joined VCU’s faculty as an associate professor of political science. “With dedicated faculty, engaging students, a beautiful urban location and a real commitment to inclusion, we believe our association with VCU is strong and we look forward to developing relationships with university leaders, community members in the Greater Richmond area and throughout the state of Virginia.”

The mission of NAES is to encourage activities and scholarship in the field of ethnic studies and to promote social justice and equality through research and scholarship, curriculum design, conferences and assistance to ethnic studies programs to develop civic-minded and culturally informed communities and people.

The NAES was born in the struggle for civil rights in America. It is the very manifestation of political engagement and student activist success, issues at the core of American politics.

“Ethnic studies is integral to liberal education and global progress, and equal justice for all,” Perry said. “We believe these goals fit well with VCU’s mission and we’re excited about our future.”

Deirdre Condit, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of political science at VCU, said the addition of both NAES and Perry strengthens the VCU Political Science Program’s commitment to interdisciplinary education.

“It is an exciting and historic moment in VCU’s growing commitment to inclusive education, scholarship and community engagement, as the addition of both Dr. Perry and the NAES clearly demonstrates,” she said.

“As an organization,” Condit added, “the NAES was born in the struggle for civil rights in America. It is the very manifestation of political engagement and student activist success, issues at the core of American politics. Dr. Perry’s scholarly work on race politics, and his leadership in the NAES, will be transformative in many ways for the department and for the university.”

Perry, who joined VCU from Mississippi State University, researches issues facing African-Americans in the U.S., with a focus on black politics, minority representation, urban politics, American public policy and LGBT minority politics.

The executive director of NAES is Shabana Shaheen, who is pursuing a master’s degree from VCU’s Department of Sociology. She received her undergraduate degree in political science from VCU.

NAES publishes a peer-review journal, Ethnic Studies Review, and hosts an annual conference. Its 44th annual conference will be held at at the University of Arizona, March 17–19, and the organizers are inviting faculty, undergraduates, graduate students, community leaders and activists to submit a proposal. For more information, go to http://ethnicstudies.org/.