Our Community

The Department of Black Studies takes great pride in our faculty, staff, students, and alumni. We have an amazing group of individuals in our space that are doing hard work at the University and beyond. Here you will find various interviews conducted throughout the years. We talk everything from personal, professional, and academic life to the hard realities facing the city of Chicago. More importantly, we get an inside look at how our faculty and staff are creating positive impacts on students at UIC and residents of the city.

Learn more about the UIC Black Studies Community

Faculty Spotlights

Prof. Harrington sitting at a table in front of a mural of four people

Jaira Harrington

This Fall 2021 interview with Jaira Harrington speaks about her time as a new professor within UICs Black Studies Department.

A person in a black shirt that reads Peoples against Colonialism is photographed while speaking in a lecture

David Stovall

An interview with Prof. Stovall covering his research and work with Chicago Public Schools.

A person with glasses on their head, holds a paper and pen while they deliver a lecture

Amanda Lewis

Speaking with Prof. Lewis about her new co-authored report on Black people in Chicago and her research on education.

Mario LaMothe

Asst. Prof. LaMothe talks about his path to the Department and research on Vodou.

Two people hug and a set of people smile behind

Helen Jun

Dissucsion with Assoc. Head, Helen Jun's background at UIC and her goals for the Department.

Student & Awardee Spotlights

A person with glasses poses for a selfie while holding placing their hand on their cheek.

Alumni Spotlight: Amanda McDonald

Hearing from McDonald, winner of the 2019 Grace Holt Memorial Award.

Alumni Spotlight: Terrion L. Williamson, Ph.D.

Hearing from Williamson, 2018 Grace Holt Memorial Keynote Speaker, about her academic career at UIC.