In Memoriam: Curtis Stokes, JMC professor emeritus

October 30, 2024

Curtis Stokes (left) is pictured at his 2019 retirement party with Pero Dagbovie, Vice Provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and Dean of the Graduate School.

It is with great sadness that James Madison College shares that Curtis Stokes, professor emeritus of Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy, passed away on Oct. 28, 2024. Stokes dedicated 36 years of distinguished service to the college, making immense contributions through his scholarship, teaching excellence and leadership.

Stokes was a powerful advocate for curricular transformation in the college, the university and academia more generally, urging greater attention to the importance of Black political thought in the U.S. and globally. His guidance and support of undergraduate students, his pivotal role as Chairperson of the Planning Committee (2002-2005) and then Founding Director of the MSU African American and African Studies Doctoral Program at MSU, and his editorship of the Black American and Diasporic Studies Book Series at Michigan State University Press all speak to the impact of his work. Stokes initiated and organized The Race in 21st Century America Conference Project in 1998, which shaped generations of students and their understanding of the centrality of race and racism to politics and identities in the U.S.

Stokes received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the Outstanding Faculty Award, a State of Michigan Teaching Excellence Award and two MSU All University Excellence in Diversity Awards. His classes introduced countless students to critical perspectives on American history and politics, while his numerous books and publications expanded understanding of these vital topics. In 2019, the college established the Curtis Stokes Endowment for Black Radical Thought, which supports an annual prize and programing related to Stokes’ work.

The JMC community mourns the loss of this esteemed scholar and educator. Stokes' profound impact and legacy will continue to inspire generations of students and scholars. His work will live on through the countless lives he touched and the enduring change he helped catalyze within the college and beyond.