Each February, the Department of Black Studies at Occidental welcomes the Stafford Ellison Wright Black Alumni Scholar-in-Residence at Occidental College. The Scholar-in-Residence delivers a public lecture, serves as a guest lecturer in courses, and does a second public event relevant to their research specialty.
Created by Occidental’s Black Alumni Organization (BAO), the Stafford Ellison Wright Endowment enables distinguished Black scholars from a variety of fields and artists to spend time in residence at Occidental each year. BAO members believe that a student’s educational experience will be enriched by in-depth contact with individuals who serve as symbols of excellence. Each Scholar-in-Residence shares cutting edge insights from their current research or creative projects. This event has repeatedly shaped conversations across campus, a testament to the interdisciplinarity that makes Black Studies so exciting, challenging, and inspiring.
Main image: Derrick R. Spires lecturing in Spring 2026. Photo by Marc Campos.
Past Scholars-in-Residence
Derrick R. Spires
Spring 2026 - English
News Article / Recorded Lecture
Deirdre Cooper Owens
Spring 2025 - History
Monica White
Spring 2024 - Environmental Sociology
Ashon Crawley
Spring 2023 - English and Religious Studies
Justin Dunnavant
Spring 2022 - Archaeology
Keisha Blain
Spring 2021 - History
C. Riley Snorton
Spring 2020 - English
Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
Spring 2019 - Physics
Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor
Spring 2018 - History
Kiese Laymon
Spring 2017 - English and Creative Writing
Dorothy Roberts
Spring 2016 - Law and Sociology
Cathy Cohen
Spring 2015 - Political Science
Alondra Nelson
Spring 2014 - Sociology
Daniel Widener
Fall 2012 - History