Mary Rizzo

Mary Rizzo is an Associate Professor and Graduate Director at Rutgers University with appointments across multiple departments including American Studies, Africana Studies, History, and Global Urban Studies/Urban Systems. Her interdisciplinary work bridges academic scholarship with public engagement, particularly through projects connecting historical archives with contemporary social justice issues.

• PhD in American Studies from the University of Minnesota
• Former Public Historian in Residence at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Center for the Humanities
• Former Associate Director of the New Jersey Council for the Humanities

Professor Rizzo's research focuses on 20th century American cultural and urban history, with particular expertise in Baltimore's representation in popular culture. Her work on public history theory and digital humanities has led to innovative community-based projects, most notably the rediscovery and revitalization of the Chicory poetry magazine. This publication featured the unedited poetry of working-class African American residents of Baltimore from 1966-1983 and has become central to her community engagement work focused on race, social justice, and place.

Her scholarship reveals patterns across urban history, public history methodology, and digital humanities approaches to historical archives. She examines how cultural representations shape urban identities and how historical narratives can be reclaimed through community engagement.

• Arline Custer Memorial Award (2021) for use of diverse archival sources
• Teaching Award for excellence in teaching New Jersey history (2017)
• Whiting Foundation Public Engagement Fellowship (2020)

Professor Rizzo actively mentors students through her roles as Graduate Director and faculty member, guiding research at the intersection of urban studies, public history, and digital humanities. She has secured significant grant funding including the Whiting Foundation Public Engagement Fellowship to co-curate exhibits with Rutgers students and Baltimore high school students. Her work with the Chicory Revitalization Project demonstrates her commitment to connecting academic research with community needs.

Through the Chicory Revitalization Project, she collaborates with cultural, arts, and youth organizations in Baltimore to use the magazine as a catalyst for conversations about race and social justice. This multi-faceted initiative includes digitization of the magazine, an active Instagram account interpreting poems in light of contemporary racial justice issues, and poetry workshops with Baltimore youth.