CURRICULUM VITAE
Thomas L. Bynum, Ph.D. Director of African American Studies Program Associate Professor of History Middle Tennessee State University 1301 East Main Street, Box 23 Murfreesboro, TN 37132 Phone: 404-449-3310 Email: [email protected]
EDUCATION
Ph.D., History, December 2007 Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA Dissertation: “Our Fight Is For Right!”: NAACP Youth Councils and College Chapters’ Crusade for Civil Rights, 1936-1965 Dissertation Advisor: Dr. Jacqueline A. Rouse
M.A., African American History, August 1995 Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA Thesis: “Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Historical Images of African American Womanhood”
B.S., Social Studies, December 1993 Barton College, Wilson, NC Minor: Religion and Philosophy
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Current Academic Positions
Director, African American Studies Program, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 2013-present
Associate Professor of History, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 2013- present
Administrative Experience
Director, African American Studies Program, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 2013-present
Teaching Experience
Associate/Assistant Professor, Department of History, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, August 2007-present
Courses taught: Undergraduate: Youth Movements since the 1930s; African American History I; African American History II; The Modern Civil Rights Movement;
Bynum 1 Introduction to African American Studies. Graduate: Reading and Research seminars in the Modern Civil Rights and Black Power movements
Geier Dissertation Fellow, Department of History, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN August 2006-July 2007 Courses taught: United States History I; Black Youth Activism and the Civil Rights Movement
Instructor, Department of History, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, August 2003-July 2006 Courses taught: United States History I; African American History
Assistant Professor, Department of History, Georgia Military College, Atlanta, GA, June 1999- December 1999 Courses taught: United States History I; United States History II
Adjunct Professor, Department of History, Morehouse College, Atlanta, GA 1997-2006 Courses taught: World History Topical Approaches
Adjunct Professor, Clark Atlanta University, Department of History, Atlanta, GA, August 1996-December 1996 Course taught: United States History I
Instructor, Department of History, Georgia Perimeter College, Atlanta, GA, 1999 Courses taught: United States History I; United States History II
SCHOLARSHIP Book
Bynum, Thomas L. NAACP Youth and the Fight for Black Freedom, 1936-1965. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 2013; paperback, 2014.
Refereed Journal Articles, Book Chapters, Book Reviews and Creative Works
Bynum, Thomas L. and White, Tara. “Student Protest and the Civil Rights Movement in Tennessee,” in Tennessee Histories (Electronic History Reader) edited by Amy Sayward, 220- 239. Plymouth, MI: Hayden-McNeil Press, 2016
Sharing the Prize: The Economics of the Civil Rights Revolution in the American South, Georgia Historical Quarterly, 2013
Race, Riots, and Roller Coasters: The Struggle Over Segregated Recreation in America, Journal of Southern History, 2013
Downhome Gospel: African American Spiritual Activism in Wiregrass Country, The Alabama Review: A Quarterly Journal of Alabama History, 2012
Bynum 2 Long Is the Way and Hard: One Hundred Years of the NAACP, Journal of African American History, 2010
Becoming King, Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Making of a National Leader, The Alabama Review: A Quarterly Journal of Alabama History, 2010
“We Must March Forward!”: Juanita Jackson and the Origins of the NAACP’s National Youth Movement , Journal of African American History, Vol. 94. No. 4 Special Issue: “Documenting the NAACP’s First Century,” (Fall 2009), 487-508.
Bynum, Thomas L. “In His Own Words,” Barton College Scope, 247, 10-11, March 2008.
Encyclopedia Articles - Electronic Publications
Bynum, Thomas L. and Torren Gatson. “Juanita Jackson.” In American National Biography. Oxford Press, 2017.
Bynum, Thomas L. and Torren Gatson. “Ruby Hurley.” In American National Biography. Oxford Press, 2017. Works in Progress
Bynum, Thomas L. “Old Guard verses New Guard: Young Turks, Black Power and the NAACP.” Article manuscript. Manuscript Reviewer
The Black Scholar Journal, 2017
Routledge: Taylor & Francis Group, 2016
Freedom on My Mind, St. Martins and Bedford Press, 2016
American Studies Journal, 2015
Journal of Southern History, 2015
University of Tennessee Press, 2014
Journal of American History, 2014
The American Union, 1789-1848, Prentice Hall, 2014
American Promise, St. Martins and Bedford Press, 2002
Created Equal, Longman Publishing Company, 2001
Paper Presentations and Panels
Chair, “Materials, Memory, and Place: The Public History of the Black Freedom Struggle,” at the Association for the Study of African American Life and History in
Bynum 3 Atlanta, GA, 2015
Moderator, “Twelve Years a Slave,” sponsored by the Sankofa Society and MTSU African American Studies Program, Murfreesboro, TN, 2014
Moderator, “Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle,” Bradley Academy Museum and Cultural Center, Murfreesboro, TN, 2014
“NAACP Youth and the Fight for Black Freedom,” Paper presented in Scholarly Interaction Program, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 2011
“More Than A Hamburger and A Cup of Coffee”: NAACP Youth and the Black Freedom Movement, Paper presented at Southern Historical Association in Baltimore, Maryland, 2011
Panelist, “Is It Legal” Forum sponsored by University Chapter of Collegiate 100 at Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 2011
Panelist, Graduate School Information Workshop sponsored by the Sankofa Society at Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 2010
Panelist, Educational Retention Forum sponsored by Middle Tennessee State University NAACP Chapter, Murfreesboro, TN, 2008
Moderator, Jena Six Forum sponsored by Middle Tennessee State University NAACP Chapter, Murfreesboro, TN, 2008
Moderator, “Lost Episodes of Holocaust History,” Middle Tennessee State University Holocaust Studies Conference, Murfreesboro, TN, 2007
“Juanita Jackson and the Origins of a National Youth Movement within the NAACP: The Youth Councils Lead the Way,” Paper presented at the Association for the Study of African American Life and History in Atlanta, Georgia, 2006
Moderator, Black History Symposium for Association for Georgia State University Historians, Atlanta, GA, 2005 Invited Lectures/Presentations
“NAACP Youth Councils and College Chapters’ Activism during the Black Freedom Movement,” Guest Lecturer in Dr. Kristine McCusker’s The Historian’s Craft class, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 2017
“The Intersectionality of Race, Class and Gender during the Black Freedom Movement,” Guest Lecturer for the Master of Liberal Arts Program, 2016
Samuel H. Shannon Distinguished Lecturer, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN, 2015
Unity Day Speaker, Volunteer State Community College, Gallatin, TN, 2015
Bynum 4 “I Got A Home Over Yonder”: The Christian Church and the Black Freedom Movement,” Guest speaker at Lake Providence Missionary Baptist Church, Nashville, TN, 2011
Presented “Great Men and Women in Black History” for the Boys to Men Mentoring Workshop at Lake Providence Missionary Baptist Church, Nashville, TN, 2009
“Modern Civil Rights Movement and Lesser Known Leaders,” Guest Lecturer in Dr. Adonijah Bakari’s African American Studies class, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 2009
“Juanita Jackson and the Origins of a NAACP National Youth Movement,” Guest Lecturer in Dr. Pippa Holloway’s African American History Graduate Seminar, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 2006
“Blacks and Reconstruction in Georgia,” Guest Lecturer in Dr. Elizabeth Evans’ American Literature class, Georgia Perimeter College, Clarkston, GA, 2004
“Origins of Jim Crow Practices in Georgia,” Guest Lecturer in Dr. Elizabeth Evans’ American Literature class, Georgia Perimeter College, Clarkston, Georgia, 2003
“Life, Liberty and Pursuit of God,” Guest Speaker for Youth Day Program, Mount Welcome Baptist Church, Decatur, Georgia, 2002
“The Role of the Black Church in the Twentieth Century,” Guest Speaker for Black History Forum hosted by the African American Student Association, Georgia Perimeter College, Clarkston, GA, 2001
“Blacks and the Failure of Reconstruction,” Guest Lecturer in Dr. Elizabeth Evans’ American Literature class, Georgia Perimeter College, Clarkston, GA, 2001
Grants
“Minority Achievement Program: Minority Student Success Cultural and Historical Awareness, Mentoring, and Wellness,”. $40,000 grant proposal submitted to the Tennessee Board of Regents, Nashville, TN; not funded, 2012.
“Building Bridges and Eradicating Barriers: How Mentoring Relationships Increase Minority Students’ Enrollment and Retention,”. $25,000 grant proposal submitted to the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN; funded, 2009.
Mentoring for Success: Building Bridges and Eradicating Barriers for Minority Faculty and Students. $59,961 grant proposal submitted to the Tennessee Board of Regents, Nashville, TN; not funded, 2008.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Student Impact Award – Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, Middle Tennessee State University, Fall 2016, Spring 2016, Fall 2015, Spring 2011, Spring 2010, Spring 2009
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Southern Regional Education Board Award, Tenured Faculty Leading the Class, 2015
Samuel H. Shannon Distinguished Scholar, Tennessee State University, 2015
Unity Day Speaker, Volunteer State Community College, 2015
Outstanding Advisor Award, College of Liberal Arts, Middle Tennessee State University, 2014
Lillian Smith Book Award Nominee, 2014
Presented with plaque by University President for being tenured and promoted to Associate Professor, Middle Tennessee State University, 2013
Southern Regional Education Board Scholars Program Dissertation Award, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, 2007
Clark Atlanta University All American Scholar Award, Atlanta GA, 1995
Fellowships
The Compact for Faculty Diversity 14th Annual Institute on Teaching and Mentoring, Southern Regional Education Board, Atlanta, GA, 2007
Geier Dissertation Fellowship, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN, 2006- 2007
Southern Regional Education Board Dissertation Fellowship, Atlanta GA, 2006-2007
The Compact for Faculty Diversity 13th Annual Institute on Teaching and Mentoring, Southern Regional Education Board, Atlanta, GA, 2006
National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Institute, hosted by the Harvard University W. E. B. Du Bois Civil Rights Institute, Cambridge, MA, 2006
Media Appearances and Multimedia Productions
Discussed Civil Rights Strategies of Past and Today on Law of the Land with Gloria J. Browne- Marshall on WBAI Free Speech Radio, 99.5 FM (New York City), 2015
Produced short vignettes for Black History Month for Middle Tennessee State University WMOT Roots Radio, 89.5 FM, 2008 SERVICE
Middle Tennessee State University
Director, African American Studies Program, 2013-present
Chair, African American Studies Program Steering Committee, 2013-present
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Coordinator, African American Studies Program Student Educational Field Trips to National Historic Sites, 2013-present • Atlanta, GA – The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, National Center for Civil Rights and Human Rights • Birmingham, AL – Birmingham Civil Rights Institute • Cincinnati, OH – National Underground Railroad Freedom Center • Montgomery, AL – Rosa Parks Museum, Freedom Rides Museum • Ripley, OH – John P. Parker House, John Rankin House • Selma, AL – National Voting Rights Museum and Institute, Edmund Pettus Bridge
Chair, African Cultural Awareness Night Committee, 2015-present
Vice President, Black Faculty and Staff Association, 2015-2017
Member, College of Liberal Arts NEH Summer Stipend Grant Committee, 2016
Faculty Advisor, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, 2015-2017
Member, College of Liberal Arts Strategic Planning Committee, 2014-2015
Faculty Advisor, Black Student Union, 2014
Member, History Department Undergraduate Committee, 2013-present
Member, Special Advising Committee, 2012-2013
Faculty Recruiter, Minority Dissertation Fellowship, 2010-present
Member, Undergraduate and Archives Faculty Search Committee, 2010-2011
Faculty Advisor, Sankofa Society, 2007-2014
Co-Chair, Minority Dissertation Fellowship Committee, 2010-present
Member, History Department General Studies Committee, 2008-2009
Member, History Department Development Committee, 2008-2009
Member, History Department Graduate Committee, 2007-2008
Member, History Department Operations Committee, 2007-2008
Undergraduate Research – McNair Scholars Program
Denise Harris, “More Than a Hamburger and a Cup of Coffee”: Connecting the NAACP Youth Councils and College Chapters to the Tennessee Sit-in Demonstrations (2011).
Bynum 7 Masters Thesis Committee Member and Co-Chair
Marie L. Bourassa, “Lies My Textbooks Told Me: Everything American History Textbooks Got Wrong About Civil Rights, 1930 to the Present” (2010). Member
Tyler D. Moore, “I Asked for Water and She Gave Me Gasoline”: Tommy Johnson, Historical Memory, and Political Influences in Mississippi Blues Tourism (2010). Co-Chair
Dissertation Committee Member
Torren L. Gatson, “The Combative Tactics of the NAACP Against Unfair Housing Laws and Practices: A Comparative Study of the Dynamic Changes in Urban and Rural Landscapes 1920- 1960” (2017).
Aleia M. Brown, “War and Redemption in the Cloth: Quilting the Black Freedom Struggle, 1960-present” (2016).
Cassie Sade Turnipseed, “Creating a Commemorative Site on the Heritage and Memory of Cotton Pickers in the Mississippi Delta” (2016).
Ashley Bouknight, “Black Museology: Reevaluating the Process of Collecting African-American Material Culture” (2015).
Tennessee Historical Society
Judge, Tennessee History Day, 2011-present
Morehouse College
Faculty Advisor, Amnesty International, Atlanta GA, 2004-2005
Faculty Advisor, JOBA, Atlanta GA, 2000-2003
Professional Associations
National Council of Black Studies The Association for the Study of African American Life and History Organization of American Historians Southern Historical Association Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated
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