Mark Krasovic

Mark Krasovic is an Associate Professor affiliated with the Departments of American Studies, Africana Studies, and History at Rutgers University. His work bridges modern U.S. cultural and political history with public humanities, emphasizing community-driven approaches to urban governance and racial justice. He currently leads the multi-institutional Crafting Democratic Futures project (2021-2023), focusing on racial reparations and community dialogue in Newark and nationally.

• Education: PhD in American Studies from Yale University (2008), MA in American Studies from Michigan State University (2000), BA from Rutgers University (1995)

His research explores intersections of federal policy and grassroots activism, particularly through arts and humanities projects funded by the President's Committee on Juvenile Delinquency, the War on Poverty, and the Model Cities Program. He also contributes to oral history archives for institutions like Aljira, a Center for Contemporary Art (1983-2018).

The Crafting Democratic Futures project and his archival work with community organizations align with his focus on collaborative, practice-oriented scholarship. His publications, including the book The Newark Frontier and an essay in Urban Asymmetries, highlight mid-20th-century urban governance experiments.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Nancy Weiss Malkiel Junior Faculty Fellowship (2016-2017)
  • Prudential Foundation Nonprofit Executive Fellowship (2015-2017)
  • Geraldine R. Dodge Postdoctoral Fellow (2008)

Mark actively teaches courses on modern U.S. history, racial justice, Newark-specific topics (e.g., 1967 uprising), and interdisciplinary public humanities collaborations. He serves on steering committees for the Ironbound Community Corporation archives, Newark History Society, and North Eastern Public Humanities Consortium.