Najja K. Baptist, a professor of political science and director of the African and African American studies program, has been appointed the Sylvia G. Swartz Endowed Chair in Political Science.

Baptist's term as the Swartz chair will begin this July, following the 2024-25 endowment of fellow professor Andrew Dowdle. Endowed chairs utilize their appointments to fund ongoing research and implement recruitment strategies for their programs; for Baptist, whose ongoing National Science Foundation grant "Transformative American Politics" has primed him for these tasks, this mission will be second nature.

Since 2021, Baptist has led the U of A research team during a summer research institute. Through this program, he has advanced both his research and the scholarship of countless mentees. To him, the mentorship opportunities this appointment provides is a key operation of his appointment.

"My appointment as the Sylvia G. Swartz Endowed Chair of Political Science is a profound honor," Baptist said. "It recognizes my contributions to the field and provides a platform to advance critical research and innovative scholarship. This appointment underscores the uuniversity's commitment to supporting impactful academic leadership and fostering excellence in political science."

ABOUT PROFESSOR BAPTIST

Najja K. Baptist is an associate professor of political science and the director of African & African American Studies at the U of A. He earned his doctorate in political science from Howard University, and his work has appeared in numerous journals such as National Political Science Review; Journal of Race and Ethnicity; Politics, Groups, and Identities; and other outlets.

Baptist's work is primarily focused on Black politics, social movements, culture, political behavior, public opinion and mass media in the United States. His project examines how the current president engages with Congress members, specifically Southern Congressional Black Caucus women of color.

Additionally, Baptist is also the author of the forthcoming In the Spirit, In the Dark: Black Music and Activism, which will be published by New York University Press. He is also a two-time NSF grant awardee.