Joe William Trotter Jr.

Joe William Trotter Jr. is the Giant Eagle University Professor of History and Social Justice at Carnegie Mellon University, where he has been a faculty member since 1985. He previously served as Chair of the History Department and is the Founder and Director of Carnegie Mellon's Center for Africanamerican Urban Studies and the Economy (CAUSE). He is also President Elect of the Urban History Association and a distinguished member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

His academic journey began with a BA from Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, followed by M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Minnesota (1980). This educational foundation established his trajectory as a leading scholar in African American historical studies.

Trotter's research centers on African American urban history, labor history, and working class history, with a particular focus on how economic structures intersect with racial dynamics. His scholarship spans from the colonial era to contemporary times, examining African American contributions to urban development and industrial growth. He has pioneered methodologies that connect local Pittsburgh history to national and global contexts, especially in his work on black labor movements and urban segregation patterns.

His publications reveal a consistent analytical framework that challenges deficit narratives about African American communities. Rather than framing black populations as dependent 'takers,' his work demonstrates their essential role as economic 'givers' throughout American history. His recent scholarship expands this analysis globally, examining urban segregation across different historical periods and geographical locations, while maintaining Pittsburgh as a key case study.

• Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• Giant Eagle University Professorship at Carnegie Mellon University
• President Elect of the Urban History Association
• Past President of the Labor and Working Class History Association

Trotter has advised numerous graduate students who have pursued successful careers in academia and cultural institutions. His leadership extends through CAUSE, which he founded and directs, securing research funding and fostering collaborations between scholars, community organizations, and policymakers. He has served on significant academic committees including the Executive Council of the Organization of American Historians and the Program Committee of the American Historical Association.

As founder of CAUSE, Trotter has cultivated a research ecosystem focused on interdisciplinary approaches to African American urban studies. The center hosts regular conferences, supports graduate research fellowships, and facilitates community-based research projects that document and preserve African American urban history in Pittsburgh and beyond.