David Ponton

David Ponton is an Associate Professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies at the University of South Florida (USF) and serves as the Undergraduate Director, Director of the Institute on Black Life, and Chair of the Racial Justice Initiative. His research focuses on segregation, Afropessimism, and police violence, challenging conventional narratives through interdisciplinary frameworks. He holds a PhD in History from Rice University (2017), an MA from Rice (2014), and a BA in Religion from Princeton University (2009), with certificates in African American Studies and Social Studies Education.

His research explores the permanence of racial segregation and anti-Black systems through works like Houston and the Permanence of Segregation (2024). He also examines police brutality, gender, and Black male studies, integrating critical theory with historical analysis. His scholarship has been published in History and Theory, Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies, and Theory & Event.

• Awards: McKnight Junior Faculty Fellowship (2020), Rice University’s John W. Gardner Award (2017), and multiple grants on Blackness and anti-Blackness research.
• Teaching: Courses include Critical Race Theory, Segregation in the U.S., and Afropessimism, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to race and justice.
• Leadership: Leads initiatives such as the Institute on Black Life and the Racial Justice Initiative, fostering academic and community engagement on systemic inequities.

Ponton’s work bridges academia and activism, addressing contemporary racial issues through historical lenses. His recent talks and panels focus on topics like ‘The Permanence of Segregation’ and ‘Race, Space, and Opportunity.’ He remains committed to mentoring students in Africana Studies, critical race theory, and social justice scholarship.