Theresa Runstedtler

Theresa Runstedtler is a Professor of African American History at American University, where she serves as Chair of the Critical Race, Gender and Culture Studies unit. With a PhD in History from Yale University (2007), she specializes in the intersection of race, gender, labor, and sport, particularly focusing on Black popular culture and athletic history.

Her research interests span African American history, transnational sports history, and the politics of representation in professional athletics. Runstedtler examines how Black athletes have navigated racial barriers both on and off the court, from Jack Johnson's global boxing career to the transformation of the NBA in the 1970s. Her work reveals how sports serve as critical sites for understanding broader social, political, and economic transformations.

Runstedtler's publications demonstrate a consistent focus on how Black athletes have shaped and been shaped by American society. Her work shows patterns of resistance against racial oppression, the evolution of athlete activism, and the commercialization of Black athletic talent across different historical periods. She examines how sports reflect and influence societal attitudes toward race, gender, and power.

• Museum of African American History's Stone Book Award (shortlisted, 2023)
• Phillis Wheatley Book Prize from the Northeast Black Studies Association (2013)
• NEH Public Scholar fellowship (2019-2020)

Runstedtler has secured significant research funding including an NEH Public Scholar fellowship to support her work on Black Ball. Her media engagement demonstrates the public impact of her scholarship, with contributions to Time.com, CNN.com, and the LA Review of Books, along with appearances on major networks including the History Channel, BBC, and NPR. She teaches courses on African American history from 1877 to the present and offers specialized seminars on race and popular culture.

Runstedtler's work bridges academic scholarship and public discourse, examining how sports history intersects with contemporary debates about race, justice, and representation. Her current research continues to explore the complex relationship between athletic achievement and social transformation in American history.