Crystal R. Sanders

Crysal R. Sanders is an Associate Professor of African American Studies at Emory University. She previously held the position of Associate Professor of History and served as Director of the Africana Research Center at Pennsylvania State University. Her expertise spans African American History, Black Women's History, Civil Rights History, and the History of Black Education.

Sanders earned her BA (cum laude) in History and Public Policy from Duke University and her Ph.D. in History from Northwestern University. She has authored two major books: *A Chance for Change* (2016) and *A Forgotten Migration* (2024), both published by the University of North Carolina Press. Her work explores the intersection of education, civil rights, and institutional activism in the 20th-century South.

Her research has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the 2017 Critics' Choice Award, the 2017 New Scholar’s Book Award, and the 2021 Equity Award. She has also received fellowships from the Andrew Mellon Foundation, Ford Foundation, and National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation, among others.

Sanders currently serves on the Executive Council of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) and as Assistant Editor of the *Journal of African American History*. Her articles frequently examine federal policies, grassroots movements, and the role of Black institutions in advancing educational equity and civil rights.