معرفی
Dr. James M. Thomas is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Mississippi's Department of Sociology and Anthropology within the College of Liberal Arts. He serves as Co-Editor of *Sociology of Race and Ethnicity* and Co-Director of the NSF REU program on the Interdisciplinary Study of the Politics of Place. His research focuses on race and racism, inequality, and public scholarship, with funding from the National Science Foundation, Russell Sage Foundation, and others.
- Education: B.A. in Psychology and Sociology (2004), M.A. (2005), and Ph.D. in Sociology (2011), all from the University of Missouri-Columbia, with a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies.
- Professional Experience: Former Youth Specialist with Missouri’s Division of Youth Services, and author/co-author of five books and over thirty peer-reviewed works.
Thomas’s research examines how race and racism manifest in urban environments, educational institutions, and public policy. His work bridges academia and activism, addressing topics like microaggressions, diversity regimes, and border militarization. Recent studies explore the intersection of racial identity with spatial dynamics and institutional practices.
- Awards: 2020 Diversity Innovator Award (University of Mississippi), 2018 Mike L. Edmonds New Scholar Award (UM College of Liberal Arts), 2016 Chairman’s Award (NAACP), and 2022-23 Russell Sage Foundation Visiting Scholar.
He advises the NSF-funded REU program and has pioneered projects like the UM Race Diary Project. Thomas’s work is featured in mainstream media including *The New Yorker* and *Pacific Standard*. He teaches courses on race, social stratification, and methods of social research.
His research lab focuses on contemporary racial formations and he actively engages with non-profit organizations through public lectures and board service.
