Austin McCoy

Austin McCoy is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History at West Virginia University, specializing in 20th Century United States, African-American History, U.S. Left and Labor, and U.S. Social Movements. His teaching and research emphasize the intersections of race, politics, and labor activism.

• Degree: PhD and MA from the University of Michigan and The Ohio State University

Research Interests: Dr. McCoy focuses on African-American history, labor and political economy, and social movements. His manuscript project, The Quest for Democracy, challenges narratives of decline in Black Power and New Left activism in the 1970s–1980s by analyzing progressive victories in the post-industrial Midwest.

Public Scholarship: He contributes historical insights to contemporary political and cultural discourse in outlets like the Washington Post, Nursing Clio, and CNN.