Richard Anderson

Dr. Richard Anderson is a Lecturer at the University of Aberdeen's School of Divinity, History, Philosophy & Art History since 2020. His research focuses on pre-colonial and colonial African history, British colonialism in West Africa, abolitionism, and the legacies of slavery in North-East Scotland. He holds a PhD in African History from Yale University (2015) and previously served as a Lecturer at the University of Exeter (2019-2020) and a Commonwealth Rutherford Fellow at the University of Leicester (2017-2019).

His research integrates archival work with public engagement, including projects tracing Aberdeen's historical connections to the transatlantic slave trade. Teaching responsibilities include modules on global empire, African history, and decolonizing museum practices. Publications span peer-reviewed journals, books, and digital projects, emphasizing marginalized voices and institutional accountability. Recent scholarship explores narratives of enslaved Africans and the contested meanings of 'liberation' in post-abolition contexts.

Education:

• PhD in African History, Yale University, 2015

Teaching Programs:

• MA History (4-year undergraduate)
• MLitt Modern History (postgraduate)
• MLitt Scottish Heritage (3-year postgraduate)

Research Themes:

• Pre-colonial African kingdoms
• British colonial governance in West Africa
• Abolitionism and its contradictions
• Slavery's material and cultural legacies
• Decolonizing academic institutions

Teaching Innovation: Leads courses on decolonizing museums (AT5053) and global race relations (SX1023).
Grants & Projects: Directed the University of Aberdeen's 'Legacies of Slavery' report (2024), a landmark institutional audit of slavery-related histories.