Karen Ferguson

Karen Ferguson is a Professor of History and Director of the Urban Studies Program at Simon Fraser University (SFU). Her work bridges African American history, urban studies, and policy analysis, with a focus on 20th-century racial dynamics and philanthropy’s role in social movements. She holds a PhD from Duke University (1996) and a BA from McGill University (1989).

Research Interests:

• Twentieth-century African American history
• Racial liberalism and the Ford Foundation’s engagement with Black Power
• Urban policy and sustainability
• Theravada Buddhist monasticism’s spread in North America

Awards:

• SSHRC Standard Research Grant (2002–2005)
• SSHRC One-Time Institutional Grant (2000)
• SFU University Publications Grant (2001)

Her recent work examines the intersection of Asian migration and Buddhist monasticism in British Columbia, alongside her ongoing analysis of racial politics in U.S. history. She has published extensively on Black Power, civil rights, and urban development.