Ohio Wesleyan University to Host Race and Society Lecturer

March 21, 2007

Elijah Anderson, Ph.D.

Anderson, who teaches courses such as urban inequality and race relations, is an expert on the sociology of black America. He is the author of several books, including “A Place on the Corner: A Study of Black Street Corner Men” and “The Code of the Street: Decency, Violence, and the Moral Life of the Inner City.” Anderson earned his Ph.D. at Northwestern University and is a past vice president of the American Sociological Association.

The Butler A. Jones Lectureship on Race and Society was established in 1995 in honor of Jones, a former Ohio Wesleyan sociology/anthropology faculty member. Heavily involved in the field of sociology through race relations and the civil rights movement, Jones was committed to the development of other scholars and professionals. Past lecturers have included William Julius Wilson, professor of social policy in the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and past president of the American Sociological Association, and Andrew Billingsley, author of “Climbing Jacob's Ladder: The Enduring Legacy of African American Families.”

Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation’s leading liberal arts colleges, dedicated to preparing students for a lifetime of learning, service, and leadership. Located in Delaware, Ohio, 20 miles north of the state capital, Ohio Wesleyan is a coeducational, residential, privately supported undergraduate institution. The university is ranked consistently by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation’s top 100 liberal arts colleges and is featured in the book “Colleges That Change Lives.” The faculty includes more than 135 educators, all of whom actively teach and hold either doctoral degrees or the highest recognized professional degrees in their fields. Approximately 1,850 students representing 44 states and 45 countries attend Ohio Wesleyan. More information is available at www.owu.edu.