معرفی
Brian J. Yates is an Associate Professor of History at Saint Joseph's University and Director of the American Studies Program. He earned his BA in History from Morehouse College in 2002 (Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa) and his PhD in History from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2009, where his dissertation explored the role of the Oromo in Ethiopian state formation.
His research examines identities and cultural practices in 19th-century Northern Ethiopia (specifically Wällo and Shäwa), with recent expansions into Black diaspora studies analyzing gender, popular culture, and colorism. Publications demonstrate consistent focus on Ethiopian-Oromo relations, identity shifts, and decolonial narratives.
Awards and Fellowships:
- Mellon Post-Doctoral Fellowship (Oberlin College, 2009-2011)
- SSRC Dissertation Completion Grant (2008-9)
- Multiple institutional travel grants (2011-2015)
- FLAS Fellowships for language study (2004-5)
- United Negro College Fund Mellon Fellowship (2001-2)
As Director of American Studies, he oversees interdisciplinary programming. His forthcoming work investigates Black identities in graphic novels, highlighted by guest-editing a FIRE!!! journal special edition.
