Derrick Darby

Dr. Derrick Darby is a Henry Rutgers Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ. He earned a BA from Colgate University and a PhD from the University of Pittsburgh. A member of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, Darby is a renowned scholar in social and political philosophy, focusing on race, rights, and inequality.

• Education: Colgate University (BA), University of Pittsburgh (PhD)

His research examines the intersection of race, racism, and normative philosophical questions, with specific emphasis on social recognition, educational justice, and democratic identity. He is the author of Boxed In: Making Identities Safe for Democracy, A Realistic Blacktopia, and The Color of Mind: Why the Origins of the Achievement Gap Matter for Justice, among other works.

Dr. Darby's scholarship has been supported by prestigious institutions like the Spencer Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities. His TEDx talk, 'Doing the Knowledge,' explores his journey from Queensbridge public housing projects to academia, using hip hop as a tool for critical thinking and empowerment.

• Scientific Awards: Spencer Foundation funding, NEH funding, ACLS funding, American Academy of Arts & Sciences membership

As founding director of the Rutgers Social Justice Solutions Research Collaboratory and its Summer Institute for Diversity in Philosophy, Darby actively promotes equity in academic spaces. He has taught and lectured across five continents, blending philosophical rigor with public engagement.