David R. Roediger

David R. Roediger is the Foundation Distinguished Professor of American Studies at the University of Kansas. He holds a PhD from Northwestern University and specializes in race, class, and labor history. His research explores intersections of race and class in U.S. history, with a focus on slavery, emancipation, and the construction of whiteness. Current projects include a history of the U.S. middle class from 1830 to the present.

Roediger's work spans books like Seizing Freedom and Working toward Whiteness, as well as influential articles on whiteness, racial capitalism, and labor movements. He served as President of the American Studies Association (2015–2016) and advocates for academic freedom. His teaching emphasizes writing and covers topics such as slavery, labor, and race in American culture.

Key awards include the Foundation Distinguished Professorship and membership in the Council of Distinguished Professors. His scholarship critiques systemic racism and explores pathways to solidarity beyond racial and class divisions. Though no specific grants or labs are mentioned, his interdisciplinary approach bridges history, sociology, and cultural studies.