Kevin R. Anderson

Kevin R. Anderson is a Professor of Political Science at Eastern Illinois University (EIU). He specializes in American and African American Political Thought, focusing on tensions between individual liberty, collective good, and American political values. His research explores historical and contemporary issues in voting rights, civil rights, and political theory.

Anderson holds a Ph.D. from the University of Missouri. He teaches courses in American government, political theory, and African American politics. His first book, *Agitations: Ideologies and Strategies in African American Politics* (2010), examines political strategies within African American communities. His second co-authored work, *State Voting Laws in America: Historical Statutes and Their Modern Implications* (2015), analyzes the evolution of voting rights laws in the U.S.

His articles address topics like Robert F. Kennedy’s influence in Mississippi, the pedagogy of Constitution Day, and historical patterns of voting law retrenchment. Anderson has participated in media discussions on redistricting, political campaigns, and post-insurrection political dynamics. He recently contributed to a DEI Week workshop in 2025.