Najja K. Baptist

Najja K. Baptist serves as Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the African & African American Studies (AAST) program at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, within the College of Arts and Sciences. His scholarship critically examines Black political engagement, social movement dynamics, and the intersection of race, media, and culture in American political life.

Dr. Baptist earned his Ph.D. in Political Science from Howard University (2020) with concentrations in Black Politics, American Politics, and Political Theory. His academic journey includes an M.A. from Jackson State University (2010) focusing on Race, Ethnicity and Politics and Political Psychology, and a Summa Cum Laude B.A. in Political Science from North Carolina Central University (2008).

His research integrates normative and empirical approaches to explore political behavior, public opinion, and communication within Black communities. Key themes include the psychological dimensions of racial identity, the role of Black music in activism, media representations of social justice movements, and the political participation of marginalized groups. He examines how systemic racism shapes policy outcomes while highlighting resistance strategies and cultural resilience.

Dr. Baptist's publications reveal a consistent focus on bridging historical and contemporary struggles for racial justice. His work connects foundational thinkers like W.E.B. Du Bois to modern movements such as Black Lives Matter, analyzes judicial politics through cases like Shelby County v. Holder, and explores the cultural power of music in mobilizing social change. This interdisciplinary approach spans political theory, behavioral studies, and cultural analysis.

His scholarly contributions have been recognized with significant honors:

• Two-time NSF grant recipient for research on presidential engagement with Congressional Black Caucus women of color
• Packard Scholarship ($16,290) and Bassi Scholarship for advanced research
• Multiple fellowships including Edgren Graduate Tuition Fellowship and Dr. Margret Walker National Research Center Fellowship
• Academic distinctions such as Most Outstanding Political Science Student (NCCU) and membership in Pi Sigma Alpha honor society

As AAST Director, Dr. Baptist leads interdisciplinary curriculum development while teaching core courses in African American Politics and Civil Rights Policy. His current work examines executive-legislative relations concerning racial justice, building on his expertise in Black political behavior and media dynamics to inform both academic discourse and public understanding of systemic inequities.