Rutledge M. Dennis

Rutledge M. Dennis is a Professor of Sociology and Anthropology at George Mason University. He holds a B.A. in Social Science and Sociology from South Carolina State University, an M.A., and Ph.D. in Sociology from Washington State University. His research focuses on the sociology of ideas, political sociology, race and ethnic studies, urban communities, and the works of W.E.B. Du Bois. He previously served as the first Coordinator of African American Studies at Virginia Commonwealth University and was a past president of the Association of Black Sociologists.

Dr. Dennis’s academic contributions include over 50 peer-reviewed articles and edited volumes. His work spans theoretical sociology, Black masculinities, social movements like Black Lives Matter, and critical analyses of systemic racism. Notable publications include The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Race, Ethnicity, and Nationalism (2020) and Reimagining Black Masculinities (2020).

• Awards: Sigma Rho Sigma Research Award, Joseph S. Himes Distinguished Scholarship Award, and the ASA DuBois-Johnson-Frazier Award.
• Teaching: Courses on race relations, urban sociology, and sociological theory.

His research emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to understanding racialized power structures, with a focus on marginalized communities. Current projects explore the legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois and modern applications of his theories of double consciousness and dual marginality.