Our faculty produces cutting edge research about the environment’s influence on behavior, and how to address seemingly intractable problems like neighborhood inequality, unequal housing opportunity, urban violence, and troubled schools.

Individual and family wellbeing are vital components of a strong community and society.

The African American Studies Department is committed to the examination of how difference and inequality define the experiences of black communities within diverse societies.  Women and work, gender norms and masculinity, and the experiences of disadvantaged youth are key areas among our research specialties.

We live in an era in which a broader political economy links and shapes the experiences of black communities throughout the world.