Marcus Anthony Hunter

At the helm of social change and academic excellence sits Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter, the esteemed Scott Waugh Endowed Chair in the Social Sciences Division and a distinguished Professor of Sociology & African American Studies at UCLA. As the visionary coiner of the transformative hashtag #BlackLivesMatter, Dr. Hunter's influence transcends academia, igniting global conversations on racial equity. With scholarship endorsed by prestigious bodies such as the National Science Foundation and the Social Science Research Council, Dr. Hunter's research illuminates systemic inequities and forges pathways toward equity for all. His expertise was instrumental in the conception of Congresswoman Barbara Lee's groundbreaking Bill, marking a historic stride in America's journey towards a Truth, Racial Healing, & Transformation Commission. A respected voice in scholarly circles and mainstream media, Dr. Hunter's insights resonate on C-SPAN's BookTV, MSNBC, NPR, and BBC. At the same time, his commentary punctuates the pages of the Sacramento Bee, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, the Washington Post, and the New York Times. Dr. Hunter is not just a scholar; he's a catalyst for change whose academic rigor and social activism redefine the narrative of African American progress.