Najja K. Baptist

Dr. Najja K. Baptist is an assistant professor of political science at the University of Arkansas Fayetteville. He is a three-time HBCU graduate, earning his doctorate in political science from Howard University. His work has appeared on CNN and in numerous journals, such as National Political Science Review, Journal of Race and Ethnicity, Politics, Groups, and Identities, and other outlets. Dr. Baptist's work primarily focuses on what shapes political choice. He is also a two-time NSF grant awardee. Also, he is the founding director of the University Advance Research Team, which trains students at the University of Arkansas and five other universities, including two HBCUs. He is the director of African American Studies at the University of Arkansas. His forthcoming book, with NYU Press, "In the Spirit, In the Dark: Black Music and Activism," examines how citizens use music to understand politics.