Discover African American Studies
Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research Associate

The Department of African American Studies at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, invites applications for a Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research Associates. This is a one-year appointment with a start date of August 16, 2025, and is renewable for an additional year contingent on availability of funding, strong enrollments, and strong performance reviews.
Applicants must demonstrate promise for a tenure-track appointment at a research college or university, and their primary research focus must be in or related to African American Studies/Africana Studies. We are especially interested in scholars working in Black politics, or the social sciences broadly, but will consider excellent applicants in all sub-fields of African American Studies/Africana Studies. Proposed research projects should have the potential to make a significant contribution to the field.
The associate will be housed in the Department of African American Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and will also be provided opportunities to build a supportive on-campus community with the associates from American Indian Studies, Asian American Studies, Gender and Women’s Studies and Latina/Latino Studies.
The University of Illinois is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability or veteran status. For more information, visit http://go.illinois.edu/EEO.
Application deadline: April 25, 2025.







Professor Mary Phillips' new publication, Black Panther Woman: The Political and Spiritual Life of Ericka Huggins
The first biography of Ericka Huggins, a queer Black woman who brought spiritual self-care practices to the Black Panther Party. In this groundbreaking biography, professor Mary Frances Phillips immerses readers in the life and legacy of Ericka Huggins, a revered Black Panther Party member, as well as a mother, widow, educator, poet, and former political prisoner.

Professor Bobby Smith named as a Helen Corley Petit scholar
The College of LAS has honored 15 professors with named scholar and professorship positions in recognition of their contributions to research and education at the University of Illinois.

The University News Bureau recognizes Professor John Meyers for his new book "Same Old Song: The Enduring Past in Popular Music"
In his new book, “Same Old Song: The Enduring Past in Popular Music,” John Paul Meyers, an ethnomusicologist and a professor of African American studies, looks at what he calls “historical consciousness in popular music” — a sense in popular music culture that the past is worth remembering, celebrating and replaying.
"Professor Dianne Pinderhughes Graduate Research Award"
The Department of African American Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign invites applications from graduate students for the Spring 2025 Prof. Dianne Pinderhughes Graduate Research Award. The award winner will receive a $500 stipend to help defray costs for research or conference travel. The funds can be used for expenses accrued during the Fall 2024, Spring 2025, or Summer 2025.
Applicants from a broad range of disciplines will be considered, provided the topic is related to African American, African, or African Diaspora Studies. Applicants should send their current CV along with a 1-page, single-spaced proposal explaining their research project and how they will use these funds. Applications should be sent to Awards Committee chair John Meyers (meyersjp@illinois.edu) by April 28, 2025.
The winner will also be recognized during AFRO's Spring '25 Reception!
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Freedom Forum: Where Do We Go From Here "Roundup"
The department of African American Studies and BNACC sponsored the Freedom Forum: Where Do We Go From Here? on Wednesday, 11/20/2024. The event was held at the Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center.
Thank you to the panelists for participating and all of our supportive co-sponsors!

Alumni Spotlight: Sindra Gerdes, Class of 2024
Why African American Studies (AFRO)? I chose AFRO because I grew up in a small sundown town just a short drive from the University Campus where my identity was called into question more times than a child should ever have to. My unique experiences as a biracial young woman in a small community that was rooted in bigotry and prejudice inspired me to further educate myself not only of the impact of African American history in the Americas but the broader impacts across the African Diaspora. AFRO Studies’ unique and vast discipline afforded me the ability to build an...