Dr. Kennetta

Thinker. Educator. Researcher. Writer. Strategist. Mentor. These are words that I would use to describe myself as it relates to my professional life. My formal title is that of Associate Professor of History and Black Studies. However, what lies beneath that label is the day-to-day work of being curious and reflective; acquiring, sharing and exchanging knowledge; exploring compelling ways to communicate ideas; devising methods to navigate and overcome challenges and supporting the learning journeys and ambitions of others.

I received my PhD in History from Michigan State University and currently hold a tenured professorship at Northwestern University. Before taking on my current position, I previously served as founding director of the Stephen Lawrence Research Centre at De Montfort University in Leicester, England and have held fellowships at the University of Virginia, Duke University and with the American Council of Learned Societies. Throughout my academic career, mentorship has been absolutely critical to my success and my sanity in the world of academia. The gift of mentorship has helped me to understand the hidden curricula of the academy and has given me tools to pursue a career in academia in a minoritized body. Because of that, I am dedicated to cultivating forms of mentorship grounded in helping students acquire and retain confidence in their abilities and recognize the value of their voice, experience and perspective. Moreover, I believe that mentorship is akin to coaching in that it involves providing advice and guidance to propel people towards their goals, confront challenges and learn from setbacks.

My research and teaching draw upon interdisciplinary methods across the humanities and social sciences and require me to remain nimble in finding ways to explore questions and translate ideas to different audiences across disciplines and for audiences in and beyond academia. I have published numerous academic journal articles and book chapters, served as a reviewer for a range of academic presses and have a book with Oxford University Press which focuses on African Caribbean migration and the politics of race in postwar Britain. Currently, I am completing a second monograph that will be published with Cambridge University Press, and I am a co-investigator on two internationally funded research projects with colleagues based in the UK. With an active research agenda and future professional aspirations in mind, I am constantly seeking to acquire and hone strategies for managing projects, remaining accountable to goals and understanding the conditions that facilitate being able to thrive. I am eager to share that knowledge and work with others who are seeking to enter academic programs or those who are wading through the challenges of completing graduate program requirements including theses or dissertation projects. Likewise, I am keen to support those who are interested in exploring how their graduate training might be leveraged for the job market or any number of professional opportunities.