James Stewart appointed to Board of Trustees

Sarasota resident James Stewart, Ph.D.—a Penn State University professor emeritus, and a past president of the Manasota chapter of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), has been appointed to the New College of Florida Board of Trustees.

Stewart’s appointment by the Florida Board of Governors for a two-year term, from 2021 to 2023, is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

“Professor Stewart’s higher education background and community network bring a powerful combination to our Board,” said Mary Ruiz, chair of the New College Board of Trustees. “I look forward to working with him as we continue to grow New College’s enrollment and strengthen the College’s partnerships with community organizations across Sarasota and Manatee County.”

Stewart joined the Penn State faculty in 1980 as an assistant professor of economics and director of the Black Studies program. He served as the inaugural vice provost for educational equity, and retired in 2009 as Professor of Labor Studies and Employment Relations, African and African American Studies, and Management and Organization.

He moved to Sarasota in 2015, became president of the Manasota chapter of the ASALH in 2020, and currently serves as a member of New College’s Presidential Search Committee. Stewart has authored and edited 11 books, including Introduction to African-American Studies: Transdisciplinary Approaches and Implications; has published more than 75 articles on race and economics; and has served as the editor of The Review of Black Political Economy.