Theodore A Henken

Theodore A. Henken is a Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at Baruch College's Weissman School of Arts and Sciences (City University of New York), with a joint appointment in Black and Latino Studies. He holds a PhD in Latin American Studies from Tulane University and has been at Baruch since 2003. Henken served as chair of the Department of Black and Latino Studies (2010-2012) and as president of the Association for the Study of the Cuban Economy (2012-2014). His academic work focuses on contemporary Cuban society, digital media evolution, economic reforms, and ethnic relations.

Henken's research examines three interconnected areas: Cuba's independent journalism movement, the societal impact of internet access, and private sector development. His current book project Saturn's Children documents Cuba's 60-year struggle for press freedom. He co-edited Cuba's Digital Revolution: Citizen Innovation and State Policy (2021) and co-authored Entrepreneurial Cuba: The Changing Policy Landscape (2015). His work consistently explores tensions between state control and citizen innovation.

Henken's publications demonstrate a persistent focus on Cuban society through multiple lenses: digital activism (32%), economic reform (28%), migration/diaspora (20%), and cultural politics (20%). His most recent work examines how digital technologies facilitate new forms of journalism and civil society engagement amid state restrictions.

Honors and Awards:

• Presidential Excellence Award in Distinguished Teaching, Baruch College (2007)

Henken maintains extensive international collaborations, particularly with Cuban independent journalists and researchers. He has held visiting positions including the Alfonso Reyes Chair at Sorbonne University (2018). His public scholarship includes regular contributions to media outlets like The New York Times, Slate, and Hypermedia Magazine, plus annual authorship of Freedom House's 'Freedom on the Net' report on Cuba.